Category: Doctrines Demystified Page 22 of 26

On May 4, 2011

In Doctrines Demystified, Francis Chan, Who Goes to Heaven

More of Francis’ current teaching on salvation can be seen in the links at the end of this post.

* * *

Francis Chan
05/02/10

Conditional Security

[Teaching the true-freedom truth
just before leaving Cornerstone
with clean hands!

Notice how much happier
he now really is!]

See the 3D horse at 15:50[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUoPsNfiu8E]Salvation by Francis Chan

* * *

Compare above message to
what Francis spoke
2.5 years earlier

* * *

Francis Chan
11/04/07

Unconditional Security

[This is actually diabolical —
the greatest deception,
leading so many astray and ruining America.

This is probably some of what Francis was trying to undo
in the message above —
so he could be clean
and so he could see many of them in heaven.]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6HJGzA7dNM]Francis Chan – GRACE GRACE GRACE

Lutheran Infant Baptism is Unscriptural and a False Gospel

On May 2, 2011

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Luther Didn't Get It, Who Goes to Heaven

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VL95TDK9o4]Lutheran Infant Baptism (Original Sin) Is Unscriptural And A False Gospel

Uploaded by gospel4u2 on Jul 1, 2010

http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/infantbaptism.htm Lutherans have a false gospel which is shown through their infant baptism. Do not be deceived by this practice.
http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org
or
http://www.EOMin.org

Jeff Fenske: 13 Common Misconceptions About the New Covenant — and 13 Truths including "If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law"

[WordPOWER!] Jesus Ups the Ante – Matthew 5:21-22: “YOU HAVE HEARD that it was said…, ‘You shall not murder’…. BUT I TELL YOU, that everyone who is ANGRY with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment”

On April 22, 2011

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Who Goes to Heaven

Grace. It’s now all about grace — we hear over and over and over.
But what does the Bible really say? And what is grace?

There is so much misunderstanding about how the new covenant is different than the old covenant. Much of this is due to the misinterpretation of the word ‘grace,’ and it’s way deeper than that.
Here I’ve compiled a list of the false statements I’ve been hearing from the grace changers (the false teachers of our day), who are teaching these as being the truth — ruining the church.
And this is what is destroying America.
I may add to the list if I think of more. Please comment with your suggestions too.
– Jeff Fenske
onecanhappen.com

* * *

13 Common Misconceptions About the New Covenant

[FALSEHOOD] The requirements in the new covenant are less than in the old.
[THE TRUTH] What did Jesus say in Matthew 5, and what did Paul say in Acts 17?

[WordPOWER!] Jesus Ups the Ante – Matthew 5:27-30: “YOU HAVE HEARD that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ BUT I TELL YOU that everyone who GAZES at a woman to LUST after her has committed ADULTERY with her already in his heart. …your whole body to be CAST INTO GEHENNA.”

[WordPOWER!] Acts 17:30-31 God Upped the Ante when He Sent the Holy Spirit — “The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent…”

[FALSEHOOD] Abiding in Christ doesn’t require us to actually abide in Christ. We’re legally in Christ merely because of what Jesus did — Romans 1a without the 1b (without verses 4 and 12-17 too)
[THE TRUTH] “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
What did Jesus say in John 15 about abiding — the opposite of the song, “Never Let Go”? Read in Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?
[FALSEHOOD] If born-again ‘Christians’ feel condemnation, it’s really only conviction. Condemnation is a lie from the Devil because: “There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus“ — Romans 1a without the 1b
[THE TRUTH] “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
[FALSEHOOD] People in the old covenant were under the law, but we are under “grace” — so they had to obey the law but we don’t have to obey anything (or Anyone).
[THE TRUTH] See: The meaning of “Grace” (χαρις) in the Bible: It’s not what you think?
[FALSEHOOD] The 10 Commandments were replaced by “grace + nothing.” Now we don’t have to do anything.

[THE TRUTH] Jesus superceded the 10 Commandments with the Greatest Two — a greater requirement, not less.
Matthew 22:

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

AND

Romans 13:

8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not give false testimony,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

AND

John 15:1-14

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. 2 Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. 8 “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. 9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. 11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.

[FALSEHOOD] Paul rebuked the Galatians for thinking they had to do works.
[THE TRUTH] Paul rebuked the Galatians for thinking they had to do the works of the law. In Galatians 5:13 – 6:10, Paul clearly explains what we now have to do in the new covenant. Read in Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?
[FALSEHOOD] In Romans 7, Paul couldn’t overcome sin as a born-again believer — so if we don’t overcome sin that is normal.

[THE TRUTH] Romans 7 was the struggle that Paul had before he was born-again, before he had the Holy Spirit in him to empower him to overcome as he says we must do in the following chapter to even be called children of God. People don’t read far enough — or just read what they want to read.
[FALSEHOOD] Paul didn’t get right with those he hurt so we don’t have to either.

[THE TRUTH] See: Can ‘Christians’ use Paul’s “Forgetting the things which are behind…I press on” statement as an excuse to not get right with those they’ve hurt? Paul also said: “I also practice ALWAYS having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.”
[FALSEHOOD] The fear of God isn’t supposed to be fear but just reverence.

[THE TRUTH] Paul said “work out your salvation through fear and trembling. We should fear and tremble in what God will do to us if we don’t work out our own salvation by making sure we abide in Him.
Mt. 10:28 — “Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.”

And is this merely reverence? Great fear came on the people when Ananias and Sapphira were killed by God. The people didn’t want to be also zapped. And many were added to their number too. Consider also what God said he would do to Jezebel and her children if she didn’t repent (Rev. 1).

[FALSEHOOD] It’s hard to lose one’s salvation.

[THE TRUTH] Read Revelation 3:1-5 in Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God? And the church in Sardis actually had a reputation for being alive, unlike almost every church today.
[FALSEHOOD] Once our names are in the Book of Life they can’t be removed.

[THE TRUTH] See how only a few in the church in Sardis would not have their names removed from the Book of Life. Read Revelation 3:1-5 in Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God? And the church in Sardis actually had a reputation for being alive, unlike almost every church today.
[FALSEHOOD] We can be lukewarm and still go to heaven.

[THE TRUTH] Revelation 3:15-16 — “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.
[FALSEHOOD] But Jesus didn’t really mean that. A pastor recently said from the pulpit that he doesn’t believe a Christian can be deceived enough to lose his/her salvation.

[THE TRUTH] Paul said in Galatians 6:7,8 — “Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
In Galatians 5, Paul gave two lists: those who are Christ’s have the fruit of the Spirit, having crucified their flesh.
And then there are those who are bound for Hell.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

* * *

Therefore Jesus upped the ante, increased the requirements for us who now have the Holy Spirit in us to help us overcome. And overcome we must:

“Those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God.”

Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

“Remain in Me….”

“Work out your salvation through fear and trembling.”

“If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

“He who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

“Remain in me, and I in you.”

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

* * *

“The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked.
But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent…”

[WordPOWER] JESUS' CONCLUSION — The last chapter of the last book, Revelation 22: Those WHO DO My commandments (The Greatest 2) have THE RIGHT to the tree of life and MAY ENTER | OUTSIDE are everyone who loves and practices FALSEHOOD — Let's be real!

On April 14, 2011

In Doctrines Demystified, Lying, Who Goes to Heaven, WordPOWER

Compare to what Paul really said:

Romans 8:1

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

* * *

Revelation 22:12-15

12 “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 Blessed are those who do his commandments [the Greatest Two, now that we’re in the new covenant: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself'” (Mk. 12:30-31) – editor], that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral [“…everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart” Mt. 5:28 – editor], the murderers [“Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him” (1 John 3:15) – editor], the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood [Rev. 21:8 – ‘all liars’ – editor].

16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies.

(video) Adrian Rogers on MEN and WOMEN: Celebrate the Difference — "God made us DIFFERENT that He might make us ONE." It’s time to stop trying to be the be the same or resenting each other because of our differences

In Doctrines Demystified, Men & Women Gifted Differently

On April 7, 2011

Adrian Rogers

(1931-2005)

A man is infinitely superior to a woman at being a man, and a woman is infinitely superior to a man at being a woman. Men and women are different — by design. Neither is superior to the other, but they are very, very different.

• Men and women process information differently. A man’s brain works more like a computer while a woman’s is more like a radar.

• A woman uses language to express emotion while a man uses language primarily to dispense facts.

• God told man to dress the garden and keep it, but He gave women a nurturing instinct.

These differences…shouldn’t divide us. They should unite us. God made us different that He might make us one.

It’s time to stop trying to be the be the same or resenting each other because of our differences. It’s time to start celebrating the difference!

WATCH HERE

From: oneplace.com…

Celebrate the Difference

Adrian Rogers

A hammer and a screwdriver are different tools designed for different jobs. Is the hammer better than the screwdriver? No. Is a screwdriver better than a hammer? Of course not! Can you use a screwdriver as a hammer? Maybe, but it won’t work as well.

Who is better, men or women? The answer to that question is “Yes!” A man is infinitely superior to a woman at being a man, and a woman is infinitely superior to a man at being a woman. Men and women are different-by design. Neither is superior to the other, but they are very, very different.

I want to address the wonderful differences between men and women. These differences aren’t true in every single case, but they are generally true.

The Beauty and the Beast

Men are generally stronger than women. First Peter 3:7 tells men to give “honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel.”

God made Adam stronger because he was to be the provider and the protector. He had a physical frame that could protect Eve and muscles to dig and work in the garden.

The word Eve means “life giver.” God made her to be the nurturer. Because she was weaker than Adam, doesn’t mean she was inferior. Silk is weaker than canvas and porcelain weaker than steel, but they are certainly not inferior.

The Tortoise and the Hare

Generally, men have more energy, but women have more durability. Remember the race between the tortoise and the hare? Men, you are like the hare, and your wife is like the tortoise. Remember who won that race?

Men have a larger lung capacity, but women have a better immune system. A man can out work a woman, but he ought not to criticize her for that. She can last longer.

The Romantic and the Mechanic

Because of man’s job, he has a hard outer shell. He will never have the romantic heart that a woman wants him to have. He’s just not wired that way.

Look at what women read. Their magazines have articles like “Five Ways to Achieve Intimacy” while men read “How to Remodel Your Garage.” Go to a high school and watch how the students carry their books. Girls carry them like they’re carrying a baby. Boys hang theirs down to their sides. Give a little boy a doll; he’ll use it for a hammer. Some people try to tell us that these differences are learned, but they’re not; they are encoded.

The Radar and the Computer

Men and women process information differently. A man’s brain works more like a computer while a woman’s is more like a radar. She has a great big reception disk, and it sweeps-taking in everything. She can see things and feel things that men don’t see and feel.

That’s because a woman uses both sides of her brain. This makes it easier for her to express emotions, but it may also be harder to separate emotion from reason. Using primarily the left side of the brain, a man tends to think more logically, analytically, and factually. Even as a woman is thinking logically, she is mixing in emotion.

The Code Speaker and the Reporter

A woman uses language to express emotion while a man uses language primarily to dispense facts. Women share, but men report.
Don’t listen to what a woman says, listen to what she means. If you sense, for example, that she is upset, but she says nothing is wrong; that means everything is wrong. Women speak in code. Men, on the other hand, just report the facts.

The Lover and the Achiever

God told man to dress the garden and keep it, but He gave women a nurturing instinct. And God equipped each mentally and emotionally to do their jobs; man is primarily an achiever while woman is a lover.
In Ephesians 5:33, God tells the man to love his wife, but He tells the wife to reverence or respect her husband. That’s because God knows our deepest needs.

United, not Divided!

These differences, believe it or not, shouldn’t divide us. They should unite us. God made us different that He might make us one. These are more than mere psychological proclivities; they are there by divine design. Aren’t you glad that God made us different? It’s time to stop trying to be the be the same or resenting each other because of our differences. It’s time to start celebrating the difference!

Study: The hardwired ‘stark’ difference between male and female brains explains why women are more intuitive — “It’s quite striking how COMPLEMENTARY the brains of women and men really are.” | God knew what He was doing : )

(video) David Pawson: “Leadership is Male” (in the home and in the church) — “The demand for IDENTITY between the sexes has caused so many problems. … I’ve found that every woman, deep down in their heart, want to see their men-folk taking responsible leadership”
God ordained men to be in positions of leadership, authority and covering, both in the home and in the local church. Who are we to change that? – Len Hummel

Satanists used “sexual liberation,” to undermine humanity: “we corrupt in order to conquer” — For a woman, sex is an act of self-sacrifice and surrender. By definition, it requires trust, i.e. love and devotion to one man. When she has casual sex, inevitably she is disappointed and feels used. She starts to hate men and falls victim to feminism and lesbianism

How The Rockefellers Re-Engineered Women — The hidden goal of feminism is to destroy the family, which interferes with state brainwashing of the young

(video) Feminism Was Created To Destabilize Society, Tax Women and Set Up the NWO – Aaron Russo

Differences in Physical Ability in Men & Women — Measurable sex differences in strength, speed, resilience and endurance as well as in motor control, precision and complexity can largely explain male dominance in occupational settings which rely on these traits

“The greatest thing a man can do to a woman is to lead her closer to God than to himself”

The Purpose of Feminism articles at ToBeFree

I added Revelation 22 to Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?

On February 17, 2011

In Doctrines Demystified, Who Goes to Heaven

I’ve added to Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?:
Revelation 22:

12 “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies.

Kevin Conner on the Believer’s CONDITIONAL Security: "OBEDIENCE IS the very law of SECURITY for all created beings. There can be NO SUCH THING as UNCONDITIONAL security." — WARNINGS against backsliding SHOW that the security of the believer is conditional upon obedience and faith • What God has provided in Christ man must receive and apply • Divine SOVEREIGNTY and human RESPONSIBILITY meet together in the great redemptive plan • Christ is "the author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY him"(Hebrews 5:9) • Upon HEARING and FOLLOWING the Shepherd they receive eternal life and will never perish • AS HE OBEYS the Word of the Lord his SECURITY against backsliding and apostacy is FULLY GUARANTEED

In Abbott Loop CC / Unite Church, Doctrines Demystified, Who Goes to Heaven

On February 7, 2011

Kevin Conner was one of my Bible teachers in Bible school at Abbott Loop Christian Center in 1984.

Kevin Conner

I hand copied this from the textbook we used: The Foundations of Christian Doctrine by Kevin J. Conner, 1980, page 264 (emphasis mine).
– –

VI. THE REALIZATION OF THE ATONEMENT

B. Application — Human Responsibility

We now examine the manward side of the atonement in its application. what God has provided in Christ, man must receive and apply. Divine sovereignty and human responsibility meet together in the great redemptive plan. …

4. Perseverance and Security

g. Conditional Security

The Scriptures teach the perseverance of the saints. Warnings against backsliding and the dangers of apostacy show that the security of the believer is conditional upon obedience and faith in the Lord Jesus. It has been said that “Christ came to redeem man back to the obedience from which Adam fell.”

The writer to the Hebrews says that Christ is “the author of eternal salvation (Greek “Soteria” safety, rescue, security, wholeness, health) unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9).

The redemptive work of Christ does not exempt man from obedience to the Word of God. This obedience is neither a forced nor a non-volitional obedience. Obedience is the very law of security for all created beings. There can be no such thing as unconditional security. The angels are secure upon continued obedience to God’s will and Word. The angels which fell disobeyed God’s law. Adam and Eve were secure upon obedience to the commandment of the Lord. When they fell it was through disobedience (Romans 5:12-21). All free-will creatures are under one basic law or commandment and that is the law of loving and willing obedience. Eternal life is given to the eternally obedient. A consideration of the references listed here show that God place this responsibility upon His people saying that if they obey His voice, then He will be their God and they will be HIs people (Genesis 22:18; 26:5; 27:8,13; Exodus19:5; 23:21-22; Deuteronomy 11:27-28; 30:2,8,20; Jeremiah 7:23; 11:4; Acts 5:32; Hebrews 5:9; Romans 6:17; 1 Peter 1:14, 22; Romans 15:18).

Jesus taught that the evidences of being His sheep are “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life; and they never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28). Both verses teach conditional security of the believer. Upon hearing and following the Shepherd they receive eternal life and will never perish.

It is the duty of the watchman to warn the wicked and the righteous, those without and within. The righteous are warned not to turn from their righteousness and do iniquity. If he die in his sins, all his righteousness shall not be remembered. This same principle is seen in both Old and New Testaments. The watchman is to exhort the believer to persevere in the Lord, to continue in the faith, and as he obeys the Word of the Lord, his security against backsliding and apostacy is fully guaranteed (Ezekiel 3:17-21; 18:19-32; 33:1-20; Matthew 7:15-23; II Thessalonians 3:3; Jude 24-25; I Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 1:6).

No believer need backslide or fall away from the faith, for the Lord Jesus is our advocate and intercessor. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter and indweller. the Lord gives the assurance that He “is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy…” (Jude 24-25).

Charles Finney (1835): Instruction of Young Converts — “AIM AT BEING PERFECT. It should be their constant purpose to live wholly to God…. IF THEY SHOULD SIN it would be an inconsistency…. THEY OUGHT NOT TO SIN AT ALL; they are bound to be as holy as God is. And young converts should be taught to set out in the right course OR THEY WILL NEVER BE RIGHT”

Charles Finney: ETERNAL SECURITY is a TICKET TO HELL — “If a person gets the idea that because he is converted therefore he will assuredly go to heaven, that man will almost assuredly go to hell”

A.W. Tozer: There is ‘one sure way to escape the delusions of religion’ and be true Christians: “Receive Christ as Lord of our lives and begin to obey Him in everything. Submit to the truth and let it search us. Submit and obey…”

Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God? — “There is therefore now *no condemnation* to those who are IN CHRIST Jesus, who don’t WALK according to the flesh, but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT”

No Condemnation NOW so No Condemnation when we meet Jesus face to FACE — Hearts pure, smiling so big!!! FREEeeeeeeee———–DOM!!!!!!!

[WordPOWER!] 1 Timothy 6 — "Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called." "Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches…"

On February 7, 2011

In "The LOVE of MONEY", Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Lust Freedom!, Who Goes to Heaven, WordPOWER

1 Timothy 6

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, 4 he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, 5 constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. 8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 13 I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, 14 that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; 15 which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

17 Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called; 21 which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

What about the thief on the cross? He wasn't required to do works | 'Sweaty ministry' VS "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me…"

Failed Churches…Hate that Destroys the Yoke of Unity

On February 7, 2011

In Doctrines Demystified, Personal, Who Goes to Heaven

A few days ago, I heard a person use “the thief on the cross” as biblical evidence that we don’t have to do anything except ‘believe’ to go to heaven. Here is my response, starting with:

Dan Corner’s response to an email (Google’s cached version of www.evangelicaloutreach.org/emails092709.htm)

(EMAIL) If works and turning away from your sin’s along with the output of works is necessary for salvation then explain the salvation received by the thief on the cross next to Jesus that simply believed and Jesus told him plainly “that today you will be with me in paradise.” The thief did not have an opportunity to turn from his sin’s or perform works [I explain ‘works’ below – jeff]. So, Please if you could explain to me his salvation or maybe you’re suggesting that he wasn’t saved at all and Jesus was a liar incapable of securing this man’s salvation by simple belief. Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response.

(RESPONSE) Greetings in Jesus’ name. The ONLY way that thief could have gotten forgiven (which is what happened) was for him to repent (turn from his sins). In his HEART he turned away from wickedness and essentially asked Jesus for mercy. If he didn’t he could not have been forgiven. Jesus taught one MUST repent (Lk. 13:3,5; 24:47; etc.) just as his disciples did (Acts 3:19; 20:21; 26:20) to get forgiven. He sincerely and humbly asked for mercy as he repented. See also Lk. 18:13,14. His spiritual identity changed from “thief” to “righteous” in a moment’s time and he was therefore of the PURE HEART needed to enter “Paradise.” The sins that were dragging him to eternal fire were forgiven INSTANTLY. Had he been able to come down from the cross he would have proven his repentance by his deeds (Acts 26:20).

Paul says in Acts 26:20

19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

Clarifying a few things
How can Paul speak against works while hear and elsewhere speaking for them?
When Paul said we’re not justified by works, he was talking about the works of the law. Now we are to be led by the Spirit, walking according to the Spirit. See Romans 8:1a&b (b is missing in most modern ‘Bibles’) in Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?. We’re not talking about “I have to do this today to go to heaven.” I never think that way, personally. I do this website because it’s natural for me. I have a burden on my heart. I’m afraid for us if we don’t get ONE happening soon, before it’s too late for many, because a crash course can’t happen at the last minute,” because people are so full of demons, God said 10 years ago. “Do you realize that what is to come is so full of wrath, and you want to be on the winning side at all costs.”
From my prophecy Let Us Be ONE, Part 23 of 33

There is much to learn. Many have gone awry. Many despair, thinking they know the answers, but they don’t work. You’ve seen it, churches that failed, and then there are others that mock but look pretty as you stand inside. But you can feel the muck.

Look around; see the light that wants to illuminate all who remain steadfast, not moving where they say, but doing what is right—a love of a different kind. Not regulations that kill and destroy the life I have for everybody, but a new way.

Hope for iniquity to be found out, so we can become clean as a body. Pray for it: the anger to cease, the hate that destroys the yoke of unity. It is a yukky, terrible thing, full of lies that destroy: that we can be one and still have love when hate lingers, festering.

Listen. See My face. It is above, full of anger at My church when they hate. I hate wrath that is unholy, that is directed at those inside who obey.

Jealousy, there is so much. Why not pray? Why not be like Me. Do you realize that what is to come is so full of wrath, and you want to be on the winning side at all costs.

Give your life to Me, now, while there is still time to prepare. If you wait, others cannot take you into where you belong. A crash course can’t happen at the last minute, enough to get you in, because you are festering with demons.

Your heart won’t change if you let rebellion keep you from Me now. Now is the day of salvation. Why wait?

There is a balance here, which I don’t talk or think about much. It is in the Bible that if we harden our hearts to not help people in need we’ll be a goat, not a sheep, for example in Keith Green’s song: [1978 concert video] Keith Green debunked LUTHER’S FALSE SALVATION DOCTRINE that’s now MAINSTREAM in America. Let’s get it right!
The main thing is to keep our hearts right, or our religion is worthless. We abide in Christ, and do what comes naturally, getting the sap from Him, bearing much fruit that remains (John 15).
I’ve been recently thinking about what the second part of what James says pure religion is: “to keep oneself unstained by the world.” But he also has a first part, visiting the fatherless and the widows.

James 1

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

When we do what in the new covenant have replaced the 10 commandments, the greatest two commandments — loving the Lord, our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves, we keep our hearts pure, and our religion is worth a lot! It’s pure and undefiled. We need to radically depart from what is mainstream ‘Christianity’ today, which doesn’t teach that we have to keep ourselves unstained by the world, so this religion is worthless.
What each of us then do will be what God puts on our hearts to do. For example, I’m not a helps person. I’m not gifted with the “gift of helps” (1 Cor. 12:28), but I am gifted in doing this, having other 1-Cor.-12 gifts.
We should all do what is natural for us to do when we are resting in God from dead works and worldly goals, being right with God and all of our fellow man = peace. What we do will feel right, and there will be some joy from God in doing it. This isn’t a sweaty ministry.
I remember a Bible teacher at Abbott Loop, teaching in the early ’80s talking about sweaty ministries versus in-Christ, flowing-from-the-Vine ministries. Sweaty ministry is doing things for God on our own. This could be doing things we were never called to do, but think we have to do them. Or it could be doing what we’re supposed to do but while not being right in our hearts with God and our neighbors.
Everything should flow from Him. Life should be a joy!
Purity of the heart is the main thing that matters, abiding in the Son, keeping ourselves unstained by the world. That’s why in Paul’s most comprehensive who-goes-to-hell list in Galatians 5, Paul doesn’t mention a lack of works. He lists things that defile a man’s heart. While what he lists in in his “Those who are Christ’s” list aren’t works to be done, but the resulting clean heart from leading an undefiled life, resting in God.
Resting in God is resting from our own works to do His, which is an easy yoke, a light burden in comparison to heavily burdened sweaty ministries, not resting in the Son.
Jesus in Matthew 11

28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened [doing sweaty ministries – Jeff], and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Two more things about the thief on the cross:
One is that the Holy Spirit had not yet been given. The thief was still under the old covenant, and we must keep this distinction in mind when using pre-Pentecost examples to determine what is true for us, who now can walk according to the Spirit. Things were much different prior to Pentecost.
I don’t think this hermeneutical principle makes a big difference in this case, but it does in others, such as Judas. Some say that Judas was an example of losing his salvation and going to Hell, which then shows we can lose ours also. I definitely believe we can lose our salvation (I think most are currently in this state), but I won’t use Judas as proof, or any other pre-Pentecost people.
Conversely, I also point out that the Pharisee who Jesus told to tithe was still under the old covenant. So it a violation of hermeneutical principles to apply what Jesus said to him to us.
This thief-on-the-cross subject reminds me of what Dick Benjamin once said from the pulpit at Abbott Loop Christian Center (now called Abbott Loop Community Church — Dick Benjamin the founder). Dick used to minister at the rescue mission, and he said they used to say this about how to keep the street people that were converted from losing their salvation. I think they would see the same people respond to the altar calls repeatedly.
They would say that maybe the only way for these street people to not lose their salvation would be like three stations. The person would get saved, then they’d submerge them in the baptismal tank, and then put them on the electric chair. Otherwise they’d go right back to their sin.
In reality, it is possible for a person to sincerely repent and dedicate their lives to Christ and then go right out and commit sins leading to death. I’ve seen it in jail ministry, for example. But probably what happens more often is the people don’t fully repent and fully commit to live for Christ. The prayer must be sincere. And for many non-street truly born-again ‘Christians’ who I know. I think at one time they were committed to living holy, but the once-saved-always-saved doctrine has watered down Christianity so much that they have over time backslid to where they are no longer resting-in-God disciples of Christ.
Many of these born-again ‘Christians’ have since hurt many people who they now need to get right with before they can again rest in God. This is the bad fruit that comes from the OSAS doctrine. Had the truth about who goes to heaven been preached, many would not be in the predicament they are now in: afraid of what men will think when they apologize while afraid of what God thinks if they don’t.
Most are letting the fear of man override the fear of God — including most pastors.
Frank used to say in Bible school: we can either fall on the Rock or the Rock will fall on us.
We better fall on the Rock real soon, you all or the Rock will fall on us and then it will be too late to get right with those we’ve hurt. Now is the day of repentance, while we still have the ability to do what we need to do.
All it would take is two EMP nukes over America and 9o-95% of the people would die within months, it’s predicted. And I had a dream about all cars stopping in Anchorage. We are that vulnerable. Imagine life without electricity, water, food, heat, transportation, …. This is the predicament we’re in. And the missiles probably wouldn’t be Al Queda, but rather China or Russia. China may have successfully launched one already. This is no joke. We’re living on the edge!

A shot across the bow: Missile expert says southern California projectile was a foreign-made cruise or ICBM missile launched from a submarine

ONE needs to happen now — while we still have the internet and the ability to meet in small and large groups.
I can’t wait to see large groups meeting all in Christ — lifting up truly holy hands in unison to God our Father Who loves us so much — and Who has given us His standards so we can be free in Him, right with each other.
“This is no joke.” Don’t be deceived. We must be right with each other for ONE to happen — clean hearted!
Jeff Fenske

[WordPOWER!] John 3:16 Means What?? 3:21, 36 show that 'BELIEVE' means OBEY — "He who DOES the TRUTH comes to the light, that HIS WORKS may be REVEALED, that they have been DONE IN GOD."

On February 3, 2011

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Who Goes to Heaven, WordPOWER

John 3

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”

22 After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. 24 For John was not yet thrown into prison.

25 There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification. 26 They came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.” 27 John answered, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. 33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

(video) Pastor DIES > goes to HELL because he HADN’T FORGIVEN his wife > AROSE from the dead almost 2 days later > tells story

In Biblically Disqualified Leaders?, Doctrines Demystified, Forgive & Be FREE, Getting Right with Each Other, Hell is Real - Forever!, No Enemy, Who Goes to Heaven

On February 3, 2011

Mark 11:26 “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

* * *

From: Amazon

[DVD] Raised from the Dead

This is the remarkable story of a Nigerian pastor, Daniel Ekechukwu, who was fatally injured in a car accident near the town of Onitsha, Nigeria, Africa on November 30th, 2001. During a dramatic journey to a hospital in Owerri, Nigeria, he lost all life signs and was later pronounced dead by two different medical staff in two different hospitals. The latter wrote a Medical report and commissioned the corpse to the mortuary. But Daniel´s wife remembered a verse in Scripture from Hebrews 11: “Women received their dead raised to life again.” She heard about a meeting where Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke was going to preach, and proceeded by bringing Daniel´s body in his coffin. What follows is a story you will never forget.

* * *

Transcribed by Jeff Fenske

The angel told Daniel in heaven: “Jesus has finished his work. The mansions are ready, but the saints are not ready.”

“We are now going to visit Hell.”

“Daniel, if the book of your life was to be closed today, this would be your portion.”

“No, I’m a pastor; I’m a child of God. I’m born-again — and I’ve preached all over….”

“Enough, Daniel, on your way to the first hospital, you were asking God to forgive you, but you would not forgive your wife. And your sins have not been forgiven. It is a matter of reaping what you’ve sown. You cannot sow unforgiveness to your wife and reap forgiveness from God.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyDAmvgwAjw

Daniel Ekechukwu – Raised from the dead (He was taken to Heaven and Hell

Uploaded by HeavenVisit on Oct 22, 2011

Pastor Ekechukwu was from a city called Onitsha (Nigeria), where he was the pastor of Power Chapel Evangelical Church.

This video produced by Eternal Production. http://www.eternalpictures.com/

This is parts of video of the Lazarus Phenomenon. I recommend to purchase this video to see the full original video.

http://www.eternalpictures.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&…

Nigerian pastor Daniel Ekechukwu physically died in the late evening of Friday, November 30th, 2001, was dead for at least 42 hours, visited heaven and hell during the time of his physical death, and was raised from the dead between 3:50 P.M. and 5:15 P.M. on Sunday, December 2nd, 2001 in the basement of the Grace of God Mission, located in Onitsha, Nigeria.

For more heaven visit videos, click here.

http://www.heavenvisit.com/

To purchase this video, click here;
http://www.amazon.com/The-Lazarus-Phenomenon/dp/B0041VR5SE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8…

From: HeavensFamily.org

Report One of Four
Pastor Daniel Ekechukwu and his Resurrection from the Dead
By David Servant

Soon after it occurred in December of 2001, I heard the report of Nigerian pastor Daniel Ekechukwu’s resurrection via e-mail from my friend, pastor David K. Aboderin, of Lagos, Nigeria. …. I wanted to learn more about the incident.

[…]

The most surprising thing is what happened next. The escorting angel told pastor Daniel, “If your record is to be called here, you will in no doubt be thrown into hell.” Pastor Daniel immediately defended himself saying, “I am a man of God! I serve Him with all my heart!” But a Bible appeared in the angel’s hand, and it was opened to Matthew 5 where Jesus warned that if one calls his brother a fool he is guilty enough to go into the hell of fire (see Matt. 5:21-22). Pastor Daniel knew he was guilty for the angry words he had spoken to his wife. The angel also reminded him that Jesus promised that God will not forgive our sins if we do not forgive others (see Matt. 6:14-15), because we will reap what we have sown. Only those who are merciful will obtain mercy (Matt 5:7). The angel told Daniel that the prayers he prayed as he was dying in the hospital were of no effect, because he refused to forgive his wife even when she attempted to reconcile on the morning of his fatal accident.

Pastor Daniel wept at this revelation, but the angel told him not to cry, because God was going to send him back to the earth to grant the rich man’s request (see Luke 16:27-30). A man would come back from the dead and warn people of hell. The angel said that Daniel’s resurrection would serve as a sign and be the last warning for this generation.

[…]

As you may imagine, pastor Daniel greatly emphasizes in his preaching the need to forgive those who have wronged us, lest anyone suffer the fate he almost suffered. How important it is that we obey Jesus’ commandments regarding forgiveness and walking in love toward each other, as well as all the rest of His commandments. It is indeed time for the church to repent and “pursue peace with all men, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). Do not listen to false teachers who say that holiness is not essential to ultimately gain eternal life. Jesus warned that only those who do the will of His Father will enter the kingdom of heaven (see Matt. 7:21). Do not listen to teachers who say that if you are once saved you are guaranteed that you will always be saved. Jesus warned His closest disciples (see Matt. 24:1-3) of the possibility of their not being ready when He returned and being cast into hell (see Matt. 24:42-25:46).

If we expect God to forgive us, we must forgive others. That is what Jesus solemnly promised. Are you ready to stand before Jesus, sincere and blameless?

Entire Article Here
From: HeavensFamily.org

Report Two of Four
Pastor Daniel Ekechukwu Resurrection and the Need for Forgiveness and Repentance
by David Servant

What about the theological implications of Daniel’s experience in hell? …

Certainly the one aspect of Daniel’s experience in hell that is the most sobering was the angel’s declaration that Daniel would have ended up there because of his unforgiveness (if God had not had mercy on him). …

In pastor Daniel’s case, his wife had sought for reconciliation, Daniel had refused her, and then he experienced his ill-timed death. Thank God that He had mercy on Daniel, and in so doing, God has shown His mercy to all of us who are not ready to stand before Him because of unforgiveness in our hearts. …

We, too, should maintain an “open-heart” policy, always doing what we can to be at peace with others. In this regard, Paul wrote, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Rom. 12:18). Both Jesus and Stephen prayed for God to forgive the very people who were killing them. We, too, have the same capacity to love by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Daniel Ekechukwu is now calling Christians to do what Christ has been commanding all His followers to do for two thousand years: forgive one another. And he is doing it with the passion of a man who really believes that Jesus meant what He said.

Entire Article Here
Related:
(video) ‘Christian’ Man Goes To Hell: “BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T FORGIVE HER, I didn’t forgive you” • “Words can’t describe HOW TERRIBLE it is to look your Creator FACE TO FACE, where there is NOTHING HIDDEN from Him. You inner thoughts are revealed before Him”
The Daniel Ekechukwu Reports
[Book] The GREAT GOSPEL DECEPTION by David A. Servant — “Only when the church does embrace the gospel of Jesus and His apostles will there be any hope of true revival”
Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God? — “There is therefore now *NO CONDEMNATION* to those who are IN CHRIST Jesus, who don’t WALK according to the flesh, but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT”
Bill Wiese’s 23 Minutes in Hell — What is it like in Hell?
[book – audio – video] Mary K. Baxter: A Divine Revelation of Hell — “There is greater punishment for those who once preached the gospel and went back into sin, or for those who would not obey the call of God for their lives”
Mary K. Baxter’s Divine Revelation of Hell: We Must Be Right With God — “Lord,” I said, “You mean your servants are here?” “Yes,” said Jesus, “Servants that would not stand for the truth and for holiness. It is better that one never starts than to turn back after beginning to serve Me.”

[Book] The GREAT GOSPEL DECEPTION by David A. Servant — "Only when the church does embrace the gospel of Jesus and His apostles will there be any hope of true revival"

Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?

On February 3, 2011

In Doctrines Demystified, Revival, Who Goes to Heaven

From: heavensfamily.org…

Cheap Grace

Running from War to Hear Good News All of the links below will take you to consecutive chapters of a book by David Servant titled The Great Gospel Deception. This book examines the modern gospel that is so popular in America and around the globe, but that is often lacking when compared to the gospel of the Bible. The primary difference is that the modern gospel portrays a grace that is foreign to Scripture, a grace that is actually a license to sin. Whereas the gospel of the Bible reveals a grace from God that offers people a limited time to repent and a promise of freedom from sin. Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more” (John 8:11). You can be certain that if that woman continued in her sin, when she stood at Christ’s judgment seat after her death, she did not hear the same words again. Likewise, God is graciously giving every person a limited opportunity to repent, so that each person will stand before Him forgiven and striving to follow Him to “enter though the narrow gate” (Matt. 7:13).

You are welcome to download, print, copy, distribute or transmit these documents by any means, as long as the documents are unaltered and kept their entirety, and are not sold for profit. © David Servant

The Unrighteous Shall Not Inherit
This introduction and first chapter lay a biblical foundation that proves that heaven is only for obedient followers of Christ, no matter how much faith they may claim to have. True saving faith is followed by works of obedience. Truly born-again people are set free from sin’s dominion.

The Immoral “Christian”
This chapter shows that no immoral person, even if he claims to be a Christian, will enter heaven. This chapter also exposes the hypocrisy of many professing Christians who appear outwardly pure but inwardly are lustful and thus heading for hell.

The Greedy “Christian”
This chapter defines what greed is (you may be surprised) and shows that no greedy person will enter heaven. Jesus warned that many who think they are His sheep really are goats, and their true nature is revealed by what they do with their money. Greedy people are actually idolaters. This chapter also outlines practical steps for better stewardship.

The Uncommitted “Christian”
This fourth chapter exposes the false belief that one can be a believer in Christ without being a disciple of Christ. True Christians are committed to Jesus and deny themselves for His sake and the sake of the gospel. This chapter also considers modern teaching regarding so-called “carnal Christians.”

The Antinomian “Christian”
Many professing Christians unfortunately think that because salvation is received by faith, keeping God’s laws has nothing to do with salvation. Scripture teaches, however, that faith and works cannot be separated. What many today call legalism, God calls “the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).

Jesus’ Greatest Salvation Sermon
The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ longest sermon of record, in which Jesus makes it very clear that only those who do the will of His Father will enter the kingdom of heaven. He warned that our righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees or hell is our destiny. In this important sermon, Jesus revealed that His followers must possess an inward holiness that manifests itself outward actions.

Jesus’ Greatest Salvation Sermon Continues
Christians are not “under the law of Moses,” but they are definitely “under the law of Christ.” Jesus continues to expound upon His law in the Sermon on the Mount.

Sanctification: Perfecting Holiness
Salvation begins with repentance and continues with on-going repentance, the process known as progressive sanctification. True believers “hunger and thirst for righteousness,” and this hunger is evident by their disciplining themselves for the purpose of godliness. This chapter lists every commandment Jesus has given us to obey.

Striving Against Sin
We grow in holiness as we cooperate, as an act of our will, with the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Beware of False Teachers
Jesus warned us that the outstanding characteristic of false teachers is their diminishing the importance of holiness. We are told by Jesus to look at the example that spiritual leaders are setting before us and know if they are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

The Assurance of Salvation
It is possible to be assured right now if we are truly saved, and in his first epistle, John tells us three tests by which we can make that determination. He makes it clear that there is definitely a link between obedience to the Lord and possession assurance of our salvation.

Revival When?
This final chapter is an impassioned cry for the church’s return to a biblical gospel that calls people to a living faith that actually saves. Only when the church does embrace the gospel of Jesus and His apostles will there be any hope of true revival.

Purchase The Gospel Deception HERE

Related:

Dan Corner points out some problems: David Servant Gets The Skull and Crossbones Award

Paul’s Elders’ qualifications revisited: What does ‘BLAMELESS’ mean? — Most pastors are Biblically disqualified

In Biblically Disqualified Leaders?, Doctrines Demystified, Power OVER or under

On January 31, 2011

“Herein I also practice ALWAYS having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.”

– Paul in Acts 24:16

• • •

1 Timothy 3
King James Version

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop [overseer – WEB], he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop [the overseer – WEB] then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker [including warmongering – editor], not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree [For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing – WEB], and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Titus 1
King James Version

4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop [the overseer – WEB] must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre [not greedy for dishonest gain – WEB]; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

* * *

Notice how blameless is used here:

Philippians 2

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputes, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, 16 holding up the word of life….

* * *

Blameless and holy must at least mean that overseers are going-to-heaven Christians, which means they must be in the Galatians-5 “Those who are Christ’s” list and not in the “will not inherit the Kingdom” list.

Galatians 5

13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one other, that you may not do the things that you desire. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

* * *

They must walk according to the Spirit to be in Christ, and led by the Spirit to be a child of God:

Romans 8

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.

* * *

Can’t be a liar

Revelation 21

8 But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

* * *

No root of bitterness

Hebrews 12:14-15

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

* * *

Pure in heart [demon-free heart?] and a peacemaker

Matthew 5

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called the children of God.

Leaders must reconcile — always having a clear conscience before God and men (as did Paul – Acts 24:16) and Jesus says in Matthew 5:23-24:

“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

An overseer “must be blameless”: right with God and all people — having a clear conscience — “no condemnation,” walking according to the Spirit, not according to the flesh.

* * *

I wrote in January of 2011:

Most overseers are currently biblically disqualified.

Making sure overseers are biblically qualified will bring in real Christianity, which will be real revival!

A whole lot of healing needs to go on. “It’s time to repent.”

Let us be ONE!

Jeff Fenske
Anchorage, Alaska

: )

Paul’s Elders’ Qualifications Revisited: Pastors and their Wives NOT ‘SOBER’ from Pharmakeia’s ANTIDEPRESSANTS? — Which can SEVER the SPIRITUAL Connection = Dulled CONSCIENCE … “Can no longer feel God” … even “Constant ruminating thoughts of killing” (James-3 cursing people!)

Can a Christian Have a Demon? Absolutely! Most Have Many!

[WordPOWER!] James – Demons WITHIN drive ‘Christians’ to curse people. “If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition IN YOUR HEART” you’re probably a James-3 curser. If so, “don’t lie against the truth.” Instead, be a PEACEMAKER, “for they shall be called children of God” – Jesus

(prophecy) MANY CURSE Others From Their HURTS DEEP WITHIN — “Hate and anger breed impatience. This hurt destroys My body, giving death to many members … Let respect overrule impatience … Tell him you’re sorry. See him repent if he did you harm too”

The Achan Factor — Because of one man’s disobedience the entire nation of Israel had to deal with the “Achan factor” among them before they could come under the umbrella of Almighty God’s blessings once again!

The Boot-Camp Factor: The Hate & Anger Factory Where Men are Programmed to Kill and Then Become Our Dads?!! Our Pastors?!!!

Is It Right: To Judge, To Expose Error & To Name Names?

Greg Laurie: Don’t Judge? — We are to judge, but we are not to condemn. In fact, a better translation of Matthew 7:1 would be: “Do not condemn others, and you will not be condemned.”

Naming Names? Is that Biblical?: Paul did — Those who teach “any other gospel” are “accursed” of God and to be marked

Can ‘Christians’ use Paul’s “Forgetting the things which are behind…I press on” statement as an excuse to not get right with those they’ve hurt? Paul also said: “I also practice ALWAYS having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.” What if you don’t repent? And what will happen when you do? The Third Great Awakening can start with us!!! We can all be happy — ‘ONE’!

The Didache (70-100 AD): Reconciliation was required to attend early church meetings! “Let no one who is at odds with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned.”

The R-Word: ‘Reconciliation’ is Required to Worship in Spirit and in Truth — Why is this key to revival a taboo subject?

The Sheep Stealers Rob the Sheep—Hypocrites Cannot Lead

Leadership: How it is Supposed to Be

Leaders Who Have Hurt People But Refuse to Repent

Failed Churches — Hate that Destroys the Yoke of Unity

Many Curse Others From Their Hurts Deep Within

Dennis Cramer: “Most ‘Christians’ curse for the purpose of retaliation and vindication … ‘Christian’ leaders are even more vulnerable”

‘Christian’ Leaders James-3 Cursing People Example: Jesse

Asbury Revival, 1970: “‘Dr. Kinlaw, I am a liar. Now what do I do?’ … Three days later, she came to me radiant, and she said, ‘Dr. Kinlaw, I’m free!’”

Wes Hall to church leaders: “There’s a cry in your heart saying ‘I am not prepared to walk forward another step in dead works and dead religion”

Wes Hall: Many ministers weren’t even called into the ministry. “The reason you’ve gone to seminary is to prove to God…how dedicated you are.” • “Some of you should have been in ministry, and you went into business; and you tried to become the best you could to earn your father’s approval in the natural.”

My Theory on Divorce and ‘Marriage’: It’s time to get out of unbiblical ‘marriages.’ “God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” We must all be clean.

Clarifying my perspective on divorce and marriage: The role of the Holy Spirit

Ron Paul’s Biggest Eye-Opener: ‘Christian’ Evangelicals Pushing Preemptive War in the Name of Spreading Christian ‘Love’

Francis Frangipane: Beware, It is Easy to Fake Christianity — “The moment we stop obeying God we start faking . . . .” “If our Christianity does not work in this life where we can test it, it is foolhardy to hope it will successfully transport us into eternity . . . if we fail the test, we suffer eternal separation from God.” “Let us re-examine what we have been taught.”

How CLEAN do our Hearts have to be from the Hebrews-12 root of bitterness that defiles many? Where is the place of SAFETY — RESTING, KNOWING for SURE we’re going to heaven? Selah …

[WordPOWER!] In Psalm 50 God Warns: “You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. … Now consider this…lest I tear you into pieces and there be none to deliver” (Hell?)

Steve Hill: Violent Revival — “Your salvation depends on your waging violent warfare against sin. … The violent man goes to war with his sins. He doesn’t make excuses for them, he annihilates them!”

When Billy Graham laughed to minimize Bill Clinton’s adultery
(video) Pat Robertson Cheating Comments: ‘Well, He’s a Man. Males Have a Tendency to Wander’

Can a Christian Have a Demon? Absolutely! Most Have Many!

In Biblically Disqualified Leaders?, Demons in Christians?, Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?

On January 31, 2011

This is an important doctrine, because when born-again Christians believe they’re immune from demons, many think it’s impossible to overcome sins like lust, because the desire is “too strong.” But it’s that strong because evil spirits drive lust once we let them in through willfully sinning, giving them a place.

Some “Christians” justify their thoughts of hating and wishing evil on people as being from God, because they’ve been taught that evil spirits can’t give us thoughts and desires if we have God living in us; even though, the Bible says those who hate people can’t inherit the kingdom (Gal. 5:19-21).

Many born-again Christians have trouble hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit because they hear familiar spirits giving them thoughts and ideas that lead them astray. When we’re free from these demonic voices, we’ll only hear one voice: the H0ly Spirit’s. If we hear more than one voice giving us ideas, only one can be the Holy Spirit.

I will show what the Bible specifically says, what the Holy Spirit has revealed and how this works in real life.

* * *

Many Bible teachers claim that John’s broad statement: “greater is he who is in you than he [Satan] who is in the world” (1 John 4:4) means that Christians can’t be directly affected by demons. They believe that wherever God is (indwelling in Christians) demons can’t also be present. John was speaking of Satan, not demons, and didn’t specifically say that evil spirits can never be in us.

Satan spoke with God in heaven, which is 100% holy, where there is no sin (Job. 1:6-7, 2:1-2). If we compare the holiness of heaven to most Christians’ bodies, who don’t keep themselves holy in every way.

I was told the safe-zone border that demons can’t cross into is the person’s skin; though, the Bible nowhere say that.

Because of this one verse, mainly, they claim that personal experiences, even clinical tests that seem to show that demons affect Christians directly must be invalid.

On the other hand, many Christians have had revelations from God showing them how demons directly influence Christians (who have given demons a place – Eph. 4:26-27), either by giving them thoughts (very common), driving sins (like lust, hatred, unforgiveness, lying, self-hatred, etc.), and causing sicknesses.

I absolutely agree that if the Bible states something clearly as fact, and personal experiences and/or revelations show something differently, we must go by what the Bible says. But the Bible nowhere says that evil spirits can’t be in Christians under any circumstances. In fact, it says the opposite, as I will show.

The Bible states that the Holy Spirit will lead believers into all truth (John 16:13). And His leading is supposed to be so capable that John says this in 1 John 2:

27 As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him.

Sola Scriptura (Bible alone) is not a biblical concept. It’s actually a false doctrine, a doctrine of demons that discourages people from seeking God for truth and revelation. Many of us have been shown by God ways in which demons affect Christians, which absolutely should be considered, because God wants us to know more specifically what is taught only generally in the Bible. But the Bible also says a lot on the subject.

A well known example is Paul’s thorn in the flesh, “a messenger of Satan to torment me,” Paul said in 2 Cor. 12:

7 By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. 8 Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

This could hardly be written any clearer to mean this messenger (angel in Greek) of Satan was in fact a demon. And in the flesh probably means exactly that — inside his body. And the word torment is similar to the word Jesus used in Matthew 18, describing what would happen to us if we don’t forgive everyone from the heart; though, this is translated differently in the NIV.

Much of the reason that today’s theologians disbelieve a Christian can have a demon is because of how the NIV and many of the other modern translations changed what the Bible really says. This is discussed here:

NIV alterations that greatly affect Christian doctrine — including my pet peeves. The NIV is destroying the church! Here’s proof.

Look at what the NIV did to Matthew 18 and Ephesians 4. From the third article above, NIV alterations that greatly affect…:

I’ve been harping about this forgiving-and-the-NIV subject for decades. Try to teach the importance of forgiving out of the NIV.

In the NIV, forgiving our brother 77 times is good enough? It’s definitely a reachable number — unlike 490 times.

And in the NIV, the “jailers” don’t sound like demons to me. “Tormentors” (KJV) certainly do though. If we don’t forgive everyone from our hearts the tormentors have a right to torment us.

God allows this so we get so disgusted with living in torment so we learn to always walk in love towards even our enemies when they curse us, hate us and mistreat us (the phrases the NIV left out, above).

It’s hard to even know what real Christianity is when we read the NIV. And we won’t learn enough about how Satan’s kingdom really works so we can learn how to be free. Many NIV readers don’t even realize that they have demons directly affecting them. The NIV puts people in the dark. Here is what they’ve done to parts of Matthew 18 and Ephesians 4:

Matthew 18

21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until ~~seventy times seven~~ [seventy seven times].

23 Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants. 24 When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’ 27 The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’ 30 He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord called him in, and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. 33 Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’ 34 His lord was angry, and delivered him to the ~~tormentors~~ [turned him over to the jailers to be tortured], until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts ~~for his misdeeds~~.”

And “a foothold” in Eph. 4, what’s that! The Greek word here is topos, which means “place,” like in topography. There is nothing in the text that indicates the Devil just gets a little foothold if we stay angry. The demons go right in, because we’ve given place to them. We’ve given them the right to torment us because we disobeyed God by not forgiving everyone from our hearts.

This is how lust demons work too. No lust, no lust demons. Whereas, lust just a little bit and they have the right to enter and drive lust from then on until we repent — cold turkey. 100% repentance, 0% lust = 0 lust demons — lust freedom!

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one ~~another~~ [body]. 26 “Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 neither ~~give place~~ to the devil [do not give the devil a foothold].

Evil spirits can’t affect us if we don’t sin, but in the areas we do, like Paul with his pride, the demons have a right.

God gave me a prophecy, which I call Let Us Be ONE. In part 20, God explains what was going on with Paul:

Give Up the Ghost of Pride and Settle for Nothing Other Than Love

Let them be your friend, those who disobey. Don’t judge. Let them see your life. Show it around. Let them see how good it is—a Trumpet call for all to see—you in the flesh—but in the Spirit, giving you life. What an oxymoron. They think you are crazy when you give up the ghost of pride. The two don’t go together. They don’t fit in a sentence. What does life have to do with darkness? How can we be one? The whole house must be clean, swept from inside. Give up the ghost of pride, and settle for nothing other than love, pure love from above.

Do not let it get in, your pride. Don’t take it. Don’t accept it as your own. It is not from above, but from the father of lies. He remains inside of most who disobey. The demons are thick as muck, all over, festering. There is much confusion, and it is not right. They can get in. Many don’t believe they are filled. It is them, part of their personality. Yes it is, but it is not Me. You are full of them, those yukky things that wreak inside My body, making it unclean. Paul did not have these. He walked tall. They made him obey, for he learned how to live above the fray. He hated disobedience and shunned sin. He still had a spirit of pride that held him back, but it was not from Me, and you know it.

You know you are like him in many ways, hurting, because you haven’t given your all. He overcame. Sin had taken him for a ride. He had hurt many, taking them into prison, putting them in chains—people like you who proclaim the Gospel. He took time to pray and overcame His grief. He was amazing, and is with Me, happy, because he fought and won—not at first. It took time. He needed to be holy. Righteousness came, and he grew until he became great in My thinking, full of Me, pride no longer. He humbled himself, and slowly became obedient until the point of death. He hurt.

Many are in dismay. They think he is great, that no one can be like him, but you will do better. He faltered. You, as a body can do much better. You can be one, you in Me, all under authority, all led by Me, all together, all one, hand in hand, much better than it was. Can you believe it?

This can happen. You can watch it, and see it in your own life. Start now. Don’t wait; then temptation will cease, and you will be one. It will happen. All of a sudden you will see that I am in you and life has come, making you one in Me. It will click.

Here’s how: watch and pray. It’s that simple. Study, see if this isn’t so in My Word, My living testimony that you can read to give you life any time of day as long as you live here on this planet, away from your home for a season. Then there will be life that you’ve never seen before, but tasted. You will be glad that you stood the course, that you built from above. It will be eternal. Seek this, eternal life, your eternal home, above, Me in you, and we are one. It will be this way, starting now if you let it. It doesn’t have to wait. See it; watch it fill you with life.

So it seems that God is telling us that Paul got to where he was demon free except for a spirit of pride, and then he eventually got free from that: “he grew until he became great in My thinking, full of Me, pride no longer.”

So if Paul did actually have a demon tormenting him physically, how could John have then written “Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world?”
Let’s look at 1 John 4-5:

1 Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit who doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world [this is actually similar to Paul’s concept of grace, which gives us the power to overcomeThe meaning of “Grace” (χαρις) in the Bible: It’s not what you think?]. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn’t listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. 8 He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love. 9 By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world.

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. 16 We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. [I discuss this concept in [WordPOWER!] 1 John 4 “Perfect Love Casts Out Fear” means us perfectly loving, not us perfectly accepting His love for us (as is commonly taught). Let’s love perfectly!] 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.

5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.

5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three who testify: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three agree as one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is God’s testimony which he has testified concerning his Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11 The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life.

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 14 This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. 15 And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.

16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I don’t say that he should make a request concerning this. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.

18 We know that whoever is born of God doesn’t sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn’t touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 5:18 is the key to being demon free. Willful sinning gives demons a place (Eph. 4:26-27), and willful unforgiveness from the heart towards anyone allows evil spirits to torment us ( Mt. 18).

1 John 4-5 is the converse: When we walk in perfect love (1 Jn. 4), we’re not sinning. We keep ourselves safe so then the evil one can’t touch us. “Perfect love casts out fear.”

It’s not us perfectly accepting God’s love, as is commonly taught. It’s us perfectly loving “Perfect Love Casts Out Fear” means us perfectly loving, not us perfectly accepting His love for us (as is commonly taught). Then, and only then are we guaranteed freedom from demons.

According to John, perfectly loving others is supposed to be the normal Christian life. This is our standard. “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

When we are walking this clean these signs [including miracles that most of us aren’t seeing often yet] follow them that believe…, Jesus said in Mark 16. And believe means more than belief in Jesus’ atonement on the cross.

When we are walking this Christlike 1 John 5:15-16 will be evident:

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 14 This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. 15 And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.

But until we are walking in perfect love we can’t claim immunity from evil spirits, biblically — and we’re not going to see many miracles either.

The Bible all fits together. We can’t take one verse that applies to those who have overcome and apply it to current ‘believers’ who mostly don’t even believe that we’re even supposed to walk in perfect love, which casts out fear.

Being demon free is far from being automatic just because we prayed a prayer to be born-again. Being born-again is just the start of being equipped, empowered so we can overcome, perfectly loving so we can then be demon free.

And because almost every ‘Christian’ in America has demons influencing their thoughts and their feelings directly, BIG-time, it’s hard for them to see clearly enough to see the kingdom.

Life has ceased in most because we’re so far from walking in perfect love where we can be free — and where signs and wonders will follow.

We need to get our doctrines right so we can then learn how to walk in perfect love together, demon free — overcomers.

Then we’ll all be resting. We’ll all know for sure, deep down that we have eternal life. Belief won’t be a struggle — and signs and wonders will follow. We will have whatever we ask according to His will.

And He wants great things to happen. He stays away because we’re staying away (James 4).

Let’s move in close to Him where we can be ONE. Then the world will know, and life will be FUN!!!!!!! JOY will be off of the charts — no matter what is coming down the pike — which doesn’t look good, since the ‘church’ hasn’t been salt and light.

We’re going to reap what we’ve sowed. But there can be a GREAT ending to this story when we finally overcome and actually live 1 John 4 and 5!

The Devil LOVES to have his minions planted within ‘Christians,’ who think all of their thoughts are their own, and everything that is going on in their bodies is naturally caused — though it’s demons that drive much of what many ‘Christians’ do. And demons are probably the number one cause of illness; though, they are influencing ‘Christians’ to accept what isn’t really food as though it is too.

Dark forces inside of ‘Christians’ influence them to even hate those they disagree with, those who make them feel uncomfortable, who may even teach them they can have demons inside. That’s why there are so many fights in religion. Religious spirits compel ‘Christians’ to believe certain things strongly and without question. And anyone who would say otherwise must be off his rocker!

Check your hearts, you all. What’s going on inside of you? Are you free? Can you totally relax when you discuss doctrine? Are you at peace, really? Check your heart, specifically, not just your head.

There should be peace, 24/7.

Instead of Partysville, which I call the overall state of the church — “I’m okay; you’re okay. Ha, ha, ha,” we need James 4: [WordPOWER!] God’s Remedy for James-3 Cursing & Partysville in Today’s Church is James 4. I’ll just quote some of James 4 here. James 3 talks about ‘Christians’ cursing Christians, which happens all the time in today’s partysville atmosphere where anything goes.
James 4:

1 Where do wars and fightings among you [speaking to Christians] come from? Don’t they come from your pleasures that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don’t have. You kill [James just got done talking about ‘Christians’ cursing Christians, which is like killing — anyone who hates his brother is a murderer], covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war [James showed in chapter 3 that ‘Christians’ were cursing Christians from their hearts (3:14)].

You don’t have, because you don’t ask. 3 You ask, and don’t receive [opposite of 1 John 5:14-15], because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.

4 You adulterers and adulteresses [adultery = lusting in the heart (Mt. 5)], don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously“?

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

7 Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy [partysville joy, not fruit-of-the-Holy-Spirit joy] to gloom.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

In this passage, James is talking about demons in ‘Christians’: your pleasures that war in your members — and how to get totally free!

In the preceding chapter, James talks about ‘Christians’ cursing people from their hearts. But to help us understand that James isn’t giving a license to sin in chapter 3, I’ll quote James 1 first.

James 1 helps us understand James 3

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord. 8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position; 10 and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away. 11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

* * *

In chapter 3, pastors usually say the source is the tongue, but if you dig further, verse 14 shows that the heart is the source that drives the tongue. And what is driving the heart are demons. Verse 15: the wisdom not from above that is demonic, verse 14.

Demons drive the heart, which drives the tongue of these ‘Christians’ brothers to curse men — which is why I call it James-3 cursing.

James 3 — Blessing and Cursing?

1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. 2 For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn’t stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. 3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. 4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires. 5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna. 7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. 10 Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.

Wisdom from Above

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

So we see the Bible really does show that demons can affect Christians directly unless they walk in perfect love. James-3 curses can and usually do stick. I’ll talk about speaking in tongues and forgiving to get free in a minute, but it’s actually God’s will for us to be tormented so we learn to walk in perfect love.

It’s a way of being spanked, disciplined. Demons can cause pain, sickness, irritability. They Instead of getting mad at those who curse us, we need to pray for them (especially in tongues) and actively forgive them from our hearts. Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. Many people are so greatly influenced by demons they really don’t know what they’re doing, including many ‘Christian’ pastors!

There is no doubt that Paul was tormented by at least one demon for a time, and perhaps this is the greatest reason he prayed in tongues more than anyone (see the tongues articles below). Paul was on the front lines. Many hated him, and the curses stuck because he hadn’t yet learned how to walk in perfect love. But according to what God said in my prophecy, he did learn how to walk in perfect love — and so can we!

Praying in tongues is the greatest spiritual warfare gift, in my opinion, based upon many thousands of hours of praying in tongues during the last 30 years.

A Gift that Will Set Many Free! (A Death Warrant is Out for Your Souls)

I’ve finally shared much of what I know about and what can be done through the TREMENDOUS and mostly misunderstood and underused gift of tongues. A reader thankfully put me over the edge : )

And fully forgiving everyone from the heart is the place of immunity, and it’s a lot harder to accomplish than most people realize. I have yet to meet anyone whom I know always forgives everyone 100% from their heart. Many are close. We’re getting there, but until we shut the door 100% the demons still have a right.

Art Mathias on It’s Supernatural: Spiritual Roots of Disease — Healed Through Forgiving (If there is pain in a memory there is unforgiveness)

Forgiving-Others, Freedom Prayer!

This is an important doctrine, because when ‘Christians’ think they’re immune they often go with however they feel. And many have been hurt by demon driven ‘Christians’ and James-3 cursing pastors — including themselves.

Leaders Who Have Hurt People But Refuse to Repent

Let Us Be ONE, Part 11 of 33

Leaders Who Have Hurt People But Refuse to Repent

Do not give the time of day to those who control, to those leaders who have hurt people but refuse to repent, who live in sin. They are in error, in danger of losing their salvation.

Pray for them, and help them obey. We must be ONE. This is the key—that we be ONE.

The key really is ONE. When ONE happens it will be easy to walk in perfect love nonstop. And we can help ONE happen by praying in tongues and learning to walk in perfect love now.

God bless!

Jeff Fenske
Anchorage, Alaska

Dennis Cramer: “Most ‘Christians’ curse for the purpose of retaliation and vindication … ‘Christian’ leaders are even more vulnerable”

WordPOWER: Repay No One Evil for Evil — Don’t Curse — Give Place to God’s Wrath

Many Curse Others From Their Hurts Deep Within

‘Pastor’: You can pray AGAINST people too. “It’s well worth it!” – Vs – God: “Bless and don’t curse;” “This wisdom is…DEMONIC;” “Overcome evil with good,” “that you may be children of your Father”

Martin Luther Cursed from His Heart Catholic Leaders ‘Every Day’

Holiness Will Excise Darkness — Many will follow and run from iniquity when you are holy, when your sights are set on Me, up, where they belong.

Dr. Scott Johnson: Pharmakeia — Sorcery, Pharmaceuticals & the Roots of Modern Day Drug Industry. “You cannot drug your body into good health.” “Drugs are not going to take the demons away.” “They’ve swept the symptoms under the rug for so long that now they’re a surgical candidate.”

How CLEAN do our HEARTS have to be from the Hebrews-12 root of bitterness that defiles many so they lose their reward? Where is the place of SAFETY — RESTING, KNOWING for SURE we’re going to heaven? Selah …

[WordPOWER!] David in Psalm 38: “…neither is there any HEALTH in my bones because of my sin. … Those who SEEK MY HURT…meditate deceits ALL DAY LONG. … Those who HATE ME WITHOUT REASON…render evil for good…BECAUSE I FOLLOW WHAT IS GOOD.” — Check your HEART. Are you one of the James-3 cursers?

[WordPOWER!] Romans 12: Repay No One Evil for Evil — Don’t Curse — Give Place to God’s Wrath

(audio) Ex-witch: Why Many Worship Mary, Not Jesus — Mary is “embracing, loving, forgiving & tolerant.” But if you come to Christ you’re going to have to give yourself up. And when we stand in front of His thrown He will judge us. And people are scared of that. So they would sooner have a pseudo-Jesus (Mary is just a person who can’t really be prayed to, so demons can impersonate…)

Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?

All of my Demons in Christians posts

All of my “Christians Cursing People” posts

How CLEAN do our HEARTS have to be from the Hebrews-12 root of bitterness that defiles many so they lose their reward? Where is the place of SAFETY — RESTING, KNOWING for SURE we're going to heaven? Selah …

In Demons in Christians?, Doctrines Demystified, Forgive & Be FREE, Getting Right with Each Other, heart, soul, mind, gut?, Personal, Who Goes to Heaven

On January 30, 2011

[Updated 1/31]

What about K-Love
“positive/encouraging”
where everything is okay?

Jeff, aren’t you being legalistic?

Do I always have to wonder?

What does the Bible really say?

This is the place of rest.

* * *

I’ve been thinking about this text lately and applying it to my own life — Hebrews 12:

How do we make sure we have no root of bitterness in our hearts that will defile us?
I’ll start with the Lord’s prayer, including the words after the Amen. Jesus established that if we don’t forgive those who sin against us, our Father won’t forgive our sins. Matthew 6:9-15

Pray like this:

‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The writer to Hebrews states that we need to look carefully to make sure we don’t have a root of bitterness that will defile us so that we’ll fall short of the grace of God [The meaning of “Grace” (χαρις) in the Bible: It’s not what you think?]. We won’t see the Lord unless we follow after peace with all people, “and the sanctification…. Hebrews 12

14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, 15 looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it; 16 lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. 17 For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears. …

25 See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the Earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven, 26 whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this root of bitterness lately. It’s probably an actual demonic stronghold like the love of money which is the root of all evil. We’re supposed to look carefully to see if one exists inside. How is our heart. Are we wishing well of everyone? Do we want all who we know to overcome? It’s so easy to be defiled. Luther didn’t like Hebrews, which disagreed with his false grace doctrine, so he called it a subordinate book Martin Luther’s Subordinate Bible Books: Hebrews, James, Jude & Revelation. And much of the modern ‘grace’ teaching is based on Luther’s false doctrine. But we need to go by what the Bible really says. “Work out your salvation through fear and trembling” (Paul) is similar to verse 28, above. I get the sense that many knee-jerk react to the truth about the fear of God and how clean the Bible says we need to really be, but consider if the truth would have been taught us from little on — and our parents would have been taught the truth too — going back generations. It would then be normal to check our hearts to make we don’t have a root of bitterness that is defiling us. I’m learning that a good test for me is how I react when a driver on the road treats me meanly. What’s going on in my heart? Whatever it is, we should be examining ourselves to make sure we are root-of-bitterness free. Do we love our enemies, all of our neighbors as ourselves? If we’re Christians, through God’s grace we will. Otherwise, we should be fearful that we’re not in a safe place with God, on our way to heaven. I don’t often get prophecies for people, but have on rare occasions. A few days ago, I was reading through a long prophecy I got for a pastor years ago. Many ‘Christians’ have trouble with the concept that God will judge and not allow in heaven those who willfully hurt others, and I must say I’ve at times struggled with this. But reading this word again really helped me understand God’s heart. God is so for this man doing well. He was incredibly encouraging, while also being absolutely serious about how this man is in sincere danger unless he repents of hating others, including James-3 cursing them. God told him even how high the flames would be, and he said:

Show them the way into repentance, and I will give you a crown of life, forever with Me. Otherwise you are in danger of hellfire and brimstone around your neck. That high will the flames be. Can you bear it, for all eternity? This is the price you will pay. I’m serious, My son. Forgive, or you will be tormented forever in underground magma, fires that will lick your sides. It is no joke. You teach not truth and expect to go to heaven. I have a different way, for I call the shots, and you will go down if you disbelieve. This is not right. Obey and you will go high. You choose. Now you know and are responsible for your actions. Will you come with Me? Seek My face in horror of failure and you will be wise. Ignore this and peril will take over your life. You choose. There is no better way.

Christianity isn’t a hobby. Abiding in Christ isn’t an option. Teachers will get a stricter judgment, and this man negatively affected many, but we’ll all go down if we don’t keep our hearts pure. It doesn’t matter what Luther said, or what pastors like this man above say. What matters is what God’s word says. I recently heard a ‘grace’ pastor say that most ‘Christians’ feel condemnation inside. If we don’t feel right inside, we should be very concerned. Romans 8:

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; 4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

If we feel condemnation we shouldn’t brush it off as just ‘conviction,’ like the false grace teachers teach. We should be thankful that the Holy Spirit is warning us so we get right with whomever we’re hurt (or whatever it is) so we can feel right before God. This morning, I thought I need to test my heart to see if it’s easy to love God with all of my heart. I don’t always, but often I’ll color the word heart in my posts (I’ll stop now because I’ve made my point). I’m trying to help people realize that the heart is an actual place in our bodies. It’s the center of our emotions. It can also be the center of sin problems, which is why we need to forgive everyone from our hearts, not just our heads. Science has discovered that the heart is more than a pump. It has brainlike tissue. Even the gut does somewhat. We feel emotions deeply, and this all must be clean, not lusting after humans in our heart, or unforgiving people from our heart. I was making sure this morning that I could easily love God from my entire heart. It was easy. But honestly, there probably were many times as a ‘Christian’ when I probably wouldn’t have passed this Greatest Commandment test: Love the Lord, your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. Lovers say to their lover: “I love you from the bottom of my heart.” Can we say that to God? I think this is a legitimate test, and I’m talking about the actual heart area, and even below in the depths of our soul, which may be the gut, where brainlike tissue also is, where we often also feel emotion deeply. This subject is why I have the “heart, soul, mind, gut? category in the pull-down menu on the right. We only have this one chance to get it right. It’s popular to just go with the “never let go” heresy that prevails on the radio and from the pulpits. “Don’t worry, be happy,” when we should be worried, unless our heart is clean. The writer to Hebrews talks about how we should make sure to enter into our rest. There should be peace in our hearts. If we’re not resting in our hearts, let’s find out why not? God will show us; we probably already know who we need to forgive, who we need to say we’re sorry to. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth, regardless of what the mainstream preachers say. What does the Bible say? How in the world did it become so popular to not investigate the Bible to make sure we’re being taught the truth — the way, it was called in early Christendom? John gives us practical advice as to how we know we know we have eternal life. 1 John

1 Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. 6 Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him, neither knows him. 7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.

11 For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

13 Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. 16 By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him? 18 My little children, let’s not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him, 20 because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God; 22 and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.

1 John has long been a mystery to me, because in places John seems to contradict himself. I still don’t understand it all, but I’m getting closer. Most of the ‘church’ seems to major on 1 John 1:8-9, which just about everyone knows, but 1:8-9 isn’t the theme of 1 John at all. Holiness and not sinning is in order to be real Christians. If we do sin, we confess our sin, get it right, and then go right back into our rest with God and each other, life in the Son — where we love our brother — where we make sure no hate exists. And then:

if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God; 22 and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.

But this isn’t happening yet in our ‘Christian’ communities. Why not? Could this be one of the tests Francis Frangipane is talking about: Francis Frangipane: Beware, It is Easy to Fake Christianity — “The moment we STOP OBEYING God we START FAKING . . . .” “If our Christianity DOES NOT WORK in this life where we can test it, it is foolhardy to hope it will successfully transport us into eternity . . . if we fail THE TEST, we suffer eternal separation from God.” “Let us re-examine what we have been taught.” When we have God’s standards set before us, we can be free internally, resting in Him. There won’t be internal strife. We can know for sure. When a group of us are at peace inside, then God can show up, and His glory will help us to even more fully be ONE with each other in Him. (John 17) I’m not the enemy. Some see me as the enemy. How could Jeff be right when almost everyone else is saying “I’m okay, you’re okay;” “Don’t worry, be happy.” But hardly anyone is happy because hardly anyone is okay. This is the Devil putting everyone to sleep through positive/encouraging K-Love. Exhortation is out of vogue. And now we’re losing our country and our comfy way of life. Am I being legalistic, or just biblical? I’m only saying what the Bible really says, and if we did what the Bible said we’d be so happy, full of life in Christ! Most are still under the mistaken notion that the new covenant requires either less than the old covenant, or requires nothing at all: grace + nothing is the jingle. These are lies. Those in the old covenant were under the law, now we are to be led by the Spirit. We have a greater anointing to fulfill this higher requirement to be led by the Holy Spirit to actually love our neighbors as ourselves. Galatians 5

14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

If we have peace in our hearts we “belong to Christ.”
“Which list are you in?” We must always make sure we are fully in list #2 (verses 22-24). In list #2 is rest. If we’re not fully in it we should be worried and fearful and make sure we get right back in — our place of safety in God.
List #2 is that rest that the writer to Hebrews talks about.
List #2 is the ~”how we know we have eternal life” in 1 John.
This is the place of no condemnation that Paul discusses in Romans 8:1a & b (and b is for those who still read the NIV, NASB, etc.)
List #2 is the place of safety in Christ that we should all be in 24/7 — ONE with each other in Christ!
All other ground is sinking sand.
Let’s be ONE!
Jeff : )
[NOTE: many of these other articles apply as well, like making sure we’re right with those we’ve hurt.]
Related:
Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?
Asbury Revival, 1970: “‘Dr. Kinlaw, I am a liar. Now what do I do?’ … Three days later, she came to me radiant, and she said, ‘Dr. Kinlaw, I’m free!’” Many need to get right with people they’ve hurt to be free! Then God can move!

Let that Dirty Thing Go, The Monster That Hides Inside

Francis Chan left his 1600 member church to reassess. “There’s a LACK OF PEACE in so many people … WE PRETEND.” “There is this NARROW ROAD … FEW will find it.” “Let’s go back to what THE TRUTH has always been…and has NEVER BEEN POPULAR.”
Can ‘Christians’ use Paul’s “Forgetting the things which are behind…I press on” statement as an excuse to not get right with those they’ve hurt? Paul also said: “I also practice ALWAYS having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.”
The meaning of “Grace” (χαρις) in the Bible: It’s not what you think?
How Many Will Be in Heaven? How Many Find the WAY? Only 1 in 40 — 2.5%!?!!
‘CARNAL’ CHRISTIANS – Saved or Not?
“We Must Be Holy” by J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)
The CHIEF PILLAR of Eternal Security (OSAS) Toppled!
Martin Luther’s Subordinate Bible Books: Hebrews, James, Jude & Revelation
Luther: Let us BANISH the epistle of James, for it is ‘WORTHLESS’ — written by a non-Christian and can’t be reconciled with Paul
Francis Frangipane: Beware, It is Easy to Fake Christianity — “The moment we stop obeying God we start faking . . . .” “If our Christianity does not work in this life where we can test it, it is foolhardy to hope it will successfully transport us into eternity . . . if we fail the test, we suffer eternal separation from God.” “Let us re-examine what we have been taught.”
A Gift that Will Set Many Free! (A Death Warrant is Out for Your Souls)
I’ve finally shared much of what I know about and what can be done through the TREMENDOUS and mostly misunderstood and underused gift of tongues. A reader thankfully put me over the edge : )
THE PATRISTIC INTERPRETATION of ROMANS 7:14-25 — The early church did not understand Rom 7:14-25 to teach the necessity of sin in believers
[1978 concert video] Keith Green debunked LUTHER’S FALSE SALVATION DOCTRINE that’s now MAINSTREAM in America. Let’s get it right!
The Didache (70-100 AD): Reconciliation was required to attend early church meetings! “Let no one who is at odds with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned.”
Can ‘Christians’ use Paul’s “Forgetting the things which are behind…I press on” statement as an excuse to not get right with those they’ve hurt? Paul also said: “I also practice ALWAYS having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.” What if you don’t repent? And what will happen when you do? The Third Great Awakening can start with us!!! We can all be happy — ‘ONE’!
[WordPOWER!] Jesus Ups the Ante – Matthew 5:21-22: “YOU HAVE HEARD that it was said…, ‘You shall not murder’…. BUT I TELL YOU, that everyone who is ANGRY with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment”
[WordPOWER!] Jesus Ups the Ante – Matthew 5:27-30: “YOU HAVE HEARD that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ BUT I TELL YOU that everyone who GAZES at a woman to LUST after her has committed ADULTERY with her already in his heart. …your whole body to be CAST INTO GEHENNA.”
[WordPOWER!] Acts 17:30-31 God Upped the Ante when He Sent the Holy Spirit — “The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent…”
Wes Hall: “Beloved, grace has nothing to do with freedom to sin. … Grace is the power to be free from sin. … Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith.”
Military BOOT CAMP kills the conscience so soldiers can do evil without being convicted in their hearts
WITHOUT REVIVAL THE PEOPLE PERISH: Why the Present Church Doctrine Makes Revival Unlikely [Or Why Sound Doctrine Would Make Revival Likely]
BE YE THEREFORE PERFECT (Matthew 5:48): Thirty-eight Sermonettes on SIN, SALVATION

What the Lord’s Prayer really says about FORGIVING. Jesus made it clear right after “Amen”: “IF YOU DON’T forgive…” VS. Luther’s Catechism: “God forgives WITHOUT CONDITION,” forgiving even “REVENGE!!!”
[Lust FREEDOM — “The Poison that Kills the Soul”] My experience: How DEMONS DRIVE heterosexual and homosexual lust in ‘Christians’ — The bad news is that demons drive lust. The good news is that demons drive lust, because…
[WordPOWER!] In Psalm 50 God Warns: “You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. … Now consider this…lest I tear you into pieces and there be none to deliver” (Hell?)
“Grace”: To Give You Life to Overcome—Not a License to Sin
All of my Who Goes to Heaven Posts

Francis Frangipane: Beware, It is Easy to Fake Christianity — "The moment we STOP OBEYING God we START FAKING . . . ." "If our Christianity DOES NOT WORK in this life where we can test it, it is foolhardy to hope it will successfully transport us into eternity . . . if we fail THE TEST, we suffer eternal separation from God." "Let us re-examine what we have been taught."

On January 28, 2011

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Who Goes to Heaven

Francis Frangipane

“Five times in Matthew 24, Jesus warned against deception in the last days (vv. 4, 5, 11, 23–24, 26). If we are not at least somewhat troubled by those warnings, it is only because we are guarding our ignorance with arrogance, presuming that our thoughts must be right simply because we think them. … Subconsciously, we may actually want a dead religion so we do not have to change.”

From: frangipane.org…

Beware: It is Easy to Fake Christianity
(En Español)
Our experience of Christianity must go beyond just being another interpretation of the Bible; it must expand until our faith in Jesus and our love for Him becomes a lightning rod for His presence.
Prove All Things
“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). Would you buy a car without driving it? Would you purchase a house sight unseen? Of course not! Yet, many of us accept various “plans of salvation” that do not really save us from the distresses of hell. In spite of the fact that Jesus came to give us abundant life, we remain sinful and selfish. A car may look nice, but if it will not drive across town we should not trust it to take us across the country.
Likewise, if our Christianity does not work in this life where we can test it, it is foolhardy to hope it will successfully transport us into eternity where, if we fail the test, we suffer eternal separation from God.
I do not wish to imply, however, that unless we get every doctrine right and every interpretation perfect we will be refused entrance into heaven. Christianity is more a matter of the heart than the head; it is a maturing of love more than knowledge. The test of truth is not an intellectual pursuit but whether you are drawing closer, week by week, to knowing and loving Jesus Christ.
At the same time, we should not be afraid to test what we believe. Paul says, “Test yourselves . . . examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5).
The power and person of Jesus Christ is in us; to believe in Him is to progressively become like Him. As it is written, “as He is, so also are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). However, if we have been indoctrinated to believe that the kingdom of God, and Christianity itself, does not really have to work, or if the absence of holiness and power fails to trouble us, something is seriously wrong with our concept of truth.
We should seek answers to three very important questions. First: is my faith effective? Do not gloss over that question. Honestly ask yourself if your prayers are being answered and if your life is becoming godly.
Second: if my doctrines do not work, then why not? Perhaps your theology is fine but you are lazy. Perhaps you need to turn off the television set and dedicate that time to seek the Lord instead. Or maybe you are very earnest but you have been taught wrong. Either way, you must seek to find out why things are not working for you.
And third: if I do see the fruit and power of the Holy Spirit revealed in another’s life, how did he (or she) receive such grace from God? Do not be afraid to sit as a disciple under the anointing of another’s ministry. The Word tells us, “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward” (Matt. 10:41). God gives “rewards” of impartation, knowledge and other spiritual gifts to His servants. Learn from those whose faith is working.
The final test of any set of doctrines is seen in the kind of life they produce. As it is written, “By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:5–6). Continual, persistent walking with Christ will produce a life like Christ’s. We will walk even as He did walk with holiness and power.
The fact is, however, that if the “god” of some of our Christian religions died, most members of those churches would be either too spiritually dead or too physically busy to notice his absence. All too often, Christians accept teachings “by faith”—not faith in the Living God but faith that their church doctrines are correct. We unconsciously hope that whoever is teaching us has not made a mistake.
Jesus said, “See to it no one misleads you” (Matt. 24:4). Remaining free from deception is a responsibility each of us must assume as individuals. Without becoming suspicious or mistrusting, in humility let us re-examine what we have been taught. The virtue of any teaching is in its ability to either equip you to do God’s will or empower you to find God’s heart. If either objective is missing, that teaching will be of lesser value.
The Power of a Godly Life
This lesson is not addressed to “bad people” or sinners; it is for all of us “good people” who have thought being nice was of the same essence as knowing the truth. It is not. We can thank our parents that we are nice, but to know the truth, we must seek God and be willing to obey Him.
Five times in Matthew 24, Jesus warned against deception in the last days (vv. 4, 5, 11, 23–24, 26). If we are not at least somewhat troubled by those warnings, it is only because we are guarding our ignorance with arrogance, presuming that our thoughts must be right simply because we think them. There are areas in all of our lives that need to be corrected. And unless we can be corrected, unless we are seeking God for an unfolding revelation of His Son, our so-called “faith” may be, in reality, just a lazy indifference, a deception concerning the things of God. Subconsciously, we may actually want a dead religion so we do not have to change.
Yes, we should accept many things by faith. But faith is not blindly sticking our hand out to be led by another blind man. It is not an excuse to justify impotent doctrines. True faith is freighted with the power of God.
The Power in Holiness
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be . . . having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Tim. 3:1–5 KJV). Holiness is powerful. Have you ever met a truly holy man or woman? There is a power in their godliness. If, however, one has never known a Christlike soul, it becomes very easy to fake Christianity. Remember this always: being false is natural to the human heart; it is with much effort that we become true. Unless we are reaching for spiritual maturity, our immaturity shapes our perceptions of God. We point to the Almighty and say, “He stopped requiring godliness,” when in reality, we have compromised the standards of His kingdom. Know for certain that the moment we stop obeying God, we start faking Christianity.
And as we mature, we begin to realize that the Spirit of Christ is actually within us. The cross emerges off the printed page, it stands upright before us, confronting us with our own Gethsemanes, our own Golgothas—but also our own resurrections through which we ascend spiritually into the true presence of the Lord.
With Paul we say,

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. —Galatians 2:20

Do not let yourself be misled! Place upon your theology the demand that it work—your eternal salvation depends upon it! If Christ is within us, we should be living holy, powerful lives. No excuses. If we are not holy or if there is not the power of godliness in our lives, let us not blame God. As it is written, “Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar” (Rom. 3:4). Let us persevere in seeking God until we find Him, until we discover “what [we are] still lacking” (Matt. 19:20). Let us press on until we “lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12).
How long should we continue to seek Him? If we spent all our lives and all our energies for three minutes of genuine Christlikeness, we would have spent our lives well. We will say like Simeon of old, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation” (Luke 2:29–30). We do not want to just give mental assent to Christian doctrine; we want to see, have contact with and live in the experienced reality of Christ’s actual presence. The moment we settle for anything less, we begin faking Christianity.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The preceding article came from Pastor Frangipane’s first book, Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God that can be ordered at www.arrowbookstore.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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John Wimber Signs and Wonders: Westernized Churches — The pursuit of study has become an end in itself. But to study it without acting upon it is incomplete. We need the Word and the works.

http://www.vineyardresources.com/equi…

In Doctrines Demystified, Filled with the HOLY Spirit, Healing

“In our western civilization
we have had propensity for and a preoccupation with
study and the pursuit of knowledge.

The church, today is worldly.
The church, today is westernized.

We’re so secularized
we’ve almost completely eliminated
the supernatural from our perceptions.

We’ve come to a place where we don’t anticipate
God to operate as God among us.

We’ve come to a place where we really think that
the pursuit of study has become an end in itself. …
But to study it without acting upon it is incomplete.

Both Jesus and James told us that
hearing without doing is incomplete. …

We not only need the illumination,
we need the illustration.

We need the Word
and the works.”

– John Wimber

Transcribed by Jeff Fenske

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gygnuTpTg7E]John Wimber Signs and Wonders – Westernized Churches

KingdomStuff | August 15, 2009 | 7 likes, 0 dislikes

Excerpt from Signs and Wonders Conference

SIGNS, WONDERS & CHURCH GROWTH [13 DVD SET]

A.K.A. MC510 – This is the prerequisite teaching of “Healing” (MC511) by John Wimber.

Based on the class John Wimber taught at Fuller Theological Seminary, this is Johns most in demand teaching series to this day and is for the first time ever, NOW ON DVD!

Signs, Wonders and Church Growth is a foundational teaching series about the correlation between the Holy Spirit and church growth.

Recorded live in Anaheim California in the 1980s, this in-depth seminar taught by John Wimber includes hands on clinics where the audience puts in to practice the things they are learning!

http://kingdomstuff.blogspot.com/

[video] John Wimber: Gifts of the Holy Spirit

In Doctrines Demystified, Filled with the HOLY Spirit, Pray Perfectly in Tongues!, Prayer, Real History

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8x_l3KOKEk]John Wimber – Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1/3)

PreachersNetwork | August 04, 2010 | 6 likes, 0 dislikes

This is from a Vineyard conference of 1985

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WAjfAq-G3g]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8x_l3KOKEk]

Introducing Jack Deere: Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary who was Surprised by the POWER of the Holy Spirit!

In Doctrines Demystified, Filled with the HOLY Spirit, Prayer

Many students at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School were greatly
influenced by Jack Deere’s gifts-of-the-Spirit discovery
during the Vineyard Movement days
just over two decades ago.

Jack Deere

From: jackdeere.com/about.html

Jack was raised in Ft. Worth, Texas in a broken home that did not know the Lord. When he was 17 years old, a friend led Jack to Christ. Jack began reading the Bible for the first time and fell in love with the Scriptures. He attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX, where in majored in Philosophy and started working with the ministry of Young Life leading high school students to the Lord. After graduation in 1971, he attended Dallas Theological Seminary concentrating in Greek and Hebrew study of the Bible. He and Leesa were married in 1974. In 1976, he was invited to join the faculty of Dallas Seminary teaching Hebrew and books of the Bible in Hebrew. He received both a Master and Doctor of Theology degrees from Dallas Seminary. During his tenure at Dallas Seminary, he started and pastored two churches.

In 1986 after months of concentrated scriptural study, Jack reversed his position on the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. He became convinced that all of the gifts of the Spirit were meant to be used today, including healing and prophecy. God had never withdrawn these gifts, rather many in the church had withdrawn from the gifts. Even though he had no supernatural experience of his own, Jack and Leesa along with others began praying for the sick and listening for the voice of God. Almost immediately, they saw some wonderful healings.

He left the seminary faculty at in the end of 1987 and joined the staff of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church in Anaheim, CA. He served with John Wimber at the church and traveled around the world with him doing conferences on intimacy with God and the Holy Spirit.

Jack left the Anaheim Vineyard in 1992 to begin his own conference and writing ministry. He has written best selling books, which have been translated into a number of languages He travels national and internationally doing conferences on many themes. He serves on the boards of a number of Christian ministries.

Jack is currently the senior pastor of Wellspring Church in North Richland Hills, Texas, a church he started in the spring of 2004. The mission of the church is threefold: to help people cultivate an intimate friendship with Jesus; to help people discover and effectively use their spiritual gifts in significant ways in the church; and having learned how to use these gifts effectively in the church, then to use their gifts in the market place where they spend the majority of their time.

Jack and Leesa live in Colleyville, TX. They have two grown children, Stephen and Alese.

From: jackdeere.com/books.html

Books

Surprised by the Voice of God

Surprised
Using biblical and contemporary examples this book shows that it has always been normal for God to speak to His children both from the Scripture and in their daily experience. If you want to hear God’s voice better you will find this book inspiring and helpful many practical ways.
Autographed Version

Surprised by the Power of the Spirit

Surprised
This best selling book has become a classic receiving praise from scholars and leaders all over the world. Using the Bible and contemporary examples it makes a convincing case for the reality of supernatural power in the church and answers those skeptical of the Spirit’s power.
Autographed Version

The Gift of Prophecy

Surprised

C. Peter Wagner said this book “is the new operator’s manual for those who want to be participants, not just spectators, in today’s prophetic movement. This book will help you put it all together, get it up and running, and troubleshoot whatever problems arise.”

Autographed Version

Purchase at Jack’s Site
——

Related:
Francis Frangipane: Holiness Precedes Power | More of my experiences at Trinity and in the Vineyard Movement | Why did John and Chris Whimber die?

Francis Frangipane: Holiness Precedes Power | More of my experiences at Trinity and in the Vineyard Movement | Why did John and Chris Wimber die?

[WordPOWER!] David in Psalm 38: “…neither is there any HEALTH in my bones because of my sin. … Those who SEEK MY HURT…meditate deceits ALL DAY LONG. … Those who HATE ME WITHOUT REASON…render evil for good…BECAUSE I FOLLOW WHAT IS GOOD.” — Check your HEART. Are you one of the James-3 cursers?

In Doctrines Demystified, FreedomQuotes, James-3 Cursing People, Personal, Power OVER or under, Revival

“A mature Christian will be both holy and powerful,
but holiness will precede power.”

– Francis Frangipane

* * *

I read Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God, by Francis Frangipane during the Vineyard Movement, when I first attended Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in ’89-90.
It was so much fun to attend the Evanston Vineyard (where I bought Francis’ book) — the presence of God and the peace that passes all understanding was so evident.
The fire spread to other students, and Professor Wayne Grudem was wonderfully also involved.
The effect this was having on the students greatly angered many of the cessationist adhering faculty members. There were us smiling students and then there were the eyes that looked away as we approached on the campus sidewalks. It was almost like in the days of Jesus, how he was hated by the religious leaders while saying “blessed are the peacemakers.”
Some of the faculty even openly opposed the movement (writing papers), which died soon after I left, so that when I returned to Trinity a few years later things were back to dead-normal; though, TEDS did add a course finally in Systematic Theology on the person of the Holy Spirit: ST 5103 (603)!
When John Wimber and his son, Chris Wimber (head of Vineyard Music) physically died, I knew why: Dennis Cramer: “Most ‘Christians’ curse for the purpose of retaliation and vindication … ‘Christian’ leaders are even more vulnerable” I knew why when John was sick and couldn’t figure out why. “Christians” can be so mean, diabolical!

During the second time I studied at Trinity, I had a dream in which I was told that if I didn’t pray an hour a day (in tongues) that I wouldn’t make it. Here, God shows how this works: A Gift that Will Set Many Free! (A Death Warrant is Out for Your Souls). The gift discussed here is speaking in tongues, which unfortunately the Vineyard Movement largely ran from; even though, they embraced many of the other spiritual gifts, like healing and the word of knowledge. Had they embraced tongues, I think it’s probable that John and Chris would still be alive today. There is no doubt that John was hated fiercely by the old guard. Instead of admitting they were wrong, they James-3 cursed him. Many were Calvinists basically doing what their founder did:

John Calvin Had Servetus Burned at the Stake for Having Doctrinal Differences — His Ashes Cry Out!

Some of us saw Francis Frangipane and John Wimber speak (I think even Jack Deere was there, former professor Dallas Theological Seminary — Dallas excludes those who believe in the gifts) in a Chicago auditorium at a Vineyard conference during this time, including Wayne Grudem. I discuss some of this here:

“The Perfect Storm” by John Paul Jackson. What to expect in the next 10 years. To overcome, we must be right with each other: “You must have clean hands and not harmed others. And if you have, you must repent so that you can be clean” | My experience at Trinity.

In this post, I state a key reason why I believe the movement died — the introduction of tithing. They built a new building at their headquarters in Los Angeles. Prior to this, they taught the people to be led by the Holy Spirit in giving, determining in their hearts what to give, like Paul actually taught:

The Day that Tithing Ended—To Now Be Led By the Holy Spirit

Another key reason the Vineyard Movement died is that John Wimber, himself was a Calvinist. Vineyard did not teach the truth about who goes to heaven: Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?
In the ’90s, when the worship music died, there was much sin in the camp and they were still trying to worship God in song. People sought the gifts and not the Creator. Though, in the late ’80s, there was a strong holiness emphasis, influenced to a great degree by Francis Frangipane’s book: Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God. And this is the main reason why God responded in signs and wonders during this period. The glory of God, His presence was so often evident.

May we get it right this time:

no ~~tithing~~;

include tongues

and the truth about who goes to heaven.

jeff fenske
Anchorage, Alaska

—–
From: An email from Francis Frangipane

Holiness Precedes Power

Many Christians look for shortcuts to the power of God. To try shortcuts is to become, at best, frustrated; at worst, a false teacher or prophet. Listen very carefully: there is tremendous power for us in God but not without holiness. Holiness precedes power.

When John Saw Jesus

Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17

Let us understand this prophet, John the Baptist. According to the Scriptures, John was filled with the Holy Spirit “while yet in his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15). We are also told his coming was in the spirit and power of Elijah. Historians tell us that John’s penetrating, uncompromising ministry led nearly one million people to repentance. Vast multitudes left their cities and towns and went into the wilderness to hear the prophet and be baptized into repentance in preparation for the kingdom of God.

Only Jesus knew the fallen condition of the human heart more perfectly than John. No class of people escaped the Baptist’s judgment: soldiers and kings, sinners and religious leaders alike were all brought into the “valley of decision.” John’s baptism was more than a simple immersion in water. He required a public confession of sins as well as the bringing forth of righteousness (Matt. 3:6, 8).

Jesus testified that John was “more than a prophet.” He said, among those born of women, “there has not arisen anyone greater than John” (Matt. 11:9-11). John was a “seer prophet,” which meant he had open vision into the spirit realm. He testified that “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven” (John 1:32). He saw “the wrath to come” (Matt. 3:7). He witnessed “the kingdom of heaven” (v. 2). John had insight into the secrets of men’s hearts. His vision penetrated the veneer of the well-respected Pharisees; within their souls he saw a “brood of vipers.” Understand this about prophets: they are aware of things that are hidden from other men.

But when Jesus came to be baptized, before the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended, John saw something that was overwhelming even to his standard of righteousness. He gazed [into] Jesus’ heart, and he saw no sins, no lies, no lusts. John saw a level of holiness that, without knowing he was gazing at the Messiah, caused him to utter with astonishment, “I have need to be baptized by You” (v. 14).

Jesus, as the “Lamb of God” (John 1:36), was without spot or blemish. This is exactly what the prophet beheld in Jesus: spotless purity of heart. Christ’s virtue took John’s breath away! The powerful emanation of Christ’s inner purity made John immediately aware of his own need. When John saw Jesus, he discovered a level of righteousness that was higher, purer than his own. This great prophet looked into the heart of Jesus, and in the brightness of Christ’s holiness he cried, “I have need.”

And so it is with us. Each time we see Jesus, each successive revelation of Christ’s purity makes our need more apparent. As Christ’s holiness unfolds before us, we cannot but echo the same cry of John the Baptist: “I have need to be baptized by You!”

Yet, in the beginning of our walk, we embraced life in our own strength, trusting in our own skills for success and attainment. Yes, we turned to God, but mainly in times of grief or trial. However, as the Lord brings us into maturity, what we once considered strengths are actually discovered to be weaknesses. Our pride and self-confidence keep us from God’s help; the clamor of our many ideas and desires drown the whisper of the still small voice of God. Indeed, in God’s eyes, the best of human successes are still “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” (Rev. 3:17).

In time, we discover that all true strength, all true effectiveness–yes, our very holiness itself–begins with discovering our need. We grow weaker, less confident in our abilities. As the outer shell of self-righteousness crumbles, Jesus Himself becomes God’s answer to every man who cries for holiness and power in his walk.

We may think we have spiritual gifts, we may presume we are holy, we may rejoice with human successes, but until we see Christ and abandon our reliance upon our self-righteousness, all we will ever have, at best, is religion.

Oh, let us grasp this truth with both hands; let it never slip from us. Jesus Himself is our source of holiness! We are so eager to do something for Him–anything, as long as we do not have to change inside. God does not need what we can do; He wants what we are. He wants to make us a holy people. Let us not be anxious in this process. Allow Him to do the deep inner work of preparation. Jesus lived thirty years of sinless purity before He did one work of power! His goal was not to do some great work but to please the Father with a holy life.

Hear me; our goal, likewise, is not to become powerful but to become holy with Christ’s presence. God promises to empower that which He first makes holy. Do you want your Christianity to work? Then seek Jesus Himself as your source and standard of holiness. Do you want to see the power of God in your life? Then seek to know Christ’s purity of heart. If we are becoming the people Jesus calls His own, we should be growing in holiness. A mature Christian will be both holy and powerful, but holiness will precede power.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The preceding article came from Pastor Frangipane’s first book, Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God. This book was recently re-published by Charisma House. Look for the new edition to be in stores March 1. However, we still have a number of the previous edition, which has the same content. If you are interested in this powerful classic, we are making the old version available for just $4.95. This is available on a first-come, first-served basis as quantities are limited.

More Information

D. A. Carson: The Problem of the Canon Within the Canon — A subset of scriptures taught in exclusion of those that would result in true doctrine. "We badly need to listen to one another, especially when we least like what we hear."

who-goes-to-heaven-scriptures/#comment-191

On January 21, 2011

In Doctrines Demystified, Personal

Many are pushing the delete key:

The canon is the entire Bible, but most have their own personal “canons” within the canon.

* * *

The English word canon goes back to the Greek word kanon and then to the Hebrew qaneh. Its basic meaning is reed, our English word cane being derived from it. Since a reed was sometimes used as a measuring rod, the word kanon came to mean a standard or rule. It was also used to refer to a list or index, and when so applied to the Bible denotes the list of books which are received as Holy Scripture. Thus if one speaks of the canonical writings, he is speaking of those books which are regarded as having divine authority and which comprise our Bible. (source)

* * *

“Everyone has a canon within the canon, Zahl suggested, that sums up the Bible’s message. Most of us, he added, find it difficult to live with other parts of scripture that conflict with our personal canon. ‘God’s grace to sinners and sufferers,’ said Zahl, is his own canon. ‘The hurting person that lives inside me is galvanized by that saying.'”

– Joseph Wakelee-Lynch — Scripture’s Truth and Diversity

* * *

Two things will help us to escape from these traps. First, we badly need to listen to one another, especially when we least like what we hear; and second, we need to embark, personally and ecclesiastically, on systematic studies of Scripture that force us to confront the entire spectrum of biblical truth, what Paul calls ‘the whole counsel of God’.

The name of the game is reductionism. … The tragedy of all these procedures is that by some route we may avoid hearing the Word of God precisely where we most need to hear it. In this way, an issue [that is] at first hermeneutical is in danger of overturning the reforming authority of the Word of God.

– D. A. Carson [text is below]

* * *

Having a canon within the Canon is a huge problem — a major reason why false doctrines are forefront in most ‘churches’!

For example, many of the texts I present in Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God? were missing in our systematic theology text at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

In order to understand the truth about a subject, we must look at all the texts that discuss a subject — and in context in relation to the writer’s style.

Which is where Biblical theology (as opposed to systematic theology) comes in. I explain how Biblical theology affected my Who-Goes-To-Heaven essay here:

who-goes-to-heaven-scriptures/#comment-1058

Thanks to Jerry W’s wise advice, I took every Biblical theology class I could at Trinity, including Johnannine Theology with D. A. Carson. My paper is linked at the bottom.
Incidentally, I never did finish my seminary education, but am so glad that I was able to see firsthand what is going on in religious higher education. At this time, seminaries are basically toxic. There is too much disinformation and pressure to conform, mixed with “knowledge puffs up.” This is pretty good, though.

jeff

—–

From: http://www.maxddl.org/….pdf BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION AND THE CHURCH: TEXT AND CONTEXT, edited by D. A. Carson

A Sketch of the Factors Determining Current Hermeneutical Debate in Cross-Cultural Contexts

D. A. CARSON Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

[…]

C. THE PROBLEM OF THE CANON WITHIN THE CANON

Long recognized by biblical scholars, the problem of ‘the canon within the canon’ is that although the church officially recognizes a written ‘canon’,viz, the Bible (whether the sixty- six books of Protestantism, the inclusion also of the Apocrypha in Roman Catholicism, or some other refinement), it invariable shapes its theology by greater reliance on some parts of this canon that on others. This creates a shorter ‘canon within the canon’ that will almost certainly be at variance with some other ‘canon within the canon’ utilized by some parallel ecclesiastical grouping. In other words, two churches or two Christians may share a common canon, but disagree implicitly or explicitly over their respective ‘canons within the canon’. In such a case it is not surprising that their respective theologies differ substantially from each other. Whether this difference is the result or the cause of the disparate ‘canons within the canon’ cannot always be determined; and it is easy to suspect that with the passage of time result and cause intermingle.

What is not always perceived, however, is that there are at least three different ways in which the problem of the canon within the canon may develop. First, an ecclesiastical tradition may unwittingly overemphasize certain biblical truths at the expense of others, subordinating or even explaining away passages that do not easily ‘fit’ the slightly distorted structure that results. Galatians, say, may define a church’s grasp of justification and grace in such a way that 1 Corinthians or the Pastoral Epistles are somewhat muted. Second, an ecclesiastical tradition may self-consciously adopt a certain structure by which to integrate all the books of the canon, and earnestly believe that the structure is not only sanctioned by Scripture but mandated by it; and as a result, some passages and themes may automatically be classified and explained in a particular fashion such that other believers find the tradition in question sub-biblical or too narrow or artificial. Dispensationalists and covenant theologians, for instance, are on the whole equally convinced that their opposing numbers have imposed a grid on Scripture in such a way that the canon cannot enjoy its free and reforming power: some other, lesser canon has intervened. Third, many others reject parts of the canon as unworthy, historically inaccurate, mutually contradictory or the like, and adopt only certain parts of the Scripture. The parts they accept constitute their ‘canon within the canon’. Of course, this third alternative is the most serious, and reduces in one way or another to the question of the truthfulness and authority of Scripture.18 Even some who lie more or less within the evangelical camp have now defended the position that the New Testament documents, for instance, do not provide us with any unified theology, but with a range of acceptable (yet at places mutually contradictory) theologies.19

I have treated this question at some length elsewhere;20 [D. A. Carson, ‘Unity and Diversity in the New Testament: On the Possibility of Systematic Theology’, Scripture and Truth, ed. D. A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge (Grand Rapids and Leicester 1983) 65–95, 368–375]….

Suppose, for instance, that a pastor wishes to encourage people to accept his authority and to follow his leadership almost without question. This might arise because he is a demagogue; or it might arise because in his cultural setting people naturally reverence leaders and eschew iconoclasm. He can foster what he regards as a healthy spirituality in this respect by citing passages such as Heb. 13:17 ad nauseam; but he will probably be less inclined to cite 1 Pet. 5:11ff. or Matt. 20:24–28. Such a leader may have a theoretically unified canon; but he operates with a canon within the canon when it comes to certain preferred doctrines. The resulting aberration may be entirely unwitting, or it may be perverse; but either way it distorts the Scriptures and has important ramifications in the life of the church.

Many western Christians, for instance, simply do not hear the Scriptures when they speak about the poor; their own experience has been limited to segments of society which from a world perspective are immensely privileged. Their counterparts in the third world may feel very deeply the passages in Scripture which treat poverty; but by the same token they may focus primarily on a subset of those passages—viz. those which insist the rich be far more generous and which warn against hoarding. This situation is somewhat paralleled, at the microcosm, by the pastor of a small church who is very concerned to get across to his congregation the responsibility for the church to pay good teachers with ‘double honour’ and a respectable stipend, while the church leaders themselves may be very exercised about those passages which insist that spiritual leaders must be free from greed and covetousness and love of material goods. Not only is each side focusing a disproportionate amount of attention on passages which most tellingly apply to others rather than to themselves, each side is also developing, wittingly or not, a canon within the canon.

The name of the game is reductionism. … The tragedy of all these procedures is that by some route we may avoid hearing the Word of God precisely where we most need to hear it. In this way, an issue at first hermeneutical is in danger of overturning the reforming authority of the Word of God.

Related:

A Call to Intimacy: The Holy Spirit in John’s Gospel & Epistles A paper I wrote for D. A. Carson’s Johannine Theology class at Trinity

The BIBLE is NOT a bag of TRAIL MIX. You can’t just pick out the pieces you like and ignore the rest.

Russell Kelly, Ph.D.: Reply to Jim Feeney, Ph.D. on Tithing

In Abbott Loop CC / Unite Church, Doctrines Demystified, The Church is Getting Jacked!, Tithing or Spirit-led

From:russkellyphd.blogspot.com…

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Reply to Jim Feeney, PHD

Review of Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D. by Russell E Kelly, Ph. D.

FEENEY: Acts 20:33 [The apostle Paul said] I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold.

KELLY: You missed the point. In 3 years at Ephesus Paul had not asked for ONE PENNEY of support. Not only had he been totally self-supporting but he also supported those in his group. He very definitely was not asking for offerings –much less tithes!

FEENEY: It is never our intent at South Valley Church to covet your finances.

KELLY: In Acts 20:29-35 Paul commanded church elders to work and care for the needy in their churches. He quoted Jesus to back up his point

FEENEY: But there is an area of finances that we do covet — that is, that the Lord receive his tithe.

KELLY: There is not a single text after Calvary for the Church to tithe. In the OT the Levites and priests received the first tithe.

FEENEY: Leviticus 27:30, 32 A tithe of everything from the land…BELONGS TO THE LORD… The tenth (ten percent) of our gross increase belongs to the Lord.

KELLY: The text defines HOLY tithes as only food from inside God’s HOLY land which God had miraculously increased. Tithes could not come from what man produced, from Gentiles or from outside Israel.

FEENEY: Wealthy Abraham, the first great patriarch of Israel, gave tithes centuries before Moses’ Law (Genesis 14).

KELLY: Why did Abraham tithe pagan spoils of war? The Bible does not say that God commanded it or that he gave it freely. In the context of 14:21 he was obeying the law of the land which REQUIRED tithes of spoils of war to one’s local king-priest.

FEENEY: Poor Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, gave the tithe, also before the Law — Genesis 28:22 “And of all that you give me I will give you a TENTH.”

KELLY: Quote the entire text. This was Jacob the supplanter telling God what to do as part of a freewill vow. His tithe was not a holy tithe of the law.

FEENEY: In the Law that God gave through Moses to God’s people, there were clear commandments to give tithes —

KELLY: Only to Old Covenant national Israel. And Israel was commanded NOT to share its covenant with the Gentiles.

FEENEY: Leviticus 27:30, 32 A tithe of everything from the land…belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the Lord. … The entire tithe of the herd and flock — every tenth animal … — will be holy to the Lord.

KELLY: Only FOOD increased from inside God’s HOLY land of Israel. Tithes could not come from defiled pagan land.

FEENEY: Ten lambs born? They gave the Lord one. Ten bushels of wheat harvested? They gave the Lord one. They tithed — that is, they gave ten percent — on the “gross” increase.

KELLY: “They” were farmers and herdsmen who lived inside Israel. “They” were not Gentiles or craftsmen.

FEENEY: My tithe “belongs [not to me, but] to the Lord.”

KELLY: Unless your are an Old Covenant Hebrew living inside Israel and producing food, then YOU cannot tithe. You may give 10% of your income, but that is not a true biblical tithe.

FEENEY: 1,500 years after Moses received the Law, Jesus REAFFIRMED in His day the validity of tithing:

Matthew 23:23 Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! YOU GIVE A TENTH of your spices — mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, WITHOUT NEGLECTING THE FORMER.

KELLY: Jesus was living under the jurisdiction of the Law and was discussing MATTERS OF THE LAW. The tithe went to the Levites and not to Jesus. Jesus could not tell his Jewish or Gentile disciples to tithe to him because it would have been sin to do so. Mt 23:23 is still Old Covenant before Calvary (Gal 4-5).

FEENEY: Later in the New Testament, in 1 Corinthians, ch. 9, the apostle Paul teaches on the financial support of the work of God and uses commands from Moses’ Law as guidelines — 1 Corinthians 9:8

KELLY: This would have been the perfect time to clearly teach on tithing and Paul did not.

FEENEY: “Doesn’t the Law say the SAME thing?” (referring to how the priests lived on the tithes and offerings). Paul brought the principle of the Levitical tithe — “the SAME thing” — over to the support of New Testament ministry.

KELLY: The argument is self defeating because it would force the church to copy “IN THE SAME WAY” ALL of the types of support of the Levitical system and not merely tithing. The “principle” from 9:7 to 9:14 is that each vocation has its own principles of support. The Christian principle is “grace and faith” – not law.

FEENEY: Should Christians tithe? The words of both Jesus and Paul seem clearly to bring tithing into New Testament times.

KELLY: No. Christians cannot tithe even if they wanted to do so. And the tithing STATUTE of Numbers 18 required Levitical tithe-recipients to forfeit property ownership. That is ignored too.

FEENEY: In the history of the New Testament Church since the first century, biblical tithing has been commonly, although not universally, taught and practiced.

KELLY: There is no record of any kind of tithing taught in the early church for at least 200 years after Calvary and even Cyprian’s attempt failed. Tithing did not become legally enforced in the Church for over 700 years. Even then it was only food off church-owned property.

FEENEY: In fact, tithing was a common religious practice in many nations in the ancient world.

KELLY: This proves that pagans tithed spoils of war before Abraham was born. They also worshipped idols and sacrificed children. Being old and common does not make something eternal and moral.

FEENEY: 2 Chronicles 31:12 Then they FAITHFULLY brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts.

KELLY: Because the king had erroneously told them to bring it to Jerusalem it rotted in the streets. Read 31:15-19 where it was re-shipped back to the Levitical cities.

FEENEY: Tithing is an indicator of our FAITHFULNESS. It’s a weekly, semimonthly, or monthly opportunity to demonstrate to God your faithfulness and commitment to His work on earth.

KELLY: Texts? NT giving is: freewill, generous, sacrificial, joyful, not by commandment and motivated by love for God and lost souls (2 Cor 8 and 9).

FEENEY: Giving our “tenth” is an indicator of our GENEROSITY. And God takes notice of the attitude of generosity: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

KELLY: Tithes were cold hard law and must be given by food producers inside Israel whether they desired to or not.

FEENEY: Numbers 18:21 I give to the LEVITES all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance IN RETURN FOR THE WORK THEY DO while serving at the Tent of Meeting.

KELLY: The Church does not obey a single tithing command found in Numbers 18. Levites, who received the first whole tithe, were NOT the ministering priests; they were the servants to the priests.

FEENEY: Biblical tithing allows God-called ministers to devote themselves fully to the Lord’s work.

KELLY: The Bible neither endorses nor discusses whether gospel workers should be full time.

FEENEY: Levites/priests in the Old Testament, fivefold ministers (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) in the New Testament.

KELLY: No. Modern Jews do not tithe because there is no temple or priesthood. Levites vaguely correspond to unpaid ushers, deacons, choir, musicians, etc. All NT believers are priests. Gospel workers more closely follow the example of OT prophets who were either self-supporting or lived off freewill offerings.

FEENEY: Malachi 3:8-10 “Will a man ROB GOD? Yet you rob me.” But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In TITHES AND OFFERINGS. (9)You are under a curse — the whole nation of you — because you are robbing me.

KELLY: Malachi is addressed to Old Covenant Israel under the Law. According to Malachi 1:6; 2:1; 2:17 and Neh 13:5-10, “every priest in the nation” was stealing from God by keeping the best for themselves. Also, no born again adopted child of God can be cursed (Gal 3:10-13).

FEENEY: (10) Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

KELLY: Only Levites and priests were required to do this per Neh 10:38-39.The people were commanded to bring their tithe to the Levitical cities per Neh 10:37b.

FEENEY: Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

KELLY: The whole law was a test –not merely tithing. Obey all to be blessed; break one to be cursed. Gal 3:10-13.

FEENEY: 6. Why do I believe in tithing (and giving offerings also)? I wouldn’t want to take a chance on God considering me a ROBBER!

KELLY: Robbers accept something which only belonged to OT Levites and priests. You rob God if you do not obey all the tithing law of Numbers 18 and own property.

FEENEY: 7. Why do I believe in tithing? Because God says He wants His “house” to be ABUNDANTLY supplied.

KELLY: The early church did not even have its own buildings legally until after AD325.

FEENEY: Why tithe? Because God says if I am faithful in tithes and offerings, He will open the windows of heaven and pour me out abundant blessings.

KELLY: God cannot and will not bless New Covenant believers because of their obedience to annulled Old Covenant conditional promises (Heb 7:5, 12, 18). Only “successful tithers” are paraded before the church pulpit while most that are not blessed sit quietly and wonder why they are cursed even after tithing.

FEENEY: Proverbs 3:9-10, KJV Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: [10] So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

KELLY: Firstfruits and tithes are never the same thing in the Bible. Firstfruits are very small token offerings per Deu 26:1-4; Neh 10:35-37a, etc, etc, etc.

Posted by Russell Earl Kelly

Russell Kelly: REASONS TO OPPOSE N.T. TITHING

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Tithing or Spirit-led

From:russkellyphd.blogspot.com…

REASONS TO OPPOSE NT TITHING

REASONS AGAINST NT TITHING
From Essay By Russell E Kelly, PHD
www.tithng-russkelly.com
Supporting texts with essay

1. NOT NEW COVENANT: New Covenant giving principles are far superior and more inclusive.
2. NOT DEFINED BIBLICALLY: The definition of holy tithes is only food from inside Israel which God had miraculously increased. Tithes could not come from what man increased, from Gentiles or from outside Israel.
3. NOT MONEY: Although money was required for sanctuary worship, money was never a tithe-able item.
4. NOT FROM OUTSIDE ISRAEL: Abram’s tithe was in obedience to the law of the land, was only pagan spoils of war and he gave the 90% to the king of Sodom.
5. NOT UNIVERSAL MINIMUM: In the Old Covenant only food producers inside Israel were required to begin at 10%.
6. NOT FOR PRIESTS: The OT Levitical tithe went to the servants of the priests who equate to ushers, deacons, choir, musicians, etc.
7. NOT FOR PROPERTY OWNERS: Under the Law, those who received the first Levitical tithe were not allowed to own property and were required to kill anybody attempting to enter the sanctuary.
8. NOT HOLY: The tithe was only holy if it came from inside Israel. It was only holy as part of the Old Covenant to support its priesthood.
9. NOT FIRSTFRUITS: The tithe and firstfruits were never the same thing. Tithes were tenth-fruits. Firstfruits were very small token offerings.
10. NOT 10%: There were 3 tithes totaling 23% plus a 10% tithe to the king.
11. NOT FROM THE POOR: The poor did not tithe. They received much of a 2nd festival tithe and all of a 3rd third year poor tithe.
12. NOT FOR WORSHIP ONLY: Levites also worked as political employees of the king in secular affairs.
13. NOT TO THE TEMPLE: The people brought tithes to the Levitical cities. The Temple was too far away to feed 98% of the Levites and priests.
14. NOT FROM MALACHI: Malachi was only for Old Covenant Israel whose priests were guilty of stealing the best tithes they had vowed to God.
15. NOT TAUGHT BY JESUS TO THE CHURCH: Matthew 23:23 is a condemnation of enforcers of the Law as “matters of the law.” It was illegal to teach tithes to Jesus from Jews or Gentiles.
16. NOT FOR NT PRIESTS: The OT priesthood and Temple have been replaced by the priesthood of every believer.
17. NOT NT STOREHOUSE: The OT Temple has not been replaced by the so-called storehouse of the church building. Buildings were not legal for almost 300 years after Calvary.
18. NOT A MORAL LAW: OT tithes were part of the worship ordinances which ended at Calvary for Hebrews. The Church never was under the Old Covenant Law.
19. NOT FOR GOSPEL WORKER SUPPORT: The New Covenant neither commands nor condemns full time gospel workers.
20. NOT SUPPORTED BY CHURCH HISTORY: No early church father suggested tithing for over 200 years. It did not become enforceable for over 700 years. Most U. S. churches did not teach tithing until around 1895.
21. NOT MORAL HERMENEUTIC: Tithing was not repeated to the church in terms of the New Covenant after Calvary.

Posted by Russell Earl Kelly

Russell Kelly: TITHERS' MATTHEW 5:17 PROBLEM

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Tithing or Spirit-led

From: russkellyphd.blogspot.com…

TITHERS’ MATTHEW 5:17 PROBLEM

“EVEN IF” MATTHEW 5:17 MEANS THAT NONE OF THE OLD COVENANT LAW HAS ENDED —-
such still does not validate tithing of money to gospel workers because —1. The Law defines tithes as only food from inside God’s holy land of Israel which He had miraculously increased (Lev 27:30-34).
2. The Law does not accept tithes from what man increased or from outside Israel (Lev 27:30-34).
3. The Law commands that the first whole Levitical tithe be given to the Levites servants of the priests (Num 18:21-24).
4. The Law commands the Levites to give one tenth of the tithe they receive to the priests (Num 18:25-28).
5. The Law requires OT priests to kill anybody attempting to enter the sanctuary (Num 18:7, 22).
6. The Law requires those who receive Levitical tithes to forfeit property ownership and inheritance (Num 18:20, 23).
7. The Law requires a second tithe (20% total) to be eaten in the streets of Jerusalem during the 3 annual feasts (Deu 14:22-26).
8. The Law requires a third tithe every third year to be kept in the homes for the poor (total 23%) (Deu 14:28-29).
9. The Law would not permit Gentiles to tithe either to Jesus or to the Temple system (Deu 7:2).
10. The Law’s application did not allow money with images to enter the Temple –thus the money-changers (Mt 22:20-21).
THEREFORE appealing to the Law to justify tithing among New Covenant Gentile Christians still does not justify a changed definition and application of tithing.

Posted by Russell Earl Kelly

Russell Earl Kelly, Ph.D.: Where in the Bible Were Tithes Abolished?

Entire Article Here
Related:
The Day that Tithing Ended — To Now Be Led By the Holy Spirit
Russell Earl Kelly, Ph.D.: Tithing is Not a Christian Doctrine
Many Pastors Still Teach Old Covenant, Pre-Pentecost Tithing—Not Spirit-Led Giving
Tithing or the Carriage Driver?
David Bercot CD teaching: What The Early Christians Believed About Tithing and Fasting? “You might be surprised to know…”
Teaching tithing keeps the little (and the big) children from coming to Jesus where they can have life!
All of my Tithing or Spirit-led posts

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Tithing or Spirit-led

From: tithing-russkelly.com

Where in the Bible Were Tithes Abolished?

1. WHO #1: The Levitical servants to the priests who received the first whole tithe have been abolished. See Numbers 18:21-24. Modern equivalents to the Levites are unpaid ushers, deacons, choir, musicians, etc.

2. WHO #2: OT priests who received a tenth of the tithe (only 1 per cent) have been abolished. See Num 18:25-28 and Neh 10:38.

3. WHAT: The definition of tithes as only food miraculously increased by God from inside His holy land of Israel has been abolished and replaced with the false unbiblical definition of income. See Leviticus 27:30-34 and 14 other texts which describe the contents of the tithe. Yet money was common in Genesis.

[WordPOWER!] David in Psalm 38: "…neither is there any HEALTH in my bones because of my sin. … Those who SEEK MY HURT…meditate deceits ALL DAY LONG. … Those who HATE ME WITHOUT REASON…render evil for good…BECAUSE I FOLLOW WHAT IS GOOD." — Check your HEART. Are you one of the James-3 cursers?

Jesus on forgiving to be free from demons in Matthew 18: “So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your HEARTS for his misdeeds.”

In Demons in Christians?, Doctrines Demystified, Forgive & Be FREE, Healing, James-3 Cursing People, No Enemy, Personal, WordPOWER

I awoke, hearing “Psalm 38,” again. This has happened to me before.
I get cursed a lot, what I call James-3 cursing, when its from ‘Christians.’ And unless we forgive everyone, 100% from our whole hearts the arrows have a right to pierce us, which Jesus describes in Matthew 18:

[WordPOWER!] 1 John 4 “Perfect Love Casts Out Fear” means us perfectly loving, not us perfectly accepting His love for us (as is commonly taught). Let’s love perfectly!

So the problem is us and them. We can pray for them, which helps us and them:

I’ve finally shared much of what I know about and what can be done through the TREMENDOUS and mostly misunderstood and underused gift of tongues…

But what should even be more important in our thinking is to totally release and forgive — and perfectly love. And at this point, hardly anyone, including myself seems to be able to walk in this 24/7.
I was just reading this, which I think is another huge key.

Holiness Will Excise Darkness — Many will follow and run from iniquity when you are holy, when your sights are set on Me, up, where they belong.

God allows us to be cursed, which often even causes illnesses, so we get fed up with being tormented, so we learn to walk in total love, where perfect love casts out fear.
It’s hard to walk in perfect love when there is so much hate and anger coming our way — if and when we stand up for righteousness in the mostly dark days we are in. But are warfare is not against people who are actually demon driven to hate and attack us, ‘Christians’ James-3 cursing brothers and sisters in the Lord.
We’re living in a dark period, but many will follow and run from iniquity when we are holy…!
Power to the peaceful! Peace starts with us!
I’ll comment on David’s Psalm 38 via highlighting and putting comments in brackets.

Psalm 38

1 Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure. [Notice how the Lord was angry in Mt. 18 when the servant wouldn’t forgive. God can get angry with us when we willfully withhold love no matter what revisionist pastors say]

2 For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me. [God disciplines those He loves, being His sons and daughters. It appears that the “arrows” are evil spirits (Mt. 18 ‘tormentors’) allowed to affect us until we walk in perfect love, not giving them a right to enter. Evil spirits can actually grab body parts, which could feel like pressure. Look at the source of these arrows which David shows starting in verse 12 — the hate and anger, the James-3 cursing!]

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.

4 For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, because of my foolishness.

6 I am pained and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long.

7 For my waist is filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh.

8 I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.

9 Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you.

10 My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.

11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away.

12 They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long.

13 But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth.

14 Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15 For in you, Yahweh, do I hope. You will answer, Lord my God.

16 For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”

17 For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me.

18 For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin.

19 But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous.

20 They who also render evil for good are adversaries to me, because I follow what is good.

21 Don’t forsake me, Yahweh. My God, don’t be far from me.

22 Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation. For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David.

Related:
James-3 cursing:

Many Curse Others From Their Hurts Deep Within

A Gift that Will Set Many Free! (A Death Warrant is Out for Your Souls)

Dennis Cramer: “Most ‘Christians’ curse for the purpose of retaliation and vindication … ‘Christian’ leaders are even more vulnerable”

Strand: Most ‘Christians’ James-3 Curse & Matthew-5 Lust

Martin Luther Cursed from His Heart Catholic Leaders, ‘Every Day’

[WordPOWER!] James — Demons WITHIN drive ‘Christians’ to curse people. “If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition IN YOUR HEART” you’re probably a James-3 curser. If so, “don’t lie against the truth.” Instead, be a PEACEMAKER, “for they shall be called children of God.” – Jesus

[WordPOWER!] Romans 12: Repay No One Evil for Evil — Don’t Curse — Give Place to God’s Wrath

[WordPower!] In Psalm 50 God Warns: “You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. … Now consider this…lest I tear you into pieces and there be none to deliver” (Hell?)

Totally Forgiving

Why 9/11? | Forgiveness is the Key to Repentance

Forgive and Be Free

A Heart that is Clean Can Shake Mountains

Holiness Will Excise Darkness — Many will follow and run from iniquity when you are holy, when your sights are set on Me, up, where they belong.

Art Mathias on It’s Supernatural: Spiritual Roots of Disease — Healed Through Forgiving (If there is pain in a memory there is unforgiveness)

Forgiving-Others, Freedom Prayer!

Have-We-Forgiven Gauge: “If There is Pain In a Memory There is Bitterness”

John Tesh & Friends: How Important is FORGIVENESS in a Relationship? | FORGIVING: Our GREATEST OPPORTUNITY to SHOW the LOVE of Christ!

Greg Boyd’s Prayer: Teach us to be free, forgiving even our worst enemy

Greg Boyd: In the kingdom of God, we are not allowed to have any enemiesEd Young: Joseph—Betrayal, Forgiving, Trust, Patience & Loyalty—”Let God Take Care of Revenge”

[WordPower!] Jesus on forgiving to be free from demons in Matthew 18: “So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your HEARTS for his misdeeds.”

[WordPOWER!] Romans 12: Repay No One Evil for Evil — Don’t Curse — Give Place to God’s Wrath

[WordPower!] Philippians 2: Loving Others More than Ourselves to Love Others as Much? The Greatest Key to Forgiving & Holiness?

[WordPOWER!] 1 John 4 "Perfect Love Casts Out Fear" means us perfectly loving, not us perfectly accepting His love for us (as is commonly taught). Let's love perfectly to be free!

[WordPower!] Jesus on forgiving to be free from demons in Matthew 18: “So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your HEARTS for his misdeeds.”

In Demons in Christians?, Doctrines Demystified, Forgive & Be FREE, No Enemy, WordPOWER

It’s amazing how many passages are currently being taught out of context. Most pastors, today, teach this passage to mean that if we still have fear it’s because we’re not fully accepting God’s perfect love. But John was clearly talking about us perfectly loving one another. Then we won’t have fear.
When we’re right with God and all people the demons have no right to torment us, and our consciences don’t condemn us — when perfect love casts out all fear!
Because when we don’t love others perfectly (or are not completely loving and forgiving one another from our whole heart — Mt. 18) then we’re not totally right with God, and God will allow us to be punished via the tormentors (Mt. 18). The curses have a right to stick (Eph. 4:26-27).

John is clearly talking about us loving completely, not the other way around. Look at what is highlighted in blue.

1 John 4

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. 8 He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love. 9 By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world.

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. 16 We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.

[video] Francis Chan left his 1600 member church to reassess. "There's a LACK OF PEACE in so many people … WE PRETEND." "There is this NARROW ROAD … FEW will find it." "Let's go back to what THE TRUTH has always been…and has NEVER BEEN POPULAR."

On January 15, 2011

In Doctrines Demystified, Francis Chan, Lying, The Church is Getting Jacked!, Who Goes to Heaven

Watch this Entire EXCELLENT Interview HERE

* * *

“I don’t like hearing my name so much. …
I hear the words Francis Chan
more than I hear the words Holy Spirit.”

“…we focus on some of these New Testament teachings without the background
of understanding that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

“There’s just this trend in churches awhile back
where we would make fun of those Hellfire and brimstone preachers:
‘Ah, you know, those old-time pastors.’
And you look at the scriptures,
you go: that’s what the scriptures teach.”

“Let’s not be swayed by the culture.
Let’s go back to what the truth has always been from the beginning,
and has never been popular.”

“There’s a lack of peace in so many people. …
There isn’t as much peace as sometimes we pretend there is….
And yet, during those times in our lives when we do put ourselves at risk,
those are the only times we really feel peace. …
And we experience God.”

“Even that phrase lukewarm Christian,
I don’t see that in the scripture.
He refers to these people as lukewarm.
He also refers to them as blind, naked, poor, wretched, pitiable.
And He says, I’m going to spit you out of My mouth
because you’re lukewarm. …
I don’t know how you can read that passage
and call that person a Christian,
because a Christian’s not going to be
spit out of the mouth of God.”

“There is this narrow road that leads to life
and few will find it.”

“We’re all believers, you know, in this room
because we all prayed a prayer at some point in our life.
I just don’t see that in scriptures.”

– Francis Chan

Transcribed by Jeff Fenske

Excerpt:[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOetBYPBz6A]Francis Chan on the luke-warm church

premiertv2006 | June 30, 2010 | 11 likes, 0 dislikes

Francis Chan shares his views with Premier.tv’s Justin Brierley. FULL INTERVIEW: www.premier.tv [HERE]

NIV alterations that greatly affect Christian doctrine — including my pet peeves. The NIV is destroying the church! Here’s proof.