The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines
The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines
A Critique of Dallas Willard and The Spirit of the Disciplines
I recently took a seminary course on the book of Luke. It was a summer intensive and was one of only two classes being offered at the time. About midway through the week, while the class was steeped in trying to discern the intent and significance of the book of Luke, we began to hear the echoes of mystic chanting coming through the walls. As it turned out, the other class being offered was parked right next to ours. The paper thin walls were carrying the choruses of a class exploring the life and teachings of Catholic mystic Henry Nouwen. We proceeded, trying to concentrate on studying the Scriptures while tuning out the chants that were carrying on next door. Perhaps what was more unsettling though is the class studying Nouwen was chock full, while there were plenty of empty seats next door for anyone wanting to learn about the inspired book of Luke.1
How can this be? A Baptist seminary was favorably studying the teachings of this Catholic mystic whose own biographers describe as having had emotional problems and homosexual inclinations.2 Soon after talking to Ryan, I met a lady who attends a Christian college. As part of her study program she was required to take a course on spiritual formation at her college. Spiritual formation in her class also concerned the study of Roman Catholic mystics and the search for techniques to help those who implement them feel closer to God. This study also explored “spiritual disciplines” which promised to make those who practiced them more Christ-like. After she finished the class she shared her textbooks with me. This article will focus on the claims of one of these text books, The Spirit of the Disciplines, by Dallas Willard.3 In our study we shall see that those promoting spiritual disciplines in courses of study called “spiritual formation” make claims that are unbiblical and dangerous.
Jesus’ “Yoke” as “Spiritual Disciplines”
Dallas Willard bases his entire spiritual disciplines book on his understanding of Matthew 11:29, 30, which says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Willard cites this passage at the beginning of a chapter entitled “The Secret of the Easy Yoke,”4 Willard says, “And in this truth lies the secret of the easy yoke: the secret involves living as he lived in the entirety of his life—adopting his overall life-style.”5 He also says, “We have to discover how to enter into his disciplines from where we stand today—and no doubt, how to extend and amplify them to suit our needy cases.”6 He claims that the “yoke” is to try to emulate Jesus’ lifestyle in every possible way.7 Willard interprets Jesus’ “yoke” as the practice of spiritual disciplines like solitude, silence, and simple living. He later adds voluntary banishment and others that we will discuss later.
Willard is very critical of traditional Protestant doctrine and practice, declaring it a massive failure.8 His remedy for this failure is to see the body and certain ascetic practices using the body as the means of change: “Looking back over our discussion to this point, we have connected the reality of the easy yoke with the practice of the spiritual disciplines. These in turn have led us to the body’s role in redemption.”9 He claims that we have been misguided by being concerned with the forgiveness of sins and “theories of the atonement.” He says, “Salvation as conceived today is far removed from what it was in the beginnings of Christianity and only by correcting it can God’s grace in salvation be returned to the concrete, embodied existence of our human personalities walking with Jesus in his easy yoke.”10 According to this thinking, the yoke of Jesus involves using the body in certain ways to accomplish changed lives:
Although we call the disciplines “spiritual”—and although they must never be undertaken apart from a constant, inward interaction with God and his gracious Kingdom—they never fail to require specific acts and dispositions of our body as we engage in them. We are finite and limited to our bodies. So the disciplines cannot be carried out except as our body and its parts are surrendered in precise ways and definite actions to God.11
So evidently, rather than concerning ourselves with the blood atonement, averting God’s wrath against sin, salvation by faith through grace, we should be practicing spiritual disciplines with our bodies so that we could then be more like Jesus.
The concept of Jesus’ “yoke” being interpreted as an invitation to practice His life-style is reiterated throughout Willard’s book; see pages 91, 121, and 235. This idea is the framework and logical foundation of Willard’s entire thesis. But the question is, “Is this what Jesus meant in Matthew 11:29, 30?” Let us examine the passage in context to see if teaches the spiritual disciplines.
The True Meaning of Jesus’ “Yoke”
If we want to understand Matthew 11:29, 30 it is essential that we understand the context, particularly the meaning of verse 28. Jesus said, “ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). We must understand Jesus’ offer of rest in the context of His debates with the religious leaders. Their “yoke” demanded the strict observance of Sabbath rules and their oral tradition. Immediately after Jesus’ offer of “rest” in Him, there ensued a Sabbath debate with the religious leaders accusing Jesus and His disciples of being Sabbath breakers (see Matthew 12). They plucked grain on the Sabbath and Jesus healed on the Sabbath. Jesus was offering true Sabbath rest and the Jewish leaders were offering the yoke of the Law. Jesus’ yoke was different. Jesus perfectly kept the law so that all who would come to him would enter into the true Sabbath rest that could never be achieved by keeping the rules laid down by the religious leaders.
Taking this understanding of the term “yoke” we can see what Jesus meant in Matthew 11. His words came in the middle of a dispute with Jewish leadership. He had pronounced woe upon cities that did not repent (Matthew 11:20-24). He uttered this prayer:
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” (Matthew 11:25-27)
The wise and intelligent were the Jewish Scribes and Pharisees who accused Jesus of being a Sabbath breaker and who refused to repent when they witnessed His miracles. They rejected both Jesus and John the Baptist in a most fickle manner (Matthew 11:16-19). They refused to come to God on His terms, but demanded that God the Son obey them on their terms! So Jesus pronounced the judgment of hardening on them and chose instead to reveal Himself to babes.
When Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), He was offering them what the Jewish leadership rejected—Messianic salvation. True Sabbath rest is only found in Christ (see Hebrews 4:1-9). Ironically, the people who accused Jesus of being a Sabbath breaker were the ultimate Sabbath breakers because they rejected the only one who could give true rest. They put the yoke of law keeping on the people but kept them from the one true Law keeper, Christ who died for their sins. Therefore, no matter how scrupulous and religious a person is, if he or she does not come to Christ by faith, that person is under the yoke of bondage rather than the Sabbath rest for the people of God.
There are other places in the New Testament where the term “yoke” is used in the sense of the requirement of law keeping. Two of them are very pertinent to interpreting Matthew 11:28-30. In Acts 15 the apostles gathered in Jerusalem to determine whether the new Gentile converts would be required to keep the Law. The three most prominent laws that marked off the Jews as unique were the food laws, Sabbath, and circumcision. Peter’s speech convinced the apostles that the Gentiles were not obliged to follow such Jewish laws:
“And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” (Acts 15:7-11)
The “yoke” was being under the Law.
Now consider how Paul used the same term: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). The Judaizers wanted to put Christians under obligation to be circumcised and Paul called this “a yoke of slavery.”
So Jesus’ yoke is in stark contrast to the “yoke” that the religious leaders put on the people. He is offering salvation to all who come to Him by faith. Craig Blomberg summarizes this section in Matthew 11:
The sequence of thought of vv. 25-30 thus progresses as follows. The increasing polarization of response to Jesus in fact reflects God’s sovereign choices (vv. 25-26). Jesus is God’s unique agent in the outworking of those choices (v. 27). This gives him God’s authority to call people to himself (vv. 28-30). The invitation to come to Christ remains for all today, but now as then it requires the recognition that persons cannot come by exalting themselves (recall v. 23) but only by completely depending on and trusting Christ.12
Jesus’ Yoke is to Practice Spiritual Disciplines?
Therefore our conclusion is that in Matthew 11 Jesus was offering salvation to all who come to Him. Now let us examine Willard’s claim that Jesus was telling people to try to emulate His life-style. Willard claims that we are failing to practice the disciplines that would make us able to live better lives and that most Christians are failing to live lives pleasing to God. He further states that the solution is that we practice spiritual disciplines that are based on Jesus’ lifestyle and supplemented by practices of the Medieval Catholic Church. So he sees Jesus’ “yoke” as an offer to take up a life-style that will make us better people, rather than an offer of true Sabbath rest through Christ’s finished work on the cross. This is tantamount to substituting works for grace, and making Jesus an ethical teacher whose example can be followed rather than the unique Son of God who alone always does the things that please the Father. Willard offers no exegetical analysis of the passage in Matthew to defend his interpretation. In my opinion, his position is not defensible.
Does the Bible Prescribe the Spiritual Disciplines?
The spiritual disciplines are not taught in Matthew 11:29, 30 (Willard’s primary proof test), and even Willard admits they cannot be found elsewhere in scripture (we shall show this momentarily). But he is nevertheless enthusiastic about the recent rediscovery of the disciplines.
Dallas Willard is excited to tell us that finally, through the lead of people like Richard Foster, we are having a revival of the use of spiritual disciplines. Writes Willard: “Today, for the first time in our history as a nation, we are being presented with a characteristic range of human behaviors such as fasting, meditation, simple living, and submission to a spiritual overseer, in an attractive light.”13 He claims that ordinary means such as Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and evangelism are inadequate and having failed, have left most Christians as failures. He writes, “All pleasing and doctrinally sound schemes of Christian education, church growth, and spiritual renewal came around at last to this disappointing result. But whose fault was this failure?”14 The “failure,” according to Willard is that, “. . . the gospel preached and the instruction and example given these faithful ones simply do not do justice to the nature of human personality, as embodied, incarnate.”15 So what does this mean? It means that we have failed because our gospel had too little to do with our bodies.
The spiritual disciplines are supposed to remedy this deficiency. Willard says, “By contrast, the secret of the standard, historically proven spiritual disciplines is precisely that they do respect and count on the bodily nature of human personality.”16 Willard claims that Paul understood the need for such practices but that they were lost: “Paul’s teaching, especially when added to his practices, strongly suggest that he understood and practiced something vital about the Christian life that we have lost—and that we must do our best to recover.”17 Of course, had Paul bothered to write about these “lost” disciplines in his epistles, they would not have been lost.
So why did Paul fail to write about these secret, lost disciplines? Willard’s answer is that Paul had in mind, “. . . a precise course of action he understood in definite terms, carefully followed himself, and called others to share . . . So obviously so, for him and the readers of his own day, that he would feel no need to write a book on the disciplines for the spiritual life that explained systematically what he had in mind.”18 Translated that means that Paul did not write about the spiritual disciplines because everyone was practicing them. Willard goes on to say, “It is almost impossible in the thought climate of today’s Western world to appreciate just how utterly unnecessary it was for Paul to say explicitly, in the world in which he lived, that Christians should fast, be alone, study, give, and so forth as regular disciplines for the spiritual life.”19 There is a serious problem here that Willard overlooks: Paul did write about approaches like these—he wrote against them!
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. (Colossians 2:20-23)
They had ascetics in Paul’s day and he rebuked them. Willard never discusses this passage which teaches explicitly that “severe treatment of the body” cannot help us find freedom from sinfulness.
Where do we find this “wisdom” that Paul failed to write about? Says Willard, “This is not something St. Paul had to prove or even explicitly state to his readers—but it also was not something he overlooked, leaving it to be thought up by crazed monks in the Dark Ages. It is, rather, a wisdom gleaned from millennia of collective human experience.”20 So the disciplines we need to be more like Christ cannot be found in the Bible, but they can be gleaned from religious history. Willard tells us, “But thoughtful and religiously devout people of the classical and Hellenistic world, from the Ganges to the Tiber, knew that the mind and body of the human being had to be rigorously disciplined to achieve a decent individual and social existence.”21
The obvious problem with this is that if this type of logic is valid, we could claim that we need Ouija Boards as part of our spiritual practice and that Paul and other early Christians must have been using them so regularly there was no need to write about them. Ironically, Willard admits that the Bible does not command us to practice the spiritual disciplines he prescribes.
To hear evangelicals like Dallas Willard and Richard Foster tell us that we need practices that were never spelled out in the Bible to become more like Christ or to get closer to God is astonishing. What is more astonishing is that evangelical colleges and seminaries are requiring their students to study practices that are relics of Medieval Rome, not found in the Bible, and closely akin to the practices of many pagan societies.
The False Gospel of Human Ability
As with most unbiblical approaches, the spiritual disciplines are based on the idea of innate human powers that can be harnessed for good. Holding a false concept of sin as a “disruption of that higher [spiritual] life,”22 Willard looks for a solution through finding our true potential, individually and corporately, through spiritual disciplines that will enable us to reconstruct the rule of God now. Willard says, “The evil that we do in our present condition is a reflection of a weakness caused by spiritual starvation.”23 Rather than wicked rebels abiding under God’s wrath, humans are bundles of huge potential who have lost their way through “disruption of the higher powers.” We supposedly have great potential: “It is the amazing extent of our ability to utilize power outside ourselves that we must consider when we ask what the human being is. The limits of our power to transcend ourselves utilizing powers not located in us—including of course, the spiritual—are yet to be fully known.”24 Willard gives this interpretation of 1John 3:2: “Because of his personal experience with spiritual powers brought to him in Christ, John sensed unimaginable greatness in our destiny.”25
So how do we tap into this great human potential? He says we must tap into the spiritual dimension using spiritual disciplines. Willard shares his definition of “spirit”: “If the missing element in the present human order is that of the spirit, what then is spirit? Very simply, spirit is unembodied personal power.”26 His idea is that “spirit” is the missing nutrient that we need to realize our full potential. The ideas of total depravity, the wrath of God against sin, the blood atonement, and the cross are either absent or distorted in Willard’s theology. What replaces these truths is the hope that we will realize our potential through tapping into the spiritual kingdom of God. This is to be done by the use of spiritual disciplines to obtain the necessary power to transform the world. The terminology that Willard uses is strange and unbiblical. For example, he writes,
“When the human organism is brought into willing, personal relationship with the spiritual Kingdom of God, ‘sucking in orderliness’ from that particular part of the human environment, it becomes pervasively transformed, as a corn stalk in drought is transformed by the onset of drenching rain—the contact with the water transforms the plant inwardly and then extends it outwardly. In the same way, people are transformed by contact with God.”27
These ideas are more akin to Eastern Religion than Biblical Christianity. Our problem is not the need to suck in more “unembodied personal power” by techniques to contact God. We are dead sinners facing God’s wrath unless we repent and believe the gospel. Willard’s concepts are foreign to the Bible. He says, “A ‘spiritual life’ consists in that range of activities in which people cooperatively interact with God—and with the spiritual order deriving from God’s personality and action.”28 This means practicing asceticism through the spiritual disciplines. He says, “The disciplines are activities of the mind and body purposely undertaken, to bring our personality and total being into effective cooperation with the divine order.”29 This depends on us: “Yet even as we reach for more grace to this end, we also learn by experience that the harmonization of our total self with God will not be done for us. We must act.”30
What results are in store for the church when we take action to tap into this spiritual dimension to realize our full potential? The church will be the incarnation of Christ and the kingdom of God will come through us, now, before Christ’s bodily return. Rejecting the pre-millennial doctrine, Willard says, “Often, we are told that the rule of God upon the earth will be fulfilled in a great act of violence, in which multitudes of people are slain by God, followed by a totalitarian government of literally infinite proportions, headquartered in Jerusalem.”31 He fails to mention that this “totalitarian” rule is the rule of Christ Himself as promised in the Bible. What is Willard’s alternative? – “I believe, to the contrary, that the coming rule of God is to be a government by grace and truth mediated through personalities mature in Christ.”32 It is amazing that he would consider Christ Himself reigning as “totalitarian” and us reigning as “grace and truth.”
For Willard, Christ is not coming for the church but in the church: “The real presence of Christ as a world-governing force will come solely as his called out people occupy their stations in the holiness and power characteristic of him, as they demonstrate to the world the way to live that is best in every respect.”33 We gain the ability to reign over the world for Christ through spiritual disciplines.
Since these disciplines were the order of the day for Rome at a period where her goal was to rule over the world, I wonder why the result was the Dark Ages? What kind of glib optimism would make us think that if we try them again, this time we will have a better outcome? Whenever theology turns to human potential and human ability aided by some type of spiritual infusion, the result is utopian dreaming. Supposedly we do not need to have Christ return in judgment and set up His Kingdom; we just need to tap into great human potential that has never been fully implemented. Willard says that Christ’s way has not yet been tried.34
According to Willard’s theology, just like Christ coming at the fullness of time during the first advent, the church will be the answer (not Christ’s bodily return) for the coming kingdom. We, not Jesus, will be the new incarnation: “[T]here is likewise a fullness of time for his people to stand forth with the concrete style of existence for which the world has hungered in its thoughtful moments and praised through its poets and prophets. As a response to this world’s problems, the gospel of the Kingdom will never make sense except as it is incarnated—we say ‘fleshed out’—in ordinary human beings in all ordinary conditions of human life.”35
By downplaying the doctrine of total depravity and the sin nature, Willard makes it seem plausible that we can be infused by divine power and establish the kingdom now. The Bible, however, predicts apostasy and the revealing of the man of lawlessness just before Christ returns in judgment (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8). Willard’s assertions lack sound exegetical work from the scriptures for their support. He needs to offer a clearer definition of the kingdom of God and provide Biblical support for the idea that we can establish it before Christ returns. Lacking Biblical support, his arguments are unconvincing.
Which Spiritual Disciplines?
The spiritual disciplines that are supposedly necessary for spiritual formation are not defined in the Bible. If they were, there would be a clear description of them and concrete list. But since spiritual disciplines vary, and have been invented by spiritual pioneers in church history, no one can be sure which ones are valid. Willard says, [W]e need not try to come up with a complete list of disciplines. Nor should we assume that our particular list will be right for others.”36 The practices are gleaned from various sources and the individual has to decide which ones work the best. Willard lists the following: voluntary exile, night vigil of rejecting sleep, journaling, OT Sabbath keeping, physical labor, solitude, fasting, study, and prayer.37 Willard then lists “disciplines of abstinence” (solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, secrecy, sacrifice) and “disciplines of engagement” (study, worship, celebration, service, prayer, fellowship, confession, submission).38
Willard offers a discussion of each of these, citing people like Thomas Merton, Thomas a Kempis, Henri Nouwen, and other mystics. We are told that practices like solitude and silence are going to change us, even though the Bible does not prescribe them. Willard writes, “This factual priority of solitude is, I believe, a sound element in monastic asceticism. Locked into interaction with the human beings that make up our fallen world, it is all but impossible to grow in grace as one should.”39 So if we cannot grow in grace without solitude, how come the Bible never commands us to practice solitude? The same goes for many other items on Willard’s list.
Willard tells us that the list of disciplines he provides is not exhaustive. Others can be pragmatically determined. He says, “As we have indicated, there are many other activities that could, for the right person and upon the right occasion, be counted as spiritual disciplines in the strict sense stated of our previous chapter. The walk with Christ certainly is one that leaves room for and even calls for individual creativity and an experimental attitude in such matters.”40 However, there is a serious problem with Willard’s logic here. Earlier he rejected such practices as self-flagellation, exposing the body to severities including being eaten by beetles, being suspended by iron shackles, and other means of severely treating the body in order to become more holy.41 Willard rejects these on the following grounds: “Here it is matter of taking pains about taking pains. It is in fact a variety of self-obsession—narcissism—a thing farthest removed from the worship and service of God.”42
Willard had admitted that there is no clear list of the disciplines and that each person might choose different practices through pragmatic means. This does not give sufficient ground for rejecting such practices as self-flagellation. So Willard resorts to arguing that those who do such things have bad motives. But he cannot really know their motives, perhaps they determined that these practices “worked” using the same means Willard offered. If pragmatic tests are the means of determining which practices are valid, and if these people feel closer to God and more like Christ through their practices, then Willard has no valid way of rejecting their practices. Having no valid argument, he resorts to an invalid ad hominem argument.
He cannot have it both ways. Either God’s Word determines both how we come to God and how we grow in grace, or humans determine these things by pragmatic means. Willard has chosen the latter. But then he steps in and tells us that some practices are wrong, even though they fit his own criteria for validity. If a person feels that sleeping in a tiny stone crevice with all the heat being sucked out of his body makes him more spiritually disciplined, then who is to say that is wrong? Had he been willing to submit to the authority of Scripture, Willard could have refuted these practices based on Colossians 2:21-23.
Even though decrying some of the excesses of monasticism, Willard is fond of the monastics and thinks that the Reformation left us with no practical means of spiritual growth. He says, “It [Protestantism] precluded ‘works’ and Catholicism’s ecclesiastical sacraments as essential for salvation, but it continued to lack any adequate account for what human beings do to become, by the grace of God, the kind of people Jesus obviously calls them to be.”43 This is simply false. Luther believed in means of grace that God has provided all true believers that they might grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.44 The difference is that means of grace are what God has provided for all Christians for all ages and they are determined by God, not man. These are revealed in the Bible. Spiritual disciplines are man-made, amorphous, and not revealed in the Bible; they assume that one is saved by grace and perfected by works.
Paul wrote, “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:3). Paul rejected the idea that we are saved by grace and perfected by works. We are saved by grace and we grow by grace. Willard seems to miss this point. Here is how he views it: “The activities mentioned—when we engage in them conscientiously and creatively and adapt them to our individual needs, time and place—will be more than adequate to help us receive the full Christ-life and become the kind of person that should emerge in the following of him.”45 Elsewhere he suggests that growth comes through human will power: “The entire question of discipline, therefore, is how to apply acts of the will at our disposal in such a way that the proper course of action, which cannot always be realized by direct and untrained effort, will nevertheless be carried out when needed.”46 It is hard to see how this is anything other than [being] “made perfect by the flesh” which Paul said was impossible.
The Reformation understanding of means of grace was that they were God’s gracious means of working in a person of faith’s life. What ever is not of faith is sin. Even the Word and sacraments as Luther understood them were of no avail unless they were received in faith. No works righteousness could be tolerated. Willard’s approach is works oriented and man-centered; it was created by spiritual innovators who mostly did not find their practices in the Bible.
The Spiritual Disciplines as Presumption
The spiritual disciplines, as we have seen, are bodily activities that we engage in hoping to become more Christ-like. So we decide what discipline we need, perhaps with the help of a “spiritual director.” Since we have established (and Willard admits) that most of these disciplines are not prescribed in the Bible, we have to decide which ones will work for us. The problem is that this is the very opposite of what the Bible says about discipline: “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Hebrews 12:5, 6). God, not man, determines what each of us needs because only God knows exactly what each of us needs.
For example, consider Paul’s thorn in the flesh described in 2 Corinthians 12: “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure” (2Corinthians 12:7). Paul did not determine he needed this, God did. When Paul asked for it to be removed, this was the result: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God allowed the thorn in the flesh for Paul’s spiritual good. God’s discipline is what He does sovereignly and providentially to bring each of us ultimately into the image of Christ. Willard is right that every person is different and has different needs. He is wrong that therefore we must experiment with spiritual disciplines to see what works for us. We don’t even know our own needs fully, only God does. If we need poverty to help us learn to trust God, He can arrange that. There is no need to take an oath of poverty and join a monastery.
God disciplines us in ways we could never imagine or never arrange. The Bible tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Obviously everything in the universe is at His disposal. Do we think He is unable to discipline us according to His infinite wisdom? Do we suppose that we know better what we need than God does? For one person God’s discipline could be the sorrow of loosing a job and the need to trust Him to find a different one. For another it may be that God thrusts him into a situation of great responsibility that stretches him to the utmost. If we need solitude, God can grant that. He might make it so the only job we can find is being a midnight shift watchman.
What is presumptuous about the spiritual disciplines approach is that the practitioner presumes to know what he or she needs when only God knows such things. The monk who takes a vow of chastity presumes to know that he is going to be more Christ like single than married. The person who leaves civilization on a voluntary exile into solitude presumes to know that he will be more Christ like exiled than interacting with others. This is the case no matter what activity we presume will make us more spiritual. The only exceptions are those things God has ordained for ALL Christians. We are never presumptuous to, in faith, avail ourselves of those practices that God has ordained. But this brings us back to means of grace, not spiritual disciplines.47
Therefore, those things that are unique to the individual in regard to discipline God is in charge of. He disciplines every Christian for his or her own good according to His own infinite wisdom. Those matters that are necessary and common to all Christians are clearly described in the Bible; they are means of grace.
Conclusion
We began this discussion with a description of strange teachings and practices entering evangelical Bible Colleges and seminaries. They have been borrowed from Medieval Rome and dressed up for evangelical consumption. We have examined the teachings of one of the visible leaders of this movement. Starting with a serious misinterpretation of Matthew 11:29, 30, Dallas Willard built his entire system on the idea that Jesus’ “yoke” consists of various spiritual disciplines. The issue in Matthew 11 was Messianic salvation—finding true Sabbath rest in Christ rather than following meticulous religious rules decreed by the Scribes and Pharisees. The idea of practicing spiritual disciplines was imported to the text, not found there.
We live in an age of mysticism. People lust for spiritual reality and spiritual experiences. The danger is that unbiblical practices will give people a real spiritual experience, but not from God. Deception is the likely outcome. God puts a boundary around the means by which we come to Him and grow in Him for our own protection. If we ignore the boundary set by Biblical guidelines, there is no telling were we will end up. If however, we come to God on His terms, knowing that we have a High Priest who is at the right hand of God, and that we have access through His blood into the holiest place, we can be assured we cannot be any closer to God this side of heaven.
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
End Notes
- This happened during the summer of 2005 at Bethel Theological Seminary in Arden Hills, MN.
- Michael Ford, Wounded Prophet (Image: New York, 1999); for a review: http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/bookreview/item_1589.html
- Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines, Understanding How God Changes Lives, (HarperCollins: New York, 1991)
- Ibid. 1.
- Ibid. 5.
- Ibid. 9.
- Ibid. 10.
- Ibid. 11-18.
- Ibid. 40.
- Ibid. 33.
- Ibid. 40.
- Craig L. Blomberg, “Matthew” in The New American Commentary (Broadman: Nashville, 1992) 195.
- Willard, 17.
- Ibid. 18.
- Ibid. emphasis his.
- Ibid. 19.
- Ibid.
- Ibid. 95.
- Ibid. 99.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Ibid. 63.
- Ibid.
- Ibid. 62.
- Ibid. Willard errors in failing to tell us that this “destiny” is not one that is actualized now, but is linked to Christ’s return: 1John 3:2b –“but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
- Ibid. 64.
- Ibid. 65.
- Ibid. 67.
- Ibid. 68.
- Ibid. emphasis his.
- Ibid. 238.
- Ibid.
- Ibid. 239.
- Ibid. 243.
- Ibid.
- Ibid. 157.
- Ibid.
- Ibid. 158.
- Ibid. 161, 162.
- Ibid. 190.
- Ibid. 142-144.
- Ibid. 144.
- Ibid. 145.
- See Bob DeWaay, “Means of Grace” in Critical Issues Commentary, Issue 84, Sept./Oct. 2004. HTTP://CICMINISTRY.ORG/COMMENTARY/ISSUE84.HTM
- Willard, 191.
- Ibid. 151, 152 emphasis his.
- The Bible does tell us to “discipline ourselves”; but in this context: “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1Timothy 4:7, 8). Notice however that Paul is teaching the practice of godliness not “bodily discipline” to create godliness. Willard’s promotion of bodily activities as “discipline” is not supported by this text.
Spiritual Formation and Contemplative Prayer Exposed
Jesus Calling Devotional Exposed: 10 Things You Might Not Know
Apostasy
Sorcery, Pharmakeia
Originally written by Allegra Spaulding (edited)
This is the Devil’s COUNTERFEIT of the natural healing herbs that the Lord has provided for us.
“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” Genesis 1:29
We choose what tree we will eat from……
If we eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, then we are receiving demonic knowledge. This is the knowledge from the fallen angels. This is the source of Pharmakeia.
“This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” James 3:15
Babylon is the epicenter of this witchcraft.
“And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee (Babylon); and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries (Pharmakeia), were all nations deceived.” Revelation 18:23
Babylon is introducing the Beast System of Medicine. The trial run was the Covid 19 agenda which has killed millions of people through blood clots, turbo cancers, and heart failure. It was SORCERY against the nations conducted through the Spirit of Pharmakeia, which includes the witchcraft spirits of Control and Intimidation. People were forced to take a vac-c-ine in order to keep their jobs to feed their families. With devastating consequences. The third leading cause of death in the United States is medical procedures and pharmeseuticals (pharmakeia).
The Lord is calling us out of the system of Pharmakeia. He wants us to repent and separate ourselves.
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4
There is a judgment coming upon the spirit of Pharmakeia and we do not want to be entangled with it.
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
PHARMAKEUS translates to: a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion; a druggist (“pharmacist”) or poisoner, i.e. (by extension) a magician:—sorcerer.
We have better promises. We can feast on the Tree of Life for our medicine.
“And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” Ezekiel 47:12
It’s time to get healthy and come out of the Babylonian Medical System. Shall we begin with prayer?
Lord Jesus, I repent for seeking the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil for knowledge about my health. I know that You have supplied for all of my needs through natural herbs and the leaves of the Tree of Life. You are the Tree of Life. In Jesus’ name.
May the ungodly soul-ties between myself and the spirit of Pharmakeia be broken now in Jesus’ name. May all the ungodly soul-ties between myself and the medical system, hospitals, doctors, and nurses be broken now in Jesus’ name.
May every curse spoken over this life You gave regarding sickness be broken and cancelled with every medical diagnosis, in Jesus’ name.
Thank You LORD Jesus that according to the Word of God, by Your stripes I am healed! And as I seek Your wisdom and Your knowledge that comes from Heaven.
Lord, please give me wisdom about food intake, about my lifestyle, and about these choices so that I can receive divine health. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:1-2
“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.” 1 Corinthians 10:21
“And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.” 2 Kings 1:16
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Articles
Off The Chain! Mood Drugs Exposed [podcast]
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
In his prayer of repentance, the sweet psalmist of Israel, the beloved David, cried “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalms 51:12).
“I took these drugs for 20+ years and they are dangerous, highly addictive and can do lasting damage. They cure nothing and in many cases cause more long term problems. Depression is absolutely demonic in my experience. GOD is the only answer. Thank you for speaking the truth on this. I’ve found SO many are deceived and blinded by the world system and claim there’s nothing wrong with psych drugs and that God gave man the wisdom to create these. Total nonsense. Anti anxiety meds slow brain activity and are definitely linked to dementia.” Jen G
“I am really enjoying your podcasts and I really hate pills (drugs) as they create more health problems. I am learning every day how I have been deceived. It’s really quite shocking. Its the side effects to these awful medicine that concern me. That is why there so many people with Alzheimer’s and dementia might be the cause and then e additives and chemicals that the farmers spray. Devils cocktail seem like. I am going organic. I am so glad that I am getting washed by the Word. Amen.” Penny
Carol Burke writes:
“Romans 8:15 says ‘For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.’ Fear is a spirit that torments man to terrorize him internally, to not permit the fruit of the Holy Spirit to manifest internally to set men free. Thank You Lord! We need not fear as one that is in bondage to his master! I am no longer a slave but a son! Drugs is bondage!”
Mood Drug Madness is the Prophesied Antichrist Sorcery, Witchcraft Wielded Over all Who aren’t Truly In Christ (Revelation 18:23).
“…for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.” Revelation 18:23
Getting Honest is the First Step Toward Total Victory
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
Jesus taught us that man’s sin comes out of his “desperately wicked” heart (Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:20-23).
The devil and his agents have created a million ways to divert us from stopping our lives, getting honest, taking personal responsibility, humbling ourselves, admitting our sins against God, and repenting.
“When David took his sin to God in Psalm 51 he took 100 percent responsibility! He did not blame Bathsheba and did not seek therapy or medications. He took his heart to God. Repented and pleaded with the Lord to forgive and cleanse him. And the Lord restored to him the joy of his salvation. David was truly broken before God. And the only answer he sought was the Lord.” Karen Cochran
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“There are legitimate diseases and drugs. This is rather broad. You break your leg you go to the doctor don’t you? Same for mental, mood problems, right? I wouldn’t argue against scripture… but I also couldn’t believe you are the judge of every person who is medically assisted. Not every illness is miraculously healed. We live in a fallen world.”
REPLY:
You are using human reasoning so I will not answer this question. Drugging demons and depression is a cheap counterfeit and a mere band aid. It has never nor ever will result in curing the root. Jesus alone can make the heart right, not doctors. Where did Jesus or any of His apostles prescribe a drug, especially for someone’s mental state? Memorize Colossians 2:8-10.
We are complete in Christ who is our Salvation and He did a perfect work and lives to provide what He died to purchase (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:24-26). | Christ Lives to Provide What He Died to Purchase
Drugs dull and numb the mind and put a person in an altered state, not to mention that they are also proven to damage the internal organ. This numbing of the mind is of diabolical design in order to lead rebels into eternal damnation.
What does 2 Timothy 1:7 say? Devils have legal right to the minds of every person who has not truly repented and is not currently abiding in Christ. Sin gives an open door, legal right to Satan. Memorize James 4:7. Notice when the demon possessed maniac at Gadara had those demons cast out by Jesus…. what happened? What was his mental state, his mood?
‘And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and IN HIS RIGHT MIND: and they were afraid.’ Mark 5:15
Jesus didn’t prescribe a drug and we are to do what He did and not to do what He didn’t do. In fact He specifically commanded us to do such:
‘And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;’ Mark 16:17
Are those who take mood drugs, drugging demons?
This message in no way declares that every human malady is healed miraculously. This post does absolutely challenge with the Bible the idea of drugging our minds to effect our mood, our spiritual or psychological state. I am judging you as being biblical illiterate (John 7:24; 8:47) and certainly put no trust in your mere human reasoning or mind. Show us all one place in the Bible where Jesus, His apostles, or prophets ever prescribed a drug for a person’s mental, spiritual, psychological state? Waiting…. you gave no Scripture so apparently your trust is in something else other than God’s Word. You would do well to get into the Word.
Are you blessed or cursed?
‘Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.’ Jeremiah 17:5
Luke was a physician. God provides them. Yet the LORD is a Jealous God who is the only Soul-ution for our spirit, soul, and body (2 Chronicles 16:12). Drugging ourselves for our mental, spiritual, psychological state is something the LORD supplies through the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23).
The battle that rages is a spiritual battle. We shall suffer such attacks in the flesh as long as we are on earth and so submitting ourselves afresh in prayer to the LORD as you did is essential in the victory. Memorizing James 4:7 is amazing!!!
To say one needs a drug for his mood is to say Jesus didn’t do a complete work (2 Timothy 1:7). WHAT are the 9 dimensions of the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ which are born and alive in every truly abiding saint of Christ? (See Galatians 5:22-23.) There is no such thing as a disciple of Jesus, blessed with the fruit of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace – that takes a drug for their mood. They don’t need such a cheap demonic counterfeit.
Psalm 51 – after we seek the LORD in true repentance, He cleanses us, and restores unto us ‘the joy of thy salvation’ which is a whole, complete salvation – spirit, soul, mind, body (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
So if a Christian is taking a mood drug, are they trusting Christ or the drug?
‘And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.’ 2 Chronicles 16:12
So, will we trust the Great Physician or the worlds physicians?
The sin of unbelief (Hebrews 3-4).
‘How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! 41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and LIMITED THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL. 42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.’ Psalms 78:40-42
There are so very many people who claim to be Christ’s yet they don’t listen to Christ – His written Word. No, they have no time to revel in ‘ALL things that pertain to life and godliness’ found in the ‘exceeding great and precious promises’ of the Word of God (2 Peter 1:3-4). Yet, these same people do spend endless energy and time listening to and obeying this fallen world’s mere human ‘experts.’ Sad. Telling. Bad fruit. Spiritual adultery. Hell awaits.
‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me.’ Exodus 20:3
Limiting God is a sin. Unbelief. ‘Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and LIMITED THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL’ (Psalms 78:41).
Are we forgetting the benefits the LORD provided in His perfect salvation?
‘Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:’ Psalms 103:2
We live in a drug-crazed, drug-dependent world. Isn’t using a drug for our mental, psychological, and spiritual state not an indictment upon our glorious LORD God who gave His only begotten Son for our redemption, our wholeness, our salvation? When He saves us we are born again and the divine Holy Spirit dwells in us, His temples (1 Corinthians 3:16). We are new creatures in Christ and yet by gullibly allowing a mere man to prescribe a drug, we forfeit the blessing of God (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Repentance needed for ‘an evil heart of unbelief’ (Hebrews 3:12-15). God doesn’t band aid things, He heals and makes whole to the root. Dare we accuse the Almighty of shorting us, of the sacrifice of His Son not being enough, not providing a complete salvation?
“Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.” Jeremiah 17:14
A mood drug is a band aid for the unrepentant – not the divine solution.
Got depression? Are you seeking the LORD in true repentance whereby He will grant you great joy? (Psalms 51; 2 Timothy 1:7)
Sin is the Root of all of Man’s Problems: Drugs are Never the Solution
Depression is merely the result of sin, of living in sin. Period. No stupid medicine has or ever will solve such. Only Jesus can and did solve man’s sin dilemma. Surrendering in repentant to the Savior is sin’s solution and all the evil it brings such as depression (Romans 6:23).
“Die to self! My depression left once I fully surrendered to the Lord my wicked self! Depression is all the result of you trying to do it in your own strength! And being stuck in self! Humbly surrender to God and He will lift you up out of the horrible pit (which is what depression is), the miry clay (despair) and set your feet upon the rock of Jesus! Then He will put a new song in your heart! A song of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord! (Psalm 40:2-3). The joy of the Lord will be your strength! (Nehemiah 8:10). Alleluia!” Karen Cochran
David had sinned grossly. He cried out to the LORD in sincere repentance. What happened that restored ‘the JOY of thy salvation’ to this man after God’s own heart? Can anyone find a mood drug in this divine prescription or anywhere in God’s Word?
‘Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.’ Psalms 51:8-12
Upon authentic repentance, David was restored to the joy of the LORD and upheld, uplifted by the Holy Spirit of God.
Those who refuse to truly repent and lay down their lives in this fleeting world are subjected and relegated to dependence on the world’s cheap substitutes which never get to the root of the issue but rather only mask it with a band aid. Until they see this for the sin it is, the sin of unbelief – out of ‘an evil heart of unbelief’ -they shall remain unstable, unsound, and in bondage to a drug (Hebrews 3:12-15).
THOSE WHO FOLLOW JESUS DON’T NEED AN ANTIDEPRESSANT BECAUSE THEY ARE FULL OF THE JOY OF THE LORD.
‘For the joy of the LORD is your strength.’ Nehemiah 8:10
The true born again disciple of Jesus, abiding daily in Him, is full of His divine ‘Love, JOY, peace…’ (Galatians 5:22-23) Such an authentic follower of Jesus doesn’t walk in ‘the counsel of the ungodly’ but rather in the counsel, the Word of God ‘and in his law doth he meditate day and night’ (Psalms 1). The joy of the LORD is our strength and abides and remains in His abiding disciples – so they have need of nothing, no counterfeit, no cheap substitute for what God provides!
‘These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.’ John 15:11
Never Underestimate the Power of Jesus!
As you read this fascinating story of maniacal demon possession, to solve this problem, ask what solution Jesus provided. Did the Son of God prescribe a drug, send someone to the doctor, or cast out the devils?
“And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” Mark 5:1-20
Here was a demon possessed maniac who was so overcome by the devil that he terrorized the whole town of Gadara, cried aloud, stripped himself, cut himself, and broke the chains that held him bound – until Jesus broke his chain! He was then off the chain – completely set free and “sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind” (Mk. 5:15).
The power of God changed this man’s life as it is changing lives today around the world. Jesus set this bound soul free from all those devils that had taken residence inside him and gave this man a sound mind! God be praised! God will take off the chain that binds every soul that hears and obeys His Gospel.
This once demon possessed maniacal man was now restored by Heaven’s King who came “to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10).
“The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
WHEN we see humanity being stolen from, robbed, killed, destroyed, through sin and Satan, we must see through the eyes of Jesus, His Word.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12
EVERY person we deal with, is a precious soul Jesus created and died for. Their outer shell might be very ugly, destroyed, nasty…. yet they are an eternal soul Jesus died and was raised again to save.
Father, please help us see Your truth, reality via Your kingdom eyes. Open our eyes that we might see as You see. In Jesus’ name LORD.
How did our LORD deal with the maniac at Gadara? He did not condemn, He cured!
Jesus came to save, to set men free from sin and Satan! We are His hands and feet in the earth!
God is Greater than all Falsehood
“Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar…” Romans 3:3-4
While in a retail location (car dealership) I was quickened by the Spirit to minister to a certain man in his 20’s. As I moved toward him, I saw what looked like an open Bible on his work station desk so I asked about it and he said “No, this is a Quran.” I said “Oh okay” and never slowed down or broke stride (by God’s grace) to worry about what diversionary tactic the enemy was using against this precious soul. So, immediately, with a hand of compassion on his shoulder, looked him in the eye and began to lovingly tell Him how much Jesus loved Him and died for his sins and that Christ was the only Person in history who foretold His own death, burial, and resurrection, and then accomplished it all, rising from the dead after dying on that cross on Calvary’s hill. I told him how that He is alive right now and forevermore to save to the uttermost! I shared with this man that only Jesus Christ bares nailed-scarred hands and feet to prove He is the very Son of God and paid the only price that propitiates (atones) for our sins, satisfying the claims of the Father’s justice. By this point this man’s eyes were filled with tears. The Holy Spirit was touching his searching heart which can never be filled or satisfied by anything but Christ, the Prince of peace, whose love and truth is communicated in and through His Word.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17
The tears in this man’s eyes, emanating from his broken soul, can be a reminder to our understanding that God made all souls and that He can and will find and touch anyone He chooses through His Word, Spirit, and servants! (See Ezek. 18:4.) Never believe a lie or system of lies to be greater than the power of your God! The Jehovah Witness, Mormon, Islamic, Catholic religions are merely man-made religions and unlike the Gospel, have no power to redeem! The divine Person of the Holy Ghost is only behind and confirming the true Gospel with signs following, the greatest sign being the new birth in the hearts of men! (See Mk. 16:15-20; Jn. 3:3, 7; Tit. 3:5-6.) Only the Person and Gospel of Jesus Christ transforms lives completely – from the inside out! Only God can grant the new birth!
Could there possibly be any message in the world greater or more powerful than the one given by the One who made all things?
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16
“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29
Only God can truly change a life from the inside out! Only Jesus can turn a heart of stone into a heart of flesh! (See Ezek. 36:25-27.) The Gospel is superior to any other system of religion. Nothing compares to the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ that has saved and sanctified millions of precious souls the world over and is still marching on across the nations, one heart at a time. Fear not – “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 Jn. 4:4). Saints, let us simply and obediently communicate God’s truth in love and watch Jesus work to save! – “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6). He has promised to bless as you obey!
Jesus Never Fails!
Didn’t Jesus reach into your own hardened and wretched soul, interrupting your life of sin and save you?! If so, is He not able to do the same in others? Didn’t He tell us that His infinitely mighty arm is not shorted or hindered and that His ear is not closed and that He is able to save to the uttermost? (See Isa. 59:1-2; Heb. 7:24-26.) Let’s look at these words in Hebrews 7 – makes me want to shout with joy at the depth of divine revelation of His love and grace evident in this passage:
“But this man (Jesus), because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” Hebrews 7:24-26
Christ came in the volume of the book of which it is written to break the chains of sin and Satan and lies!
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18
Why Did Jesus Come?
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8
There is only ONE Glorious Gospel Revealing One Unique Savior!
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-7
The glorious Gospel of Jesus can go into the depths of the soul, convict, draw and save! Heavenly Father please forgive our unbelief and increase our faith, in Jesus’ name!
I must say that I was pleasantly surprised at the way Jesus touched the heart of this searching soul who was looking at someone else other than to the LORD for answers. His understanding had been diverted. My surprised response perhaps underscores the unbelief in my heart. God forgive me for counting the lies of Satan greater than the stone-crushing, devil-exterminating power of God’s eternal truth (Jer. 23:29). Never prejudge – just obey because “to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Sam. 15:22). Always know that God’s Word never returns to Him void but always accomplishes that which He desires (Isa. 55:11).
In this late hour Christ is opening eyes and shattering the chains of darkness that bind so many – no matter what flavor of deception the enemy has used to blind them. The Holy Spirit and Word of God will break through to those who choose to have ears to hear. O LORD let the Gospel be heard from those whom He has found and redeemed – “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Ps. 107:2). Father please open doors for the ministry of Your Word. Open hearts and redeem souls Jesus! Our LORD Jesus came “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18).
JESUS came to make captives free. SATAN’s agents seek to put you in bondage! (Luke 4:18; John 10:10; Galatians 2:4-5; 5:1)
As the demon-possessed maniac at Gadara experienced, to those who hear, repent, and believe, Christ, the power of God, is the chain–breaking, shackle-shattering Savior and LORD!
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
As we are blessed to communicate God’s love and Word, He is going to deliver souls and take people off the chain the enemy has bound them with!
“It is a spiritual issue. Was in my room reading then started getting all these thoughts to kill myself. It started getting louder I knew this was a demonic attack and I was being tested! I thought I was losing my mind but Jesus came through and protected me! Showed me what he was trying to show me through a fiery trial. It’s all spiritual! I’ve never had thoughts like that in my entire life. No explanation. Praise Jesus!!” Nicole
Do you think that if some believer had gotten to this searching man first and gave him a Bible and communicated the Gospel, that it would have prevented the deception of a foreign religion from encroaching upon his precious soul?
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:15-20
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“So what are you saying people shouldn’t take antidepressants when they have a lack of serotonin in their brain which is why you take antidepressants?”
REPLY:
Is that the real answer? WHO gave that diagnosis? WHERE is our trust? Is GOD not enough to heal that supposed ailment if it’s true in the first place? Remember, doctors have to come up with a “diagnosis” in order to prescribe a drug. That’s how they make their money.
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“Have you ever suffered with a mental illness?”
REPLY:
Is it real? Is the issue material or spiritual? That’s where so many have bought the lie from the world’s doctors instead of going to the Word of God. It’s time to cease making excuse, repent, get into the Word and obey God. HE alone is our Salvation and will bring perfect wholeness just as we see Him doing in the Gospels (1 Thessalonians 5:23). This is a spiritual issue and James 4:7 gives the divine solution to shutting Satan out:
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
PRAYER: Glorious LORD Jesus, please forgive my evil heart of unbelief and grant my heart a fresh start this moment! I repent now of all the idolatry, and spiritual adultery, evil unbelief, and how I’ve not trusted You but rather mere men. Thank You for Your infinite power and desire to redeem men and thank You for finding and saving me dear LORD. I love You LORD Jesus and thank You so much that You had no beginning and have no end and have always been and ever live to make intercession for the souls of men who will come to You for Your salvation which includes their spirit, soul, and body. Your salvation is complete and provides for the whole person of those You redeem. Please make me whole – spirit, soul, and body. Grant a sound heart and sound mind and body. As Your people fervently await Your soon return, please open up doors to joyfully communicate Your eternal Gospel to others! In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Abiding
Bride of Heaven vs Harlot from Hell [podcast]
How Do We Know, Right Now, Who will be Seated at the at the Table, at the Great Supper of the Lamb? (Matthew 22; Revelation 19)
The remnant, those who will be present at the Great Supper of the Lamb in Heaven, are ALREADY feasting at the banqueting table of His Word. All others whom Jesus has saved in the past, are not fueled or flourishing but are rather famishing, fainting, and falling away.
The “little flock” of Christ desires to be with Him both now and forever, not just forever (Luke 12:32). They’ve been born again and present “abide” in/with the Savior (John 15:1-6).
No good man wants an arrangement but rather a marriage with a virtuous, faithful wife. He rightly desires a beloved wife in holy matrimony, not a whore to shack up with! Those who espouse OSAS are spiritual adulterers, whore mongers. They want a quick fix, an illicit affair that requires no commitment, carries no requirements.
The God fearing wife has set aside all else to serve her husband (1 Peter 3:1-7). She is not sidetracked nor does she waiver in her love and duty to her man. And this is what the true bride of Christ is doing today – setting aside the distractions and pursuits of this fleeting world and are seated at the feet of Jesus, waiting upon Him (1 John 2:14-17).
Her life is all about Him, not herself.
The heart of a true under shepherd is heard in these words from Christ’s apostle Paul: “I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:2-4
It’s the adulterous heart, the heart where Jesus is not truly the “first love,” the highest priority, that migrates to this sin-justifying system of theology called “eternal security” (Revelation 2:4-5). Jesus’ teaching concerning the five foolish virgins who were espoused to the Bridegroom (Jesus), and were later shut out of His bridal chamber, is clear proof that all who begin with Christ will not be with Him eternally (Matthew 25:1-13). Jesus invented the term “fall away” and told us that some who initially believe will later “fall away”—they will not “endure to the end” with Him (Luke 8:12-13; Matthew 10:22; 24:13). So, someone’s lying and it’s not the Son of God. Why would He use such words as “fall away” if these things weren’t possible, if it weren’t essential to “endure to the end” to be “saved”?
Paul says we, the saints of Christ on earth, are “espoused” to Christ the Bridegroom – engaged, not married (2 Corinthians 11:2-4).
With no exception, ALL wise virgin believers are in the Word daily. They commune with the Bridegroom and He fills them daily with His heavenly virtue, oil (Matthew 25:1-13).
Just because one is “espoused” to Jesus, that is, engaged to the Bridegroom of Heaven, doesn’t mean they will ultimately be married to Him as is proven in Christ’s parable of the 10 virgins where only 5 made it into the eternal bridal chamber with the bridegroom (Matthew 25:1-13). They other 5 were shut out for treating the engagement/espousal as a mere arrangement.
The most elaborate, the most grandiose dinner awaits the saints of Christ! Words cannot possibly express the grandeur of Christ’s welcoming dinner…. a celebration to end all others – the beginning, the inaugural celebration of eternity with Christ and His saints of all ages.
The foolish virgins are making excuse for sins (Proverbs 28:13a. The wise virgins are hastening to repentance (Matthew 25:1-13; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 John 3:3; Revelation 19:7-10).
“Revelation 19:7-9: We are to ‘bear the image of the heavenly.’ (1 Cor 15:49).Our sinful nature crucified, sanctified, dead and buried, and then we take on the heavenly glorified nature of Christ! Our whole spirit, soul and body is being transformed more and more into the image of Jesus! (1 Thesolonians 5:23). We must be fully clothed in righteousness and holiness to enter the marriage supper of the Lamb! This is the only way to be accounted worthy! And not have our names blotted out of the book of life.” Karen Cochran
“Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.” Proverbs 14:9
Mocking at sin relates to any lax or crass attitude toward what He that is Holy declares to be sin – which separates men from God. There’s is divine grace and favor on all who are honest, repent, and forsake sin.
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and HIS WIFE HATH MADE HERSELF READY. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:7-9
WHAT’s the use of talking about end times and the events of these final days if we aren’t even going to be “READY” when Jesus does return?
“Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:40
Read the passage below as to exactly, specifically what Bride Jesus will return for and please explain how a person who genuinely got saved and now is living in sin is going to be Christ’s Bride eternally:
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:12-13
As the husband and wife require their intimate personal time together for relations, so the bride of Christ must have her individual, set apart time of intimacy with the Bridegroom, Jesus. This is biblical imagery (Matthew 25:1-13; Ephesians 5:25-30; Revelation 19:7-9).
Christ’s bride that He will soon return for is holy and holy means set apart. Christ’s Heaven-bound disciples are known by their fervent loyalty to their Master, Jesus. Sweet fellowship with Christ is at the cornerstone of their schedule. The LORD is their undisputed priority. Having a daily, set apart time with Christ is essential of the infusion of Heaven’s nutrient-rich substance, to remaining in an abiding relationship with the Bridegroom (Psalms 27:4, 8; Matthew 5:6, etc.).
Drinking from the well of Heaven daily is the mainstay duty and practice of every true wise virgin believer (Matthew 25:1-13). Their relationship with their Bridegroom is their most important occupation. He’s absolutely first. Jesus is not a second class citizen in their life (Revelation 2:4-5).
Do we remember how Paul spoke of a man and wife coming together and how if they don’t, if they neglect intimacy, they will be tempted to migrate to someone else other than their mate? (1 Corinthians 7:1-5)
“Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” 1 Corinthians 7:1-5
Are we, are you rendering “due benevolence” to your LORD and Savior, the Bridegroom of Heaven? If not, you are being drawn away to another lover, a false god, an altar of idol worship.
You are Cordially Invited to this Great Supper of and with the Lamb of God
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17
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