Never thirst again

Exodus 16:4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

Vs. 35 And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

Manna was a supernatural miracle of God bcos it appeared daily for 6 days, and on the 7th day it never appeared. It was totally unique and distinct from the created order; it was “unnatural”.

At first, the children of Israel must have been amazed by this miracle; it constantly reminding them of the supernatural God who brought them out of the bondage of Egypt. Yet, over time, even this amazing miracle of manna became boring, and common to them.

There’s an exact parallel to our life in Christ, and the patience and endurance of faith we need in this walk with Him.

How many Christians get bored with the manna, the “bread from heaven” given for them, who is Christ Jesus? That which was, at the outset, a wonder and a miracle has lost it’s wonder and awe?

How important is the “daily bread” from heaven to us today, and, are we satisfied with this bread?

Or is it, “Oh, it’s JUST manna again?” …that is, “Oh, it’s JUST Jesus again? Isn’t there anything more?” (like: angels? Lakeland? barking? howling?….. )

Never thirst again

Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You do then, so that we may see it and believe You? What work do You perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly I say to you, Moses has not given you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

(John 6:30-35)

This is truly an amazing and hard to swallow truth – Jesus is saying that when He is the Lord of someone’s life then they NEVER ever have any more spiritual hunger or thirst for God. That won’t sit well with many today, but that’s what Jesus said.

Why no hunger for God? Bcos He will satisfy our souls completely! That’s what He promised (please read it again). Then, it’s no longer about US hungering and thirsting for God (with the emphasis on our need) it’s about HIM and His accomplished work on the cross, and the subsequent glory due to Him.

Mat 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

When do they get filled, and their hunger and thirst satisfied? Now, or when they get to heaven?

If a person HAS – POSSESSES, as a free gift of grace, the righteousness of God in Christ, then they are FILLED with His righteousness, and they hunger and thirst for it no more. Either a person is hungry/thirsty, or they are satisfied, it’s one or the other.

Don’t get me wrong, the Bible teaches we are to press on to maturity, that we might know Christ, yet, maturity concerns HIS glory, not ME seeking to be fulfilled. His Kingdom is NOT about ME, having my needs met, having my hunger and thirst satisfied, no. It’s not about me, it’s about Him.

If Jesus hasn’t satisfied you, then when will you be satisfied with Him? Why aren’t you satisfied, and filled with Him now?

The Holy Spirit reminds us and encourages us in these truths when we get discouraged.

Beware lest anyone captures you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

(Col 2:8-10)

Diamonds

A diamond is simply a chunk of coal that was “hard-pressed” for many, many years.

and…

The Greek word for “believe” means “to have faith” or to “entrust one’s spiritual well-being to Christ.“

From this article: http://www.ekklesia4him.net/tried_and_found_wanting.html

Ian’s comment:

Faith is to, “entrust one’s spiritual well-being to Christ.“

To entrust ALL to Christ – spiritual, physical, emotional, financial, relationships…. (and it is all spiritual, no compartments in our life, rather, just Life – His Life, Gal. 2:20 )

AND, it’s a Holy – excluding all others – trust, like Holy matrimony.

When we have such an exclusive trust in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, then we can longer have our trust in anyone or anything else, for our spiritual well-being and life ; there’s a total separation from, a Holy sanctifying exclusion from –   FROM trusting in men, and their words and promises, personalities, and systems and plans and schemes and kingdoms, TO trusting in Christ alone.

“Look at all those chumps falling for that stuff!”

No, they’re not chumps.

Matt 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will be raised up, and they will show great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

What we’re witnessing now with the present commotion over Lakeland, and its “infection” of the charismatic church world, is only the beginning* of the fulfillment of Matt. 24:24, and therefore it’s something very solemn, not a joke, bcos our Lord said that even His own, His elect, could nearly be deceived by the deception – that’s how clever and subtle it is, as a counterfeit. It’s not something to mock.

The elect can’t be “nearly” deceived by the obvious cults; its something which arises from within the legitimate/orthodox evangelical stream which is the great test for the elect.

* The beginning, bcos the real crunch will come when there are GREAT signs and wonders. That hasn’t happened yet.

Transcript of TB’s “Commissioning”

My name is Peter Wagner & I’m president of Global harvest ministries based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I have served the body of Christ in apostolic ministry for many years & currently I preside over the international coalition of apostles which brings together over 500 recognized apostles. I have the honor of being assigned to preside over this momentous occasion, & I am humbled as I approach the task with an enormous sense of awe.

Holy Spirit I invite your presence, your power & your direction, Amen (?)

This is a ________ celebrating the formal apostolic alignment of Todd Bentley. My first desire is to lay a biblical foundation for what we are about to do. I will begin with a scripture that has been a central text for those of us who have been in the stream of contemporary apostolic prophetic movement, which is Eph 4:11&12.

So Christ himself – that is, Jesus at his assertion, he – gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry.

The word ‘equipping’ is a translation of the Greek _________, which means, literally, aligning, as is setting the broken bone or a chiropractic adjustment. It means putting things in order so that the body functions as it was designed to function. This is one of the responsibilities of apostles such as those who we see on the platform; & that is the reason we are present tonight. For example, Paul wrote to Titus “for this reason I left you in Crete that you should (Speakers emphasis) set in order the things that are lacking”. Speaking of Paul & Titus, their relationship is a biblical prototype of apostolic alignment. Same would apply to Paul & Timothy. The apostolic alignment of Timothy & Titus with Paul was a principle factor in allowing God to develop & fulfill his complete destiny in both of their lives. But, Paul himself was also apostolically aligned. Soon after he was called to join Barnabas & his colleagues in Antioch for the then, controversial ministry of planting churches among Gentiles. He traveled to Jerusalem to bring a gift for famine relief & also to align with some of the apostles.

I want to use the experience that Paul had on that occasion as the text, for the protocol for tonight’s alignment & commissioning of Todd Bentley. It is found in Galatians 2:9 which tells the story of one of Paul’s visits to Jerusalem. It says that when “James, Cephas & John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me & Barnabas the right hand of fellowship that we should go to the Gentiles & they to the circumcised.

Todd, is following Paul’s example by inviting to the 3 apostolic pillars of today’s church. Che Ahn of Pasadena, California; Bill Johnson of Redding, California & John Arnott of Toronto, Canada; Todd’s native land. They represent an apostolic network called Revival Alliance. Notice that the apostles in Jerusalem perceived the grace that God had given to Paul. The word ‘Grace’ is Charis (?), the root of charisma, meaning spiritual gift, or gifts. In Paul’s case, it was the gift next necessary to carry the Gospel to Gentiles. In Todd’s case it is the gift next necessary to lead the Lakeland Outpouring.

I have a question for the 3 apostles. Do you perceive that Grace of God given to Todd Bentley as an evangelist to lead the Lakeland Outpouring? (They nod & answer)

I have a question for Todd Bentley. Do you recognize the apostolic authority of these three men in your life & ministry & do you desire to establish an apostolic alignment with them & with Revival Alliance? (Todd speaks).

With this affirmation, we will move to a formal commissioning, equivalent to offering the right hand of fellowship as the 3 apostles did to Paul in Jerusalem. This commissioning represents a powerful, full spiritual transaction taking place in the _______ of the _______. With this in mind, I take the apostolic authority that God has given me, & I decree to Todd Bentley. Your power will increase, your authority will increase, your favor will increase, your influence will increase, and your revelation will increase. I also decree, that a new supernatural strength will flow through this ministry, a new life-force will penetrate this move of God. Government will be established to set things in their proper order. God will pour out a higher level of discernment to distinguish truth from error. New relationships will surface to open the gates for the future!

Che Ahn, you may now proceed.

Che Ahn takes the mike from Peter Wagner and begins speaking:

First of all on behalf of my wife, Sue, I want to ask all of you for forgiveness for coming so late. We were

supposed to be here at 5:00 o’clock and typical uh mechanical problems, that they were actually going to cancel

our flight. But because you were praying and people were praying they got another plane for us and we were able to arrive just on time for this commissioning service. So we thank God for it.

I uh want to just say how deeply honored I am that John who just came from Africa make time to be here, Bill. I mean it’s a miracle that Peter Wagner, Bill Johnson, John Arnott, Todd Bentley and these distinguished apostles would all be able to make it all together at one time one place. That is with our international commitments that’s a miracle in itself.

And I also feel, Todd, that it’s significant that two things, one that this would be on June 23rd. Bob Jones

Prophesied that you’ll go to a whole diff level June 22, remember that? So here’s the day after and we’re …

and you’re going to a whole different level. Isaiah 22:22 uh, he’s giving you the keys of David he’s opening doors that no man can close. [** sorry, couldn’t capitalize He because I don’t believe it’s our God **]

And so it was very, very significant that this is taking place. And it was not because of Bob’s prophecy it was just based on our calendar but I think it’s significant that it would be here on this day, a day after that word was prophesied. I also think it’s significant that we have 3 generations coming together. God’s the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and you know, we’re old enough to be your dad. ha ha ha. And Peter’s old enough to be your grandfather.

And so, and so it’s wonderful that we could come together 3 generation so I want to proceed in recognizing that God has chosen you and appointed you to bear much and lasting fruit in this Lakeland revival and revival around the world. Recognizing that He has called you as an Eph 4 evangelist and revivalist moving in signs and wonders. Knowing that you have walked in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Jesus in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in the intimacy and knowledge of God, we as your brothers and your friends, who have a deep love for you, Shonnah, your whole family, we just esteem you.

We are here to stand with you, to support you, and we are here to commission you, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the power of Jesus Name, with special oil from Chuck Pierce. It’s called revival oil. Chuck could not make it but he sent this Fed-Ex, special oil for you. He’s in Africa and so we anoint you and commission you, in Jesus’ Name. [Che Ahn touches Todd’s forehead with the oil and Todd falls back.] Uh, oh, bah, wow! boom, bam! We want to give him a little of his own medicine. ha ha ha ha. whoa, ha ha ha ha.

I’m gonna ask John and Bill to share and pray.

John Arnott begins speaking:

We bless you today, Todd Bentley. You’re a friend, you’re a man of god, you’re a man of prayer, you’re a man of the spirit. You love the anointing. And I would say that it’s not just the Lakeland revival, but the whole world that goes into revival and you’re leading an amazing charge, and multitudes are getting in behind you and saying, “Come on, I’m gonna go with you.” And so we bless all of that. thank you Holy Spirit for raising up this young man to lead such a mighty charge around the world and to partner with GodTV in all that has happened here in the last several months now. Three months almost. We bless it in the name of Jesus, and we stand with you. and we encourage you, and we honor you.

[1.05 mins, man in white shirt with glasses (Bill Johnson??) begins speaking:]

When David wanted Uriah killed, he sent him into battle and then withdrew from him. As a company of people we refuse to do that. many revivals through history have been cut short of their intention of God’s destiny and their intention for individuals because of jealousies and fears that get stirred up in the people of God. And we refuse to do that. We shape the course of history by partnering with you, giving honor where it’s due. You welcome the glory as well as anybody I’ve ever seen in my life. I long to learn from you in that. And I bless you and I pray with the rest of these that the measure of glory would increase. That Moses would no longer be considered the high-water mark where the glory shone from his face, but instead the revelation of the goodness of God would change the face of the Church. And that He would use your voice, He would use your grace, your anointing to alter the face of the Church before this world. That the goodness of the Lord would be seen once

again. I pray this over you in Jesus Name.

[2.18 mins, Che Ahn speaks:]

We’re gonna, we’re gonna let Todd soak. But I would like to have the apostles who are standing with Todd, any of you wanna share a prophetic word or anything?

[2.31 mins, older man in blue shirt (??) begins speaking:]

Yes, the Lord would say unto thee that this day you have loosened upon this earth yay what I have wanted for

centuries to come forth, a kingly anointing which will bring in MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. Because the business men

will rise up and they will go forth under this anointing and no more will they stay hidden in the shadows but

they shall go forth into the political world, into the business world, into the military world, and great

changes shall take place saith the Lord. Because this night is the night when you started out speaking your

first words about the Kingdom of God.

[3.13 mins, man in pin-stripe shirt (??) begins speaking:]

Todd, on behalf of New Zealand, my home country, and Australia, my first adopted country, and America, my

third adopted country, I speak FAVOR for you in all those nations. May they receive you supernaturally. And may they welcome you and may you be blessed as you go to those nations and blessed as you come back. And let the report be great and mighty, from all those nations, in Jesus name.

[3.59 mins, woman (??) in white pantsuit begins speaking:]

Todd, the spirit of god says years from now people will look at this time and they will recognize it as when their god showed up and created within the Church a new heart says the lord. And I will genesis in the midst of the chaos in the world today and I will not just bring amending but I will bring forth that which is new, that which is dedicated, that which is a decided, that which is pure, and I will heal the corruptness of the heart says god. And the lord says that this is the heart that I will not despise. And as David cried unto me, don’t take your Holy Spirit from me! I have released a cry within my Church says the lord that has begin to release its desperateness, and said I can’t live without your presence, I can’t live without your glory, I’m undone and I’m naked without your presence. No program will be a substitute. And the spirit of god says history says the lord will measure it by heart.

[5.14 mins, younger fellow in white shirt (??) begins speaking:]

As Spaniards, we came years ago to this continent and proud to conquer it, now we are coming humble to take this really glory to the Spanish-speaking nations of the world. Welcome the revival. Welcome the outpouring to the Spanish-speaking nations in the world. Welcome it to Spain, and to whole South America, Latin America, and all over the world. Glorious …. [spoke Spanish here]

[5.50 mins, woman in dark pantsuit (??) begins speaking:]

For the word of the lord would say behold the vanguard, behold the tugboat that is cutting through the ice of

religious traditions, the cruel hard thing. The understanding of the mind of men will now bound to the

reality of the revelation of the finished work of Calvary. Behold saith god, you been equipped with cutting power, you have been equipped to go through those traditions of the mind of men. Yay, saith god, and you are pulling the church into the realm of glory. Behind you is a great ship that is laden with healing and deliverance and prosperity. This is the word to you, o man of god, arise, kill, and eat. No longer, no longer, no longer will men call unclean what I have called clean.

[7.11 mins, white-haired man with sunglasses on head ( Rick Joyner??) begins speaking:]

Todd, your ministry is very appropriately named Fresh Fire, and uh, you’ve certainly been bringing fresh fire. And even when you were going through the dark night of the soul I thought you had more fire on you than … than uh … many I’ll just say. But uh, you know the worst state we could ever fall into is lukewarmness, and god has sent you as an antidote for that lukewarm spirit. And the fire is been birthed here, it’s been released here, you’ve unstopped a well, you have other wells to unstop, and other cities and other places. This is just the beginning. And there is longevity, too. There is increase, but there is also longevity coming. There are many wells but there are also oil wells and they catch on fire when you unstop them.

[Todd, still soaking on platform, is clapping after that man’s word.]

[8.15 mins, man in dark shirt, buzz cut haircut (??) begins speaking:]

Todd, the lord has made you to be a detonator. I see cables going around the world to different nations. I see Great Britain being set ablaze by the power of god. I see even as you go into places that god says you’ll go even with the glory, even like William Branham. And the lord says you’ll carry a portal anointing and whatever city you go over there will be a portal. There will be a portal that will be opened up, says the lord. The lord says you’ll detonate and boom, boom, boom, there’ll be a release of glory through the nations says the spirit of the lord.

[8:56, fellow in red shirt (??) begins speaking:]

Todd, as a fellow Canadian there’s the word honor written over you tonight. Because of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob you’ve honored the generations that have gone before you. As a son you’ve reached out to the fathers and you said, bless me. And you have blessed us tonight and so we honor you. You’ve honored the Word of God, you’ve honored the Spirit of God, you’ve honored the moving of the Holy Spirit and the ways of God. And so tonight we just affirm that rest of honor that is upon your life will follow you now in every nation that you go. And you will draw men and women to you that seek honor and want to walk together and want to be what God wants them to be in this generation. Todd Bentley, the word honor rests upon your life.

[Che Ahn says:] Amen.

[Che Ahn:]

Amen.

I’d like to have George Banna (?) who’s also a member of revival alliance and Staci Campbell who as Wes’ wife is part of revival alliance as well. And they also have a great word.

[0.19 mins, Staci begins speaking:]

Todd, when we were singing that song, uh that’s ok [she says to Che’s offer to hold mic for her], uh “show me your glory” I felt impressed to open the Scriptures to the very portion of Scripture where Moses said, “show me your glory.” And it was the very pinnacle prayer of Moses’ life.

[0.44 mins]

pssshh pssshh [Staci begins twisting her head quickly back and forth]

And this prayer, this prayer came after a burning bush, came after the release of national judgments, came after psshh going into the cloud of glory psshh and receiving the tablets, came after Numbers 24 where Moses went on the mountain with 70 elders and ate and drank with God.

Psshh psshh and in this pinnacle prayer psshh psshh psshh psshh God would not speak face-to-face with Moses psshh like He did at other times. psshh

In this pinnacle prayer of the release of the glory of god shhhh shhhh shhh he had to hide Moses in a cleft of the rock and he had to only show him the hind parts.

[Staci stops the violent head swinging and calms down]

[1.58 mins, reads from the Bible, has trouble saying God’s Name:]

And He passed by Moses at the unveiling of His glory and He said this, the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, the LORD, the LORD God, Merciful, compassionate and gracious. Long-suffering and abounding in goodness and truth. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. Who will by no means clear the guilty. Visiting the iniquity of the fathers onto the third and fourth generations.

[begins violent head shaking again]

When we were singing that song tonight the spirit came on me and said Todd psshh psshh sshhh because you asked shhh like very few men on the face of the earth ask shhh to see my glory shhh I will begin a revival through you shhh that will pass beyond gifts into the very heart that moves god shhh to release gifts to his children. sshhh And jesus, filled with compassion healed the sick shhh shhhh shhh and jesus filled with forgiveness psshh said, “he who is without sin cast the first stone” shhh shhh shhhh …

[3.37 mins:]

and jesus filled with justice and truth psshh psshhh psshhh threw over tables and took out whips and cleansed the temple of god psshh psshh

and Todd, I’ve chosen you because of your background, because of your background.

[the crowd cheers and claps]

because of your background. psshh psshhh psshh psshhh psshh to release my nature psshh when you release my gifts. psshh psshhh psshh psshhh to become a living epistle psshh like the word that became flesh and people saw the glory of god psshh and I will use you to father a movement psshh psshh that operates in such revival power when it is coming out of the very nature and heart of god. pssshhh and you will teach people how to behold god until they are transformed from glory to glory. from compassion to mercy to lovingkindness, to truth, to justice, to forgiveness. psh psh and a whole generation shh will move in such signs and wonders and follower (?) but everyone will give glory to god.

[Staci stops head shaking, 5.09 mins]

I feel like Todd that when you were 12 years old and I just graduated from Baptist seminary the Holy Spirit fell on me and He started to speak to me over and over and over again about a generation that would come on the earth, that would do signs and wonders, that would change society and society would not change them.

[5.35 mins, starts shaking head again]

and you are a first fruits of that generation of nation changers psshh psshh that will release the glory of god in all its fullness in jesus name. [5.49 ends, crowd claps]

[6.00 mins, tall guy in white shirt begins speaking:]

Todd on behalf of the Eastern European nations and former communist countries we want to tell you that we acknowledge and honor what’s upon you and we give you the keys to Eastern Europe. especially the poorest of the poor and the rejected gypsies. and the lord says that because you’ve loved his personal presence there are two anointings that are released on his presence and I just want to release those two anointings on you from the lord. by the way the lord says you’re a well-pleasing son. the father, abba, says that to you. ——

[6.45 mins, speaker opens and appears to read from Bible:]

the first anointing is the anointing of the pleasure of the lord. Surely —– the born of grief, sickness, and weakness and carried us — in the pain and the punishment of us all. He was considered stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God. But He was bruised for our transgression and He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities and chastisment of a peace came upon Him and with a stripe He was, we were healed and made whole. And yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him. And in His Presence there’s fullness of joy and pleasure forevermore. And god’s releasing his pleasure of what he did to Jesus upon you, Todd.

And the second anointing that he wants to release upon you is in Psalm 45 but it’s also in Hebrews chapter 1 verse 9 it says, “Because you have loved righteousness, and you have delighted in integrity and virtue and uprightness in heart, in thought and action. And you have hated unjustice and iniquity; therefore, God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of exultant joy and gladness above and beyond your companion.” We bless you.

[8.13 mins, Che Ahn:]

Amen. Let’s give the lord a shout offering. Let’s praise him. Could someone help Todd up? We want to give him…

[end of video]

From:

http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/videos-of-c-peter-wagners-apostles-prophets-commissioning-todd-bentley/#comment-11500

( Ian – I will delete this post soon. It’s just an FYI)

Ephesians 1

by Paul

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He bestowed favor upon us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and insight, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, for an administration of the fullness of the times, He might bring together all things in Christ, those in heaven and those on the earth–In Him.

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we should be to the praise of His glory, we who first trusted in Christ; in whom also you, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.

Because of this I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks concerning you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your heart having been enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ, having raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies, above every ruler and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the coming age. And He subjected all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him filling all things in all.

The Great God Entertainment

by A. W. Tozer

A German philosopher many years ago said something to the effect that the more a man has in his own heart, the less he will require from the outside; excessive need for support from without is proof of the bankruptcy of the inner man.

If this is true (and I believe it is) then the present inordinate attachment to every form of entertainment is evidence that the inner life of modern man is in serious decline. The average man has no central core of moral assurance, no spring within his own breast, no inner strength to place him above the need for repeated psychological shots to give him the courage to go on living. He has become a parasite on the world, drawing his life from his environment, unable to live a day apart from the stimulation which society affords him.

Schleiermacher held that the feeling of dependence lies at the root of all religious worship, and that however high the spiritual life might rise, it must always begin with a deep sense of a great need which only God could satisfy.

If this sense of need and a feeling of dependence are at the root of natural religion, it is not hard to see why the great god Entertainment is so ardently worshiped by so many. For there are millions who cannot live without amusement; life without some form of entertainment for them is simply intolerable; they look forward to the blessed relief afforded by professional entertainers and other forms of psychological narcotics as a dope addict looks to his daily shot of heroin. Without them they could not summon courage to face existence.

No one with common human feeling will object to the simple pleasures of life, nor to such harmless forms of entertainment as may help to relax the nerves and refresh the mind exhausted by toil. Such things, if used with discretion, may be a blessing along the way. That is one thing, however, the all-out devotion to entertainment as a major activity for which and by which men live is definitely something else again.

The abuse of a harmless thing is the essence of sin. The growth of the amusement phase of human life to such fantastic proportions is a portent, a threat to the souls of modern men. It has been built into a multimillion dollar racket with greater power over human minds and human character than any other educational influence on earth.

And the ominous thing is that its power is almost exclusively evil, rotting the inner life, crowding out the long eternal thoughts which would fill the souls of men, if they were but worthy to entertain them. The whole thing has grown into a veritable religion which holds its devotees with a strange fascination; and a religion, incidentally, against which it is now dangerous to speak. For centuries the Church stood solidly against every form of worldly entertainment, recognizing it for what it was—a device for wasting time, a refuge from the disturbing voice of conscience, a scheme to divert attention from moral accountability.

For this she got herself abused roundly by the sons of this world. But of late she has become tired of the abuse and has given over the struggle. She appears to have decided that if she cannot conquer the great god Entertainment she may as well join forces with him and make what use she can of his powers.So, today we have the astonishing spectacle of millions of dollars being poured into the unholy job of providing earthly entertainment for the so-called sons of heaven. Religious entertainment is in many places rapidly crowding out the serious things of God.
Many churches these days have become little more than poor theaters where fifth-rate “producers” peddle their shoddy wares with the full approval of evangelical leaders who can even quote a holy text in defense of their delinquency. And hardly a man dares raise his voice against it.

The great god Entertainment amuses his devotees mainly by telling them stories. The love of stories, which is a characteristic of childhood, has taken fast hold of the minds of the retarded saints of our day, so much so that not a few persons manage to make a comfortable living by spinning yarns and serving them up in various disguises to church people.

What is natural and beautiful in a child may be shocking when it persists into adulthood, and more so when it appears in the sanctuary and seeks to pass for true religion. Is it not a strange thing and a wonder that, with the shadow of atomic destruction hanging over the world and with the coming of Christ drawing near, the professed followers of the Lord should be giving themselves up to religious amusements? That in an hour when mature saints are so desperately needed vast numbers of believers should revert to spiritual childhood and clamor for religious toys?

“Remember, 0 Lord, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned ! For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.” AMEN. AMEN.

Taken from Root of the Righteous, Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, 1955, p. 32-33.

Like-minded with Paul

For I have no one like-minded, who will be genuinely concerned about your circumstances. For all seek their own interests, not the things of Christ Jesus.

(Phil 2:20-21)

Here’s an exhortation – To be like-minded with Paul the Apostle! If we were to meet Paul would he say, Hey, here’s a like-minded saint to me! ?

The like-mindedness with Paul is in being “genuinely concerned” about the circumstances of the saints. Not seeking our own interests, but the interests of Christ Jesus.

What are His interests? It behooves us to find out.

Lakeland

by Gary Osborne

The first night I personally attended was Thursday, May 8th. Mr. Todd Bentley and his crew were now holding services in the Lakeland Civic Center, which can seat approximately 7,000 people. The doors opened at 6:00 PM to the blowing of a shofar from people waiting to get in. The first thing I noticed as I took a seat in the very back of the auditorium was that the music being played was the loudest I have ever encountered in any “Christian” service I have ever attended. It was blaring loud as the worship team practiced a few songs in anticipation of the 7:00 PM service. I was immediately struck by how many people had banners or flags waving, and how many were jumping up and down like Mexican jumping beans.

There was a lot of “cheerleading” from the stage as microphone checks were being done. Another thing that really stood out were certain buzz words that were used repeatedly. The phrase “stir yourselves up” was used repeatedly, as was the concept of a “transferable anointing.” A woman led in prayer for the service and said, “sound waves carry your [God] presence and anointing” and then told the people to “roar like a lion!” At that request, people everywhere shouted at the top of their lungs and blew the shofars. This same lady was jerking and twitching in a similar way to what has happened in meetings in Toronto and Brownsville in the past. She went on to tell the people to look at one another and say, “You are pregnant – with the Holy Spirit and fire!” There was also much talk of “birthing” and “signs and wonders.”

The “MC” (that’s the best word to describe him) for the meetings then came up and told the audience to get ready because we were going live on GodTV in just a couple of minutes. He had a young man stand behind him and gave the audience instructions to look at this man as he held up his hands for a countdown. Everyone was to make as much noise as possible when the services went live, and believe me they did. It was very orchestrated. There was also talk of being “drunk in the Spirit” during this lead up time to going live on TV.

The service began with loud, loud rock style music. By the way, I am not an old fuddy-dud who doesn’t like up-tempo music. I’m a Pentecostal and don’t at all mind exuberant worship. So my comments are not coming from some prejudice in that vein. I love to praise the Lord, and to do so with a full heart. I clap, shout, and have even been known to jump up and down every now and then. But what I saw and heard at the beginning of this service was unlike anything I had ever witnessed in a Christian service before (and I’ve attended my fair share of “off the wall” services in the past). This was different. It had a secular, rock concert feel to it. People were swaying and dancing to the music constantly. The worship leader, if you could call him that, sang a song whose lyrics include the following:

“I am Free to Run, I am Free to Run”
“I am Free to Dance, I am Free to Dance”

And boy how the people responded to that. There were people dancing everywhere. And by dancing I’m talking some of the same stuff you’d see at a secular concert. Even some men and women dancing together!

I realize that the first portion of this article is dealing somewhat with my own subjective thoughts on the meetings. I will get to some objective points about what is taught in these meetings later in the article, but please bear with me because it’s important for you, the reader, to have an idea of what goes on at these meetings and what the general atmosphere is like.

There was a very sensual spirit in the meeting. Much inappropriate dress as well. And everyone was caught up in their own euphoria. After nearly 45 minutes of upbeat music, things finally slowed down. People were still standing everywhere, but the music was now slower and more hypnotic. The same songs were being played over and over and over. People seemed to be in a trance all around me. If the worship leader said, “raise your hands” everyone did so immediately. If he said, “drop to your knees” they did so immediately. In my humble opinion what I observed that night was nothing more than mass hypnotism. The music had the people mesmerized. Oh, and I didn’t know one song they sang the entire night. Not one!

At about 8:30 PM, with music still being played and Todd Bentley still standing with the other leaders on stage, the music leader says, “I’m feeling drunk.” He then tells the people to say to God, “Intoxicate me, Lord” – “Inebriate me, Lord.” I am disgusted at this point. We will deal with the so-called “drunk in the Spirit” phenomenon later in the article. The music continues and picks up again. Now the people are getting truly wild and the leader says, “Scream!!!” and the people let out a yell that shakes the entire building. Finally the worship leader falls to the floor himself, but the back up singers continue. This continued until nearly 9:00 PM and I had seen enough for my first night. I left amidst the shouts of thousands.

Talk of angels was prevalent throughout the night as well. This seems to be a key point with this particular “revival” and we will discuss it more later in this article.

THE SECOND SERVICE

I came back the following Thursday, May 15th, which was the 44th day of the revival, determined to stay and hear Todd Bentley (if the music leader would allow). This time I entered the Civic Center and noticed that people were much more subdued. Why? Because the band was not practicing and instead much softer music was being played on a CD throughout the auditorium. There was only one person with a flag/banner raised this time, as opposed to the 10 or more I saw the first night. Things stayed calm until the MC came out and once again pumped up the audience with a countdown to going live on TV. As soon as that happened the people were the same as before – shouting, jumping, dancing, etc.

Two men, one looking like the bearded guy from ZZ Top, give each other a high-five near the back of the auditorium and both “fall under the power” immediately. The music is going fast and furious and the same emotions and actions that were in the first meeting are in this one as well. There also continues to be much talk of angels in the songs.

After almost an hour and a half of singing the MC comes back to the center of the stage and declares, “I feel the ‘sauce’ tonight.” He then introduces Todd Bentley who comes out wearing a t-shirt that reads, “Jesus Gave Me My Tattoos.” He tells everyone that he “felt like the Holy Spirit was massaging his body” tonight. He then talks about the transferable anointing that comes in like a mist. He claims that God told him he could “feel the anointing just like Moses did” in the book of Exodus! Of course God never told Moses that he could “feel” the anointing. God did say He would “show” Moses His glory, but He never mentioned “feeling” the glory. Yet Bentley continues to emphasize feelings. This is a huge part of his entire teaching. He talks of not only seeing a mist but says that in some of his previous meetings he has been able to smell incense, concluding that this is the glory of God manifest. He then invites people to come to the altar and screams, “Fire, Fire, Fire, Fire, Fire!” which is a trademark signature of his.

There’s a real restlessness in the arena. In fact, I’ve never seen more people coming and going, moving from seat to seat to seat, than I have at these meetings in Lakeland. There’s a tremendous lack of peace amongst the people. No one seems to be able to settle in, and people are walking the aisles and moving constantly.

Suddenly, Bentley says there is “great authority” in the building tonight and he says that people can decree whatever they want, but to be careful what they ask for. It’s obvious that he’s heavily influenced by “Word of Faith” teaching and believes that God has abdicated His throne and given us authority to do anything we want, or better yet have anything we pronounce. In fact, he himself says “I speak creation. I speak new hearts, new livers into existence tonight.” Speaking to the audience in general he tells people to take off their oxygen and he commands tumors to fall off bodies and for cripples to get out of wheelchairs. He continues to declare all types of healings. I watch as several people gather around one wheel-chair bound woman and pray for her. They exhort her to rise, but she cannot.

People now begin to come forward to share their testimonies of healing. Everything is carried out just as it would be in a Benny Hinn or Earnest Angley type service. There are claims of everything from headaches cured to resurrections from the dead, but everything is carefully shared on a first name only basis. I imagine Todd and his crew could claim this is done so that the media or other curious people would not harass the individuals giving the testimonies. But what this effectively does is keep anyone from verifying any of the claims. One severely handicapped girl (physically and mentally) was brought forward in a wheelchair and was lifted out of the wheelchair by Todd and another man and dragged several feet before Todd let her go so she could be “slain in the Spirit.” It was a travesty, in my opinion.

Bentley then claims that this revival was prophesied in 1977 and again in 1989 by none other than Paul Cain, of the Kansas City prophets. We will deal with him more later on, but it’s important that the reader gets an understanding of who Todd Bentley looks up to. He is very much in the same camp as the KC prophets, among others. I decided to leave at this point, as it was approaching 10 PM and I had an hour drive back home.

A THIRD MEETING

Many other events could be documented, but space limits me from going into more detail concerning the two nights I attended. However, there was one other service that I caught on TV, and fortunately taped, that must be mentioned here. On Saturday, May 17th, a service took place unlike any other I have seen yet. During the testimony time some extreme manifestations took place. One young eleven year old girl was brought up and Todd asked her if she would like to feel the “manifest presence of Jesus” and she sheepishly said yes (clearly not understanding what he was talking about). He took her by the hand and blew on her. Nothing happened. He then told her to close her eyes and repeat after him. “Jesus, fill me with your presence” he said. He placed his hand on her head and was clearly exerting some pressure in an attempt to make her fall down. She still didn’t collapse so he focused his attention on her cousin (who he wrongly called her mother – so much for his prophet status) and blew on her. She went straight down as the little girl watched. He then blew on her one more time but she never went down so he turned away.

As Todd went over to the other side of the stage he began to laugh in a deep, scary way. There is no other word I can think of to describe this laughter. After speaking with that person, who was very hyped, he laid hands on her and gave his trademark yell, “Bam!” She went right down. From there he began to laugh more, and the audience went right along with him. He talked about drinking from the river. He instructed everyone to put their head back and open their mouth and drink. More scary laughter occurs as he blows down another 9-year-old girl. He then tells the girl’s mother that he is “drunk in the Holy Ghost” and as his head is shaking strangely he mentions that “it’s [meaning the anointing] leaking out of my eyes.” More laughter and more “bams” occur as he sweeps his hand over the audience and rows of people react.

Todd then shouts “Fire!” and tells the people to say, “Come Holy Ghost, get me.” This continues for several minutes. He tells Jesus to “get them all.” Others on stage are laughing uncontrollably and staggering around, not even able to talk without slurring their words. The laughter from Todd is very much like Rodney Howard-Browne. As he continues to shake Todd asks the people to stand and make a barrel. So they clasp their hands together and act like they are holding a huge rain barrel in their arms. Then he shouts for them to tip this imaginary barrel up as their head is tipped back and “Drink!!!!” He shouts it again, “Drink!!!!” This is some of the most insane stuff I personally have ever seen in my life. I have been in many of these types of meetings, including meetings conducted by Rodney Howard-Browne and John Kilpatrick. Yet I’ve never seen anything as extreme as this.

The next man up to be interviewed is Pontus and he’s clearly led a rough life. His arms are filled with tattoos and to be honest he speaks as if he’s drunk. Todd comments on one of his nice tattoos and shows the man a similar one on his arm. This man is eventually “slain” as well. Todd continues to laugh in an almost demonic way. He continues to exhort the people to receive the anointing. Another lady is brought forward and the man holding the microphone for her says she’s been “bellied up to the bar here drinking quite a bit tonight.” She is of course an easy mark for being slain. Her husband then receives a “big fat drink of the Holy Ghost” as well. Todd goes on to say he’s “feeling drunk” and then he begins to shake his head to the left and right violently and shouts “ohhhhhhhhhh…!” It’s a truly frightening moment as he seems to be controlled by a spirit and my mind immediately went to the story in Mark’s Gospel of the young boy who was often tossed about by demonic spirits attempting to kill him (Mark 9:22).

Todd then asks God to fill everyone with that “drunken, drunken holy glory” that he supposedly is experiencing. He tells people not to get to close to the edge of the stage lest they fall off. More “bams” and laughter occur. Then Todd asks for a “release of the wine.” I could go on and on about the silliness that occurred that night. People were staggering around, not able to speak correctly, and basically acting like drunken sailors. It was one of the saddest things I’ve ever witnessed.

Why every Christian should understand MYSTERY BABYLON

The woman (MYSTERY BABYLON) portrayed in Revelation 17 is false Christianity.

Newly born again saints are very trusting of people, and lacking in discernment. They are really like innocent little lambs. They are unaware of the realities of the spiritual realm. And, as little lambs, they can be easily set upon by wolves.

The principle dynamic in life is example – we follow the example of others, of our peers. We can observe this anywhere in the world, that people are followers, like sheep, whether it be religion, fashion or music.

When a person is newly born again within the harlot system THEY ASSUME THAT THE HARLOT SYSTEM IS, IN FACT, GOD’S CHURCH, AND ITS LEADERS MEN OF GOD.

This assumption is the natural outcome of the wisdom and values of this world, which a new believer, in a certain measure, still unwittingly has; whose mind has not yet been fully renewed by the Word of God (Rom. 12:1-2). They are still conformed to the wisdom of this world in many things. ONLY the Word of God renews the mind with the wisdom of God.

The wisdom of this world goes by outward appearances and worldly success. A new believer will assume that the preacher who is on TV every morning must be from God bcos he is so successful. They assume so much.

They therefore, naturally enough, look up to these men and follow their example and practices and values.

But before long, as they read the Bible, they realize there is a great discrepancy between the example, life and teaching of the leaders of the church system, those who have great influence, and the example, life and teaching of Jesus and His Apostles and early church.

The Holy Spirit then reveals to them the meaning of Revelation 17, that there is a great and powerful ecclesiastical power in the earth, that carries Jesus name, yet is not His bride, she is a prostitute. “Prostitute” denotes wrong relationship due to wrong motive. (I’ve got an article coming showing the parallel between the Entertainment Industry and the Religion Industry)

God, in the Book of Revelation, figuratively contrasts two “women” – a prostitute and a bride. The important fact to note is that when God designates the woman of Revelation 17 as “the great prostitute”, He is saying that in relation to Him she is a prostitute. She, and the world, doesn’t think she is a prostitute. And His true Church is, in relation to Him, His Bride. And her true identity is also not understood by the world.

And, of course, Jesus Christ will never take a prostitute as His Bride. But she thinks she is God’s bride, “…she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am not a widow, and I shall by no means see sorrow.’ Rev. 18:7.

So, the moral of this little article is: Know who the Harlot of Revelation 17 is, and come out of her, so that you do not in any way follow her example, or come under her influence, lest you come under the judgment that’s coming to her (Rev 18:4).

The Holy Spirit removes the mystery concerning MYSTERY BABYLON, so that God’s people can “come out of her”. So, understanding Revelation 17 is VERY important. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s not.

Loving God is everything

…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. Matt 22:37b-38

Love for God, therefore, as the great commandment, is the great factor, the great reality, the great foundation on which a believer’s life must be built and continue to be built on.

Everything comes back to this: loving God.

The dynamic of waiting on the Lord.

It is honor to any king when his subjects are willing to wait for him ; who seek an audience with him and are willing to wait, and indeed, count it a joy to wait for him. This is the type of honor which is due to the King of Kings.

When we, by faith, wait upon the Lord Jesus Christ and His Father, anything can happen. He may speak to us. We may have some things to speak to Him.

Don’t ask yourself, Am I spiritual enough to pray for one hour? Rather ask, Could I watch with Him one hour? (Matt. 26:40, Mark 14:37) Could I just remove myself from everyone else, and everything else and just be with Him alone for one hour?

Could I love Him that much, that to spend one hour, or more, alone with Him would be a joy and worship, and not a duty?

Backward in coming forward

Imagine if Paul the Apostle turned up on the platform at Lakeland, or showed up at the recent event in America, where Billy Graham smugly accepted, from the Masonic ex-presidents, the honor of being a “great spiritual teacher” ?

It would be like “Bambi meets Godzilla”, and he would not just be called a legalist, he would be arrested as a dangerous religious fanatic, for the things he would say.

Most of us are pussy cats and we pussy-foot around when it comes to proclaiming the Truth of God’s Word.

But where God’s Word is truly believed and obeyed the Apostles do “turn up”; not in person, but the same Word of God, which God spoke thru them, turns up, with Jesus Himself in our midst.

Jesus and Sin

by J.C. Ryle (1815-1900)

He who wishes to attain right views about Christian holiness must begin by examining the vast and solemn subject of sin. He must dig down very low if he would build high. A mistake here is most mischievous. Wrong views about holiness are generally traceable to wrong views about human corruption. I make no apology for beginning this volume of messages about holiness by making some plain statements about sin.

The plain truth is that a right understanding of sin lies at the root of all saving Christianity. Without it such doctrines as justification, conversion, sanctification, are “words and names” which convey no meaning to the mind. The first thing, therefore, that God does when He makes anyone a new creature in Christ is to send light into his heart and show him that he is a guilty sinner. The material creation in Genesis began with “light,” and so also does the spiritual creation. God “shines into our hearts” by the work of the Holy Spirit and then spiritual life begins (2 Cor. 4:6). Dim or indistinct views of sin are the origin of most of the errors, heresies and false doctrines of the present day. If a man does not realize the dangerous nature of his soul’s disease, you cannot wonder if he is content with false or imperfect remedies. I believe that one of the chief wants of the contemporary church has been, and is, clearer, fuller teaching about sin…

…We must be holy, because this is the only proof that we love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. This is a point on which He has spoken most plainly, in the fourteenth and fifteenth chapters of John: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves Me.” “If a man love Me he will keep My words.” “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:14). Plainer words than these it would be difficult to find, and woe to those who neglect them! Surely that man must be in an unhealthy state of soul who can think of all that Jesus suffered, and yet cling to those sins for which that suffering was undergone. It was sin that wove the crown of thorns; it was sin that pierced our Lord’s hands and feet and side; it was sin that brought Him to Gethsemane and Calvary, to the cross and to the grave. Cold must our hearts be if we do not hate sin and labor to get rid of it, though we may have to cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye in doing it.

We must be holy, because this is the only sound evidence that we are true children of God. Children in this world are generally like their parents. Some, doubtless, are more so and some less; but it is seldom indeed that you cannot trace a kind of family likeness. And it is much the same with the children of God. The Lord Jesus says, “If you were Abraham’s children you would do the works of Abraham.” “If God were your Father, you would love Me” (John 8:39, 42). If men have no likeness to the Father in heaven, it is vain to talk of their being His “sons.” If we know nothing of holiness, we may flatter ourselves as we please; but we have not got the Holy Spirit dwelling in us; we are dead and must be brought to life again; we are lost and must be found. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they,” and they only, “are the sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). We must show by our lives the family we belong to. We must let men see by our good conversation that we are indeed the children of the Holy One, or our sonship is but an empty name. “Say not,” says Gurnall, “that you have royal blood in your veins, and are born of God, except you can prove your pedigree by daring to be holy.”

ALWAYS bless

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, so that you may prove to be sons of your Father in heaven; because He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and He sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your friends only, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? You therefore be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

(Mat 5:44-48)

What are Holy things?

An example of a Holy thing is when you pray for another in secret, genuinely and passionately, and no one will ever know you are doing it, and you know that the person for whom you are praying for may never be able to help you or benefit you.

This is an example of Holiness.

He reached down His hand and He lifted me up

Glory to God, He has lifted me up!
He has lifted me up, I know!
He reached down His hand and He lifted me up,
and that’s why I love Him so.

I love Him more and more.
I love Him more and more.
And when I stand upon the other shore,
I will praise Him evermore.
And when I stand upon the other shore,
I will praise Him evermore.

One of my current favorite dancing songs.

Jesus lifted me up from the filth and depravity of my sins, washed me in His own Blood, and clothed me in the white robes of His righteousness.

Did God tell you to come to this blog? :)

A guy reaches a fork in the road, he doesn’t know which road to take, and then he hears an audible voice from heaven, “Take the road on the right”. So, off he goes down that road.

Did it require any faith on his part? No, none at all. Even an unbeliever could obey the audible voice of God, or some writing in the sky…. If we get a physical or tangible sign about God’s will, then we need no more faith than any unbeliever needs when he sees a road sign and believes it truly points in the right direction.

The leading of the Holy Spirit, hearing the voice of God, is always a faith relationship, and faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It’s something you believe, not something you see or hear or even feel, necessarily.

Of course, there are occasions when God speaks thru visions or dreams or even audibly, but that is not the norm.

Abraham, the father of faith, heard God’s voice only a few times in his entire life, sometimes going 20 years without hearing anything, yet he’s commended to us in the Bible as a pattern of faith.

The relevance of this subject is that there are many these days claiming that God tells them to do everything they do, and they only do what God tells them.

This starts out with the mundane ( God told me to take a bath) but it ends up with, “God Himself told me and taught me my doctrine” (even if it contradicts Scripture).

Rarely does God “tell” me to do anything. He leads by His Spirit, in our spirit. He works in us to will and do according to His good pleasure.

(a side note re: the Doug Perry FOTM controversy – notice the stress on “God told me to do it”, and on “Doing what God tells you to do” ? It’s serious error/delusion. It makes people out to be robots programmed by God, rather than mature sons. The root is spiritual pride.)

On the issue of “God told me to do it”, praying/singing in unknown tongues is a perfect example of how God the Holy Spirit works IN us to WILL and DO according to His good pleasure, without “telling” us to do things. God never “tells” us to speak in tongues, it just happens, or, we have a knowing/desire/faith to do it and we then do.

Likewise, God doesn’t tell me to go to the toilet, brush my teeth, when to have dinner, when to pray etc… yet we should be living for Him all the time (in Him we live and move and have our being).

The check about the “God told me” thing (as in, i don’t do anything unless God tells me to) is that it exalts the person. They believe that they are so important that Almighty God on His throne in heaven issues words from heaven concerning their most mundane activities, like taking a bath, what shirt to wear, etc.

So, they are self-deceived concerning their importance.

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. The person who is not led by the Holy Spirit is not a Christian (or is a backslider).

So, as every saint is led by the Holy Spirit, and taught by the Holy Spirit, ALL the time, why should any saint claim anything superior to this? as if they are a special case?

Making God to be your servant?

Jesus said:

And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

(John 16:23-24)

This is truly a wonderfully astounding promise.

Yet, where/when does one “cross the line” and make God to be their servant? Their butler or bus boy?

Like, “God, could you take care of this matter for me? Thanks.” … as though He were our servant, and we His master.

For three years, night and day I did not cease, with tears, exhorting each one

Act 20:30 Also from among you yourselves will arise men speaking things having been distorted, (lit. distortions of the truth) in order to draw away the disciples after them.

Act 20:31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years, night and day I did not cease, with tears, exhorting each one.

Act 20:32 So for the present, brothers, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who have been sanctified.

– Distortions

The wolves which arise from “among us” don’t present an entirely new truth, rather they distort the established truth : bend it out of shape into a hybrid so that they can, in effect, copyright it as their own special truth : truth which has come thru them exclusively. And this is the basis by which people follow them.

– Following men

They are looking for disciples to follow them, to submit to them, so, they have to present something new; a new spin on the Scripture, otherwise, why should people follow them? That’s what the Scripture says here; they are seeking to draw disciples after them – looking for followers.

– Commending people to the Word of God

These are times when many are seeking answers from men. But, we can only commend them to the Word of God, for God has sent His Word to every one individually, and He has appointed one Mediator and Judge, to whom we all must give an account of our life.

God never intended any other “interpreter” for His Word than the Holy Spirit He has sent, and no other Mediator between God and man, than the Man Christ Jesus.

It’s healthy to discuss the Word, and wrong to not be accountable to the Body of Christ, yet, ultimately, each disciple has to stand alone before God and give an account of what they did with the Word of God they received. There will be no theologian, teacher or counselor to “bail them out” on that day; no one to run to for an interpretation of the Bible, to explain it for them.

Many times we are asked for our opinions on a certain scripture or doctrine, yet, ultimately, each individual has to answer directly to Jesus on judgment day for what they did with His Words, which came to them directly. How many Christians will be able to plead, “Lord, I didn’t have a Bible!” ?

(Please, don’t anyone say I’m negating the role of teachers in the Body of Christ, rather, I’m clarifying what Godly teaching of the Word is.)

Others May – You May Not

by G. D. Watson (1845-1924).

If God has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other people do things which He will not let you do.

Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it, and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence upon Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more precious He may let others get credit for the work which you have done, and thus make your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time, which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an Infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.

Settle it forever, then that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now, when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, then you will have found the vestibule of Heaven.

(-from Faith, Prayer, & Tract League:
Tract #76; Grand Rapids, MI 49504)

God is with you

What are the living realities of this, when God is with a person, and IN them?

One issue arising from this is the tendency (like gravity) to simply be unbelieving toward this promise of our Lord Jesus ; that is, to live as though He wasn’t with you, and IN you.