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Scam Prophets and Prophecies

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

Forever Relevant

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Isaiah 40:8

Discernment Clue: Ministries that aren’t provoking you to get into God’s WRITTEN Word FOR YOURSELF DAILY, simply want you to depend on them-not God! RUN NOW!

Those who use the word “prophetic” desire to be the oracle, instead of letting God’s written Word be what it is – the final divine authority, the divine oracle and only one needed! Pride.

When the slick enterprising pastors and their disciples come along to teach you a more “relevant” way or un-biblical method, move closer to, search deeper, and cling to the Holy Scriptures which are tried, true, and eternally relevant, fresh, and charged with the divine life of the One who spoke them. – “These words are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63) God’s words are always in style with Him and those who truly love Him. So, beware of the cheap substitutes which daily present themselves to you, seeking to sift you from resolute, pure trust in the God who gave us His Word (Luke 22:31-32).

Many seek to capitalize on your desire to discern, know, and follow God’s will. Beware.

God’s Word says “despise not prophesyings” and yet in the very next sentence it also warns us to “prove (test) all things.” (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21) I don’t even read most “prophecies,” prophetic words, dreams, visions, etc. that circulate these days. Most of these “words” are coming from un-grounded novices, or flagrant flakes who don’t simply “Preach the word” but rather keep the circus wheels of their “ministry” spinning by their continual words (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Not that I despise them and yet the Word of God is inherently prophetic and the primary way God leads and guides His New Testament church (Isaiah 46:9-10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.).

“Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21

GOD already told us in His Word all we need to know about these final days (Isaiah 46:9-10; 2 Peter 1:3-4; 19-21, etc.). Gauging all things by the written Word is key to escaping the prophesied end time apostasy. Some people choose to be led astray by the “MANY false prophets” Jesus warns us about who would “deceive MANY.” (Matthew 24:11)

Prophetic or Pathetic?

WHEN DECEIVERS USE THE TERM “DON’T PUT GOD IN A BOX” WHAT THEY ARE REALLY SAYING IS “DON’T LISTEN TO HOW GOD DESCRIBED HIMSELF, HIS WILL, His divine attributes, sin, AND holiness, ETC. DON’T LISTEN TO HIS OWN WORD. LET ME SHOW YOU AN ALTERNATIVE, SOMETHING THAT CONTRADICTS HIS WORD!” THESE ARE SATAN’S WOLVES WHO SEEK TO SEDUCE YOU TO FORSAKE CHRIST BY FORSAKING HIS WORD. APOSTASY! RUN! SEE ACTS 17:10-11; PSALMS 33:11; 119:89, 105; JOHN 8:47; ROMANS 3:4; 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17; 2 PETER 1:19-21.

Self-appointed “prophetic” flakes constantly fly about the seat of their pants, always looking for some ear-tickling “revelation” or “vision” or “word” they claim is from God as they flippantly use His holy name in vain. Yet they have no involvement in reading, studying, learning, and teaching the sound doctrine of God’s “MORE sure word of prophecy” which is specifically the recorded, “Holy Scriptures.” (2 Timothy 2:15-17; 2 Peter 1:16-21, etc.)

The so-called “prophetic” movement is for those who want to self-actualize, a luciferian New Age term and practice. Pure damnable pride. They are basically warlocks and witches, operating in witchcraft while using the name of the LORD in vain.

So he’s prophesying, giving words, visions, and dreams but not preaching the cross – and you STILL don’t see he’s a wolf? Repent sinner.

Here’s what the so-called “prophetic” is all about… scary…. SHOCKING DOCUMENTARY – False spirits invade the church – KUNDALINI WARNING – Andrew Strom

The Holy Spirit has ALREADY SPOKEN – between Genesis 1 and Revelation 22! Anything that is of God that is spoken today must line up with Holy Scripture which is the “more sure word of prophecy.” (2 Peter 1:19-21)

The “MANY false prophets” Scripture warns us about are known in that they seek to set themselves up above the LORD, perpetrating their weak, lame, foolish “words” on people to put a spell on them, attempting to bewitch their prey. ALL true servants of the LORD hold His written revelation WORD as the highest divine authority (2 Peter 1:16-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

WHEN the LORD gives a word, it’s always going to include the cross, repentance, and holiness. This excludes 95% of the “words” we see circulating. Beware saints. Discern.

Yes there are prophets in the New Testament, undeniably and yet, most if not all the people calling themselves such are the very wolves we are warned of. Read these: Ephesians 4:11; Acts 11:27; 13:1 …. New Testament prophets are not the same as in the Old Testament. All true men of God exalt Christ not self and the written Word as final authority (2 Peter 1:12-21).

UNTIL you have the revelation given us in 2 Peter 1:12-21, you are vulnerable to be deceived and ultimately “fall away” from the LORD – to apostatize (Luke 8:13; 1 Timothy 4:1, etc.). WHAT is the LORD conveying to us, His people, in 2 Peter 1:12-21?

“People want a word from God instead of the Word OF God.” Warren Smith

Those who look for a “word”, a “prophetic word” aren’t grounded in THE WORD – “the MORE sure word of prophecy” which is the real, recorded prophetic Word from God Himself who told us the end from the beginning! (Isaiah 46:9-10; 2 Peter 1:19-21) … Prophetic or Pathetic?

Hell is full of people who were initially saved while on earth and yet were lazy – refused to study, know, and walk in God’s Word for themselves – so they fell away! (Luke 8:11-15)

MANY seem to reveal that they have man in mind and not God. God’s Word is final divine authority. “Let GOD be true and EVERY man a liar.” (Romans 3:4) The Berean saints did not put even the great apostle of Christ above the Word (Acts 17:10-11)

“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” John 12:43

A lot of people have been schooled by wolves and don’t realize it. They are using God’s Word to self-actualize. That means it’s all about THEM and THEIR gifts and not about Christ. The same warlocks that have misled these un-repentant counterfeits never preach the cross – which is essential to the Christian faith – where you must die, lay down your life, mortify self, and cry to the Father, “Not my will but thine be done.” (Luke 22:42)

The thing being pointed out here is that many use prophet and apostle as a title to elevate themselves instead of simply humbly serving while drawing all attention to Jesus and not to self – the cross.

Any man calling himself (self-appointed) a prophet, is suspect. True prophets simply do the LORD’s work humbly, never drawing attention to themselves by using titles – which Jesus forbids (Matthew 23:8-12).

The LORD’s true “prophets” are not those who come up with some word they claim is from God but rather those who strictly, humbly, and obediently preach His “more sure word of prophecy” which is the written Word and more divinely authoritative then even the audible voice of the Father speaking from Heaven – 2 Peter 1:16-21.

BEWARE OF THE “PROPHETIC” WARLOCKS! The term “prophetic” never appears in Scripture, much less phrases invented by modern wolves such as “prophetic praise,” “the prophetic,” “prophetic warfare,” “prophetic worship,” etc. RUN from this witchcraft which is designed to bring you under the control of Satan’s warlocks pretending to have a word for you as a prophet of God! Wolves in sheep’s clothing! You have God’s Word and Holy Ghost – from Genesis to Revelation – which is the “MORE sure word of prophecy.” (2 Peter 1:16-21)

Because we know that God’s written Word is FINAL Divine Authority, we are not impressed with those who run around with “a word” for people. Yes “Despise not prophesyings” (1 Thessalonians 5:20) and yet, beware of those who use gifts or supposed gifts to ensnare you and not for the edification of the body of Christ for the glory of Jesus alone (1 Corinthians 14:1-5; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

False prophets seek out and prey on gullible, ungrounded dupes – who are enamored by their title or supposed prophecies, words. Beware! The authentic disciple is enamored with the Son of God and grounded in God’s Word – “the more sure word of prophecy” – and therefore not impressed with false prophets with “words.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)

EVEN if someone prophesies and is actually comes to pass, does NOT mean they are true! Get familiar with Deuteronomy 13:1-10 saints. 1. check their doctrine, and 2. if they are announcing themselves as a “prophet,” that is a red flag. 😉

One believer writes: “Psychics are sometimes accurate, does this make them prophets? Does the enemy not have his own prophets? The woman that followed the disciples, telling others that they were men of God, was a false prophet and the disciples rebuked her. But what she was saying was true.”

IF you’re looking for a word, a dream, a vision, or anything but God’s written Word, it’s because you aren’t known of God but rather are a tare, a counterfeit! Repent and believe on the LORD Jesus Christ now before it’s too late. Self-Appointed and Greedy Prophetic Pimps (Radio) [podcast]

Have you noticed how self-appointed wolves always talk about how they are an “apostle” or “prophet” while never elevating Jesus, the only “Head” of His body – which He purchased with His very blood? (Colossians 2:18-19) The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is “the apostle and high priest” of our faith! (Hebrews 3:1) Run!

When a person around us gets all excited about a so-called “word from God” that some prophet or apostle says he or she received and yet that same person isn’t excited about “the more sure word of prophecy (the Scriptures),” then you know that such a person is utterly deceived (2 Peter 1:19-21). When people get all excited about some new book some mere man wrote and yet aren’t excited by and about the precious words of the LORD recorded in the Bible, you know that this person’s fruit is very bad.

–The LORD’s true “prophets” are not those who come up with some word they claim is from God but rather those who strictly, humbly, and obediently preach His “more sure word of prophecy” which is the written Word and more divinely authoritative than even the audible voice of the Father speaking from Heaven – 2 Peter 1:16-21

When we get the revelation that the HOLY SCRIPTURES are “the MORE MORE MORE sure word of PROPHECY,” we then become less in impressed (foolish awe) with the clowns who parade themselves as modern prophets and apostles yet fit the exact description of the beguiling wolves we are so often warned about in the “MORE sure word” which is the written Scriptures. Read, pour over 2 Peter 1:3-4, 16-21; 2:1-3. You will never be the same. Oh and Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 34.

Anyone announcing themselves to be a prophet is not a prophet of God…. but self-willed, self-serving, self-promoting, self-deceived, and self-directed. Not one disciple of Jesus ever called themself a prophet in the 27 book New Testament canon of Scripture.

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:16

“I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.” Jeremiah 23:21

“They are prophets of the deceit of their own heart.” Jeremiah 23:26

These modern day wolves are devils who refuse to preach the essential command to be holy as God is holy, true repentance, the holy fear of God, the daily cross, dying to self daily, the soon return of Christ, the uniqueness and divinity of Jesus Christ, taking up the cross, and being mortified to the sinful deeds of the body. The absence of these cardinal New Testament doctrines alone make these guys utterly counterfeit.

Do you want to be blessed? The LORD attaches present and eternal blessings to those who hear and heed His Word.

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3

Beware of the many clowns who run around teaching people to “hear the voice of God” while downplaying and subverting the authority and place of the Holy Scriptures in God’s economy and in the daily lives of His beloved people (Deuteronomy 4:2, 9-10; 1 Timothy 4:6, 16; 2 Timothy 32:15; 3:16-17; 4:2-5). I have heard this deadly lie for decades now. This idea that we are to “hear the voice of God within us” is a classic deception among the charismatic/prophetic/apostolic circles. As is all of their false theology, this notion is based on the idea that man is his own little autonomous god who is empowered by himself to do his own bidding and control his own destiny. This is Luciferic and the same exact theology of the pagan and occult New Age religions and thought. In this they are setting aside–not upholding–the only “Head” of His true Church (Colossians 2:4, 8, 18-19). Beware. We hear the voice of the LORD through His Spirit and Word (Romans 8:14; Ephesians 6:17-18, etc.).

Destiny

Lots of “fulfill your destiny” type themes in the modern church world to lure in the gullible… but it’s all self-centered and not Christ-centered. If it were according to the original Gospel, the destiny would be recognized as living a crucified life – consenting to death and burial so Christ alone can reign! Just another cross-less heresy peddled by what Paul calls “enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:18-19)

Jesus calls all who will follow Him to die – to lay down your life and will for His (Luke 9:23-24; John 5:30). This is what we are predestined to!

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son (the crucified Savior), that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29

So many seek their own vision and destiny. There is NO cross in it. Jesus was fully submitted to His Father whereas most who use these buzz words today are not also preaching the essential cross, the crucified life.

These who chase destiny are missing the cross which is central to the Gospel friend. Running around trying to fulfill our destiny is not of God. Laying down our lives – death and burial – assures us that GOD, not us, is leading and raising us up to do His will.

Jesus came to die and sent us to die and if we don’t we are not following Him (Luke 9:23-24). Seeking our own destiny is the antitheses of dying – it’s completely self-serving.

Of Jesus and through Jesus and to Jesus are all things–He is the supreme LORD of all lords and King of all kings who will soon return to exercise His infinite, divine authority and wrath upon the ungodly (Isaiah 26:21; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; 2 Peter 3; Revelation 19:11-15).

There is nothing that has more authority or relevancy than God’s Word–because of who spoke it.–“The scripture cannot be broken.” (John 10:35)

“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17

Listening to what Jesus, the LORD, told us in places like Revelation 2-3 is most important. God has spoken to us in His “MORE sure word of prophecy”–the Holy Scriptures (Hebrews 1:1-3; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Psalms 119:105). Hearing the very words of God is hearing the fresh voice of God. Beware of the flashy, flesh-flattering titles of the books and products of the many wolves who operate in the apostate church world. Their use of the word “fresh” and others words of this type are designed to entice the potential buyer to believe they have the word of the hour and are the man or woman of the hour. Scam!

Jesus is the KING of every hour and that will never change!

Most of what is called prophecy today is simply flattery and serves no divine purpose as given in His Word. For example, why would the unchanging God change by doing something that has no purposes consistent with what He stated in His Word? Why would He send gold dust? What purpose has it? Gold dust has no purpose that is consistent with His stated plan and program to save and build up His people (Matthew 28:18-20). Do we not know that Satan himself can perform lying signs and wonders and that only those who do not choose to be valiant for and love the truth of God’s Word will be deceived? (Jeremiah 9:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

Remember that it was the evil Pharisees (wolves) that asked to see a frivolous sign. But what did Jesus say in response?

“Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. ³⁹But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:” Matthew 12:38-39

WHAT kind of person looks for a sign? – “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign.” (Matthew 12:39)

“God and His Word are synonymous (John 1:1). Any attempt to divorce the written Word, which is our only objective standard for truth, from the Living Word should be viewed as utterly Satanic. Beware of men who subtly denigrate the written Word while promoting a supposed deeper spirituality by ‘being led by the Spirit.’ Don’t be deceived, if you reject God’s Word you reject His Spirit. If you refuse to obey His Word you cannot be led by the Holy Ghost. God’s Spirit always leads in perfect accordance with God’s Word; always, without exception.” Pastor Britt Williams

IF you are defending Satan’s wolves in our midst it’s because you are one of them! Repent sinner!

God’s Word never diminishes, fades, or loses power–it’s always–perpetually and eternally-fresh, relevant, instructive, and life giving. In light of this truth, do not be “carried about”or snared by these so-called “fresh” words from God and the demonic mystique surrounding this diabolical myth.

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Ephesians 4:14

The only way to prevent being “tossed to and fro, and carried about”–blown away–is to be soundly and thoroughly grounded in the Scriptures through daily study, meditation, and memorization (Joshua 1:8; Proverbs 4:4; Jeremiah 15:16). Not one of us lacks capacity; we only lack choosing to fear God, delighting in Him, and living a disciplined life that reflects His work in us (Philippians 2:12-13).

The disciple of Jesus who has THE Word doesn’t go around looking for “a word” from a mere man or woman claiming to be a prophet or prophetess or apostle. This doesn’t mean there aren’t people who function in these gifts biblically, and yet there are many today misleading people with a misuse of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12-14). Prophetic accuracy does not authenticate a person as from God (Deuteronomy 13). Read Deuteronomy 13 and you will discover that if a person comes among God’s people and prophesies and what he predicts comes to pass and then he teaches false doctrine, he is to be put out and marked as false.

Fruit is more important than gifts. Gifts do not prove that one is saved. In fact, Jesus told us that “MANY” would brag about their gifts just before being terminated into hell. Fruit is the clear that one has a saving relationship with Jesus Christ! (Matthew 7:13-29) Nearly anyone can feign to have spiritual gifts. The occult gurus/Shamans do that and so do all false religious leaders.

Jesus did not say we’d “know” (discern) people but their gifts but rather “by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16, 20) The FRUIT of the Spirit is more important than the GIFTS of the Spirit because it proves relationship (Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:7-10). Good fruit can only be produced through relationship. The gifts of the Spirit ARE important and yet, some who are presently operating in them will be hearing “depart from me” from Jesus as they are being cast into eternal hell irrevocably (Matthew 7:15-23). This proves that someone can move in the gifts of the Spirit without walking in an intimate relationship with Jesus which will always, without fail, produce “the FRUIT of the Spirit” which “is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance.“ (Galatians 5:16-24).

Can devils do miracles? “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (Revelation 16:14) See also 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 and Deuteronomy 13:1-10.

Deuteronomy 13:1-10 tells us that even if a prophet comes and does a miracle or prophesies something that comes to pass and then speaks false doctrine to lead you away from the LORD, he is to be stoned. This clearly teaches us that the gifts of the Spirit do not authenticate any minister or leader or ministry.

The nine gifts of the Spirit do have a divine purpose and have not passed away because that which is perfect has not yet come (1 Corinthians 12-14).

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7

Here in the Scriptures of truth the Son of God is warning us to “hear what the Holy Spirit saith” to His people and not what some man or men are saying the Spirit is saying. The Holy Spirit gave us the Scriptures–“holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:20-21) We know He is divine, perfect and unchanging and so would never “alter” or change His Word to us (Psalms 89:23; 119:89). Also, “the sword of the Spirit IS the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17) Do we think the LORD is going to contradict what He has already spoken? How in the world can I possibly rightly discern some prophetic word coming from a mere human if I don’t daily and diligently study THE Word of God? (2 Timothy 2:15) To endure to the end, we must be like the Berean believers who “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Psalms 89:34

Also, when Jesus seven times says “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches,” He’s not talking about trying to hear something inside of your corrupt, depraved, and “desperately wicked” heart (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3). No, He’s teaching us here to walk the narrow road with His precious Precepts shining on our feet and on our path. After Adam fell into sin, our hearts are not to be trusted (Romans 5:12, 19; 7:1-24). –“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26)

There’s another safety measure our Great Shepherd put in place to protect us and that’s the counsel of the righteous–those who are sound in the faith due to being soberly rooted and grounded in sound doctrine.–“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.” (Proverbs 27:9) Godly counsel will always come out of God’s Word and will be a confirming factor in our hearts when making key decisions in this life.

Currently, I, like many of you, am blessed to have the “hearty counsel” of several God-fearing men who walk daily in God’s Word. Yet, throughout the years I have witnessed folks who have been subverted and intoxicated by the charismatic wolves who don’t walk out sound truth by faith in what they get straight from the Bible. Instead, they live by so-called prophetic words, visions, dreams, and whimsical hyperbole. There is a particular group of these guys I know of who don’t work, don’t hold to or diligently study the written Word, and yet conjure up and are led by all kinds of “words” they say are God’s “prophetic” words for them. In order to perpetuate the deception, they constantly have “words” for each other, pretending those “words” are from God and yet have set aside God’s Holy written Word to be led of their own “words.” (Jeremiah 5:31; 14:14; Colossians 2:18)This is “the error of the wicked” that we are warned not to be “led away” from Christ by (2 Peter 1:19-3:18). Is this a new thing? No.

All spiritual gifts or the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to point to and glorify the divine Person of Jesus Christ alone and not to be used to feature or elevate human flesh, making the one with the gift the focal point. When the Holy Spirit is moving in a saint it will be obvious in that Jesus Christ alone will be glorified and His written, “more sure word of prophecy”will be the message (2 Peter 1:19-21). As it was in the days of the prophets, so it is today. Beguiled souls who have been “led away with the error of the wicked” regurgitate the same twisted blend of deceptive words they have learned from the wolves whom they have submitted themselves under and this includes the borrowing and speaking of the words of these wolves (2 Peter 3:17). There’s a whole new language they learn, using such terms as portals, the prophetic, soaking, etc., where they dazzle the gullible souls who follow and support their witchcrafts.

“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:18

So, instead of honoring God by learning and speaking the “more sure word of prophecy” which is the Holy Scriptures – the written Word, these charismatic, false apostolic wolves have created a whole new language using their own line of buzz terms (2 Peter 1:19-21). This is an open rejection of Jesus Christ (Mark 8:38).

All that comes out of IHOP and Kansas City etc. is corrupt due to the fact that “a little leaven leaveneth the WHOLE lump.” (Galatians 5:9) First off, there is no term “the prophetic” found in God’s Word. This is the invention of wolves and devils.

Entertaining devils through occult practices is not of the LORD, regardless of whether or not it’s deceptively called “the prophetic.”

Let’s read a passage from Jeremiah 23 and perhaps it will become obvious that such a practice is no new thing:

Jeremiah 23

“I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. 28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. 29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? 30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. 32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.”

Did you note here that the LORD tells us that these false prophets “cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness”?

The shameless flippancy in the tone and attitudes of these modern day, self-appointed false prophets and false apostles is despicably absent of the fear of the LORD.

Words of mere men produce “lies” and “lightness” in those who give them audience. The words and terms of mere men do not carry divine authority. They are lightweight. The words of mere men are weak. They do not carry inherent divine power. In contrast to the“lies” and “lightness” of the words of mere men, God’s Word instills the fear of the LORD in the hearts of those who truly trust Him by daily ingesting His Word.

True disciples are not casual concerning the things of God. The true born again servant is the only person the LORD can use to help others and he lives in the fear of God, departing from evil as by His mercy and honest adherence to His holy truth.

“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” Proverbs 16:6

Proverbs 14:27 says that iniquity is spiritual death and it’s only by the fear of God that men depart from it, keeping themselves abiding in Jesus, their Good Shepherd. Sin brings spiritual death and it’s only by the mercy of God as one chooses to live in the fear of God, that he is delivered and remains in the light with Christ (Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23; 8:13; James 1:14-15; 1 John 1:7).

Why did the LORD give us His written Word? To guide us, to cleanse us, and for many other wonderful reasons, yet one in particular comes to mind here and that’s Deuteronomy 4:10.

Deuteronomy 4

⁸And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

⁹Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;

¹⁰Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

God gave us His Word so we would “learn to fear” Him and so what happens if we get out of His Word?–we cease to fear Him. Do we begin to see now why Satan uses his wolf prophets to get people out of THE Word and relying on something else like so-called prophetic “words”?

When you get around these type people we are talking about, you will notice what later will come out as a false joy (“lightness”). Instead of getting into THE Word, they give each other “words.” If you have ever been around these type of people who live off of pseudo “words” instead of THE Word, you will see no fear of God in them but rather frivolity and lightness in the absence of the fear of God and a sound and sober heart filled with the joy of Jesus. Remember that the LORD told us in the Jeremiah 23 passage above that these beguilers “cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness.” (Jeremiah 23:32)

What might be at the root of this rebellion? Why do these mere men come in Christ’s name (but not doctrine) and replace His very Word with their own “words”?–because they are lawless, which means they are not truly submitted to Him. Doesn’t this fit what Jesus said was going to happen at the judgment?–“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”(Matthew 7:20-23)

The Divine “Lamp” and “Light”

“THY word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105

Here the Bible, God’s Word, tells us that God’s “word” and not our word or some figment of our own wicked imagination, guides our feet and lights our path. Satan has no new tricks in his bag–“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

“There is NO new thing under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9

Throughout history, God’s people have erred when they began to rely upon the wicked imaginations of their depraved hearts (Romans 1).

Always remember that “ALLLLLLL things that pertain unto life and godliness” are found in the divinely-breathed “exceeding great and precious promises” of our LORD and Savior (2 Peter 1:2-4). Be it known that as long as you are on this earth, Satan, the enemy of your eternal soul, is going to send false teacher after false prophet who come in Christ’s name to get you to look to someone else outside of the LORD Almighty who gave you His unchanging, eternally relevant Word. The devil “walketh about seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Jesus said he comes to “taketh away the word” of God from our lives (Mark 4:15). The enemy’s false prophets use all kinds of seemingly spiritual beguilement to get you to look to self and your own ability to “hear God’s voice,” etc. God is able to keep those who uphold Jesus Christ as the supreme “Head” and “holy potentate.” (Colossians 2:18-19; 1 Timothy 6:15)

“Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:15-16

Your Savior is coming soon to get you–He loves you more than you can fathom. He commanded you to endure to the end–will you? Hold to Him! Seek Him! Love Him! Worship Him without reserve!

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:23-25

The eternal and living Word gave us His Precepts and nothing could ever possibly be more relevant than God’s precious Words–so walk in them. Let them circumcise your heart, fill your thoughts and meditations, and guide your feet down the narrow road that leads to life.

PRAYER: Father, in the name of Jesus, please unite my heart to fear Thy holy name. Hasten my spirit to be perpetually seeking Your holy face and therefore protected in Your unalterable truth. Bless my life to help others do the same. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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The Spirit of Divination (audio)

Prophetic Frauds Galore!

https://youtu.be/fd4yBMP7EJw

Che Ahn, John and Carol Arnott, Heidi (and Roland) Baker, Mike Bickle of IHOP in Kansas City, Stacey Campbell, Randy Clark, James Goll, Cindy Jacobs, Rick Joyner of Morningstar in South Carolina, Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton of the Bethel Church in Redding, California, Patricia King, Chuck D. Pierce, Dutch and Tim Sheets, and Brian Simmons

Abiding

Risen with Christ [podcast]

Resurrection Grace (below)

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.” Colossians 3:1-7

Those who teach that unholy people will be in glory are false teachers:

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:27

Charles Pray writes: “Father, please help us Lord to turn from our wicked ways and let You come into our hearts so we may have eternal life with You in Your kingdom. Time is running out for the hour is late when soon no one will be able to be saved or able to call upon the name of the Lord. Burden our hearts Lord for all those who still do not know you as Lord and Savior in their lives. Let us become the light we are called to be in this darkened world so others will come to know and receive your Son Jesus as Savior in their life. Amen!”

Colossians | Seeking God!

A Living Sacrifice unto God [podcast]

The burnt offering means a complete consumption. What did God illustrate to us when He required His people under the Old Covenant to offer burnt offering sacrifices? His coming Messiah’s perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind. The ordained way He requires that His people serve Him. Jesus was the ultimate burnt offering. He gave all of Himself freely in obedience to His Father and to redeem mankind. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1 In His […]

Walking with Jesus [podcast]

There are two parts of the cross—the atoning death Jesus alone accomplished on the cross— “It is finished,” and the cross He commanded us to take up daily as we are “crucified WITH” Him. In this second part of the cross, we have died to our old nature and buried it so that we can partake of Christ’s divine nature, as He raises us upward in His grace and power into full victory and fruitfulness in pleasing Him. His divine power which works in us keeps us from the things that displease Him, which He calls sin (John 19:30; Romans 6-8; Galatians […]

Apostasy

Richard Foster Exposed

Wait, WHAT, WHO are Christ’s disciples to celebrate?

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14

A Biblically based commentary on current issues that impact you

Richard Foster—Celebration of Deception

by Bob DeWaay

Christianity Today ran a glowing cover story about Evangelicalism’s recent embrace of medieval Roman Catholic mysticism entitled The Future lies in the Past.¹ The article traced the beginning of the movement as follows: “The movement seems to have exploded in a 24-month period in 1977-1978, which saw the publication of Richard Foster’s bestselling Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth and Robert Webber’s Common Roots: A Call to Evangelical Maturity.”²

The article views Foster as one who continues to guide the movement: “From Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, and living practicing monks and nuns, they [those going back to Roman Catholic mysticism] must learn both the strengths and the limits of the historical ascetic disciplines.”³ So Foster was instrumental in starting a movement that is still growing 30-plus years later.

The irony about this particular CIC regarding Foster’s 1978 book is that in 1978 I myself was living in a Christian community committed to practicing much of what he promotes in Celebration of Discipline (even though we had not learned it from him directly). So I am not criticizing a practice about which I know nothing (or one in which I have no experience). I am criticizing a practice I foolishly allowed to deceive me for a significant portion of my early Christian life. When it comes to being deceived by mysticism, I have had abundant involvement. The only way I escaped it was through discovering and adopting the Reformation principle of sola scriptura.

In this article I will show that Foster’s “journey inward” is unbiblical and dangerous. I will show that most of the spiritual disciplines that he calls “means of grace” are no means of grace at all—but a means of putting oneself under spiritual deception.

The Journey Inward

The Bible nowhere describes an inward journey to explore the realm of the spirit. God chose to reveal the truth about spiritual reality through His ordained, Spirit-inspired, biblical writers. What is spiritual and not revealed by God is of the occult and, therefore, forbidden. We have discussed this in many articles and have produced DVD seminars on the topic. But the concept of sola scriptura is totally lost on mystics such as Richard Foster. They, like the enthusiasts that Calvin and Luther warned against, believe they can gain valid and useful knowledge of spiritual things through direct, personal inspiration.

Foster describes the idea of the disciplines that are the topic of his book: “The classical Disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond surface living into the depths. They invite us to explore the inner caverns of the spiritual realm.”⁴ So Foster has conceptually repudiated sola scriptura on page one to replace it with a journey inward to explore the realm of spirits. Something must have been seriously amiss in evangelicalism already in 1978 to render this book a bestseller! It ought to have been repudiated on the spot. In a footnote to that statement Foster writes, “In one form or another all of the devotional masters have affirmed the necessity of the Disciplines” (Foster: 1). The devotional “masters,” by the way, are mostly Roman Catholics who never were committed to the principle of sola scriptura. It is not surprising that they looked for spirituality through experimentation. But as an “inner light” Quaker, Foster never was committed to sola scriptura either.

Forgetting that the Bible forbids divination, Foster explains what he is after:

[W]e must be willing to go down into the recreating silences, into the inner world of contemplation. In their writings, all of the masters of meditation strive to awaken us to the fact that the universe is much larger than we know, that there are vast unexplored inner regions that are just as real as the physical world we know so well. . . . They call us to the adventure, to be pioneers in this frontier of the Spirit. (Foster: 13)

Realizing that his readers would likely take this as an endorsement of Eastern religions, he makes a disclaimer that it is not Transcendental Meditation (TM) or something of that ilk: “Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind; Christian meditation is an attempt to empty the mind in order to fill it” (Foster: 15). But what Foster wishes us to fill our minds with are personal revelations from the spirit realm that we naively are to think are the voice of God. This sort of meditation is not meditating on what God has said, but uses a technique to explore the spirit world. In other words, it is divination.

What we learn about the spirit realm either is revealed by God (once for all in Scripture) or gleaned by man-made techniques. That distinction is the difference between Christianity and paganism. Only Bible believers know what God has said about Himself and what He wishes to reveal about the unseen spirit world. Foster’s material continues to be popular because we live in an age where being spiritual pioneers on a journey into the unseen realm of the spirits is the essence of popular piety. It is the spirituality of secular talk shows.

To fully understand the degree of Foster’s deception, he even calls these techniques to the inner journey “means of grace”: “They [the Disciplines] are God’s means of grace” (Foster: 6). As with all who teach spiritual disciplines, there are no boundaries to these false “means.” For example, consider this recommended practice: “After you have gained some proficiency in centering down, add a five- to ten-minute meditation on some aspect of the creation. Choose something in the created order: tree, plant, bird, leaf, cloud, and each day ponder it carefully and prayerfully” (Foster 25). This after he had just taught breathing exercises (a means of “centering down”). Then he makes a startling claim: “We should not bypass this means of God’s grace” (Foster: 25). And there we have it: meditating of a leaf can be a means of grace!

Foster’s journey inward is to discover a spirit world that is available for any who search for it: “How then do we come to believe in a world of the spirit? Is it by blind faith? Not at all. The inner reality of the spiritual world is available to all who are willing to search for it” (Foster: 18). He claims that this spiritual search is analogous to scientific experimentation. Never mind that every pagan culture that has existed has believed in the “spiritual world.”

Spirituality of the Imagination

The Bible does not have anything good so say about the imagination. For example: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the Lord'” (Jeremiah 23:16). A search of the KJV for “imagination” yields 14 verses, and in each case it is a bad thing. According to the Bible, the imagination is where people go when they do not want to listen to God.

However, for Foster the imagination is central: “The inner world of meditation is most easily entered through the door of the imagination. We fail today to appreciate its tremendous power. The imagination is stronger than conceptual thought and stronger than the will” (Foster: 22). Some of the authorities he cites on this point are C. G. Jung, Ignatius of Loyola, and Morton Kelsey. Jung is famous for his concept of the collective unconscious, and Kelsey was an Episcopal priest committed to Jungian principles. Kelsey wrote many books promoting mysticism. The advice Foster gleans from these teachers is that we must learn to think in images and take our dreams to be a possible doorway into the spirit world. Foster claims that dreams are something we already have and can help us develop the use of the imagination. He says, “Keeping a journal of our dreams is a way of taking them seriously” (Foster: 23).

There is, Foster warns, a danger to this process: “At the same time [that we ask for dreams to be God speaking to us], it is wise to pray a prayer of protection, since to open ourselves to spiritual influence can be dangerous as well as profitable” (Foster: 23). I would say that is asking God to protect us as we use various techniques to go where He does not want us to go (into the world of the spirits to gain information). The danger he warns of is far greater than Foster imagines. Those who take the journey inward will be deceived—every time! We are not equipped to gain spiritual information from that realm. That is why God speaks to us through His ordained mediators (the inspired Biblical writers); otherwise we would be fishing in the dark in a medium we are not suited for.

Foster teaches his readers to use their imaginations to experience Biblical stories with the five physical senses. Here is what he claims will happen:

As you enter the story, not as a passive observer but as an active participant, remember that since Jesus lives in the Eternal Now and is not bound by time, this event in the past is a living present-tense experience for Him. Hence, you can actually encounter the living Christ in the event, be addressed by His voice and be touched by His healing power. It can be more than an exercise of the imagination; it can be a genuine confrontation. Jesus Christ will actually come to you. (Foster: 26)

Showing that Foster’s ideas are still influential in our day, Greg Boyd cites some of Foster’s words here to support what he calls “cataphatic prayer” which uses the imagination and images as a means to contact God and gain spiritual information.⁵ Those who endorse this practice assume they are not being deceived by spirits, but I cannot see on what grounds.

Foster prescribes a practice using one’s imagination that mimics astral projection to the degree that he actually includes a footnote disclaimer stating that it is not astral projection (Foster 28). It begins by telling his readers to imagine themselves going out into nature into a beautiful place (Boyd describes how he practices this, as well as its results⁶). After enjoying the sights and smells (in your imagination) these are the next steps:

In your imagination allow your spiritual body, shining with light, to rise out of your physical body. Look back so that you can see yourself lying in the grass and reassure your body that you will return momentarily. Imagine your spiritual self, alive and vibrant, rising up through the clouds and into the stratosphere. . . Go deeper and deeper into outer space until there is nothing except the warm presence of the eternal Creator. Rest in His presence. Listen quietly, anticipating the unanticipated. Note carefully any instruction given. With time and experience you will be able to distinguish readily between mere human thought that may bubble up to the conscious mind and the True Spirit which inwardly moves upon the heart. (Foster: 27, 28)

I must ask how one knows whether “True Spirit” is not a deceiving one? Mysticism’s fatal flaw is that it naively assumes that Christians having subjective religious experiences must therefore be having Christian experiences that are truly from God—even if the experiences were provoked through unbiblical practices similar to those used by pagans.

Mental Alchemy

Foster’s approach to prayer is laced with mysticism as well. He claims that prayer needs to be learned from people who have the right experiences and are “masters” who know what they are doing. Foster does not teach ordinary prayer, whereby we bring our needs and requests to the Lord and know that He hears us (because He promised that He does). Here is why he thinks such prayer fails:

Often people will pray and pray with all the faith in the world, but nothing happens. Naturally, they were not contacting the channel. We begin praying for others by first centering down and listening to the quiet thunder of the Lord of hosts. Attuning ourselves to divine breathings is spiritual work, but without it our praying is vain repetition (Mt. 6:7). Listening to the Lord is the first thing, the second thing, and the third thing necessary for successful intercession. (Foster: 34)

Of course this means we have to become mystics if we want to pray.

He teaches that we first must hear personal revelations from God, using meditation techniques such as he teaches, before we pray. He says: “The beginning point, then, in learning to pray for others is to listen for guidance . . . This inner “yes” is the divine authorization for you to pray for the person or situation” (Foster: 35). No! Foster is wrong! The only authorization we need to pray is the Biblical command to pray—not personal revelations.

For Foster, meditation (mystical style) is necessary but not sufficient. He also brings the imagination into the process: “As with meditation, the imagination is a powerful tool in the work of prayer” (Foster: 36). He credits Agnes Sanford⁷ for helping him see the value of using the imagination in praying. Foster writes, “Imagination opens the door to faith. If we can ‘see’ in our mind’s eye a shattered marriage whole or a sick person well, it is only a short step to believing it will be so” (Foster: 36). Sanford got her ideas from Theosophy, New Thought, Jung, and Emmet Fox. These ideas, echoed by Foster, come from the unbiblical “mind over matter” thinking of that era. That kind of thinking uses creative visualization to change reality or channel spiritual power. Foster suggests, “Imagine the light of Christ flowing through your hands and healing every emotional trauma and hurt feeling your child experienced that day” (Foster: 39).

In his 1985 book, The Seduction of Christianity, Dave Hunt labeled creative visualization such as what Foster promotes, “mental alchemy.”⁸ Hunt warned the church that Foster promoted such mental alchemy in Celebration of Discipline, and as we have shown, he, in fact, does. So how is it that 24 years after Hunt’s warning Foster is more popular than ever with Evangelicals? The answer is end times deception. Now, a huge movement that claims to be a reformation promoting Foster, Willard and their versions of mysticism does exist (i.e., The Emergent Church). Things have gotten so very much worse.

Spiritual Directors

Once mysticism and the supposed need to gain personal revelations from God are embraced, there arises a need for new “masters” who are better at navigating the spirit world. Pagan societies have always had such persons. They are called “shamans.” Eastern religion calls them “gurus.” Deceived Christians call them “spiritual directors.” Foster explains, “In the Middle Ages not even the greatest saints attempted the depths of the inward journey without the help of a spiritual director” (Foster: 159). The problem, according to Foster, is that the churches (in 1978) lacked “living masters”:

No doubt part of the surge of interest in Eastern meditation is because the churches have abrogated the field. How depressing for a university student, seeking to know the Christian teaching on meditation, to discover that there are so few living masters of contemplative prayer and that nearly all of the serious writings on the subject are seven or more centuries old. No wonder he or she turns to Zen, Yoga, or TM. (Foster: 14)

Foster’s dream has come true. Today people can even practice Yoga in a Christian church. We have Christian TM; it is called contemplative prayer. Yes, Eastern religion has come right into the church, and Foster has helped usher it in.

But what about “living masters” or spiritual directors? In 1972 Morton Kelsey lamented their lack: “Indeed I would suggest that everyone who is serious about relating to the spiritual realm find himself a spiritual director, if there were more men trained and experienced in this way.”⁹ That “problem” has been solved in a huge way. Evangelical theology schools are now offering masters degrees in “spiritual formation” in order to equip people to be “spiritual directors.” Here is what Biola University says about its program: “This degree is designed to equip men and women for the ministry of spiritual direction, discipleship, formation and soul care in the local church and for further academic training in spiritual formation.”¹⁰ Spiritual Directors International will help you find a spiritual director regardless of your religion.¹¹ Richard Foster’s own Renovare, which purports to “encourage renewal in the Christian church,” has a list of spiritual direction programs.¹²

Foster explains the purpose of the spiritual director: “He is the means of God to open the path to the inward teaching of the Holy Spirit” (Foster: 160). Apparently, in a full-blown rejection of sola scriptura where the Holy Spirit’s teaching is mediated to the church through the Biblical writers only, we need mediators for personal revelations beyond scripture.

Foster explains how spiritual directors lead: “He leads only by the force of his own personal holiness” (Foster: 160). In Roman Catholicism the Pope is called “his holiness” and in Tibetan Buddhism the Dalai Lama is called “his holiness” but now evangelicals are developing a class of people who evidently deserve the title. How exactly are we to judge when someone has gained “personal holiness” sufficient to be a spiritual director and mediate spirituality to others? Foster says, “Though the director has obviously advanced further into the inner depths, the two [master and disciple] are together learning and growing in the realm of the Spirit” (Foster: 160). Foster cites Roman Catholic mystic Thomas Merton about how this works: “The spiritual director was something of a ‘spiritual father who begot the perfect life in the soul of his disciple by his instructions first of all, but also by his prayer, his sanctity and his example. He was . . . a kind of ‘sacrament’ of the Lord’s presence in the ecclesiastical community” (Foster: 161).

End Times Delusion

When it comes to end times deception, Foster is on the cutting edge of embracing it. Consider what he wrote: “In our day heaven and earth are on tiptoe waiting for the emerging of a Spirit-led, Spirit-intoxicated, Spirit-empowered people. . . . Individuals can be found here and there whose hearts burn with divine fire” (Foster: 150). Such inclinations have led to massive deception. They smack of the Latter Rain deception, now embodied in such false teachers as Rick Joyner and Mike Bickle. They are elitist. They are in line with the beliefs of the Emergent Church as well. He also says: “Our century has yet to see the breaking forth of the apostolic church of the Spirit” (Foster: 150). Now we have the New Apostolic Reformation claiming to be just that. Foster’s ideas now embody the massive apostasy and end times deception that characterize our age.

Foster’s teachings have taken the church as far away from the Reformation principle of sola scriptura as the Roman Catholic Church ever was. The only thing left is for them to bring us all the way back to Rome. Christianity Today praises Foster for pointing us in that direction.

In early 2008 I wrote a CIC article about how abandoning the principle of sola scriptura would lead evangelicals back to Rome.¹³ It was partly a response to the CT article praising mysticism. The response I received was rather unexpected. I was contacted by former evangelicals who had rejected sola scriptura and had gone back to Rome! They wanted to debate me about sola scriptura. Sadly, my point was proven. As a response to their misguided challenge our church hosted a seminar on sola scriptura, called Faith at Risk 4.¹⁴ In the seminar Gary Gilley and I defended the scriptures as the sole authority for the church.

The aforementioned CT article discusses a new monasticism, former evangelical leaders converting to Roman Catholicism, and mystical practices like lectio divina—and they call all of it a good and hopeful thing. Chris Armstrong, the author of the article, concluded, “That they [evangelicals] are receiving good guidance on this road from wise teachers [Foster and Willard] is reason to believe that Christ is guiding the process. And that they are meeting and learning from fellow Christians in the other two great confessions, Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox, is reason to rejoice in the power of love.”¹⁵

Who is left to defend the principles of the Reformation? One would think Reformed theologians are, but they aren’t doing their job. In the last CIC article we mentioned Reformed theologian Donald Whitney who wrote: “Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline has been the most popular book on the subject of the Spiritual Disciplines in the last half of the twentieth century. The great contribution of this work is the reminder that the Spiritual Disciplines, which many see as restrictive and binding, are actually means to spiritual freedom.”¹⁶ That from a teacher in a Reformed seminary?

If a book that teaches Christian TM, Christian astral projection and mental alchemy by means of the imagination is a “great contribution,” then something is seriously wrong here. The delusion is so widespread that I see no other explanation for it than the end time deception predicted by Paul: “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,” (1Timothy 4:1). Another passage warns: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2Timothy 4:3, 4).

That time now is here. We are accountable to God for what we believe and practice. Those who wish to persevere in the faith in this age of delusion must base their beliefs and practices only on the truths found in Scripture. Foster’s journey into the world of the spirits will deceive all who enter it.

Issue 112 – May / June 2009

End Notes

1. Chris Armstrong, “The Future lies in the Past” in Christianity Today, February 2008.
2. Ibid. 24.
3. Ibid. 29.
4. Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth (New York: Harper & Row, 1978) 1. All subsequent citations from this book will be bracketed within the text in this fashion: (Foster: 1).
5. Greg Boyd, Seeing is Believing, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004). Boyd cites Foster to prove that the Lord will actually come to us through our use of “imaginative meditation.” I deal with this issue more fully in CIC issue 83 July/August, 2003: HTTP://CICMINISTRY.ORG/COMMENTARY/ISSUE83.HTM
6. Ibid. 111-125.
7. I write about Sanford’s inner healing theories in CIC Issue 96: HTTP://CICMINISTRY.ORG/COMMENTARY/ISSUE96.HTM
8. Dave Hunt and T. A. McMahon, The Seduction of Christianity (Eugene: Harvest House, 1985) 138.
9. Morton Kelsey, Encounter With God, (Bethany Fellowship: Minneapolis, 1972) 179.
10. http://www.biola.edu/spiritualformation/programs/ SEE PDF
11. HTTP://WWW.SDIWORLD.ORG
12. HTTP://WWW.RENOVARE.ORG/JOURNEY_TRAINING_DIRECTION.HTM
13. CIC Issue 105; March/April 2008: HTTP://CICMINISTRY.ORG/COMMENTARY/ISSUE105.HTM
14. Watch this seminar HERE
15. Armstrong, Future
16. DONALD S. WHITNEY, SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (COLORADO SPRINGS: NAVPRESS, 1991) 23.

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“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9

Speaking of king David’s imperfections, even nearing the end of his life on earth, one commentator writes:

“Surely there can be little ground for the doctrine of perfectionism, otherwise David, whose religion was so earnest and so deep, would have been nearer it now than this chapter shows that he was.” Expositor’s Bible

“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20

I am not a good person, neither are you – “There is none righteous, no, not one“ (Romans 3:10). Admit it. The sooner we become HONEST with that which is more than obvious, announcing freely and transparently – that there is “NOOOO good thing” in us except CHRIST, the sooner God will begin a new, deeper work in us! (Romans 7:18, 24) The Cross!

God is able to establish our hearts in His grace and to multiply His grace to us (Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 3:18)

ALL of our deeds are not perfect (1 John 1:8-10). “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23). The truly righteous remain humble, teachable, and repentant. Note verse 21 saints:

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21

Saved by Divine Grace and Yet Now Made Perfect by Your Flesh?

“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3

The Galatian believers had begun their walk with Christ by responding to the conviction of the Spirit, repenting, putting their faith in Christ, and being regenerated. Yet, now they were allowing false teachers to seduce them back under the law, law-keeping for righteousness – to attempt to please God by their own self-will and performance.

Jesus’ disciples must live a set apart life. Living sinless? Well, it can be done: Here’s the key – “In him (Jesus) is no sin. He that abideth in him sinneth not” (1 John 3:5-6). We whom Jesus has saved must “cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Yet, the only way to be sinless is in presently abiding in Him and that begins with the essential of announcing our own poverty in self which is being poor/desperately dependent on Him in spirit (Matthew 5:3, 6). Yet some insist that they are perfect by their own will, ability, and doing. This is the exact error of the Galatians which caused them to fall from saving grace (Galatians 5:4). They left Christ for something else – law keeping. Leaving Christ, departing from faith, and casting off trusting fully in HIS saving grace, is deadly. Realizing there is “NO good thing” in us except Christ, is essential to abiding saved in Him (Romans 7:18, 24; John 15:1-6). Galatians 3:3 says it all – “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). The great apostle of Jesus was desperate for the LORD, ever seeking His holy face and dreadfully not wanting “to be found having mine own righteousness which is of the law” (Philippians 3:9-10).

“The great secret of abiding in Christ is the deep conviction that we are nothing, and He is everything.” Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ

Heart purity and a sinless life emanate only from intimate union and abiding with a holy God. This occurs as we consent to the cross and not by human effort alone. Jesus raises up those who are truly bowed down – crucified with Christ (Psalms 145:14; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). One cannot possibly “stop sinning” until they come to Jesus and He saves them, making them new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Only then can the regenerated disciple “put off the old man” and “put on the new man” (Colossians 3:9-10). There MUST be something to “put off” …. that inherent sinful nature, otherwise no such language would be in Scripture (Colossians 3).

Beware of the sinless perfectionists who speak of overcoming sin outside of the daily cross and the saving, enabling grace of God. It’s only possible by God’s enabling grace in and through a true abiding relationship.

If we claim we are sufficient in and of ourselves and because of our own “natural ability” to do right, and can be perfect (which God requires) without Christ and our total trust IN HIM, we are apostate. Memorize Romans 4:4-5.

We cannot be “made perfect BY the flesh” or by means of our own self-will and effort alone. If that were possible WHY then did Jesus come? We are only perfect in the sense of Christ’s perfection AS we abide in Him (John 15:1-6). As we do, we will “walk in the light, as he is in the light … and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Here’s the whole verse:

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

Yes, we are “new creatures” in Christ and must humble ourselves before Him, put off the old man, put on the new man, and walk in the Spirit with Him. Yet, the victory Christ has wrought and ordained for us to walk in daily all begins with acknowledging instead of denying that there is something to deny and die to and “put off” (Colossians3:5; 2 Corinthians5:17-18). Denying that we have inclination toward sin is not the answer. Crucifying the deeds of the body by the power of the Holy Spirit is the answer (Romans 8:12-14). Many are getting hoodwinked by this self-righteous “I can do it with my own ‘natural ability’” spirit. This is a Christ-denying devil-exalting heresy, doctrine of devils (1 Timothy 4:1-3). Many who are not grounded in the grace and Word of Christ are adopting this error of Pelagianism which fosters self righteousness. They are aggressively teaching this sinless perfectionism (in the flesh) error to others. These people seem to have one common denominator – they have studied the teachings of Charles Finney or Mike Desario. Beware!

Many of those who preach sin without saving, rescuing, enabling, overcoming divine grace are perhaps still trapped in their own sins. They have no answer for others and therefore we should wonder if they have the LORD’s answer for and in their own lives. If they did, would they not be full of His great joy and sharing with others how to be delivered? Why are they content with condemning others in sin? Is God willing that ANY should perish? See 2 Peter 3:9.

Never forget to make a decision to be deepened in the essential truth that it’s “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7

WHEN we realize that God is “Holy, holy, holy,” we will no longer wrongly condemn others if they sin, just because the flavor of their sin differs from that sin which we’ve committed, knowing that the sin we committed was no less evil in the eyes of He alone who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).

G.R.A.C.E. = God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense

It’s only by God’s grace that we are found and saved by Him and kept and enabled to please Him which includes participating in holiness, separated unto the LORD, as He is holy (Hebrews 12:14-15; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8, etc.).

Titus 2 tells us that we are only saved by divine grace and only kept to the end by His enabling grace.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:11-15

Deliverance from sin/sinning is only possible through faith, loving, worshiping, and obeying our LORD, that is, moment-by-moment abiding in Christ, the crucified life, being raised up by His Spirit (Romans 6; 8:13-14, etc.).

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:3-6

Perfection is the perfect forgiveness and justification of the LORD which God brings about by His Spirit and our faith which always brings our adherence to the daily cross (Philippians 2:12-13). It’s divine perfection worked out in the abiding disciple as he walks in the Spirit abiding in Christ (Galatians 5:16, 25, etc.).

True OR Feigned Holiness? | Saving, Enabling Grace | Have We Ourselves Become Pharisees? | The Spirit of Holiness |

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