Uncovering The “Covering Doctrine”

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By Cheryl MacGrath

In a number of the denominations I’ve been involved in, including at leadership level, a “doctrine of covering” was taught and accepted. And for many, many years, I never questioned this teaching. After all, everyone believed it; the leadership upheld it, so it must be right, right? It is only as the Holy Spirit has impressed me to study the Scriptures more deeply on this teaching that I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that He NEVER originated it! In His infinite grace, He chose to wait patiently for a time when the Spirit of Truth would become dearer to me than the traditions of men.

The teaching on “covering” goes like this. Everyone needs to be accountable to someone who is spiritually his or her superior. This someone may be your cell group leader, the head of a church department or your senior pastor etc. In turn, these leaders receive covering from someone further up the line, for instance a denominational leader or a “recognized” apostle. The necessity for this covering is based on the belief that believers need to be safeguarded from falling into error and/or sin. So, covering is provided by those who are more spiritual than we to protect us from such error. At the top of this pyramid of covering there is quite often a well-known and recognized “name” but the chances of meeting or having any kind of relationship with that person if you are at the bottom of the pyramid are fairly slim. Currently, there are several networks offering this kind of covering to those in some form of church leadership or ministry, more often than not for an annual fee. The annual fee usually provides for the running of the network, and conferences where you can fellowship with others under your particular brand of covering. You may also be denied entrance from one of these networks because you don’t have the appropriate credentials.

One of the strange things about this “covering” teaching is that rarely is anyone asked about their spiritual covering, until they step outside their particular church, denomination or network. However, the minute a believer shows signs of having something important to share with the wider Body of Christ, suddenly all and sundry are interested primarily in that one important question: “Who are you covered by?” It all sounds pretty reasonable except for one problem—it’s NOT FOUND in Scripture. In fact, the early church was taught to rely on the inner anointing to discern the spiritual source of potential ministers. (See 1 John 2:20; 1 John 4:1.)

So, where did this idea originate that believers need to be “covered” in order to serve God and minister within Christ’s Body? Are you, like many others, living your Christian life under the shadow of this fear that without “covering” you dare not minister, preach, pray or do a myriad of other things you’re called to do by the Spirit of God, because you will somehow be ministering without protection?

The purpose of this article is to shed some light on this issue based on scriptural truth. To begin with, though, we need to understand that this need to be covered by a perceived spiritual authority, and the scriptural instruction to submit ourselves to God’s delegated authorities, are NOT necessarily one and the same thing. Furthermore, New Testament authority as demonstrated by Jesus and the first apostles, is servanthood- authority, upholding, strengthening, reinforcing and overseeing the Body from BENEATH, not DOMINEERING, CONTROLLING and RULING from ABOVE. Therefore, it is vital in examining this issue that we begin from a correct understanding of Biblical submission and Biblical authority.

“Let This Mind Be In You”

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).

The current mindset we carry in much of the church concerning submission is quite unrelated to the submission taught and demonstrated by Jesus and the early apostles. There is a desperate need to return to the same mind that was in Christ Jesus. The Scripture tells us that though He was equal with the Father, Jesus CHOSE to submit Himself, He CHOSE to humble Himself, He CHOSE to obey. This is the key to Biblical submission, and the model laid down for us by both the Father and the Son.

Submission is firstly a choice; a choice that can only ever be made by the giver. Biblical submission can never be demanded or forced. That kind of relationship is subservience, not submission. Jesus chose to subject Himself to the Father, but the Father “so loved
the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son.” Sacrificial giving and sacrificial submission are married to each other. In the Spirit, you cannot have one without the other. If you try, you will invariably end up with control, dependence and abuse rather than humility, interdependence and grace.

The New Testament concept of submission or subjection, is one of a totally voluntary attitude of giving, of yielding one’s preference and deferring to another. In this way, Jesus as a child was subject to His parents, yet the Scriptures record that He did not even consult them when He was “about His Father’s business” (Luke 2:49, 51).

“It Shall Not Be So Among You”

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17).

“But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. ⁴³But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: ⁴⁴and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all” (Mark 10:42-44).

There is no question that the scriptures instruct each one of us to submit to God’s delegated authority. It is the understanding and the application of that authority we often stumble over. The Bible records that Jesus taught the twelve this Kingdom authority as they walked along the road to Jerusalem. His face had been set toward the cross, and it is certain He was keenly aware of the short time He had left with them. Perhaps He was conversing with His Father about what were the most important lessons He could impart to them during the time that was left. We know that He heard them disputing over who among them was the best “leadership material.” Perhaps Peter, having not long before witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration, thought that gave him special status. Perhaps James and John felt they were more likely candidates for rulership than impetuous Peter. Shortly before, they had asked Jesus to give them special places of honor in His Kingdom. Whatever had started their dispute, Jesus certainly knew how to end it! “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matt. 20:27).

The Lord was speaking to a group of people who had grown up under the rule of the Roman empire. The Romans exercised their authority through forced subjection and harsh cruelty. In fact, the literal translation of the words Jesus used in reference to Roman rule mean “to be under the power of” and “to be subdued.” Despite having witnessed Jesus using a very different kind of authority and power, the disciples had not yet understood exactly what He would require of them. The Romans were, in the political sense, their masters. Yet here was Jesus stating that to exercise the authority He was going to invest in them they would need to become slaves to one another, and not masters. One might safely assume these weren’t words any of them particularly wanted to hear that day!

Kingdom authority has nothing to do with titles, positions, educational qualifications or reputation. Kingdom authority is granted by the Lord according to the measure with which He can trust us to wield it with humility. The greatest authority in the Kingdom is reserved for His bond slaves.

What About Accountability?

In today’s church system we have confused the word “covering” with the need for accountability. Consequently, many are holding themselves accountable to people with title and position, regardless of whether or not they are developing an ongoing transparent relationship with that person. In the Kingdom, it is not possible to be truly accountable to those with whom we are not actively growing in relationship. How can I be trusted to call you to account righteously if I don’t love you in Christ? How can you love me with Christ-like love and not call me to account?

Paul was able to correct the Corinthians because he had true relationship with them. He had travailed over them, nurtured them, wept for them and rejoiced with them. Therefore, he was able to reprove them for their edification and not for their destruction. (See 2 Corinthians 13:10.)

When we turn to the Scriptures for guidance on this issue of accountability, a startling fact confronts us. The New Testament mentions accountability ONLY in terms of the believer towards God. The Scripture teaches that we will give accountability TO GOD ALONE in the following areas:

–stewardship (Luke 16:2)
–ourselves (Romans 14:12)
–fruit (Philippians 4:17)
–what we do in the flesh (1 Peter 4:5)
–leaders shall give account for the souls they watch over (Hebrews 13:17)

What then, DO the scriptures teach about how believers, as members of the corporate Body of Christ, are to relate to one another?

“Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

In Galatians Chapter Two we read of a journey Paul took to Jerusalem. He states that he went up “by revelation,” that is, at the instigation of the Holy Spirit, in order to confirm that the gospel he had been preaching was approved by the eldership of the Jerusalem church. He goes on to state that: “But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me…)” had nothing to add to his teachings. He further adds that when James, Cephas (Peter) and John perceived the grace God had shown him, he was given the “right hands of fellowship.”

At the instigation of the Holy Spirit, Paul had subjected himself to the Jerusalem eldership, including Peter, for the purpose of accountability. One may safely assume that Peter, having spent around three years day and night with Jesus, and highly regarded by the early believers, held very great authority in the church. Paul, however did not ask Peter to cover him. Instead, he did not hesitate in calling Peter to account when Peter was later swayed to go back on his word by the fear of men (Galatians 2:11-14). Bear in mind this is the same Peter who stated: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29)’

These men understood the nature of relationship through the Holy Spirit; ALL of you be submissive to one another, ALL of you be clothed with humility. Each of us is accountable to one another, whatever our function in the Body, whether apostles, teachers, deacons or helpers. This is the church Christ is building.

To say that we are demonstrating accountability to a person or group of people we may briefly rub shoulders with at a meeting once or twice a week, or perhaps once or twice a year, is ludicrous. True accountability is about how we express Christ in us— our lifestyle, our character and our integrity in families, jobs and church community. This cannot be measured outside godly relationships, and without a humble willingness to be in subjection one to another. Each one of us needs to seek out and submit ourselves to those in the Body the Lord has placed close to us to provide that accountability, regardless of their position, title or function. Each one of us needs to be willing, in humility and service, to provide that same accountability base for others in the Body. This applies to leadership equally as it does to the newest, most inexperienced member of the Christian community.

Sadly, what we see today in so much of the church, is a frenzied jockeying for position under the supposedly protective umbrella of some ministry name or reputation, in order to prove ourselves “covered.” “WHO COVERS YOU?” has become one of the most frequently asked questions among Christians, and too often it is the deciding factor in assessing a ministry’s integrity or otherwise. Consequently, an unsatisfactory answer to that question in some church circles can label you “outside the camp” and almost certainly not to be trusted. Christians are judging each other’s worth and relationship with God on this issue of covering, and using it to justify self-righteousness and spiritual elitism.

In Part Two of this study we will talk about what is at the root of this distorted doctrine, and the clear choices that lie before us in order to be free from it.

PART TWO

“And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.” Isaiah 4:5

“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:4

It’s About His Name

“And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, ²and spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?” Luke 20:1-2

As we see from these portions of Scripture, the question “who covers you?” is not new. The chief priests, scribes and elders were not simply asking Jesus where His supernatural power came from. More than that, they wanted a NAME. “Who is he? Come on, tell us Jesus, who is the scribe, who is the rabbi, who is the prophet who covers you? And no more of that over-spiritualized talk about your Father. We want the name of the person who said you could do these things!”

The apostle Paul confronted a similar problem in the Corinthian church.

“For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. ¹²Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. ¹³Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:11-13

The Lord is jealous over us concerning His Name. We were bought and paid for by His blood, and His Name is the only Name by which we are to identify ourselves. When believers choose to find their identity in another name other than His, the Spirit is grieved, and His Name is dis-honored.

It’s About the Flesh

“But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. ⁹And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. ¹⁰Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. ¹¹But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” Matthew 23:8-11

The Corinthians were apparently separating into factions according to whom they considered was the most authoritative teacher. They were following after men, and for that reason Paul took issue with them. Further in his letter he goes on to challenge them by describing this kind of mindset as carnal and fleshly rather than spiritual:

“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? ⁴For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” 1 Cor. 3:3

Finally, he instructs them:

“Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; ²²whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; ²³and ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” 1 Cor. 3:21-23

The Corinthians had become so obsessed with the attributes of certain teachers they were idolizing them. They wanted to regard particular individuals as their “master,” “father,” or “teacher,” but Paul wanted them to understand that in doing so they were falling short of their full inheritance in Christ. He wanted them to see that all of these teachers belonged to them as servant-ministers, and not the other way around.

It’s About A Substitute King

At the heart of the Corinthians’ idolatry was the age-old desire for a ruler, a king. The flesh would much rather fear man than fear God. The flesh would much rather submit to the control of law than submit to the freedom of the Spirit. This principle is seen
throughout Scripture.

Afraid they would die, the Israelites begged Moses to be God’s messenger to them, rather than hear His voice for themselves.

“And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. ¹⁹And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” – Exodus 20:18-19

God desired for the people to hear Him for themselves, but they refused. Effectively, the Israelites were elevating Moses as their mediator. The entire nation had been called as a kingdom of priests, but their preference was to be ruled by on man. (See Exodus 19:1-9.)

Many years later, when the prophet Samuel officiated as Israel’s judge, Israel’s carnal desire for a man-king surfaced again:

“Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, ⁵and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

“⁶ But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. ⁷And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. ⁸According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. ⁹Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

“¹⁰And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king. ¹¹And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. ¹²And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. ¹³And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. ¹⁴And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. ¹⁵And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. ¹⁶And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. ¹⁷He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. ¹⁸And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.

“¹⁹ Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; ²⁰that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:4-20).

The key to Israel’s demand for a human king, rather than the direct reign of Yahweh over them, was “that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” They wanted a name and a face that could “go out before” them. They wanted someone visible they could show the other nations. They wanted a symbol, a token leader who could take responsibility for how they would live and conduct their lives. They wanted someone with a reputation they could identify with. They wanted to be like the world. They wanted human “covering.”

You see, friends, there is a place for governmental leadership, there is a place for accountability within the Body. There is a place for submission to legitimate God-delegated authority. All these are valid and in order, but only insofar as they are not permitted to substitute for the direct rule of God in our lives. And only insofar as they are not sought out as a counterfeit for the sovereignty and rulership of the Holy Spirit within each believer.

It’s Of A Different Spirit

“Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” – Ezekiel 28:14

Many Bible scholars agree that God’s rebuke to the “king of Tyre” recorded in Ezekiel 28:1-19 is prophetically addressed to Satan. In it, we find that originally this fallen angel was called the “anointed cherub who covers.” Some scholars believe he was especially anointed to cover the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies. In the Presence of God, he walked back and forth in the midst of the fiery stones. The passage states that when iniquity was found in him he was cast out of God’s holy mountain, and removed from the midst of the fiery stones.

This Hebrew word “to cover” means “to hedge, fence about, shut in, block, overshadow, screen, stop the approach, shut off, cover” (H. “cakak” Strongs 05526). It is a word than can be used either in relation to defense or oppression.

Beloved, Satan still desires to walk back and forth in the midst of God’s living, fiery stones. He still desires to be the covering cherub on God’s holy mountain, but the covering he offers is oppressive, designed purely to hinder believers and rob them of the freedom and full potential that is ours through Christ.

The doctrine of covering is an old lie with a new name. It is fundamental to the maintenance of a false hierarchical religious system controlling many Christians in this day. Without the power of this erroneous mindset, it is even doubtful that some sections of the “church” could survive.

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶one God and Father of all, who is ABOVE ALL, and THROUGH ALL, and IN YOU ALL.” – Ephesians 4:3-6

The scriptures plainly state that it is God alone who is OVER all. Only God can
cover His people, and only the Holy Spirit can unite them. The most disturbing aspect about the covering teaching is that it subtly encourages believers to look to men and women rather than develop their own deep relationship with God through the Holy
Spirit. It upholds a man-made church built on hierarchy rather than a spiritual temple built through the unity of the Spirit. It promotes a class system of rulership by title, human appointment and personality, and DEVALUES the PRIESTHOOD of every believer. It negates leadership by the Holy Spirit and discourages believers from hearing the direction of the Spirit for themselves. It is a DOCTRINE OF DEMONS being used to deceive and bind countless believers.

Now, about that freedom we were talking about at the beginning of this article! Don’t, repeat DON’T, use your newfound liberty as a license for rebellion against authority. If you have been trapped in this covering doctrine be wise in how you appropriate your freedom. There are many, many humble and faithful men and women overseeing and serving the Body of Christ with humility and devotion, and it may well be that whoever has been “covering” you is one of them. If you are blessed enough to be aligned with a
servant-leader who demonstrates true biblical authority, honor them, support them, and submit to them. But don’t expect them to cover you—that’s not theirs to give.

False doctrines are mindsets and beliefs that can only be cast down by the Spirit and the Word together. And ultimately, our walk in the Spirit is not the responsibility of leadership; it is our own responsibility. It is time for each one of us to choose—do we want the rulership of kings, or do we want the rulership of THE King?

Finally, let me leave you with these thoughts:

1. Who covered Philip when He went down to Samaria and started a revival? (The apostles heard about it and sent Peter and John down to check it out!) (Acts 8:4-8)

2. Who covered Philip when the angel of the Lord directed him to the Gaza desert? (There’s no record of the Ethiopian eunuch asking him for his “covering” credentials!) (Acts 8:26-40)

3. Who covered Ananias when he was sent to pray for Saul? (He went to pray for a known enemy of the church and didn’t even get permission!) (Acts 9:10-18)

4. Who covered Apollos when he taught boldly in the synagogue, even though he had not yet received the full gospel? (Acts 18:24-25)

5. And who covered Aquilla and Priscilla when they took Apollos under their wing to instruct him further? (Acts 18:26)

6. Who covered Agabus when he travelled down from Judea to deliver a prophetic word to Paul? (Acts 21:10)

The answer is the same in each instance: The Holy Spirit covered, protected, led, and enabled. He is the only covering we need. The real question is this: is He the only covering we want?

Apostasy

Doubt Casting Wolves

Beware of this New Fad of Uncertainty

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11

Satan was the first to cast doubt on God’s Word, on what God had said. This led to the fall of mankind. It seems to be the first play in his playbook – in order to deceive mankind.

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1

Beware: Satan is the very father of all lies and the one who casts doubt upon the Word of his arch-enemy – the LORD. Did you notice that in the above verse, God’s Word describes our enemy as the creature that is “more subtil than any beast”? Then it shows us just exactly who he operates as we see this “subtil … beast” cast a question mark on the LORD and what He stated to the man and woman just previously (Genesis 2:17).

To “endure to the end,” we must be aware of this significant tripping tool, this pitfall of the enemy of all souls (2 Corinthians 2:11).

There are many ways and vehicles through which Satan casts doubt on what God has said in His Word – what He has spoken to us, mankind. In this message, we are merely touching on a few of those ways, in hopes of assisting the reader of being aware of the way our enemy works.

It has actually become fashionable to question the Almighty in the things He has non-negotiably stated to us in His Word. Is this not a fulfillment of many prophetic Scriptures warning us of apostasy?

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²¹Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:20-21

Satan is in the Seminaries

Casting doubt on God’s Word is an ancient tactic of Satan and we must be aware of it and on guard against it. There are no boundaries to it – where ever the enemy works, this tactic will be seen and it’s most “subtil.” In fact, the place we think this evil scheming to be least likely to be found is the very place it can be most prevalently found – Bible colleges and seminaries! Personally, I have attended two Bible colleges and have dialogued with hundreds of seminarians. It doesn’t take long at all to see just where their faith and trust is and how they have allowed themselves to have “an evil heart of unbelief,” refusing to take God at His very Word (Hebrews 3:12-14). Rather, they are “subverted” as they have been taught not to believe God for what He says in His Word (Titus 3:9-11). Instead, they have systems in place to cast doubt upon the Most High which is treason and betrayal of Christ! See Satan’s Seminaries!

Doubt-Casting in the Margins of Perverted Versions of the English Bible

Have you ever noticed that in the margin of the new, corrupt versions of the English Bible, where the godless translators have rebelliously and brazenly removed portions of Holy Scripture, they have a note casting doubt on whether or not that portion they removed should have been there in God’s Word in the first place? The lie in the margin is that “many earlier manuscripts didn’t contain this portion of Scripture.” This is an outright lie. Satan is busy people (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus warned us that the enemy has come to steal, kill, and destroy and that “Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word.” (Mark 4:15; John 10:10)

Of a new diabolical fad that is arising, Jim Clark notes:

“It seems that the latest apostate fad is ‘uncertainty’, also referred to as the certainty vs. assurance debate. They say that you can only have ‘assurance’ (something less than 100% certainty — like it’s something that you can scientifically measure) and only omniscient God has certainty. This is eisegesis (opposite of exegesis) — inserting human philosophy into Scripture. 1 John 5:13 says ‘These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.’ KJV”

In the divine economy and the heart of every true disciple of Jesus, salvation is a definitive certainty. Jesus made it certain because His blessed miracle of salvation in the hearts of men is certain. How can the most powerful experience (regeneration) in this life happen to a person and they not know it? The Son of God says:

Those who are truly saved, KNOW they are truly saved. Any person who is only 99% “sure” they are saved, is not saved. Huh?! Yes! Read these words of Holy Scripture:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” John 6:47

1 John 3:14 says: “We KNOW that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

This doubt is purely diabolical. Satan has not changed and that he is limited to the same tricks he had in the beginning (1 Corinthians 10:13). In the Garden of creation he cast doubt on God’s Word when he said to the woman: “Yea, hath God said?” (Genesis 3:1)

Of these doubt-casters, a brother named Preston notes:

“I think this stems from a philosophy embraced by many Calvinists. Christian Existentialism was started by Soren Kierkegaard and is where we get the idea of “blind leap of faith”. That is, the more obscure a belief can be the more “faith” one must exhibit or have to believe in it. This is a satanically-inspired, man-made philosophy and is not of God. God has given us overwhelming evidence not only of his existence, but also salvation as well. These men are preachers of confusion and are enamored with their so called intellect. In fact they are nothing more than fools!”

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23

Beware of the wolf who would cast doubt on the “certainty” of knowing God (Proverbs 22:17-21). Along with the divine Person of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer, His “words of truth” are His “incorruptible” seed and make evident within every true born again and abiding saint that he is saved!

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 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. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:14-16

Among other evils, this doubt that Satan’s ministers are introducing and casting, stifles witnessing and fulfilling the Great Commission our LORD gave us (2 Corinthians 11:12-15).

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the CERTAINTY of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:17-21

Now that these smooth talking animalistic wolves have enormous masses of gullible audiences following their cultic personalities, they are beginning to cast doubt on the salvation of their constituents. Beware and be rooted and grounded in Christ!

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:6-8

Seek, love, and obey Jesus Christ and cease following men! Repent of this idolatry and spiritual adultery!

The LORD’s holy truth is divine, eternal, and non-negotiable, amen. “FOREVER O LORD, they word is settled in heaven.” Psalms 119:89

Concerning Satan’s process through the modern church of deceiving and damning the souls of millions, one commenter writes:

“Those of us who keep our nose in the crack of the Holy Word of God and ignore the imaginations of men will be glad we did! Whew, denominations and their doctrines have killed more people than Hitler could have imagined! No denominations, no politics, no electorate process, no opinions in Heaven! God IS. That is enough to know!”

“Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” Isaiah 2:22

Remedy for the sins of lies and doubt:

Repent/surrender afresh
- Cling to Christ
- Repent of spiritual idolatry and adultery
- Denounce your human idols – all of them (Ezek. 14:3)
- Stop trusting mere men
- Get into God’s Word with reckless abandon
- Memorize Scripture by writing them on index cards – KJB

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Feedback:

“Excellent word! Sharing! I must admit I have been caught in Satan’s trap on this one in my life! But got right back up again, repented and know that I am His!” Darlene T.

How to Spot a Fake Bible [podcast]

Please don’t balk till you read these 3 verses. This is indefensible to the sane mind! “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” (Proverbs 18:13) Satan loves to borrow from the authentic. This is so he can attempt to borrow credibility from the real and he pawns off, he promulgates his counterfeits. This is why one of his fake “bibles” is called the “New King James Bible.” The Word “Berean” immediately evokes the truth of the disciples there who stood on God’s written Word and compared everything to it to prove it was […]

God’s Word is Inspired and Preserved

Divinely Inspired and Preserved The King James Bible is the prophesied final preservation of God’s Word in English. Many things establish that the King James Bible is the preserved Word of God for the English speaking peoples. Here’s one of those indicators. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” Psalms 12:6-7 See the fulfillment of this prophecy? 1. Tyndale Bible (1525) 2. Coverdale Bible (1535) 3. Matthews Bible (1537) 4. Great Bible (1538) […]

THAT SUBTLE SERPENT SATAN - NIV and Modern Bible Versions Exposed

Check how they completely removed the words of Jesus in Matthew 17:21 and chopped Romans 8:1 in half, and removed the BLOOD from Colossians 1:14? Acts 8:37 was also deleted and this is not even scratching the surface of the corruptions in the NIV. BEWARE: The “rapture ready” website is run by a person or persons who state this following error: “Some people are so fanatical about the exclusive “truth” of the KJV that they would doubt your salvation if you were saved by reading another version. The New International Version Bible is probably the most attacked of all the modernized […]

Articles

Thank You for Declaring that the Mexican People Matter to Jesus! Mission Mexico Part 50

Mission Mexico Rolling

Here’s to thanking God that you care for these beloved people and are praying and supporting. God is able.

So much is transpiring that I don’t know where to start….

Hopefully the pictures and other things in this 50th update will help attempt to give a taste of how good our LORD is.

From sister Crystal …

Subject: RE: Picked up 20k more JESUS tracts recently.

Good morning and BLESS YOU BROTHER TODD!

Your last note made me cry, so blessed to be able to get more “fishing tracts” out. LOL

I also prayed for the printer and their workers, seeing how many are being ordered, and how important they are. I know they’re glad to get your “business”. May their hearts and souls be pierced within also. They have to see the front page repeatedly…may it stick like glue in their minds and hearts. Thank you! The devoted distributors of GOOD NEWS. The best news known to man. I may have told you this already, but when I mailed that case of Bibles and the clerk asked what books they were, I said, “The Bible, the greatest bestseller of all time.” She smiled. I love working together with our family, each doing their little part in moving things along–may many hearts and souls be pierced within, and brought to the knowledge/measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Carrying on in Christ…occupying…Crystal

P.S. I sometimes say in prayer: Lord, you are the glue that holds me together. What EVER would I do without you!!! Without Him, I could do nothing. Without Him, I’d surely fail, Without Him, I would be drifting, like a ship that has no sail. For Jesus is the lighthouse, I owe my life to Him…My pianist/friend/Sister/Adopted Mom used to cry every time I sang that. She and her Son are now home, waiting for us to arrive. He is no longer in a wheel chair, but oh so happily singing for/with the Lord. Oh, how I miss them all.

IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL….WHEN WE SEE CHRIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

He sent this to the Spanish group recently …… Brother Daniel was out ministering. He sent this picture.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

RECENTLY: Went to visit and refresh our beloved sister Maria. She was busy passing out JESUS tracts to the people. She was given some cash and we got her some food to bring home!!!! The Gospel, charity work being done here in Mexico is super well received here and is due to the love offerings of Christ’s saints.

A steady portion of what you give is given to brother Juan and sister Maria and other of Christ’s disciples. They are worthy of their hire.

“And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.” Luke 10:7

One of our main directives in this mission is to edify, feed, fuel, support, and take care of our LORD’s few labourers!!!! Amen!

“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38

“I marvel in amazement at all the Lord is doing through you guys in Mexico. Each new story, brings such awe in my heart of how open the people are to the gospel. It is sure is a supernatural outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the people. There could be no other explanation. Praying every morning. This morning I prayed Ephesians 1:15-23. May God’s power be continually released in the saints who are ministering in Mexico!” Karen Cochran | Mission Mexico

Your prayers are being heard by our LORD and He is blessing many of the humble bless-ed people of Mexico.

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” Philippians 1:19

The Mexican people are so very authentically well behaved, naturally, trained, nurtured from birth to be kind, gentle, loving, and helpful. Most importantly, for eternity’s sake, they greatly desire to hear the Gospel of Jesus. It’s an evangelistic field day. Thank you for lifting a prayer right now for God to save the people of Mexico.

“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalms 2:8

Juan received another box of the JESUS tracts today after fellowship. Here’s a small part of what Juan, in his own words, spoke:

“Brother, we have chosen the best part—one that will never bring us shame. We have the best job: serving our Father in this Ministry of Reconciliation to expand His kingdom. It has truly been a great blessing to share His word; we can never fully grasp the scope of God’s vision, for His word never returns void—it always fulfills its purpose. Glory to God.

God restores us; God gives us our reward; God lifts us up, brother. There is power in the Word. Can you picture Moses? When he had a personal encounter with God, he would come away with a countenance—his whole face shining—and he had to wear a veil. That is how we are, too, when we have communion with God—an intimate relationship with Him. You are good and merciful to each one of us.” Juan

RECENTLY: Brother Juan picking up more JESUS tracts (Spanish) to pass out! Thank you for praying for and supporting Mission Mexico

During fellowship, brother Juan shared the following:

“The Word of God never returns empty; it always fulfills its purpose. We don’t know the full scope of God’s worldview, but we trust completely in the message of salvation. It speaks to us in all times, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, in Revelation, urging us to repent and turn to Christ. Glory to God for this message, brother. May God continue to use you greatly today, for His glory, and to expand His kingdom.

His blessed Word says that whoever perseveres to the end will be saved, but when Jesus was asked if they would enter the kingdom of heaven, he didn’t say they had to do much—there were few of them—he simply said to strive. So God commands us to take action in Joseph 1:9: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Amen Juan.

Meals like this are just a part of the torment one must endure to live in beautiful Mexico.

This meal was during fellowship with brother Juan. Most of all we (includes Tom and yourself) were blessed feed our brother and give him a nice cappuccino…. and fellowship where he was refreshed and also he took more JESUS tracts.

Brother Daniel was the first convert to Christ in Mexico 2 years ago upon arriving. Here’s a picture of Daniel recently when we met to fellowship, etc.

Would you like to lift our brother in prayer? Colossians 4:12

Mission Mexico Rolling

MORE CHANGED LIVES

Sister Nayeli is really growing in Christ. Wow

She cried out to the LORD this morning

And He answered EVERY one of her specific prayers…

For peace, food, provision, etc

She even asked him for a small pocket size Bible

And she got 2 of them also

Along with lots of food and provision

She is now handing out the JESUS tract and testifying of Christ

You may recall she was previously a lifelong Jew

God is good and your prayers are coveted for sister Nayeli

After all those blessings Nayeli and I went to refresh Maria. She wasn’t there. We were able to ministry Christ’s Gospel to many and ended with feeding and ministering to a dear elder homeless woman….

Thank you for praying. Yes Nayeli is a young disciple and growing in grace as she is seeking the LORD.

Last night I would tell her a Bible reference. She’d open up to that chapter and start reading out loud and in real time was blessedly stunned to have the LORD speak to her, showing her many things, including that He does hate her as satan was telling her. No, he loves her and is producing fruit in her life, which clearly proves she is His. The fruit and purging going on in her life clearly proves she is in Christ. Her whole countenance was transformed as she read those words. The reality of what our LORD Jesus taught in John 15:1-7 was made fully alive to her. She now saw things from God’s eternal perspective and how He was purging her so that even more fruit could be born. I haven’t talked much with her lately and so didn’t know but the things in her life were being sifted, stripped. She’s lost clients since becoming a saint of Christ, snatch from satan and Judaism.

Other passages Nayeli read aloud were Matthew 5:10-12; James 1:2-5, 12; Hebrews 10, 11, etc.

Nayeli was exhorted to “punch satan in the face” when he attacks her by not sitting around in heaviness. No, but by getting out and passing out some Gospel tracts, evangelizing the lost! She broke out in a joyful laugh at that one. Then we got in the car and went looking for dear sister Maria. She wasn’t there and so we evangelized and then a dear elderly homeless lady came by with 2 bags and a sad face. We were able to walk with her to get her some fresh delicious food with a large cold water and were able to give her some cash, etc. God is good saints.

Such deep sadness in this beloved woman.

Father, please heal and lift this beloved woman up from the mirey clay of sin and darkness in this world

Make her an example to many of Your love in Christ

Thank you for praying.

God is able.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Mission Mexico – See more here. | Give support here. Many options

Download. Read. Print out your supply of the JESUS tract – English and Spanish.

Apostasy

John Wesley on Calvinism, Once Saved Always Saved, and Conditional Security

John Wesley on Calvinism, Once Saved Always Saved, and Conditional Security

“Calvinists, who deny that salvation can ever be lost, reason on the subject in a marvelous way. They tell us, that no virgin’s lamp can go out; no promising harvest be choked with thorns; no branch in Christ can ever be cut off from unfruitfulness; no pardon can ever be forfeited, and no name blotted out of God’s book! They insist that no salt can ever lose its savor; nobody can ever ‘receive the grace of God in vain’; ‘bury his talents’; ‘neglect such great salvation’; trifle away ‘a day of grace’; ‘look back’ after putting his hand to the gospel plow. Nobody can ‘grieve the Spirit’ till He is ‘quenched,’ and strives no more, nor ‘deny the Lord that bought them’; nor ‘bring upon themselves swift destruction.’ Nobody, or body of believers, can ever get so lukewarm that Jesus will spew them out of His mouth. They use reams of paper to argue that if one ever got lost he was never found (John 17:12); that if one falls, he never stood (Rom. 11:16-22 and Heb. 6:4-6); if one was ever ‘cast forth,’ he was never in, and ‘if one ever withered,’ he was never green (John 15:1-6); and that ‘if any man draws back,’ it proves that he never had anything to draw back from (Heb. 10:38,39); that if one ever ‘falls away into spiritual darkness,’ he was never enlightened (Heb 6:4-6); that if you ‘again get entangled in the pollutions of the world,’ it shows that you never escaped (2 Pet 2:20); that if you ‘put salvation away’ you never had it to put away, and if you make shipwreck of faith, there was no ship of faith there!! In short they say: If you get it, you can’t lose it; and if you lose it you never had it. May God save us from accepting a doctrine, that must be defended by such fallacious reasoning!” ~ John Wesley

OSAS people make a vain attempt at redefining the words of Scripture to fit their own self-serving agenda of lukewarmness, cross-less rebellion. For example they hyper-focus on “eternal” in the term “eternal life” while intentionally refusing to synthesize the whole of what Scripture states. Purposely, they do not distinguish between initial and final salvation and refuse to believe that after being saved, the recipient of His salvation must “endure to the end” to be “saved.” (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; John 15:6; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21; Revelation 2-3, etc.) They hyper-focus on the word “gift” and teach that a gift could never be lost which the rest of Scripture does not agree with. They then take the word “sealed” and make it to be permanent which it cannot possibly be because the same Greek word for “sealed” is used of Jesus’ tomb which we all know was NOT permanently sealed – it was unsealed when Jesus came out of that grave! (Matthew 27:66) In this they bear false witness against the LORD and act like some Scriptures are more divinely inspired than others. This practice reveals the evil and deceit of their own hearts. While they scream, “context, context, context,” they themselves syphon things out of the immediate and overall context of Scripture. Not just some Scripture in the Bible but rather “ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) It must all be synthesized, put together, compared (1 Corinthians 2:13). Error will result in the hearts and lives of those who do not personally search, study, and revere “ALL scripture” in God’s Word.

The Cancer of Calvinism | Eternal Security/OSAS is a Scam

The Myth of Eternal Security [podcast]

“For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.” Psalms 73:27 BAD NEWS FOR CROSS-LESS COUNTERFEITS WHO HIDE BEHIND THE “ETERNAL SECURITY” SHAM: YOU WILL BE ETERNALLY SECURE WHEN AND IF YOU ARE WITH JESUS IN ETERNITY, NOT BEFORE! Can’t leave Christ after He saves you? Think again… dear one who continues to search for a way to justify your sin, for not truly repenting and laying down your life in this fleeting sinful world and overcoming (Luke 9:23-24; 14:27, 33; 17:33; 19:27; Titus 2:11-14; , etc.). All […]

The Lying Vanity of "Eternal Security" [podcast]

WHY was Satan expelled from God’s presence, from Heaven? What happened the last time sin was found in Heaven? Did God coddle it or kick it out? Jesus told us: “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Luke 10:18 Oh and will we lose the ability to choose in Heaven? One man recently stated: “Even if you are in Heaven you do not have eternal security.” Interesting and apparently true…. because as I am sure you were alluding to, lucifer and a third of the angels still had choice in Heaven, they chose sin […]