Category: Doctrines Demystified Page 24 of 26

My friend, David Anders on Catholic TV

On August 8, 2010

In Catholic Church, Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Personal

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qibg-m2vUno]EWTN Live – Protestant Theology – Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J. with David Anders – 06-23-2010

EWTN | June 24, 2010 | 56 minutes

I got an email from Dave Anders’ wife, Jill, giving me the link to this TV interview of one of my best friends ever. Dave and Jill are really great people!
Dave, Jill and I became good friends while Dave and I were attending seminary at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. I’ve said to them more than once that I wish we could have lived across the street from each other since, instead of being thousands of miles away. My guess is that if we had stayed in close fellowship we’d probably be on the same page now, theologically. But even if this never happens, I know we’ll always be close friends, even if our conflicting faiths try to keep us apart.
Dave is a history buff, going on to get his Ph.D.. He has a lightning quick, nearly photographic memory and can digest a huge amount of material. Whereas, my memory is probably just average, and I’m slow and methodical, covering much less territory, but with a fine-tooth comb. I chew on stuff, thinking it through, making sure. And history was my minor, not my major. Dave and I come to conclusions much differently.
Having been geographically apart for so many years, I’m only now seeing the reasoning he used to come to his decision to leave evangelicalism and become a Catholic. It’s interesting that we’ve both seen the contradictions in evangelical thought, but we used different tools and methods to end up on these way different pages.
I absolutely know that Dave has a pure heart, and he won’t be offended by this critique. But I’m going to challenge him too. We still have time to work this out. I think at the very least, when he sees ONE happen (Jesus’ heart-cry for us in John 17 — what this site is largely about) outside of the Catholic church, he’ll know, just as Jesus said in John 17: “Then the world will know.”
Much of the world sees the serious problems in today’s evangelicalism (which both Dave and I observed), but it’s also obvious to the world that the Catholic church leaders have a severely reverse-Christian reputation, because… You know. At least the Catholics aren’t pushing pro-reverse-Christian wars like the protestants are.
But it’s also clear that the scriptures I present in my header at the top of this site aren’t being realized in either of these religions, currently. To me, if we’re not doing the greatest two commandments then we don’t have real Christianity, the true church — “by their fruits you will know them.” But apparently, for Dave, the true church always exists as the Catholic church, whether there is good fruit or not.
I believe that real Christianity happened for a time in the early church. Like in Acts, when they were all in one accord and the presence of God was so strong that those outside were literally afraid. And there was great respect for the church. “Then the world will know” already happened then, but it was soon falling apart, even in what we read in Jesus’ letters to the churches in Revelation.
Like Dave, I’ve found the early church fathers’ writings to be interesting, but I think we’re looking for different things. In my studies, I’ve been looking for evidence of where God was actively showing up, where there was the presence of God, not just mere mental ascent. Paul said: “don’t be drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit.” In one of these interviews, Dave talks about not feeling anything and that’s okay. But I believe we’re supposed to be filled with the Spirit, and that this will be a tangible thing.
So unlike Dave, I’m not impressed with Augustine, or the so many church fathers who I think really didn’t really understand and experience real Christianity the way it is supposed to be. Dave thinks Augustine is significant, while I think he didn’t get it. While we both agree that Luther and Calvin didn’t get it. Neither understood Paul.
I still believe in restoration theology: that the church did at one time have it together, and has at times since, while Dave now believes that basically, “the church” never really lost it, because of apostolic succession. “The Church” has always been the church.
We both agree that sola scriptura (the Bible alone) is not a biblical concept; though, I don’t believe that our traditions can be correct if they disagree with the Bible. I believe the Bible can be totally trusted.
Apparently(Dave, correct me if I’m wrong), Dave now believes the Catholic leaders decide what true doctrine is — that tradition is king.
I don’t believe in apostolic succession, or in Popes, or in “Fathers,” or in the continuation of the priesthood into the new covenant. The veil has been rent. Jesus is our only priest. Now we go directly to Him.
As does David, I discount sola scriptura (scripture only), but not because I elevate tradition. Rather, I believe that God gives the people the ability to determine what is right, because He’s given us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. John said in 1 John 2:26, 27:

These things I have written to you concerning those who would lead you astray. 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.

I’m very surprised that Dave is saying hardly anything about the Holy Spirit. But for the Bible writers, the Holy Spirit is a huge factor — God, Himself giving us the ability to understand all things without someone dressed in a robe telling us what to do.
I also believe that true leaders will teach the people how to be led by the Holy Spirit. True leaders will teach the people how to abide in Christ to the degree that we will hear His voice and follow Him.
To me, the Bible and the Holy Spirit should be the emphasis. To Catholics, apparently the church leaders’ doctrines are the emphasis. To evangelicals, what pastors and K-LOVE says seems to be the emphasis; though, some claim sola scriptura. But they clearly have a canon within the Canon, emphasizing their favorite texts while totally ignoring those that disagree with their once-saved, always saved (or “it’s hard to lose one’s salvation) doctrines.
Paul said “follow me as I follow Christ.” Catholic leaders just say “follow us, regardless.” And Dave said he struggled with the bad popes, but then decided that God’s plan was carried out through even them. Huh? Dave? I wonder how many billions of people are in hell because of the Catholic church right now, based upon what the Bible really says about who goes to heaven. People are blindly trusting in biblically disqualified leaders instead of making sure they are abiding in Christ, themselves. This deception is huge!
And for those who have read my writings, you know that I don’t think the evangelicals are doing much better. Many are doing even worse in their once-saved-always-saved (or similar) deception.
Dave considers the sacraments to be much more important than I do. And he believes that the bread and wine in the Eucharist/communion isn’t just representational. I’m open to the idea that the sacraments should mean more than they do to evangelicals. And I don’t know what to think regarding “the real presence” and the other theories about the bread and the wine being Christ’s body and blood or not. Perhaps the Holy Spirit will lead us into what is fully true regarding this, but I still think this is minor when compared to these other things.
I don’t see evidence for baptizing infants in the Bible or in the Didache (an early church fathers’ writing that I think is significant). The person getting baptized believing is mentioned in both cases. I don’t think converts should put it off though, like I did for a few years.
I was surprised to hear that Dave no longer believes in a born-again conversion when one is old enough to commit. Apparently, he believes that Catholic baptism + nothing = salvation. This is close to what the Lutherans still teach; though, it would be a Lutheran baptism. This is a huge deception — very dangerous, especially when there are so many clear texts that say what is required to go to heaven that don’t mention baptism at all.
The Bible teaches personal responsibility, now that we have the Holy Spirit inside of us. The Catholic Church teaches putting full trust in the priests and sacraments. I don’t see it. This is yuck to the max! The Devil must like and support this just as he pushes and enjoys once saved, always saved.
“By their fruits you will know them” indicates that the Catholic Church and the evangelicals aren’t yet fully enough them. What the Bible says the church is supposed to be isn’t happening in either camp. The Devil wants us to sit on our laurels and act like we’ve arrived, when we clearly haven’t.
When ONE happens, “then the world will know.”
Let us be ONE!!!

——-

An earlier interview from: EWTN…

20.	Program Name:	Former Presbyterian
		Listen Now
		Download
	Series Name:	The Journey Home
	Host:	Marcus Grodi with Dr. David Anders
	Date Produced:	2/8/2010
	Description:	Dr. Anders shares with us his experience as a Presbyterian seminarian studying the Church Fathers especially Augustine and what happened to Faith Alone, the Bible Alone among others, on his Journey Home.

David wrote How John Calvin Made me a Catholic, in which he says this in a comment:

I concluded – on the basis of hard, cold, unemotional exegesis – that Luther profoundly misread Paul. From this, I reexamined ecclesiology, and ultimately authority, and concluded that the Catholics had the better arguments.

I have given a broader account of my conversion here:
http://www.chnetwork.org/newsletters/may10.pdf

I have also given an interview that goes into more of the doctrinal basis for my conversion.
It is available online [the Marcus Grodi with Dr. David Anders interview posted above – editor]:
http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=-6892289

Also, in response to my historical claims about Calvin and Bolsec.
I deliberately left out most of the footnoting I would have included in an academic article.
If you would like more documentation, please examine my dissertation.
It is available at: http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb#search

Prophets from the ranks of shepherds: John Calvin and the challenge of popular religion (1532–1555)
by Anders, Albert David Ph.D., The University of Iowa, 2002, 712 pages.

Chip Brogden: What is Spiritual Unity? 'One in Him' is the key

By Jeff Fenske

On July 14, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, Revival

From: fellowshipofthemartyrs.com…

What is Spiritual Unity? – Chip Brogden

by Chip Brogden, www.SchoolOfChrist.org

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, – Jhn 17:21 – that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20,21 ESV).

What constitutes unity? Is it a church service or a home group? Is it any gathering of Christians together? Is it a meeting of like-minded brothers and sisters?

The prayers of Jesus give us remarkable insight into how He sees things. Remember that He is the Final Authority. However we may think or feel or see or understand things is beside the point. God’s goal is for Christ to have the preeminence in all things – not us! In this Kingdom only His opinion matters. This means that our viewpoint must give way to His. Particularly in the matter of fellowship, Christians are very opinionated. But what does Truth say?

The SCIENCE of Divine Healing – by John G. Lake: "At one time I submitted myself to a series of EXPERIMENTS. It was not sufficient to know that God healed; I had to know how God healed."

By Jeff Fenske

On July 10, 2010

In Bible Authenticity Revealed, Doctrines Demystified, Healing, Pray Perfectly in Tongues!, Real History, Science

From: http://hopefaithprayer.com/books/adventuresingod.pdf

At one time I submitted myself to a series of experiments. It was not sufficient to know that God healed; I had to know how God healed.

I visited one of the great experimental institutions and submitted myself for a series of experiments.

First, an instrument was attached to my head. This instrument had an indicator that would register the vibrations of the brain.

THE PATRISTIC INTERPRETATION of ROMANS 7:14-25 — The early church did not understand Romans 7:14-25 to teach the necessity of sin in believers

By Jeff Fenske

On July 10, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, Who Goes to Heaven

No writer before the fourth century assigned the traditional Calvinistic interpretation to Romans 7:14-25.

The early church did not understand Rom 7:14-25 to teach the necessity of sin in believers.

From: Fundamental Wesleyan Publications

THE PATRISTIC INTERPRETATION of ROMANS 7:14-25

Part 1, The Early Christian Witness to the Arminian Interpretation

Daniel R. Jennings

Date Posted Dec. 4, 2009

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I (Rom 7:14-15).

Perhaps no other verses have been the subject of such intense debate as the above passage. To the Calvinist this passage represents a never-ending struggle with sin which will inevitably end in failure until the day one dies. For the Arminian it represents the life of spiritual struggle that God wants to deliver mankind from via the experience of regeneration.

While the best way to interpret a passage will always be to allow Scripture to interpret Scripture there is also much to be gained by studying the ways that the early Christians who followed in the footsteps of the Apostles interpreted a passage. It will be the purpose of this article to examine the ancient Christian interpretation of Romans chapter seven. This paper incorporates information from A Dissertation Of The True And Genuine Sense Of The Seventh Chapter Of St. Paul’s Epistle To The Romans by James Arminius, along with new research.

An extensive search of Christian literature up until the fifth century revealed that prior to the fourth century no known Christian writer interpreted Romans seven in a Calvinistic manner. Rather, it was always understood up until that time to be either an unbeliever or, in one case, to describe a Christian who had evil desires that he did not want to have but never evil actions.

Throughout this paper I have focused only on those writers who commented directly upon Romans 7. There is a good amount of indirect testimony to this subject in the form of statements which indicate that various early Christian writers understood the Christian experience to be one that entailed complete victory over sin. These quotes have been left out for brevity sake but if included would add even more weight to the conclusion that no writer before the fourth century assigned the traditional Calvinistic interpretation to this passage.

The earliest existing writer to comment directly upon this passage was Irenaeus of Lyons (120-202) in the second century. In Against Heresies he connected Paul’s statement “that there dwells in my flesh no good thing” as typical of human infirmity which Jesus came to deliver men from [3:20:33]. In commenting upon the parable of the two sons in which one represented the repentant sinners of Jesus’ day, the other the unrepentant Pharisees (Matt 21:28-32) Irenaeus described the Pharisees using Romans 7 [4:36:8].

Clement of Alexandria (c.150-c.220), a North African Christian teacher, in Stromata, a refutation of Gnosticism, indicated his belief that when Paul emphasized the war between the law of God and the law of his mind (Rom 7:22-23) it was only to show that Jesus rescues men from this through salvation [3:76-78].

Tertullian (c.150-240), another North African Christian leader, indicated that the Holy Spirit makes men free from the law of sin and death in our members (Rom 7:23). After this experience of being set free, “Our members, therefore, will no longer be subject to the law of death, because they cease to serve that of sin, from both which they have been set free” [On The Resurrection Of The Flesh, Ch. 46]. Elsewhere he noted his understanding that Paul was referring in Romans 7 to his pre-Christian days as an unbelieving Jew stating that “even if he has affirmed that ‘good dwelleth not in his flesh,’ yet he means according to ‘the law of the letter,’ in which he ‘was’; but according to ‘the law of the Spirit,’ to which he annexes us, he frees us from the ‘infirmity of the flesh'”[On Modesty, Ch. 17].

[…]

In analyzing the early Christian understanding of Romans 7 it has become very clear that the early church did not understand this passage to teach the necessity of sin in believers, usually attributing to it the interpretation that it was a man who was striving to please God under the Law of Moses. In fact this interpretation was so prevalent that when discussing this passage around 415AD, Pelagius (c.350-c.420?) could write in his now lost work entitled Inv Defense Of The Freedom Of The Will, which is preserved by Augustine in On The Grace Of Christ And On Original Sin [1:43] that “that which you wish us to understand of the apostle himself, all Church writers assert that he spoke in the person of the sinner, and of one who was still under the law. . . .” Augustine, in his attempt to refute this statement of Pelagius, was unable to offer any church writers who disagreed with Pelagius.

Entire Article Here

Leonard Ravenhill: Romans 7 vs 8 — Life before the Son vs Life in the Son — “Romans 7 is a funeral march, Romans 8 is a wedding march … it’s a Spirit dominated life in chapter 8.”

[clever animation] Catholic and Mormon dangerous erred doctrine

By Jeff Fenske

On June 20, 2010

In Catholic Church, Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?

A clever way to show how the Catholic Church
blatantly ignores and openly disobeys
what Jesus said so clearly
not to do

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR0i6hmI9Zw]Catholic and Mormon dangerous erred doctrine

666calculator — April 26, 2010 — Catholic and Mormon dangerous erred doctrine

(audio) Fmr. Mormon Professor Takes Us Inside Mormonism: “They taught me to use FEELING, instead of my reasoning brain” — “We taught our college students to use their REASONING brains in biology, and in education and sociology. But when it came to faith, you follow the Mormon prophet BLINDLY, and you rely on your FEELINGS. … I didn’t know that DEMONIC forces could also make you feel those kind of feelings”

[1978 Concert] Keith Green debunked LUTHER’S FALSE SALVATION DOCTRINE that’s now MAINSTREAM in America. Let’s get it right!

By Jeff Fenske

On May 31, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Hell is Real - Forever!, Luther Didn't Get It, Music Videos, Revival, The Church is Getting Jacked!, Who Goes to Heaven

Transcribed by Jeff Fenske, Anchorage, Alaska

Keith Green
in Estes Park, 1978:

“I don’t believe that an apple tree’s got to do anything to become
an apple tree.
It’s given that; it’s from God.
But it better make apples if it wants to stay
in the orchard.”

•

Jesus
in John 15:

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. … 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.

Keith Green – (talk about) The Sheep And The Goats (live)

And these shall go away into everlasting fire —
but the righteous into everlasting life!

And my friends,
the only difference between these two groups of people,
according to these scriptures:

is what they did and didn’t do!

Keith Green – Asleep In The Light (live)

Keith Green – The Victor (live)

Keith Green – Make My Life A Prayer To You (live)

Keith Green:

“There’s nothing we can do on our own.
We’re helpless creatures without You.

And in you, Lord,
we’re more than conquerors.

Lord Jesus,
help us conquer the hypocrisy around us,
and help us conquer the hypocrisy right inside of us
through Your Spirit and through the blood you shed.

And as we go, Jesus,
let us realize that the word ‘Christian’ means little Christs,
and we’re supposed to be little Jesus walking around,
by Your grace.

And in Jesus’ name we ask that you let that be in our lives,
in the next few days, the next few years,
so that when you come back we won’t be ashamed at Your appearing.”

•

1 John:

2:28 Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

4:16 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.

First two songs from this concert:

Keith Green – He’ll Take Care Of The Rest (live)

Keith Green – To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice (live)

monum — May 25, 2008 — Keith Green performing “Make My Life A Prayer To You” live from Estes Park ’78

You can find more info on www.keithgreen.com

If you want to buy this DVD go to the online shop on his website.

And if you want to know more about this man and why he followed Jesus look at my profile for the video about his life.

Video: The Keith Green Story

Christian rock icon’s widow enlists Hollywood to tell the musician’s story. `No Compromise’ is a love story between a man and a woman

(Keith and Melody Green) and between a man and his Creator.

1-Minute Tribute to the Awesome Keith Green

[music video] Keith Green – Make My Life a Prayer to You

[music video] Keith Green – Asleep in the Light (Live 1982 & LP)

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.”

All of my Luther Didn’t Get It posts – 10 posts per page, latest appear first

Mike Bickle, Head of IHOP: From Porn to Worship "Within the Minute?" Yikes, Mike!

By Jeff Fenske

On May 11, 2010

In Demons in Christians?, Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, IHOPKC International House of Prayer, Lust Freedom!, Who Goes to Heaven

NOTE: I’ve always greatly appreciated Mike Bickle’s zeal and heart for God, and probably always will. I approve of much of what is happening at the IHOPU Student Awakening. They’re leading the way in so many right things, but there are some problems.

I bring this up not to put down, but so that we can do better — and better — until…

The goal is ‘ONE.’ Jesus wants us to be one with each other in Him (John 17). And the leaders at IHOP (International House of Prayer) have been calling for a Third Great Awakening. How can this happen in our midst when lust is rampant within the church?

I’m convinced that false doctrine is the main problem within the American church, and that false doctrine is the main thing keeping FULL revival, the Third Great Awakening from happening at IHOP and elsewhere.

“God accepts us no matter what” is a major theme at the IHOP Awakening meetings. For example: False, revival-killing, salvation doctrine at IHOP continues from IHOPU president, Allen Hood at the Awakening meetings 🙁

When people don’t get fully right with God and their brothers and sisters, it’s impossible to worship in Spirit and in truth. So many don’t want to worship God directly. So the “bless me, Lord”/”fill us, Lord,” telling-God-what-to-do songs continue to be standards, and direct-to-God worship is the exception rather than the rule — as it is done in heaven.

And IHOP actually has a reputation for being alive (Rev. 3:1-6), whereas most of the ‘church’ in America doesn’t even have that.

In order for the Third Great Awakening to occur, we must lift up HOLY hands to the Lord. And we must clothed in white (not willfully sinning sins like lust — see the who-will-not-inherit-the-kingdom list in Galatians 5, along with Hebrews 10:26-39) in order for our names to not be removed from the Book of Life (Rev. 3:1-6). This is serious!

‘Christians’ can go from porn to worship “within the minute,” but can a real Christian worship in Spirit and in truth within the minute after willfully sinning such a serious sin?

I think not. Something is wrong here. Mike means well. The Passion for Jesus Conference was about restoring the first commandment to first place. Mike’s heart is in the right place, no doubt. But it’s statements like this that people will just take as a license to just keep on lusting, never getting totally free from the lust demons that drive lust so they can relax in God to be able to worship in Spirit and in truth.

Transcribed by Jeff Fenske from IHOP’s Passion for Jesus conference, 4/8/10

Mike Bickle is speaking on part four of the Greatest Commandment, loving the Lord, our God with all of our strength.

Mike said we need to love on God’s terms, and he led a prayer so people would shift over to loving God being the greatest priority. And then he said:

“He’ll take you in your weakness. He’ll take you in your brokenness. He said, ‘I’ll take you just as you are. Just come with the intention to do this [focused on doing the greatest commandment].

And when you fail, admit it, confess it, push delete; jump back right in the race before the hour is up. Go hard again. No condemnation. Don’t waste a moment on condemnation. Push delete, and be there confident before God in love.

A guy says, ‘Oh, I like the pornography.’

Call it sin; repent of it; confess it before God; and be back within the minute as a lover of God with confidence that He enjoys the worship that you’re giving Him.

Don’t wallow for three or four weeks, or a couple of hours. No self probation. Don’t put yourself in probation. You have confidence before Him no matter what you did 20 minutes ago.

Holy Spirit, I ask you to come, right now, with fire. There’s some real setting of the heart going on with some of you, tonight. It’s a dynamic setting of your heart. Just change your life. Lord, release Your power right now. Fire, Lord. We’re here for passion for Jesus. That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to align our heart with You, Jesus. We’re in this for real till the end.”

But to align our hearts with God is to reject porn totally. This was good:

[Mike Bickle IHOP 3/08] Making a Purity Covenant: Seven Practical Commitments — The Lord will visit IHOP-KC with an open door of glory in the spirit and a door of ministry to the nations. When Jesus opens a door of glory to release more of His manifest presence then He requires more agreement with His heart (a higher standard of obedience). … This is a promise with a warning of judgment.

Mike Bickle: Making a Purity Covenant so the HOLY Spirit can come … to bless His heart — that we may be ONE!

What if God did release His fire, now, like Mike is asking God to?

Jesus said in Matthew 5 that we need to do everything we have to in order to not lust, so we can go to heaven. Lust isn’t an option for true believers. Watching porn is not a light thing that we can just do and then be worshiping within the minute.
We just gave into demon power. That demon won’t go unless there is full repentance — not repeatance. “Delete” has to be pushed really hard, fully pushed. The door has to be totally shut. The heart has to be settled. The prodigal son must come back. This is sick to even contemplate this scenario, thinking we can worship God within the minute.

Many will just take this as license….

John 4:

23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

We can’t be hypocrites and worshipers.
From Mike Bickle’s OneThing 2009 Teaching Notes (pdf):

“We measure our spiritual maturity by how much of the Sermon on the Mount we walk out in daily life. We measure our ministry impact by the extent to which people live out these values, not by the number of people who receive our ministry.”

Let’s determine to stay fully in the kingdom, our hearts totally pure, fully resting in His love.

1 John 2:

15 Don’t love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s. 17 The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever. …

28 Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Galatians 5:

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.

This is what we should be teaching. How to be really free, together, truly in Christ — resting — settled — where we belong.

: )

Imagine what Hell is like with billions of people screaming to this maximum degree, 24/7 — no breaks, forever, no hope … no way out! Now is our chance to make completely SURE we're going to heaven!

By Jeff Fenske

On May 7, 2010

In Demons in Christians?, Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Hell is Real - Forever!, Lust Freedom!, Who Goes to Heaven

I just wrote this as a comment #37 in Bill Wiese’s 23 Minutes in Hell — What is it like in Hell?
Some readers are accusing Bill Wiese of fabricating his Hell experience, in part, thinking Hell can’t be that bad. Oh yeah?!!??

_______

For those of you who are making fun of Bill and don’t think hell could be that bad:

Perhaps you should just listen to this one dog scream in total terror, and imagine what billions of humans screaming to this same degree sound like, 24/7 — no breaks, forever, no hope of it ever stopping — no way out.

Missouri SWAT Raid 2/11/2010. Cops Shoot Pets With Children Present.

It behooves all of us to make sure we’re right enough with God and all people to be able to go to heaven. This is what the Bible really says about who really goes:

Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way

Incidentally, why do you think hardly anyone wants to study this, the most important topic, in order to totally make sure…?

Why did Paul say “work out your salvation through fear and trembling,” and so many preachers and ‘Christians’ just totally blow this off?

This is part of the great deception — ‘Christians’ James-3 cursing [praying — see my ‘Christians’ cursing people posts] that people believe their doctrines without question. And most of the people just fall into line.

Wouldn’t you say it behooves us to absolutely make sure!

Break out of the trance.

Because of willful sin that opens the doors, and because demon driven people are praying (James-3-cursing) all kinds of demon-driven prayers on people, most ‘Christians’ are inhabited by demons that not only drive them to do what is forbidden, but also keep them from peacefully, in rest, researching the truth — so we can be free!

Jeff Fenske

Most ‘Christians’ are in THE MATRIX! G. Edward Griffin’s description applies to ‘Christians’ also. Let’s take the red pill and get free from the trance!

By Jeff Fenske

On April 29, 2010

In Demons in Christians?, Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Mind-Control

G. Edward Griffin describes the Matrix that most ‘Christians’ are in too, because of our sin. The all-to-common parallel with Rick Joyner’s vision follows. (From Unfiltered News)

The Matrix is one of the most talked about movies of recent time. The first episode was released in March of 1999, quickly followed by several sequels, animated cartoons, comic books, and video games. One of the reasons for the film’s popularity is it surreal action, but even more important is the story line, which many viewers perceive as a metaphor of real life.

The film portrays a future in which the world has been taken over by computers and machines that cultivate human bodies to plug their brains into a global network where they serve as computing assets. They are unaware of their true state because they are programmed to experience a virtual reality in which they believe they are living a pleasant and normal life while, in truth, they are immersed in liquid pods wired up to the Matrix.* Their pleasant experiences are just in their minds.

The story centers on a small band of humans who have avoided the Matrix and who are attempting to help others break free. The first step is to get them unplugged, which is no easy task, but the second step is even more difficult. It is to convince them to stay unplugged. The problem is that reality is harsh and dangerous, whereas the Matrix offers a sense of serenity and comfort.

Once they are unplugged, humans must choose between reality and fantasy, and to do so they are offered two pills. The red pill will bring them all the way into reality. Once it is taken, they can never return to the comfort of delusion. The blue pill will put them back to sleep where they can be reconnected to the Matrix. Many choose the blue pill.

The parallels to modern life are obvious. There are those among us who know there are forces and agendas behind the scenes that are not acknowledged by our leaders and media gatekeepers, but they really would rather not know, because it would be upsetting. Since they feel there is nothing they can do about it anyway, they would rather continue their lives unperturbed by reality. In other words, the Matrix is real.

_________

*Compare to the James-4 partysville, “I’m okay; you’re okay” ‘Christians’ in Rick Joyner’s Final Quest vision:

The most shocking part of this vision was that this horde [demons – ed.] was not riding on horses, but on Christians! Most of them were well-dressed, respectable, and had the appearance of being refined and educated. These were Christians who had opened themselves to the powers of darkness to such a degree that the enemy could use them and they would think that they were being used by God. …

Even worse than the vomit from the vultures was a repulsive slime that these demons were urinating and defecating upon the Christians they rode. This slime was the pride, selfish ambition, etc., that was the nature of the division they were a part of. However, this slime made the Christians feel so much better than the condemnation** that they easily believed that the demons were messengers of God, and they actually thought this slime was the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

** I may disagree with Rick a bit here. The way I read it, the condemnation is rightly felt in their heart because of willfully sinning destructive sins, as in Heb. 10:26-39. No condemnation only applies to those who are truly “in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Rom. 8:1-4

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. 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.

It’s Biblically right to believe the condemnation if we’re walking according to the flesh instead of according to the Spirit.

Pastors deceive when they say we can only feel conviction, never condemnation — or that if a Christian feels condemnation, it must be from the Devil. Is that what the word of God says, faux pastor, pastors who keep humans in THE MATRIX???

Doctrines of demons have put the majority of the church in the MATRIX!!

The formula to get out:

We must admit our willful, disqualifying sins*** (own up to it; take the red pill. “I want to see the truth, Lord. Help me see, and admit when I’m wrong. I want to live in reality no matter what!” No excuses. No lies, agreeing with the demons that will stay within unless we 100% take the red pill!); repent (get right with God and our neighbors, actually) — and then live FREEeeeeeeeeeeee — resting — as a really-going-to-heaven child of God!!!

*** To see what excludes us from heaven and what qualifies us, see: Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way.

G. Edward Griffin’s Project Red Pill. For the continuation of Griffin’s piece, above. How to get free from the mental straitjackets that the Rush Limbaughs and Glenn Becks (or the liberal left) have put so many into — so America is flailing.

Restoring Real Christianity: "Ignorant men raise questions that wise men answered a thousand years ago."

By Jeff Fenske

On April 24, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, FreedomQuotes, Revival

“Ignorant men raise questions
that wise men answered a thousand years ago.”

– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Goeth: "Truth … lies in the depth where few are willing to search for it.”

By Jeff Fenske

On April 24, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, FreedomQuotes

“It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter lies in the depth, where few are willing to search for it.”

– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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."

By Jeff Fenske

On April 11, 2010

In Biblically Disqualified Leaders?, Catholic Church, Doctrines Demystified, Forgive & Be FREE, Getting Right with Each Other, James-3 Cursing People, Lust Freedom!, Lying, No Enemy, Real History, Revival, Who Goes to Heaven, Worship

[updated & expanded 7/21/23; originally posted on 12/20/09.]

Is The Didache a blueprint for the way churches should be?

This is one of the writings of “the early Christian fathers” that I especially liked. It’s big on unity!

What if we compare The Didache to what is practiced in today’s ‘churches?’

But every Lord’s day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But 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.

Is there even one ‘church’ in America that requires reconciliation? How many pastors have fully reconciled so they’re qualified to lead?

The Didache mentions prophets being a common leadership ministry in the late first century church (like Ephesians 4:11). Where are they in today’s churches?

The Didache also has “the way of death” list that is similar to Paul’s “will not inherit the Kingdom” list in Galatians 5.

I also include their 2-day fasting standard to challenge especially myself, again.

Though The Didache didn’t make the canon, the cut to be in the Bible, it clearly deserves a careful look.

[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

By Jeff Fenske

On April 10, 2010

In Demons in Christians?, Doctrines Demystified, Who Goes to Heaven, WordPOWER

My comments on the left and in the text, within brackets

James 3 [WEB]:

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.

According to James, when ‘Christians’ wish evil on people they’re clearly driven by Hell, itself.

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 [HELL – KJV]. 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.

A spring can either produce fresh or bitter water — not both. ‘Christians’ can’t curse people and also bless God in Spirit and in truth. Such ‘Christians’ are hypocrites (v. 17).

9 With it we [‘Christians’ – ed.] 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.

When ‘Christians’ have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in their hearts, this isn’t from the Holy Spirit, but demons.

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.

Jesus in Matthew 5:

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

————

It’s also interesting how jealousy is in Paul’s who-does-NOT-go-to-heaven list in Galatians 5. James calls it bitter jealousy, which is probably also the case in Paul’s list.
And hatred is a key component to James-3-cursing.

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.

And Paul’s who-goes-to-heaven list, that follows, is very similar in terminology to what James says in verses 17 and 18 of James 3.

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.

(prophesy) A Gift that Will Set Many Free! (A Death Warrant is Out for Your Souls) — “I’ve given you the gift of tongues from My heart to you”
The Remedy for James-3 Cursing & Partysville in Today’s Church is James 4

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

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

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.

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

‘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’

[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

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.

Nightline: Speaking in tongues medical study PROVES Holy Spirit praying

How to speak in other tongues as the Holy Spirit leads you

How to speak in tongues as the Holy Spirit enables you

Jim Feeney: Why Speak in Tongues? (Is Speaking in Tongues of God? Is It for Today?)

The SCIENCE of Divine Healing – by John G. Lake: “At one time I submitted myself to a series of experiments. It was not sufficient to know that God healed; I had to know how God healed.”

Most 'Christians' are Demon Driven and Can Be Free!

By Jeff Fenske

On March 30, 2010

In Biblically Disqualified Leaders?, Demons in Christians?, Doctrines Demystified, Lust Freedom!, No Enemy

“…the fear of rejection, the fear, the rejection, the anger, the hatred, the rage, all of that gone.

Because what would use to happen if I would get into a threatening situation I would feel something rise up within me and grip me, and push me to a feared corner. And I was controlled by fear.

And I’m convinced now that when something rises up in a person and grips them, and pushes them in a negative direction, that thing is a demon.

And I have none of that kind of stuff within me any more. There’s nothing that rises up within me, grips me and pushes me. I’m free.”

From: Sid Roth

Sid Roth welcomes Mark Virkler

SID: Hello. Sid Roth here with Mark Virkler. And we’re going to talk about an area that a lot of people confine to the back rooms. But one-third of the ministry, almost one-third of the ministry that Jesus had was casting evil spirits out of people. There was a freedom that the primitive early church had that is lacking so much today. Now Mark, tell me what your first experience was with deliverance.

MARK: My first experience was with a deacon in our church. He came and he said he had an uncontrollable sin issue. He has fasted, he had prayed, he memorized scripture. Nothing worked. And it was lust, and he would instantly undress every woman who came into the church. He hated himself for it and he could not overcome it. And so he said, “Do you think this could be a demon? And I said, “I don’t know.” ‘Cause I had never cast a demon out of anybody. But I said, “If you want us to pray for you we can.” And so we did. The three elders of the church got together. We prayed for him and within about a half hour to an hour, two or three demons surfaced and we cast them out. I mean, the guy was shaking and there was gruff voice and it said, “I’m not coming out.” And we said, “Yes, you’re coming out.” And we used the name of Jesus. We cast it out. There was sweat pouring off of him. He was shaking. They came out. And I thought, wow, that’s a new experience, because I didn’t even know deacons could have demons. And so I went back to him a week later, six weeks later, a month later, six months later, a year later, two years later, and I asked him the same question: “Is your life different?” And he said yes. He said, “Now it’s like any other sin. I can crucify it when I chose to and I chose to crucify it.” So his compulsion, which was caused by a demon, was broken and he was set free of it through delivered prayer.

[…]

SID: So for ten years he would have nothing to do with deliverance until he went to a conference in Australia and all of a sudden he was getting some very usual thoughts.

MARK: Well my life had been getting more mucked up, as I would call it. I picked up some anger and fear, and fear of rejection.

SID: I didn’t know pastors did that. [laugh]

MARK: [laugh] I didn’t either. I thought once I was ordained I’d have no more sin issues. But, you know, I got fired from some jobs and some people wounded me, and so I had wounds in my heart. And some demons said, “We can help you with those wounds.” So they’d magnify them. And here I am starting a 21-day speaking tour in Australia and I’m feeling fear of rejection, rejection, anger, and I’m saying, “God, you know, I’m in no shape to minister.” So I asked a surgeon and his wife, who I had heard did prayer ministry, if she would pray for me. And he said he’d check. And so the next day the two of them got together and they spent three hours praying for me. And in those three hours she was amazing. They got about 20 demons out of me, which really made me feel better. And I was amazed that I had 20 demons and if she could get them out in three hours–

SID: Here’s the bottom line. How was your life different after that?

MARK: Well the fear of rejection, the fear, the rejection, the anger, the hatred, the rage, all of that gone. Because what would use to happen if I would get into a threatening situation I would feel something rise up within me and grip me, and push me to a feared corner. And I was controlled by fear. And I’m convinced now that when something rises up in a person and grips them, and pushes them in a negative direction, that thing is a demon. And I have none of that kind of stuff within me any more. There’s nothing that rises up within me, grips me and pushes me. I’m free.

SID: But when she prayed for you, she showed you seven very supernatural prayers and you’ve been praying this over people ever since. What type of results have you gotten?

MARK: We have gotten tremendous results. As I looked at those seven prayers, which I realize she was detaching the anchors the demons hung on to, and that’s why the demons came out so easily.

SID: And the reason they stayed that one time you failed was because they actually are like attorneys. They have legal rights to stay.

MARK: Yeah. And so she would remove all the legal rights through these first six prayers, and the seventh prayer was to cast the demon out. And at that point it would come out easily without any pressure because it’s no longer attached to something within the individual.

SID: And just out of curiosity, when you would pray for normal deliverance, it would be hours and they would yell and scream, and fight. Do you see much of that now?

MARK: No, no. See that’s over with now because now deliverance is usually maybe two or three minutes.

SID: I like that. Don’t go away. We’ll tell you some of these seven supernatural prayers. Be right back.

Watch the Video

This Week’s Guest

Mark Virkler
February 22-28, 2010

After 20 years of ministry, Mark Virkler finally experienced complete emotional and spiritual transformation. Mark discovered seven supernatural prayers that remove the legal right of the demonic and usher in healing for the spirit, soul, and body.

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!

By Jeff Fenske

On March 26, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?

NOTE: I Posted this in early January (2010) as a theory, simply titled: My Theory On Divorce, which is radically different to what is taught and practiced by many ‘Christians,’ today, but this is something I’ve believed for many years.

Also, I wrote these two articles to clarify further:

Clarifying My Perspective on Divorce and Marriage: The Role of the Holy Spirit

Divorce and ‘Marriage,’ Part 3: The Anointing — “Tell them about Pastor E.”

– –

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled:
but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
(Hebrews 13:4)

Until now, Marriage/Divorce/Remarriage is a subject I’ve avoided mostly because I haven’t gotten any specific revelations from God on this subject, like I have many others. For example: how tithing is unbiblical, who really goes to heaven, ‘Christians’ James-3 cursing people, how ‘ONE’ can happen (we should be ONE! – John 17), etc. — I’ve hit these subjects hard on this site. But a commenter brought up this subject, so I thought it would be good to discuss it in its own post.

I’ve decided to present my view as a theory that perhaps others and the Holy Spirit will then confirm or clarify. As always, comments are welcome, and also as always, you can be anonymous if you’d like.
Marriage

There are so many people in a quandry. First, so many have gotten married without making sure their spouse was God’s will, and some pastors are happy to oblige.

I know one pastor who said from the pulpit that God doesn’t care who we marry. Really? Really?? [I actually walked out, the first time ever, horrified because I had already seen some of the devastation of this in his life and ministry…] James 4 says:

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow let’s go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit.” 14 Whereas you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that.” 16 But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil. 17 To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.

Isn’t who we marry more important than where we live? Isn’t who we marry part of what James calls “this or that?” Aren’t we supposed to be led by the Holy Spirit? Isn’t He supposed to lead us into all truth?

Our heavenly Father does care. He didn’t leave us as orphans. We ought to say, “if the Lord wills…” — “Your will be done.” But many have married without making sure, and now, many wish they had….

But that’s not the main issue I’d like to discuss here; though, feel free to comment on this if you’d like. I’d like to present some ideas on this issue:

What if a ‘Christian’ marries one who is unbiblically divorced? Should he/she stay ‘married’? Are they even married in God’s eyes? Can they then marry (though the world would call it remmariage)?

Jesus said twice in Matthew that whoever marries someone who is unbiblically divorced is committing adultery:

Matthew 5:31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ 32 but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

Matthew 19:3 Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” 4 He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?’ 6 So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.” 7 They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her?” 8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so. 9 I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.”

In today’s false, God-forgives-everything-and-it’s-okay mentality, many ‘Christians’ just think it’s okay to stay ‘married,’ even though Jesus calls what they are doing adultery. They are not truly married in God’s eyes no matter what the pastor who married them said, or the certificate they got from the state says.

Lastblast said this in this comment:

What I found in God’s Word is that many “marriages” in the church today are not “marriages” to God, but are adulterous unions—–unions He NEVER joined as one flesh. What He showed me in His Word is that what we have in the church today is an unprecedented amount of husband/wife swapping……………brethren who are defrauding brethren. Brethren who are not “having their own wives/husbands”, but are taking other’s wives/husbands. What we have are pastors who somehow are teaching that once one punches through that sin gauntlet (whosoever divorces their spouse and marries another commits adultery and whosoever marries one divorced commits adultery) that “voila” they are not [I think he meant now – ed.] joined as ONE FLESH by God.

Where can we find such a teaching in God’s Word? He calls such relationships, adultery (having UNLAWFUL relations with someone who is NOT their spouse). How can one commit adultery AND be married in the sight of God? They can’t. The teaching that once you confess this sin, it is then ok with God to remain in the same relationship is another fallacy. Where do we EVER find in God’s word that confession changes the nature of an illicit relationship? …

So what should one do who is in this situation: legally, but unbiblically ‘married’ to someone who wasn’t biblically qualified to remarry?

First, I think it’s fairly easy to see that they shouldn’t stay married. for they are living in sin, no matter what today’s preachers say. But then, can they rightly marry in God’s eyes someone who is biblically qualified to marry, now that they are legally divorced from a marriage that God never recognized as a marriage?

I think so [providing they seek God to know it this person is the one, as I stated above. This is far more important than where we live. God wants in on these decisions. He wants us to be happy and fulfilled! — not messing around as Fatherless orphans, trying this and that] because in God’s eyes they were never married. They were just committing adultery.

I think these people are Biblically qualified to marry, because they really never were.

It’s time to get out of unbiblical, adulteress marriages. Hebrews 13:4 —

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Clarifying My Perspective on Divorce and Marriage: The Role of the Holy Spirit

Divorce and ‘Marriage,’ Part 3: The Anointing — “Tell them about Pastor E.”

(video) David Pawson Interview on “Divorce & Remarriage” —

Unbiblically married? What to do…

John MacArthur Gets Dan Corner’s Skull and Crossbones Award | John MacArthur To The ‘Adulterously’ Married

Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way

The History of Reverse-Worship: The Focus is On Us, Not HIM — A Disturbing Trend

By Jeff Fenske

On March 21, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, IHOPKC International House of Prayer, Personal, Real History, Revival, Worship

From: ONEcanhappen

The History of Reverse-Worship:
The Focus is On Us, Not HIM

By Jeff Fenske

You may have heard this analogy:

First, their was LIFE magazine.

Then, PEOPLE.

Then, US,

And now we have SELF magazine.

No, it didn’t start with HIM magazine, but this shows a trend in America towards self-centeredness — and this is what has happened to worship in the church.
Isn’t worship blessing God, glorifying Him, magnifying God, the Father and Jesus: “You are worthy; You are holy; We magnify You” — not us?
For the years of my early Christian life, starting in the mid-70s, this was what I saw worship as being. And direct-to-God “You are Worthy” worship songs was what I found worked in Bible school in the early ’80s and other places I led worship.
By ‘worked,’ I mean, when we worshiped God, He was blessed and we were filled with the Holy Spirit in a tangible way. We could feel it.
This wasn’t working as well in the main congregation, which is another story — another factor. God honors people who worship in Spirit and in truth. There was a holiness and a hunger in the students and faculty in Bible school that wasn’t as prevalent in the entire church body, including some of the leaders, unfortunately. Still, the songs sung weren’t “bless me, Lord” songs.
Then came the Vineyard Movement, which I actually have mostly positive feelings about. I appreciated John Wimber’s research into early church history, and his teachings about “Doing the stuff,” doing what Jesus did. He read the Gospels in a whole new way, to find out how Jesus did it. We’re supposed to walk as He walked, right? During this time, I wrote, A Call to Intimacy: The Holy Spirit in John’s Gospel & Epistles. The Bible clearly shows that Jesus was led by the Spirit just as we are to. Jesus was our example that we should follow in His steps. We are even to forgive as He forgave! “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” People are demonized. Our warfare is not against flesh and blood, Paul said. But that’s another subject.
I was also greatly impressed by the Vineyard worship music, before the music died (in the early ’90s). So many great worship songs came from that movement. And I don’t understand why these aren’t still standards. Even at IHOP, rarely do they sing these great songs.
But along with the gold, I saw this tendency start in which this “Holy Spirit, come” theme started appearing, along with the “Bless me, Lord” songs.
What I’ve found is that when we bless God, He blesses us automatically: ~”Draw near to Me and I’ll draw near to you.” James 4:

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

Isn’t this how we’re supposed to be filled? It is biblical to be filled with the Spirit. “Don’t be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.” We should be filled 24/7. It’s a Godly thing to want to be filled, to be soaring in God, experientially. But where does it say we are to tell Him to fill us. “Fill us, Lord!” I hear over and over at the IHOP revival [which I mostly also love very much]. And they sing: “Send your rain.” Do this for us, Lord. We tell You what to do; who is Lord here?
I get so tired of watching the worship during the IHOPU Student Revival, waiting for a worship song that we can all worship God with.
About a week ago, I thought Ryan Kondo was going to lead the group into pure worship, the way he had just done in the IHOP prayer room, [Screenshots] Ryan Kondo MAXIMUM Worship! The Way I Always Want To LIVE!. He started in the same way, singing the same pure-worship song. But then a singer who is normally not on his team hijacked the song into “fill us, Lord,” and I think it ruined what could have and probably should have happened.
Granted, the people weren’t totally there, ready to worship. There is far too much willful sin that is a salvation issue; though, people are taught it isn’t, even at IHOP. Many were mostly interested in receiving. But that is where worship leaders need to really lead. Real worship leaders go, and then the others follow. It’s easy to go with the flow, staying distant, where people are comfortable, playing “bless me, Lord” songs, or songs about us and God.
And what happened to the intimate ballads from the Vineyard era, like “Isn’t He.” John Wimber wrote that. Why don’t we keep what worked and discard what isn’t really biblical and doesn’t really bless God?
I would like to discard the “bless me” songs. Not long ago, they weren’t even sung at all, in my experience, anyway. Keith Green shows that the concept was there, though, in this song from his album, No Compromise, 1978.

Asleep in the Light

“Oh bless me Lord, bless me Lord,
You know it’s all I ever hear.
No one aches, no one hurts,
No one even sheds one tear.
But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds,
And He cares for your needs.
And you just lay back
And keep soaking it in.”

I don’t have any problems with people going to meetings where God is moving in order to get filled with the Spirit. I attended 33 of the 36 meetings that Rodney Howard-Browne held in Anchorage, Alaska. I was touched greatly. I also went to the Toronto blessing twice. If I lived in Kansas, I’d go to some of the IHOP meetings. But this isn’t the revival that is meant to be, yet.
I don’t see any calls for people to get right with those they’ve hurt, which was the hallmark of the Asbury Revival: Asbury Revival, 1970: “Dr. Kinlaw, I am a liar. Now what do I do?”
And Shelley [a leader at IHOP] got a dream about how Jonathan Edwards is a key to the Third Great Awakening coming, but the IHOP leaders almost totally ignore his theme: Sinners in the hands of a God Who doesn’t have a joyful heart about the state of the church, today. The fact is that most ‘Christians’ aren’t right with God enough to go to heaven: Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way, but this doesn’t fit our “we’re saved no matter what” and “God loves us no matter what” theology, that really is from the pit of hell, and is really the number one reason that we’re not seeing full-fledged revival. And it’s the number one reason why people (even most church leaders) aren’t comfortable singing real-worship songs, like I’ve been seeing Jaye Thomas do on the few occasions he’s led in the IHOP prayer room, recently. I would love to see him be allowed to lead worship during an awakening meeting. And I’m hoping that he’ll have the guts to worship no matter what, just like he’s been doing in the prayer room: [Screenshots] IHOP Real-Worship Leader: Jaye Thomas!!!
Where did the “bless me, Lord,” “fill us, Lord” trend actually originate? I think it mainly came from the Vineyard movement.
It’s buried in a box, somewhere, so I can’t quote the reference, but I read in a book that I bought in the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship book store something like this. Apparently, John Wimber taught that they found a prayer in the early church fathers writings, which I think was something like “Come, Holy Spirit” [If anyone knows the exact prayer quote, I’m interested.], and this is mainly what they based the “fill us, Lord” concept on.
I’m very thankful for what God is doing at IHOP. And I greatly appreciate what Mike Bickle and Wes Hall have done to create this great atmosphere in which God is definitely moving. But this is just a drop in the bucket, as Wes so often states. He talks about the River flowing.
Well, what is keeping The River from flowing? I think it’s unbiblical doctrine about who goes to heaven. That’s number one. And that is part of why attendees don’t want to directly worship God in their hearts.
But reverse-worship is also a great problem. And I see it wasting so much time, which we really don’t have right now.
May we get our doctrines right, including what worship really is.
“He is the potter; we are the clay.” He doesn’t obey us; we obey Him. Who is Lord? Worship is about Him, not about us.
We need a vision of how great He really is, how holy He really is. Jaye Thomas recently sung:

There is One seated on the throne, He is God,
seated on the throne, and He is holy.

“We join with the four living creatures.
We sing the song that the angels sing.
We want to know what they know.
We want to see what they see when they cry holy, holy, holy!“

We sing holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.
We sing holy, holy, holy is the Lamb!

Reverse-Christianity is taking us down. But real Christianity can take us up where we belong — soaring in Him — right with one another — pure and clean — in fear and awe and in love with Him.
We can be ONE with Him when we are ONE with each other, Jesus prayed in John 17. “Then the world will know.”
This “bless me, Lord” stuff….
Let’s worship Him alone. Paul talked about how we’d worship the creation instead of the Creator. This is happening in America, big-time! Look at the emphasis on the human body. Romans 1 isn’t just about homosexuality. It’s not even mainly about homosexuality. It’s about worshiping the creation instead of the Creator. This is our sin.
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Draw near to Him and He’ll draw near to you.”
It’s guaranteed. He will fill us when we worship Him in Spirit and in truth. We don’t have to ask Him to — or tell Him to [God is so amazingly patient in putting up with all of this, I think. I don’t even hear a ‘please’]. He will just do it. It’s as sure as gravity.
Power to the peaceful.
Which reminds me: when are evangelical Christians going to publicly repent for supporting the reverse-Christian wars? Our hands have to be clean, you all.
“What are we waiting for,” I believe I just heard.
Related:
What is Real Revival?

My $6,000 Challenge! I will give $6,000 to anyone who can refute my "Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way" article

By Jeff Fenske

On March 8, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, Personal, Who Goes to Heaven

My $6,000 Challenge!

I will give $1,500 [now $6,000] to anyone who can refute my Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God? article.

There is no time to be low key about this any more. I am convinced that “once saved always saved” (OSAS) and “only believe” have all but destroyed the church in America — and America, itself! And many are going to hell having been taught they are going to heaven.

And this is the message that Americans have spread throughout the world! This is so serious — and tragic beyond belief!!

A Prayer Sung at IHOP (wonderful, yet partly problematic. "There's too much telling God what to do"): "Turn my eyes from worthless things, even the permissible that's not beneficial. Fill me with life."

By Jeff Fenske

On February 24, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, FreedomQuotes, Getting Right with Each Other, IHOPKC International House of Prayer, Lust Freedom!, Revival, Worship

Transcribed by Jeff Fenske from a prayer sung during worship/intercession with Matt Gilman (who is on fire right now, having been touched big-time regarding his prophetic anointing on Saturday night at the IHOPU Awakening) at the IHOP Prayer Room, 2/23/10.
.

Turn my eyes from worthless things,
even the permissible that’s not beneficial.

Fill me with life.
.

This concept is wonderful, spending our time only on what’s beneficial, which is why I posted this. But I have this reservation, which I think is significant.
In my opinion, there is too much asking (even telling) God to do things for us that He has already empowered us to do.
I know I’m being picky here, but it’s been something that has concerned me for many years. Why are we putting the this on God? Why are we asking Him to do something He’s already promised He would help us do?
Whose responsibility is it to turn our eyes? Ours or God’s?
God gives us the grace (those of us who are born-again), He will always give us the power of the Holy Spirit so we will be able to turn our own eyes.
He won’t do it for us, but He’ll help us and empower us to do it, by His grace.
And regarding asking/telling God: “Fill me with life.”
He already promised He would respond in this way:
“Draw near to God and He’ll draw near to you.” (James 4)
He will. We don’t have to ask Him to, tell Him to, beg Him to. He will when we draw near to Him in holiness, right with each other — worshiping Him in Spirit and in truth.
It’s automatic. “We don’t have to work it up.” We need to prepare a place for Him.
He will draw near to us when we truly will draw near to Him — worshiping Him in Spirit and in truth
We’re living in the new covenant now. The Holy Spirit is in us 24/7, ready to go.
I would prefer these versions:

Let’s turn our eyes from worthless things,
even the permissible that’s not beneficial.

Thank you for filling us with life.

We turn our eyes from worthless things,
even the permissible that’s not beneficial.

We look to You as the source of life.
.

How did they do it at the Asbury Revival when God showed up BIG-TIME?

Asbury Revival, 1970: “Dr. Kinlaw, I am a liar. Now what do I do?”
Let’s get right with each other and then we can worship!!!
Mt. 5:

23 “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

The meaning of “Grace” (χαρις) in the Bible: It’s not what you think? — ‘Grace’ is God giving us the Holy Spirit Who gives us the POWER TO OVERCOME SIN!

By Jeff Fenske

On February 19, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Filled with the HOLY Spirit, Who Goes to Heaven

Many teach that grace is simply God’s unmerited favor. They say: “salvation = grace + nothing.” But, according to Paul “the grace teacher,” grace has a much fuller meaning.
Grace isn’t just what Jesus did for us on the cross. Grace is God giving us the Holy Spirit, Who enables us and gives us the POWER TO OVERCOME sin. And overcome, we must (Rev. 21:7-8 & many other scriptures).
Steve Hill says: “Jesus didn’t set us free to sin; He set us free from sin.”
Paul teaches in Titus 2:

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

From: http://www.bible-researcher.com/grace.html

The meaning of “Grace” (χαρις) in the Bible

“Against a still common view it must be stated that in Paul χαρις [the Greek word for grace – ed.] does not mean primarily a divine attribute (Wobbe, Charis-Gedanke, 32). It does not mean, in good Greek fashion, God’s graciousness, nor concetely his free love (Taylor). It almost always means the power of salvation which finds expression in specific gifts, acts, and spheres and which is even individualized in the charismata.” —Ernst Käsemann, Commentary on Romans, trans. G. Bromiley (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980), p. 14.

“In Paul … χαρις is never merely an attitude or disposition of God (God’s character as gracious); consistently it denotes something much more dynamic—the wholly generous act of God. Like ‘Spirit,’ with which it overlaps in meaning (cf., e.g., [Rom] 6:14 and Gal 5:18), it denotes effective divine power in the experience of men.” —James D.G. Dunn, Romans 1-8 (Dallas: Word Books, 1988), p. 17.

[…]

Naturally, the various meanings of the word were simply taken over from ordinary language by the New Testament writers. And so it is quite illegitimate to try to construct on the basis of all the occurrences of the word a single doctrine that will account for all the various usages. That one word could express both “charm of speech” and “thankfulness for blessings” was doubtless felt to be a mere accident, if it was thought of at all. But none the less, the very elasticity of the word enabled it to receive still another—new and technically Christian—meaning. This seems to have originated in part by fusing together two of the ordinary significances.

In the first place, as in (e) above, charis may mean “a gift.” In 1 Corinthians 16:3; 2 Corinthians 8:19 it is the money given by the Corinthians to the Jerusalemites. In 2 Corinthians 9:8 it is the increase of worldly goods that God grants for charitable purposes. In 2 Corinthians 1:15 it is the benefit received by the Corinthians from a visit by Paul. In a more spiritual sense charis is the endowment for an office in the church (Ephesians 4:7), more particularly for the apostolate (Romans 1:5; 12:3; 15:15; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 3:2,7). So in 1 Corinthians 1:4-7 charis is expanded into “word and all knowledge,” endowments with which the Corinthians were especially favored. In 1 Peter 1:13 charis is the future heavenly blessedness that Christians are to receive; in 3:7 it is the present gift of “life.”

In the second place, charis is the word for God’s favor, a sense of the term that is especially refined by St. Paul (see below). But God’s favor differs from man’s in that it cannot be conceived of as inactive. A favorable “thought” of God’s about a man involves of necessity the reception of some blessing by that man, and “to look with favor” is one of the commonest Biblical paraphrases for “bestow a blessing.” Between “God’s favor” and “God’s favors” there exists a relation of active power, and as charis denoted both the favor and the favors, it was the natural word for the power that connected them. This use is very clear in 1 Corinthians 15:10, where Paul says, “not I, but the grace of God which was with me” labored more abundantly than they all: grace is something that labors. So in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness”; compare 2 Timothy 2:1, “strengthened in the grace,” and 1 Peter 4:10, “stewards of the manifold grace.” Evidently in this sense “grace” is almost a synonym for the Spirit, and there is little real difference between “full of the Holy Spirit” and “full of grace and power” in Acts 6:5,8, while there is a very striking parallel between Ephesians 4:7-13 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, with “gifts of grace” in the one passage, and “gifts of the Spirit” in the other. And this connection between grace and the Spirit is found definitely in the formula “Spirit of grace” in Hebrews 10:29 (compare Zechariah 12:10).

FALSE DOCTRINE: Why won't Christian leaders even mention Hebrews 10:26? An IHOP example — so close and yet so far away — from full REVIVAL :(

By Jeff Fenske

On February 14, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, IHOPKC International House of Prayer, Lust Freedom!, Revival, The Church is Getting Jacked!, Who Goes to Heaven

I LOVE the IHOPU Student Awakening, but could it be that one hugely false doctrine is keeping this move from becoming the catalyst for the Third Great Awakening — what they are so fervently calling for — what we so desperately need?
It’s God’s heart to come in His manifest presence, but we must be right….

So close and yet so far away from what Hebrews 10:26-39 fully says.
.
The entire text follows Allen’s quote
My comments in brackets
Transcribed by Jeff Fenske from the IHOP Revival, 2/6/10
.
The president of IHOPU, Allen Hood, mentions Hebrews 10:29 without stating verse 26 at all, coming to the opposite conclusion that the writer of Hebrews did:

“…there’s that willful disobedience where you have grace as licentiousness, that’s caused you to be presumptuous and over-familiar with the wrong view of the love of God, what we call ‘sloppy grace,’ that doesn’t understand the cost of your sin — that causes you to run quickly to God, but you don’t tremble on the inside. You don’t tremble, understanding that your sin took Jesus to the cross.

You don’t understand that every time you enter into willful disobedience [Hebrews 10:26] you trample overfoot the Son of God [Hebrews 10:29], again and again and again. You don’t tremble on the inside. …

You need to know something. If Jesus in His love doesn’t bear the wrath of God for you, the Bible tells us He will dispense it upon you. But He will not ignore unforgiven sin.

And so I notice that we give altar calls and we call people up, and they get rid of their shame and they don’t change the way they dress. We call people up; they get rid of their shame; they receive the love of God again because He’s so kind! He even received you after you trampled Him again. You received the love of God and then you dressed the same way to put out the signals of the old life you used to live. What’s up with that?

You talk the same way. You give the same signals, as if His love wasn’t so holy and precious — the thousandth time He forgave you. Why do you dress the same way? Why do you talk the same way? And yet you really felt His love. Is it because you really don’t tremble anymore when you run to the altar?

And thus you are forgiven tonight but you’re not clean [This is the EXACT OPPOSITE of what Hebrews 10:26-39 and many other scriptures clearly say], because you have a fortress of darkness of over-familiarity with God [this over-familiarity is mostly because 99+% of church leaders aren’t teaching the full gospel. They’re omitting key texts. In this case, Allen is teaching the truth about Hebrews 10:29 without even mentioning the clear concept in verse 26].

You have a fortress built up in you, but it’s not shame. It’s actually willful disobedience [for which verse 26 says…].”

– Allen Hood, President of IHOPU

Hebrews 10:26-39

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. 28 A man who disregards Moses’ law [old covenant] dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified [new covenant] an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me,” says the Lord, “I will repay.” Again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings; 33 partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions; and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so. 34 For you both had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens.
35 Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward. 36 For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. 37 “In a very little while, He who comes will come, and will not wait. 38 But the righteous will live by faith. [Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11] If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.

Related:
False, revival killing, salvation doctrine at IHOP continues from IHOPU president, Allen Hood at the Awakening meetings 🙁
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.” (contains similar, hardly-ever-preached-but-totally-true New Testament scriptures. OSAS is a lie, and it’s deceiving many!!)
Joe Schimmel: The Great Deception—Once Saved, Always Saved
The Low-Cut Top Epidemic: May We Be Holy
Here is an example (if you listen to the audio) of how close (and yet so far away) Mike Bickle (head of IHOP) is to the truth about who goes to heaven

All of my Lust Freedom! posts (in reverse-chronological order)

All of my Who Goes to Heaven posts (in reverse-chronological order)
All of my IHOP posts (in reverse-chronological order)

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."

By Jeff Fenske

On February 13, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, Lust Freedom!, Who Goes to Heaven

Transcribed by Jeff Fenske from the IHOP Revival, 2/13/10

“Beloved, grace has nothing to do with freedom to sin.

Grace has nothing to do with a fresh start every week so you can continue living the way you lived before.

Grace is the power to be free from sin.
Grace is the power to live clean.
Grace is the power to live holy.

‘What then shall we sin?
By no means!’

Salvation is not about being rescued [from] hell,
it’s about being saved from sin —
to be possessed by God.
Hell was never created for human beings in the first place.
It was for the Devil and his angels.

Beloved, Jesus came to rescue you from sin,
and do you trample on His grace by receiving forgiveness and mercy,
and day after day, you go back like a dog to its vomit?

Where is the evidence of His grace in your life?
It’s not about fire insurance.
It’s about a transformation in the inside.
It’s about being possessed by the Spirit of holiness.

Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith.
Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith.”

– Wes Hall, IHOPU Provost

Who are the Children of God?

By Jeff Fenske

On January 30, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, No Enemy, Who Goes to Heaven

Who are the Children of God?

Scriptures compiled
and highlighted by Jeff Fenske

This is a simple, though I think a very profound study — perhaps even sobering.
It’s simple because it’s simply straight-forward sections of scripture that aren’t surgically micro-edited to bias the results. So far, I’ve chosen not to even comment other than by how I highlighted the texts.
And I think it’s profound because these scriptures reveal a much different message than what is the mainstream teaching of our day. Imagine the profound result of what would happen if what the Bible so clearly says would instead be the mainstream teaching in America.
What would happen if the Bible would be simply accepted for what it simply says?
May we always greatly desire to line up with the word of God no matter what.
[Technical notes:
I most always use the World English Bible translation (WEB), because it’s intentionally not copyrighted (so we can use it freely, for free). It’s also usually very accurate, and it’s based on the reliable Textus Receptus text (as are the KJV and NKJV).
Here, the translators took the liberty to translate sons into the gender-free title, children. From a strict literal perspective it would seem that it would be best that a translation not do this unless it claims to be a paraphrase. In seminary, this was considered taboo. But I suppose it depends upon how gender-free the term sons was meant to be originally. Clearly, sons is meant to include women as much as it does men, so I’m going quote the WEB as is.
Also, I’m highlighting in black and in blue. All links on my sites are in red; though, in my writings, I also often emphasize the word ‘heart‘ in red.]
If you think of other scriptures that should be displayed here, please let me know.
God bless!
jeff : )

Jesus in Matthew 5

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

…

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Jesus in John 10

1 “Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 4 Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.

7 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture. 10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. 13 The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; 15 even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.

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. 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; that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. …

13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. 15 For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us. 19 For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

Gal. 5

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 [They that are Christ’s – KJV] have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

[Discussion] What is the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit?

By Jeff Fenske

On January 10, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified

In this comment, Adrian suggested that we’d discuss this topic: What is the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit?
So let ‘er rip, Adrian. And anyone else is welcome to join in.
Jeff

Bill Weise at IHOP: 23 Minutes in Hell — AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS!!!!!!!!!

By Jeff Fenske

On January 3, 2010

In Doctrines Demystified, Hell is Real - Forever!, IHOPKC International House of Prayer

“Wouldn’t it be a horrible thing for Him to say to you:
‘Your name’s not here [the Book of Life].
Depart from Me into everlasting fire,
prepared for the Devil and his angels.'”

— Bill Weise

•

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven;
but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

— Jesus (Mt. 7:21)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrRDWLV5UMY]

Linus of Rome: The generally touted Catholic position is that Linus was the second pope…

By Jeff Fenske

On December 20, 2009

In Catholic Church, Doctrines Demystified

From: cogwriter

Linus of Rome

Who was Linus? Did he know the Apostle Paul? Was he the first pope? Was he the second bishop of Rome after the Apostle Peter? Was he even a bishop?

The generally touted Catholic position is that Linus was the second pope, that he was ordained by Peter, and that all other leaders passed through him (Lopes A. The Popes: The lives of the pontiffs through 2000 years of history. Futura Edizoni, Roma, 1997, p. 1).

Is any of that correct?

This article will refer to the Bible, historical records, and Roman Catholic sources to attempt to properly answer those questions.

[…]

Conclusion

What do we actually know based upon the Bible and historical fact?

There was once a Christian named Linus who knew the Apostle Paul. Linus, at least for a time, lived in Rome. The Bible does not record that Linus was the obvious future leader of all Christians. Linus was NOT an apostle, NOT a pope, and NOT even a bishop.

We have no real information about his life, his teachings, or his death.

Most of the traditions ascribed to him have been admitted by Roman Catholic scholars to be in error, with others admitted to be without historical foundation. And many accounts are in contradiction.

Contemporary history records nothing about him, other than Paul’s mention, and later Irenaeus lists him (over one hundred years after his death).

The only Linus we know of was a Christian who lived and served in Rome, but of whom we have no reason to believe he was the spiritual successor of Peter. Therefore the often repeated Roman claim that they have an unbroken line of successors from Peter beginning with Linus is historically inaccurate.

Entire Article Here

Was Peter the 1st Pope? Who is The ROCK Upon Whom the Church is Built? Peter wanted no part of this FALSE WORSHIP! What Did Peter Do? WWPD?

By Jeff Fenske

On December 20, 2009

In Catholic Church, Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?

Transcribed by Jeff Fenske

“If the apostle Peter was alive today, what would Peter think of the teachings of Catholicism?

Cornelius loved Peter and fell down at his feet. Now the Pope loves and expects that, doesn’t he? He loves to have people falling down at his feet, kissing his hand and worshiping. But what of Peter, who they say was the first pope. What did he do?

Peter grabbed Cornelius. He pulled him up and said: ‘stand up!’ Peter wanted no part of this false worship.

He declared: ‘I, myself, also am a man.'”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rALy6GPX4MQ]Was Peter the first Catholic Pope? Part 1 of 2

The Apostle Peter Series: Was Peter the 1st Pope? This 2 part video uses the Bible to answer this question.

Wes Hall: Why do people laugh and shake under the power of God? | "The Lord has released a revelation of the Father's love I'll never forget"

By Jeff Fenske

On December 18, 2009

In Doctrines Demystified, Filled with the HOLY Spirit, God's Love Revealed, IHOPKC International House of Prayer, Revival

Transcribed by Jeff Fenske from IHOP Student Awakening, 12/18/09
Wes Hall explains some of what has been going on for six weeks now at IHOP (International House of Prayer). It was in Wes’ classroom that the revival broke out:

“When the Holy Spirit hits your body, sometimes your body does unusual things, because we’re not talking about 50,000 volts [he had just explained what it felt like to be personally hit with a taser during a recent security demonstration], we’re talking about very God interacting with your human body to set you free from bondages and sicknesses and depression and all manner of things. And sometimes your body can’t handle the power that is needed to set you free, and you start shaking and laughing and doing funny things.”

______________

“The Lord has released a revelation of the Father’s love I’ll never forget.

The first day that this awakening began, a young man comes shaking up to the platform. … I said, ‘do you normally do this?’ He said, ‘no, I made fun of everybody who used to do this. I thought it was flaky and weird.’ And he goes, ‘I can’t stop.’

And I said, ‘what has the Lord done for you?’ He said, ‘I have three dads’ — he is one of our students here — ‘I’ve had three fathers during my life. ‘I have never understood the love of the Father experientially in my life. I’ve never understood it. It’s never been a reality to me.’

He goes, ‘I’ve been to every person’s Father-heart seminar and paid tons of money to get the revelation of the Father, and it never took.

And he said in a moment, God broke in and revealed Himself as a father to him. And he says, ‘and I just can’t stop shaking under the power of God.’

What weeks and decades of inner healing couldn’t do the Lord has done in a moment.

The Lord has set free pastors who have been in ministry for years — those who have preached on the love of God — those who have ministered to people from shame and self-hatred, but themselves never felt the love of God. And the Lord in an instant has set them free.”

______________

“Who wants to be so caught up in His love that you don’t even care about yourself anymore?

You don’t even care about yourself anymore. All you care about is Jesus. You’re clothed with His love and His power.

And as Shelly is gonna share, we’re going to be riding in the front seat, not in the back seat on a stretcher.”

A Biblical altar call = Wes Hall: Do you want to be free from that heavy yoke? The way out of that prison is by making Jesus Lord: "I am going to follow Him instead of follow my own ways for the rest of my life."

By Jeff Fenske

On December 17, 2009

In Doctrines Demystified, IHOPKC International House of Prayer, Who Goes to Heaven

Transcribed by Jeff Fenske

“I just felt like there are some here. You are under that dark cloud. You are under that heavy yoke. But you don’t actually know Jesus. You’ve never said, ‘Yes’ to Jesus.

Do you want to be free from that yoke? You can be, but only in Jesus. It is the power of His blood of what He did on the cross, when He died and rose again. When He died, He took our penalty on Himself.

He died so that we might have life. He died to rescue us from ourselves, to rescue us from the penalty of our sin and our rebellion. And there is freedom in His name.

That heavy yoke, that heavy spirit will be broken off you when you confess ‘Jesus is Lord.’ He will deliver you from that — scripture calls it ‘bondage to sin.’ You feel like you’re in a prison all the time. You feel fear stalks you in the day and at night.

The way out of that prison is by making Jesus Lord — by confessing that He is Lord — and by saying: ‘I am going to follow Him instead of follow my own ways for the rest of my life.’

You can say ‘yes’ to Jesus, tonight. You don’t have to wait another minute.”

— Wes Hall, provost of IHOPU
The revival started in his classroom

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

By Jeff Fenske

On December 6, 2009

In Alaska, Demons in Christians?, Doctrines Demystified, Forgive & Be FREE, Freedom, God's Love Revealed, Healing, heart, soul, mind, gut?, James-3 Cursing People, Lust Freedom!

“If there is pain in a memory there is unforgiveness.”

“Medical textbooks list over 60 diseases that are caused by anxiety, stress and fear.”

“It’s not a surprise that anger, resentment, bitterness, jealousy and the rejection issues, fears, words, anxieties cause disease. The American Medical Association says that more than 80 percent of all of our diseases are caused by these emotions.”

“There’s one other verse that kept coming up, 2 Timothy 17. It says, “I haven’t given you a spirit of fear.” And I was born again Christian and I said, I can’t have this spirit. But I knew that I was controlled by all those fears….”

“Jesus came to heal the broken heart, and the broken heart is all of that pain, all that hurt and the things that have happened to us in life. And his blood will take away, as we truly forgive, all of that pain. And then the fight-flight process will stop and healing manifests.”

“The unforgiveness is still there if that emotional pain is still there.”

* * *

Description of video from video no longer posted at YouTube:

After being healed of Environmental Illness, Art Mathias began teaching others how to identify the root causes of sickness and disease. Art has now seen many types of sickness and disease healed including weight gain, cancer, heart problems, diabetes, allergies, asthma, mental illness, and many more!

Watch the video at It’s Supernatural

This Week’s Guest

Art Mathias

November 9-15, 2009

75% of people that apply Art Mathias’ teachings are healed of all types of sickness and disease! After being healed of Environmental Illness, Art Mathias began teaching others how to identify the root causes of sickness and disease. Art has now seen many types of sickness and disease healed including weight gain, cancer, heart problems, diabetes, allergies, asthma, mental illness, and many more! Art is now seeing a 75% success rate in physical healings when people apply the revelation God has given him.

Sid’s 5-part interview of Art for his radio show can be heard here (goes into more depth)
Video Transcript excerpts:

SID: Hello. I’m Sid Roth. Welcome to my world where it’s naturally supernatural. What happens if you have a terminal disease? You go to the elders of your congregation. They anoint you with oil and you’re not healed. Then you go to the best doctors money can buy and you’re still not healed. Then you go the alternative health route and you’re still not healed. What do you do? My guest says the cause of a high percentage of diseases are toxic emotions. …75 percent of the people that follow his instructions are getting healed, and he says the percentage would be even higher if they would do everything he tells them to do. My guest, Art Mathias, and you found out the hard way.

———————–

SID: And in the meantime, his sister develops tumors and she starts studying an area having to do with forgiveness and gets healed, and she sends the tapes to Art. What happened?

ART: Well I was desperate. In that condition I would even listen to something that I thought was about as hokey as it could be that my thoughts and emotions could have anything to do with what was going on in my physical body. But, you know, I was raised in the church and I didn’t think I had to forgive anything. But as I worked through what she taught me about what bitterness was, I learned that I had a lot of resentment and anger, and unforgiveness, which are all parts of bitterness. And so I started to forgive. I didn’t know how to forgive. But I started to work through. I purpose and I choose to forgive. And then there’s one other verse that kept coming up, 2 Timothy 17. It says, “I haven’t given you a spirit of fear.” And I was born again Christian and I said, I can’t have this spirit. But I knew that I was controlled by all those fears of the future, the fear of the pain that I was living in everyday, the fear that I if couldn’t eat anything, what am I gonna do?

Brother Gregory Williams: Do Christians Have a Right to Self Defense, Part 1

By Jeff Fenske

On November 27, 2009

In Doctrines Demystified, Power OVER or under

From: News with Views

Does a modern Christian have a right to self defense? With every right there is a correlative responsibility. The ancient right to bear arms has been described in antiquity as the obligation to bear arms in defense of your community. In those ancient times if you would not arm yourself to defend your community you were often shunned if not run out of town all together.

Chuck Baldwin in and article published by NewsWithViews.com quoted the statistic that “as of 2004, 50% of the adults in the United States own one or more firearms.” My first reaction was, why so few? As someone who once wore a badge and a gun to protect the property and lives of citizens I can testify that my biggest disappointment was the apathy and even cowardice of the people I was often expected to protect.

To refuse to come to the aid of others has been considered a crime and good Samaritan laws have prosecuted citizens who failed to assist and aid people in need of assistance or protection.

Yet, I have heard many people say they would not own a gun or they did not believe in guns. On further inquiry everyone of these purveyors of pseudo-pacifism confirmed that if someone was breaking into their house they would call the police, who will come with guns. The truth is they do believe in guns, but they are either to lazy, to cheap, to cowardly, or just to irresponsible to own one.

One of the last things Christ said to His apostles before His crucifixion was to go and buy a sword, even if they had to sell their garment to do so.[1] When armed men came “with swords and staves for to take” Jesus, one of His disciples, realizing what was coming, asked if they should “smite [them] with the sword.”[2]

Jesus chose not to fight that day. He told Peter to “put up thy sword into the sheath”.[3] Jesus did not tell Peter to throw his sword away. He simply had a better strategy to free the people from the exercising authority of the corrupt government set up by the people who were “making the word of God to none effect.”

The apostles were armed men, but they were also men of peace. They were “gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”[4] They supported the weak, patient toward all men,[5] with “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, [of] faith,”[6] but they were armed.

Jesus never came to disarm or weaken the people. That would only tempt brutes of the “world”. Had Peter, the apostles and their thousands of supporters began armed conflict to establish their liberty under God there would have been disastrous and fruitless bloodshed. The people needed to learn first hand the courage and sacrifice needed to sustain a truly free society.

There has been a lot of talk about government usurpation, declarations of independence, sovereign states, rights of citizens, and even references to revolution and armed rebellion in America, but such talk is not only foolish, but unwarranted. You have the government you deserve.

The diminishing rights of people are the direct result of personal neglect, abdication or the waiving of rights in exchange for peace, security, and bountiful benefits. The decline of liberty is always due the failure to retain rights. The failure to retain rights is always linked to the failure to put your hand to the responsibilities of the individual to society. The secrets of a free society belong to the diligent, humble, and wise.

There were no greater revolutionists than John the Baptist, Christ, and His apostles. Their call to repentance, was a call for change. The way of John and Jesus was also truly one of hope. It changed the course of history by changing the ways of the people. If the people were to be ruled by God they had to pursue the righteousness of God.

With this renewed spirit of liberty early Christians tended to what Jesus called the “weightier matters of law, justice, mercy and faith” by loving one another in a international network of faith, hope, and charity under the perfect law of liberty. They did not create a socialist state which exercised authority one over the other. That was forbidden by Christ and Moses before Him.

Entire Article Here
Related:
As a teacher of nonviolence, Gandhi advocated the right to bear arms; use of ‘violence’ to defend innocents against bullying, oppression