Articles

WHO Else is Tired of Wimpy Preachers?

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]

“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:28-29

The scribes, the false leaders of Jesus’ day and our day, had/have no power. This was in contrast to the power Jesus walked in to declare His Gospel, the original Gospel!

If you aren’t flipping the proverbial apple carts by speaking the truth with holy conviction, you are not a man of truth who is walking in the power of the Holy Spirit and truth of God (Matthew 21; John 2).

In the Gospels with Jesus and in Acts with the apostles we see that when God is moving through the preaching of His Word, devils are stirred up, angered, and cast out. When Jesus preached, it was with divine authority and power and not like the lame false leaders of His day (Matthew 7:29). The same is true today.

HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT EACH GENERATION OF “PREACHERS” BECOMES INCREASINGLY LAME, FEMINIZED, BIBLICALLY-ILLITERATE? THEY SEEM TO BE INTENT UPON OUT-DOING THEIR PREDECESSORS in their apostate denigration of the Word of God.

“I have no tolerance for these soft peddling wolves. I’ve seen and heard enough over the years. Only the real uncompromising Gospel of Jesus Christ will do.” Barbara

“In case you’re confused: there is no half-naked, long-haired, rock-n-rolling, hip-hopping, rapping, honky-tonking, tattooed, beer-sipping, ecumenical, Marlboro-puffing, mamby-pamby, effeminate, and non-judgmental Jesus. There is only the pure, holy, and undefiled Son of God, whose eyes are as flames of fire and whose voice is the sound of many waters (Heb 7:26; Rev 1:14-15). He hates all iniquity and will smite the nations with the sword of His mouth (Heb 1:9; Rev 19:15, 21). His name is called the WORD OF GOD (Rev 19:13).” Britt Williams

“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:13

Watch this…. Watch what happens when the Word of God is preached with the power of Jesus….

“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.” Matthew 4:23-24

As is evidenced by the lives and ministries of Jesus and His holy apostles on the pages of Holy Scripture, true disciples will boldly “PREACH (declare) the word” and not put it out there as if it’s a suggestion or apologize for it with no fear of God (2 Timothy 4:1-4, etc.). The LORD uses crucified vessels, therefore they are not self-serving nor do they fear mere men (1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 2:20; 6:14, etc.).

Most preachers today are full of themselves, cross-less, and Christ-denying and therefore lame.

Most in ministry positions are what can rightly be called “soft peddle pansies.” They are never heard preaching in the Spirit and holy fear of the LORD. They refuse to preach cardinal biblical doctrines such as hell, sin, repentance, holiness, the cross, and the return of Christ, etc. They are certainly never heard exposing, warning of the many false doctrines such as once saved always saved, eternal security, dispensationalism, calvinism, hebrew roots heresy, etc.

If what we’re preaching isn’t sending pharisees, jezebels, calvinists, eternal securists, and other tares scattering, we aren’t preaching the original Gospel, the Gospel Jesus and His apostles preached…. (Galatians 1:6-9).

The original Gospel was delivered by Christ and His holy apostles who were bold as a lion, baptized with the Holy Ghost, and full of the Word of God! They earnestly contended “for the faith once delivered to the saints” under the directly, anointing, and power of the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:38; Jude 3, etc.).

It’s past time for un-apologetic, in-your-face preaching! There are FAR too many patty cake pansies posing as pastors today. It takes Holy Ghost anointed, bone breaking preaching to cut through the darkness and depravity of men’s iniquitous hearts.

“Preach the Word.” 2 Timothy 4:2

WE must preach law, judgment, the cross, sin, repentance, and hell and STOP apologizing for it. Repent and God will grant you a spine and cause you to cease being a pansy – a self-serving moral coward.

As we read these words, quotes from men of old, as in the beloved John Wesley, we look around today and wonder where all these real preachers went. May God raise up men who truly fear Him and are therefore captive to no one except Him.

For the authentic follower of Jesus, who is the truth, it’s never “unity at the expense of truth” which is antichrist. The spirit of antichrist is behind the weak, Christ-denying, lame attempt to shut down truth because people are going to be offended. Repent now and follow Jesus before it’s too late.

IF you aren’t quoting and reading Holy Scripture (King James Bible) to your audience you have NO BUSINESS – NONE, ZERO – play acting like you’re ministering! Period! Cease now and step down now until you have genuinely repented and are so full of God and His Word that’s ALL that flows from your life and lips! (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 4:11)

Under the bless-ed weight of the true original Gospel, men are convicted, broken, and crushed to repentance! (Matthew 21:44; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:4; 2 Corinthians 4:20; James 4:8-10, etc.)

“No one ever went to hell for hearing the truth. For rejecting the truth, yes. For hearing the truth, never!” Phil Butler

Speaking of preaching God’s Word …..

Is your favorite preacher communicating Scripture like this (below) to warn you? OR, is the wolf tickling your ears? (2 Timothy 4:2-4)

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10

Weak men can never preach sinners and backsliders into the kingdom of Christ (Acts 1:8).

Evading truth, glossing over, whitewashing our sin is sure damnation (Proverbs 28:13).

SIN, we ALL have it to deal with. WHO will we love most-self or Jesus (Romans 6:16).

THE WHOLE OF SCRIPTURE reveals to us that ….IF you are not flipping hell bound religious hypocrites upside down – You are not preaching the pure Word of God empowered by the Holy Ghost of God!

Anointed preaching from true men of God always flips the gospel merchandising apple carts of the fraud-hireling wolves in our midst – just as it did in Jesus’ day! (Matthew 21; John 2, etc.)

GOD is calling for fearless, ax-to-the-root preaching (Matthew 3:7-10).

Fake Ministries are Everywhere: WHEN you hear people in “ministry” continue to hem haw and use words such as “I think,” etc., you should lose interest real quick. You know they are not in the Word and so you know it’s a fake ministry and they have no business pretending to do “ministry” for Jesus. “Preach the WORD.” (2 Timothy 4:2) We all have a Bible and so there’s no excuse and real kingdom ministry is simply putting forth God’s Word. Peter wrote: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles (written Word) of God;…Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11). God’s Word is the recording of the very “thoughts of HIS heart” and He’s not confused, amen? (Psalms 33:11; 1 Corinthians 14:33) Yet, the vast majority of “ministry” that goes on today is a lame, laughable excuse for kingdom ministry!

Many a false preacher is breathing hope into un-repentant sinners who are still dead in trespasses and sin! They are in a state of hell bound lukewarmness and the false preachers will come to the aid of them, “protecting” them from the truth spoken straight (Revelation 3:15-16). Beware saints. People don’t even know they need hope till they’ve been preached 6 foot under and have only one direction to look -UPWARD! The preaching of the Law and cross is to drive sinful men to repentance before a holy God! (Galatians 3:24; 1 Timothy 1:9-11, etc.). How shall they fall upon the mercy of God invested in Christ’s cross if they’ve never had the sharp sword of the Law preached to them – finding them undone in sin before a holy God who will soon judge and cast their eternal soul into the lake of fire?

HERE is exactly why you see people whining like moral cowards instead of repenting in this late hour…. when someone puts the truth out with directness. They are not enduring sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2-4)… and most of those complaining falsely claim to be ministers of Christ. Lame. Un-repentant.

Recently, I visited Alabama. While driving down the road I saw a billboard from a local fellowship that said “You can be free from your sin.” Amazing. Regrettably rare. It just goes to show you just how apostate the false modern church world is today where we rarely ever hear the paramount biblical truth that God is holy nor anything about sin which is why Jesus came (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; 1 Timothy 1:15; Titus 2:11-14, etc.).

False preachers speak and operate as to please mere sinful men in order to get them to continue to patronize their church busine$$.

“And through covetousness shall they with feigned (fictitious) words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:3

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 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 16:17-18

This world needs more table-flipping preachers like Jesus!

True men of God fearlessly endeavor to preach Christ and the whole counsel of His Word with no fear of mere sinful men (Galatians 1:10).

True men of God are known in that they preach in the fear of the LORD to please the LORD, not men (Galatians 1:10). The true remnant people of God fear, obey, and say what GOD says. They cater to the LORD, not sinful men (Galatians 1:10). Those who are run off by the pure truth of God’s Word were unrepentant counterfeits.

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

Wolves entertain goats while true disciples feed sheep!

How many times did Jesus cleansed the temple during His 3.5 year ministry? What was the significance of His violent overthrow of false leaders and their iniquitous ways?

GOD will punish you with the wolves you endorse and support (2 John 10-11). Hint: If he’s afraid to hurt your feelings, he’s a wolf! Now repent and run! (2 Timothy 4:2-4; Galatians 1:10)

ARE you propping up a church busine$$ or are you supporting the fearless, unashamed preaching of the whole counsel of the kingdom of Christ? (Acts 20:20, 27; 28:31, etc.)

“The righteous are BOLD as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1

You know a man is from God when he fearlessly – with no tiptoeing – crushes and openly exposes lies, half-truths, heresies and Satan with bold, un-apologetic divinely-empowered Holy Ghost preaching! Far too many propped up compromised pansies posing as pastors! (Matthew 11:12) The first clue should be that they are using Satan’s gay rainbow light-in-the-loafers “bibles” instead of the King James Bible.

Jesus cleansed the temple twice and these are book ends with great significance …

Jesus Cleanses the Temple ….

Jesus cleansed the temple twice and these are book ends with great significance …

As an eternal memorial of His righteous and holy judgment against thieving and deceitful monetary practices perpetrated by greedy, self-serving wolves, the Son of God cleansed the temple at the very opening and closing of His ministry on earth (Matt. 21:12-17; Jn. 2:12-17). He violently overthrew the deceitful practices of those in leadership who were making merchandise of those who came to seek the LORD. Such deceit is a sure way of coming under His condemnation.

“And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence (get them out of here); make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up (ignited His holy wrath).” John 2:16-17

As soon as these things were removed, His power, praise, prosperity and healing blessings were reinstated among His people (Matt. 21:12-17). Jesus stated:

“It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:13

The unchanging God feels no different today than He did then concerning greed mongers and their deceitful practices in His name and among His people. Such deceivers are in the cross-hairs of His scope of holy judgment. As Christ cleansed the temple in His hour in the flesh, He desires to cleanse our hearts of all greed for fleeting gain, which has prevented in us the holy hunger for the true and eternal riches that only He can grant.

Soul Stealing

“For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16

The vast majority of “churches” that meet in “church buildings” are simply and merely conducting “church services” where they entertain their prey. They are not equipping the saints for the work of the ministry and therefore discerned as being counterfeit (Ephesians 4:11-13). If they were, there would be salty disciples in their midst who go forth to minister Christ’s kingdom blessings where ever they went. Not even a trace of this transpiring in the apostate modern church world. Run. Run. Run.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting (equipping, maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-12

BIBLICAL QUESTION: Please post the reference to even 1 time where Jesus, John the Baptist, or any of the apostles of Christ ever entertained anyone. ….. BEWARE of the Goat Entertainers which is most pastors today – because they have a mortgage and salaries to pay!

WHEN Jesus, John the Baptist, and the apostles preached, they FULLY EXPECTED their audience to obey the Word. They were crucified men, given over to the will of the Father, and full of Heaven’s power and authority. Unlike those posing as Christ’s representatives today, they were absolutely fearless.

“The righteous are bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1

THAT is because they were imbued with Heaven’s authority and not just some wimpy preacher like we have today that have zero anointing. The Scripture specifically draws our attention to this fact at the end of the longest recorded message of our LORD Jesus (Matthew 5-7).

ANY man who is afraid to offend you is a compromised moral coward (Galatians 1:10; 4:16).

LOTS of people attempting in vain to do God’s work without God’s power (Acts 1:8).

Your life and preaching have little or no anointing from God if you are not baptized with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8; 2:38). Those believers who are not baptized in the Holy Ghost are greatly limited. | Full of the Holy Ghost

Are you baptized with the Holy Ghost? Jesus and His apostles and the earliest followers of Jesus were and God wants you to be (Acts 1:8). This is why they were full of God’s power!

“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued (clothed upon) with power from on high.” Luke 24:49

God is calling all His men to repent of not allowing HIM, HIS Word to teach us and for selling our souls out to the world – by submitting our lives to the tutelage of mere sinful men in seminaries or Bible colleges. Paul denounced all his higher learning for Christ and to be used of Him! (Philippians 3) Satan’s Seminaries Busted and Exposed!

Anointed men are crucified men and they move men!

“Satan doesn’t give up his ground easy. He must be hit straight on. The word, backed up by a Holy Spirit filled vessel is the power against his lies and deception.” Jeni

The vatican-trained seminarians use Satan’s “bibles” which are not God’s Word and have removed and changed the pillar doctrines of the original Gospel. This alone underscores the prophesied great apostasy. Real New Testament fellowship by pouring over Acts 2:42-47. False “Bibles” Busted and Exposed

Most men in ministry today try to make a “fair show in the flesh”…. they are basically paid actors, cross-less, full of sinful self…. Yet the good news is that YOU don’t have to try to be someone special because Jesus is Almighty, He’s our all in all, everything! It’s all about Christ! The Daily Cross

Wolves patty cake with you because they want your money and could care less about your eternal soul (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy:2-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3).

“AFTER” and not Before!

“But ye shall receive power, AFTER that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

If you are not baptized with the Holy Ghost, you are not qualified by God to be His minister, elder. Sadly, many choose the laughable cheap substitute of seminary. The unchanging Savior never once sent His disciples to seminary for higher learning but rather to the cross-life and Pentecost. told His own twelve who had walked with Him over 3 years in the flesh that they were not ready or qualified to do His work until they received “power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) No Pentecost, No Power!

The ministry of Jesus was a sin-exposing and forgiving, chain-breaking, devil-crushing ministry of great divine power.

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38

Christ has not changed and desires to use His people to do what He did.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8

Would you correct Christ’s apostle Paul for being too harsh (according to you)? Here’s what Paul said to a deceiver in his day: “Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:9-10)

Soft men get nothing done. No, they only perpetual people in their sins, leading them to damnation. God’s Word commands:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:2-5

So many have sinned by sitting under grace-perverting wolves who do nothing but coddle and comfort them in their sins instead of calling them to truly repent, deny self, die the death, take up the cross, lay down their lives, and follow Christ for real! The Holy Ghost specifically warned us of this! (2 Tim 4:2-4; Jude 3-4, etc.)

God Does Not Anoint Rebels | Support | STORE | Podcasts | Beware of the Wolf Defenders

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Beware of False Prophets [podcast]

Bible Literacy Series

Busting Hell Wide Open while Believing You are “Blessed” [podcast]

Apostasy

Spiritual Formation—A Dangerous Substitute for the Life of Christ [podcast]

Sometimes we think of spiritual formation as formation by the Holy Spirit. Once again. That’s essential. . . . But now I have to say something that may be challenging for you to think about: Spiritual formation is not all by the Holy Spirit. . . . We have to recognize that spiritual formation in us is something that is also done to us by those around us, by ourselves, and by activities which we voluntarily undertake . . .There has to be method.¹—Dallas Willard

Aside from the fact that Spiritual Formation incorporates mystical practices into its infrastructure (remove the contemplative aspect and you don’t have “Spiritual Formation” anymore), Spiritual Formation is a works-based substitute for biblical Christianity. Let us explain.

When one becomes born again (“that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9-10), having given his or her life and heart over to Christ as Savior, Jesus Christ says He will come in and live in that surrendered heart:

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:27)

If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11; emphasis added)

When God, through Jesus Christ, is living in us, He begins to do a transforming work in our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:18). Not only does He change us, He also communes with us. In other words, we have fellowship with Him, and He promises never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

This life of God in the believer’s heart is not something we need to conjure up through meditative practices. But if a person does not have this relationship with the Lord, he may seek out ways to feel close to God. This is where Spiritual Formation comes into play. Rather than a surrendered life to Christ (through repentance and faith), the seeking person begins practicing the spiritual disciplines (e.g., prayer, fasting, good works, etc.) with the promise that if he practices these disciplines, he will become more Christ-like.

But merely doing these acts fails to make one feel close to God—something is still missing. And thus, he begins practicing the discipline of silence (or solitude), and now in these altered states of silence, he finally feels connected to God. He now feels complete. What he does not understand is that he has substituted the indwelling of Christ in his heart for a works-based methodology that endangers his spiritual life. Dangerous because these mystical experiences he now engages in appear to be good because they make him feel close to God, but in reality he is being drawn into demonic realms no different than what happens to someone who is practicing transcendental meditation or eastern meditation. Even mystics themselves acknowledge that the contemplative realm is no different than the realm reached by occultists. To understand this more fully, please read Ray Yungen’s book A Time of Departing.

Bottom line, it is not possible to be truly Christ-like without having Christ inside of us because it is His righteousness that is able to change our hearts—we cannot do it without Him. It is His righteousness we need:

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe. (Romans 3:22)

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. (Philippians 3:9)

It is interesting to note that virtually every contemplative teacher has a common theme—they feel dry and empty and want to go “deeper” with God or “become more intimate” with God. But if we have Christ living in us, how can we go any deeper than that? How can we become more intimate than that? And if going deeper and becoming intimate were so important, why is it that none of the disciples or Jesus Himself ever told us to do this? As Larry DeBruyn states:

Why are Christians seeking a divine presence that Jesus promised would abundantly flow in them? . . . Why do they need another voice, another visitation, or another vision? Why are some people unthankfully desirous of “something more” than what God has already given to us? Why is it that some Christians, in the depth of their souls, are not seemingly at rest?²

Is There a “Good” Spiritual Formation?

One of the most common arguments we hear defending Spiritual Formation is that there is a “good” Spiritual Formation done without contemplative prayer. To that we say, we have never yet seen a Spiritual Formation program in a school or a church that doesn’t in some way point people to the contemplative mystics. It might be indirectly, but in every case, if you follow the trail, it will lead you right into the arms of Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, and other contemplative teachers.

Think about this common scenario: A Christian college decides to begin a Spiritual Formation course. The instructor has heard some negative things about Richard Foster, Henri Nouwen, and Brennan Manning, and he figures he will teach the class “good Spiritual Formation” and leave those teachers completely out. But he’s going to need a textbook. He turns to a respected institution, Dallas Theological Seminary, and finds a book written by Paul Pettit, Professor in Pastoral and Education Ministries. The book is titled Foundations of Spiritual Formation. The instructor who has found this book to use in his own class may never mention Richard Foster or Dallas Willard, but the textbook he is using does. Within the pages of Pettit’s book is Richard Foster, Philip Yancey, N.T. Wright, Dallas Willard, Thomas Aquinas, Lectio Divina, Ayn Rand, Parker Palmer, Eugene Peterson, J.P. Moreland, Klaus Issler, Bruce Demarerst, Jim Burns, Kenneth Boa and Brother Lawrence’s “practicing God’s presence.” You may not have heard of all these names, but they are all associated with the mystical contemplative prayer movement and the emerging church.

Another example of this is Donald Whitney’s book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Whitney is former Associate Professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and currently at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While his book does not promote contemplative mysticism, he says that Richard Foster has “done much good”³ in the area of Christian spirituality (which we believe is blatantly untrue).

Our point is that even if there is a sincere attempt to teach Spiritual Formation and stay away from the mystical side, we contend that it cannot be successfully accomplished because it will always lead back to the ones who have brought it to the church in the first place.

Spiritual formation is sweeping throughout Christianity today. It’s no wonder when the majority of Christian leaders have either endorsed the movement or given it a silent pass. For instance, in Chuck Swindoll’s book So You Want to Be Like Christ: 8 Essential Disciplines to Get You There, Swindoll favorably quotes Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. Swindoll calls Celebration of Discipline a “meaningful work”⁴ and Willard’s book The Spirit of the Disciplines “excellent work.”⁵ In chapter three, ”Silence and Solitude,” Swindoll talks about “digging for secrets . . . that will deepen our intimacy with God.”⁶ Quoting the contemplative poster-verse Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God,” Swindoll says the verse is a call to the “discipline of silence.”⁷ As other contemplative proponents have done, he has taken this verse very much out of context.

Roger Oakland sums it up:

The Spiritual Formation movement . . . teaches people that this is how they can become more intimate with God and truly hear His voice. Even Christian leaders with longstanding reputations of teaching God’s word seem to be succumbing. . . .

We are reconciled to God only through his “death” (the atonement for sin), and we are presented “holy and unblameable and unreproveable” when we belong to Him through rebirth. It has nothing to do with works, rituals, or mystical experiences. It is Christ’s life in the converted believer that transforms him.⁸

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Romans 5:10

What Christians need is not a method or program or ritual or practice that will supposedly connect them to God. What we need is to be “in Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30) and Christ in us. And He has promised His Spirit “will guide [us] into all truth” (John 16:13).

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” 1 Corinthians 1:30

In Colossians 1:9, the apostle Paul tells the saints that he was praying for them that they “might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” He was praying that they would have discernment (“spiritual understanding”). He said that God, the Father, has made us “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (vs 12) and had “delivered us from the power of darkness [i.e., power of deception]” (vs. 13). But what was the key to having this wisdom and spiritual understanding and being delivered from the power of darkness? Paul tells us in that same chapter. He calls it “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints” (vs. 26). What is that mystery? Verse 27 says: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (emphasis added).

For those wanting to get involved with the Spiritual Formation movement (i.e., contemplative, spiritual direction), consider the “direction” you will actually be going.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel. (Colossians 1:21-23)

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. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2: 8-10)

This article is an extract from the Lighthouse Trails booklet, Is Your Church Doing Spiritual Formation? (Important Reasons Why They Shouldn’t). To order this booklet, click here.

Endnotes:
1. Dallas Willard, “Spiritual Formation: What it is, and How it is Done” (https://dwillard.org/resources/articles/spiritual-formation-what-it-is-and-how-it-is-done).

2. Larry DeBruyn, “God’s Present of His Presence” (https://www.guardinghisflock.org/gods-present-of-his-presence/ ).

3. Donald Whitney, “Doctrine and Devotion: A Reunion Devoutly to be Desired” (http://web.archive.org/web/20080828052145/http://biblicalspirituality.org/devotion.html).

4. Chuck Swindoll, So You Want to Be Like Christ: 8 Essential Disciplines to Get You There (Nashville, TN:W Publishing Group, a div. of Thomas Nelson, 2005), p. 15.

5. Ibid., p. 13.

6. Ibid., p. 55.

7. Ibid.

8. Roger Oakland, Faith Undone (Eureka, MT: Lighthouse Trails Publishing, 2007), pp. 91-92.

This has been an extract from our booklet Is Your Church Doing Spiritual Formation? (Important Reasons Why It Shouldn’t). To order this booklet, click here.

Spiritual Formation Exposed |

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines

The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines A Critique of Dallas Willard and The Spirit of the Disciplines by Bob DeWaayPractices called “spiritual disciplines” that are deemed necessary for “spiritual formation” have entered evangelicalism. Recent encounters with this teaching narrated to me by friends caused me to investigate these practices. The first experience involved my friend and co-worker Ryan Habbena who went back to seminary to finish his masters degree. Here is his experience in his own words: I recently took a seminary course on the book of Luke. It was a summer intensive and was one of only […]

SHOCKING List of Spiritual Formation Ministries

More Catholic Witchcraft Infiltrating the Apostate Seminaries, Ministries, and Churches “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:1-2 WHAT is spiritual formation / contemplative prayer or centering prayer? Spiritual formation/contemplative prayer/spirituality is just another self-centered, Christ-denying, self-righteous, works-based, occultic, pagan lie from hell! Seminaries teach it and now many churches today are practicing new age witchcraft called contemplative prayer, or centering Prayer which is part of spiritual formation. […]

Articles

Mission Mexico Part 32

“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” Acts 19:20

See picture below.

I recently, “accidently” drove up this very narrow street only to realize that there was no turn around at the end. As God would have it, this man helped me back out of that street and received the spoken Word and a JESUS tract. Romans 8:28 right?

“Ephesians 3:20 was the very verse I prayed for you and the ministry this morning! And v16 as well. May the Spirit of God manifest His full grace and peace upon you today! And give you fruit, more fruit and much fruit! Amen.” Karen Cochran

(see picture below)

It dawns on me afresh today as it has since arriving here in Mexico, that these precious people so deeply hunger for Christ. Today, upon ministering to Victor and Juan and having Victor incessantly asking me about Christianity, Jesus, and being saved…. this was a fresh reminder of the great hunger and openness of the Mexican people. They want Jesus. Plain and simple. “HOW shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

These two men were excited to know that you would be lifting them in prayer.

Victor and I are now connected by phone. So he will now be fed the Word of our God and be introduced to Spanish speaking disciples of our LORD Jesus.

Being limited in Spanish, I preached the Gospel, the Bible truth I am able to in Spanish and that including exhorting them both, today to repent and receive Jesus and did this while pointing to the prayer (oracion) on the back of the JESUS tract.

Would you like to kindly pause to lift these 2 dear men in prayer to our LORD?

Mission Mexico

JUST got a call from sister Teri in FL and had the opportunity to speak with brothers Scott and Jorge who were both recently saved by Jesus. Was also blessed to speak with a brother named Raymond who is a flourishing disciple of Jesus!

Thank you for your prayers and support which include our bless-ed opportunity of helping this group of disciples in FL.

Jesus is coming!

Recently…… Many received God’s Word today.

Brother Mark has recently joined in helping with our LORD’s Gospel in Mission Mexico and was amazed when he saw three grown men walking together who were ministered to and walk away, each of them with the JESUS tract open, as they walked read the message. They are that hungry.

The Mexico people deserve to hear our LORD’s glorious Gospel!

“I bet brother Mark is amazed at the response of the Mexican people when you guys go out and minister to them. To have so many hearts open and poor in spirit would be a shock at first. Total opposite of America—who say ‘I am rich, increased with goods have need of nothing!’ Revelation 3:17.

Praise God for the blessed ones who heard the engrafted word of our Lord, which is able to save their souls.” Karen

REPLY:

Yes He is amazing. They WANT it. They DESIRE it. They are like the woman who desires a man and so he marries her and they have a super blessed marriage for life. Instead of the wicked Jezebel woman who just wants to self-servingly shop for the man she can use to accomplish her selfish agenda.

“I was reading Mathew 21:23 this morning and it went through my mind that is what God said to America! ‘The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.’ And that nation is Mexico!“ Karen

“Truly amazing what God is doing in the hearts of the Mexican people. And now He is raising up disciples to bring into the harvest. He is LORD of the harvest. Have you heard of Chick Publications? I just read that they have sent 200,000 tracts to a Mexico missionary and more being ready to be sent. Southern Mexico. So God is sure flooding Mexico with His Word!” Karen Cochran

While walking over to get a haircut, I happened to spot a JESUS tract someone had placed on this vehicle. No it was not me. I didn’t put that tract there. Someone else did.

Then, 5 minutes later, after arriving at barber and sitting down in the chair, straight ahead in my line of sight, there’s a JESUS tract purposely set on display by the barber.

No matter how high prices get in Mexico, your cost of living will always be MUCH less than the USA. A raise awaits you, soon as you cross the border. Is God prompting you to “Go”? (Mark 16:15)

God is good all the time as you well know and thank you.

Your prayers to the Father in the name of our LORD Jesus are the heavenly fuel He uses to bless and empower and supply His people to do His work.

“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

todd

Articles

Chosen for Holiness [podcast]

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Ephesians 1:4

Holiness comes by the Savior in self denial (death and burial – the cross), not by self will or effort. Surrender is the cross – “NOT my will but thine be done” (Lk. 22:42) and “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). We surrender to Christ by saying “Not my will but thine be done” dear Lord, by Your grace and the deliberate act of my own will I submit to the cross, the crucified life – where You alone reign supreme in this vessel (Luke 22:42; Galatians 2:20, etc.). I love You LORD Jesus! You must increase but I must decrease! (John 3:30)

Holiness, not happiness, is the divine command, the chief purpose and end of Christ’s salvation.

Of holiness, one disciple writes:

“Holiness speaks more to nature than it does conduct. Good conduct is the spontaneous byproduct of the new nature of the new creation man thru the cross and death to the old nature. We are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-18). To preach holiness as conduct without the new nature thru the cross understanding is legalism. Holiness is actually derived from ‘wholeness’ meaning the thorough transformation of the whole tripartite man (1 Thess 5:23). So many of these ‘holiness’ preachers are preaching nothing but conduct under law. Law arouses sinful passions and causes sin to increase and was given in order to provoke transgressions (Rom 7:5; 5:20; Gal 3:21). They are enemies of the cross!”

Holiness comes by way of the cross, not by way of the flesh. Just as sin was conquered by the cross of Christ, so sin in the life of the saint is conquered by the daily cross – the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). It’s time to stop trying harder and to simply die deeper.

NOTICE: When a believer or group of believers backslides, they no longer separate from the transgressors who are unrepentant:

Fornication Defiles

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have (Gr. possessed and wouldn’t repent) his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

The Glorious Church Jesus is Returning for [video]

WHAT church/people is Jesus returning for? “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27 “a glorious church” “not having spot (no sin)“ No “wrinkle” “or any such thing” “but that it should be holy and without blemish” WHAT’s the use of talking about end times […]

Can a True Believer Overcome All Sin? [podcast]

Yes. In the church world, there’s an abundance of talk about sin and it comes with the notion, the inflection, the false assumption that somehow, born again believers are relegated to sinning, as if there’s no other choice. Is that true? Is this the biblical perspective? What I want us to do is make sure we are looking at the whole of Scripture and be blessed to gain a godly confidence that our Savior provided a perfect salvation that includes more than just the initial washing away of our sins. This “great grace” that He provided in His “so […]

The Truth about Holiness [podcast]

“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11 As we just read, divine “holiness” is “glorious.” Holiness is not what most of us think it is. Holiness in the divine economy is something of great “beauty” and utterly refreshing (Psalms 96:9). It seems that holiness is not merely a divine attribute but rather the divine nature of the Almighty. Are we ready to allow our LORD, who alone is “Holy, holy, holy,” to define what holiness truly is and how He brings it […]