Wednesday, March 30, 2011

No Turning Back

It is ironic that the Lord would have me write about heretics so soon before He would show me something so amazing, so profound in it's simplicity that the whole of carnal christiandom would rise up to the shouts of "HERETIC" should the idea be whispered within it's halls. I can't be blunt on this one. I'm too busy at the moment to give it a proper post. But here is a little taste - Nothing is impossible for God. Except, it is impossible for God to lie, other than that nothing is impossible for Him. God was in Christ, reconciling the WHOLE WORLD to himself. It is God's will that ALL Men be saved. Jesus Christ conquered sin and death with His perfect sacrifice. If all these things are true - then God can absolutely reach beyond the grave to save a sinner who died in his sins.

This changes everything.

Wow! My Heavenly Father is blowing my mind right now. I am crazy busy the next couple days - I am done with jury duty but I'm working and my schedule is full so I'm not sure when I can elaborate. I have so much to study before more becomes clear, but today, the Lord just got bigger.

I love you my friends!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Order in the Court

Heh heh. I am so glad they let us bring our laptops! It's almost like I'm at home. Except I should have brought my guitar because I could be practicing right now!

So we are breaking for lunch at the moment, but I need to report to the courtroom at 1:15pm for the possiblity of a trial. They only need 12 people out of 40, so I may not end up being on the jury yet, will find out then. I have an hour to kill. Can I say that at the courthouse? :0)

We got to watch a little film about what to do if you are on a jury. I guess a couple weeks ago one of the guys in the jury room got bored and left before being excused and they had a warrant out for his arrest! Serious stuff. I think it is interesting. In the film they stressed the fact that it is a high priveledge to be able to have a jury trial. I guess so.

Talk to you soon!
Linda

Monday, March 28, 2011

Jury Duty!

I just made the call and I have jury duty tomorrow! I've been summoned many times, but I've never had to actually go in before. I'm kindof looking forward to it.

We haven't had any lookers for the house lately. Not sure if I posted that my parents have decided to pay off their mortgage. They now own this house fully and they are going to wait until this house sells before they put any other offers down. The first house offer fell through, which ended up being a blessing in disguise. The Lord's timing is perfect, so He will take care of any and all details.

Not sure if I will have to do more than one day at jury duty so I will try to post when I can. Take care out there!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Gifts of the Spirit

My friend Kim over at Mystery of the Ages blog has an interesting post on Gifts of the Spirit. I invite you all to go read her post and join in the discussion!

Blessings in Christ!
Linda

Friday, March 25, 2011

Psalms 42

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalms 42:1-11

Monday, March 21, 2011

Songs of Deliverance

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. Psalms 32:5-7
While reading Psalms the other day, I came across a word I was unfamiliar with. The word was Higgaion. It was in the verse:
The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. Psalms 9:16
Strong's Concordance says it means meditation but also could be a musical notation, like a chord on the harp. Here are some of the other verses where it was used:
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation (Higgaion) of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14

Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound (Higgaion). Psalms 92:3

The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device (Higgaion) against me all the day. Lamentations 3:62
It is like a perfect chord for emphasis. For someone who is a beginner guitarist - there is something amazing about the sound of a chord that is played perfectly compared to one that is not. The kind of chord that makes you stop and consider all the beauty and wonder that is our Lord.

The Lord created music. Unfortunately for us, the great counterfeiter Satan has corrupted almost all the music, and it is hard to find music that has not been touched by him. But, it is still out there. The Lord desires us to sing praises to him and He will wrap us in songs of deliverance.
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Eph 5:19
I'm going to the mountains with my family for Spring Break and not sure what the internet access is. If something happens blog-worthy and I have internet access I will blog - if not, I am praying for you all.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Get Motivated

I recently had an opportunity to attend a seminar called, "Get Motivated." My new boss really wanted me to go with her and had tickets. It was held at the Rose Garden and among the speakers were: Colin Powel, Laura Bush, Steve Forbes, Terry Bradshaw and Bill Cosby. There was a time I might not have known these people (except Bill Cosby) but now I do. I mean, here's some of the global elite themselves and I have an opportunity to go. So I told her I would go with her.

But I was a little concerned. I mean, this is the global elite right? Maybe they would try something. Maybe they would try some sort of mass hypnosis - or God forbid ELF waves or some other form of mind control. I mean, who knows, the Black Awakening could start from that point. At the same time, I felt it was the Lord's will for me to go - so I prayed that the Lord would protect me from any evil shenanagins and that the Lord would show me if they tried anything.

I really enjoyed the speakers. Rudy Guliani was there and gave a nice presentation. I loved Colin Powel and Terry Bradshaw's talks. They were very funny. I was looking forward to Bill Cosby but he was very rude and not funny. He was talking about how there were demons in his head telling him he wasn't funny, but that the demons left. I'm not so sure. He ended his routine with a Muslim quote praising Allah. Sad. There was around three speakers on the schedule and then someone who wasnt on the schedule came and talked. The unscheduled speakers were the real reason for the convention. The snake oil salesman with their get rick quick schemes.

They didn't have to do anything as outlandish as mass hypnosis or mess with our brain waves. They only had to appeal to the audience's greed and the people swarmed to the tables to pay for the get rich quick schemes being hawked. But what was the MOST surprising thing of all was that all the speakers kept talking about God. They talked about God and that you should pray and read your bible. One speaker even mentioned that Jesus Christ was the only way to get saved. Everyone clapped but I was praying because something was not quite right.

They talked about patriotism and that if you took this class, you could make five million dollars in five years and that if you had that money, you could help the downtrodden and little old ladies and the mentally ill and that it was God's will. Then the Lord showed me the extreme subtilty behind the presentation. The God they kept talking about was the God of Money!!!! Not the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I guess it is the God of Money's will that people make lots and lots of it.

There were some young men sitting next to me that signed up for every class that was offered (initial cost for the classes was $150 but then they have ongoing internet costs around $117 a month - but that part was barely mentioned.) I heard that there was 20,000 who attended this seminar. There was a good portion of the people who signed up for those classes so I'm sure they made the money from the seminar they needed to make, and there will be ongoing costs to those people who signed up.

I really think that most of the people who clapped every time God was mentioned did not realize it was not the true God they were talking about. The prospertity gospel in a secular setting.

Today, I am sick at heart about this crazy world we are in. The U.S. has just bombed Libya. I guess the rebels just weren't getting it done fast enough. There is devastation in the country of Japan and possibly more on the way and I am watching as men I have followed as teachers of the Word go, one by one, the way of the false prophet.

Pray for the lost in this world. Pray for the lost people you know personally that they can be saved in this evil generation. Pray for the brothers and sisters you know that are moving over to the dark side, deceiving and being deceived. Repent of any sins that may be separating you from the Lord and if you are not saved, Seek the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, that you may be counted worthy to escape the things coming.

I am going to the mountains with my family next week and not sure what my internet connection will be. I will try to post when I can.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

False Prophets 101 - Preparation

This is a picture of my parents pantry. It is usually about this full of food. My parents grew up during the years following the Great Depression and know how to prepare for a "rainy" day. Many a snow storm and electrical outage has been waited out by the food in this pantry.

I want to clarify that the reason I am writing this series of posts on False Prophets is that I completely believe in true prophecies and true prophets. I believe in true dreams and visions and true doctrine. One rule of thumb as far as our adversary is - the closer to the true doctrine the stronger the lie becomes. I also want to say that this post on preparation in no way invalidates what the Lord Himself may be speaking to you as an individual. If the Lord is telling you to stock up on food and water, etc. then you absolutely need to obey. This post is on false prophets and misunderstandings. What the Lord tells you may be different then what He is telling someone else.

Zac Poonen in his series on false prophets states that one way you can tell if someone is a false prophet is that they don't preach repentance. I disagree. There are alot of believers out there who would not trust a teacher or preacher that does not talk about repentance. The devil knows this. If the adversary can talk about repentance and get someone to quit drunkenness and adultery, but get that person involved with heresies and counterfeit spiritual gifts, then that believer is really not yet repented. But NOW that believer thinks they have repented. They will self-righteously cling to their gold dust encounter with an angel and their counterfeit third heaven experience and brag about their fasting and on their face "humility" all the while being completely OUT of the will of God. These are very dangerous times indeed.

A good portion of the "prophets" of doom out there are trying to sell you their products. Most of the people screaming the loudest about the collapse of the dollar and the economy are also trying to get you to buy gold and silver. Funny, the word says that they will be throwing their silver in the street in Eze 7:19. It doesn't say they will be throwing their fiat currency in the street.

Almost immediately after the Japan quake I got an email telling me there was a need for Potassium Iodide pills in Japan due to the radiation poisoning and the possibility of radiation poisoning, and a run on iodide pills here in the states. But if I wanted to get some I could get it at their site and here is a link. It would have been more honest if they had written. "Iodide! Get your iodide here! Be the first on your block to have a stash of iodide! Iodide! Get your iodide here!"

I truly believe that the Lord is calling people to prepare. But bear with me for a moment as I make my next point. If when A.A. Allen first gave his prophecies back in the day, a person went out and bought a bunch of boxes of freeze dried food and even water, that stuff would all be bad by now. If when Dimitry Dutiman, (who I absolutely love and adore and believe was a true prophet) in 1984 spoke his prophecies about this country, people stocked up on protein bars and peanut butter, that food would all be yucky now since that was almost 30 years ago. I don't believe that the preparation they were talking about was about stocking up on food and water. But in the story about the boy who cried wolf, the wolf did eventually come. I believe the "wolf" is coming and I believe that true prophets have been warning of this. But the false prophets are trying to make a buck off of it, or even just get some notoriety and fame for themselves and their "prophecies."

I hate to use this as an example but look at this picture of the devastation of Japan: here. Where do you think their guns and ammo are now? Their canned goods? It is horrifying. But so is a life away from Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. I believe the most important preparation is spiritual.

Jesus Christ taught that we should give no thought for tomorrow. That we should not worry about what we would eat, drink or wear. We all know about Matthew 24, and the false prophets love to talk about earthquakes and nation rising up against nation, but they conveniently leave out this part:
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Matt 24:9-13
What kind of love will wax cold? I think it is the LOVE of the TRUTH that will wax cold and IS waxing cold. But there was something else Jesus taught not to think about:
But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. Matt 10:19

But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Matt 13:11
Dark days are TRULY upon us. There will be more earthquakes and more devastation because the bible says so. These are the 'last days' because the bible says so. Evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse and false prophets will arise and deceive many because that is what the bible says.

Should we be humble? Yes. Should we be fasting and praying? Yes. Should we be stocking up on food and buying gold? Only if the Lord Himself is telling you to. There is only one time that the bible talks about preparing beforehand (except for talking about preparing for the sabbath day) and it is this verse:
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Eph 6:15
Our preparation should be obedience to God and His Word, putting on the whole armor of God from Eph 6, and seeking His Will for our lives. If the Lord is saying stock food and other things - Excellent, do it. But don't do it because some false prophet is shouting in your ears to buy their stuff.

Here are some other blogs that have something to say about this subject:

Hyperbole It Is Not!

SUCCUMBING TO FEAR: THE OLD PAGANISM

Although this is not quite on topic I feel it is a good read

Grant Me Justice Against Mine Adversaries

Dear Heavenly Father, we humble ourselves before you and pray that you will wash us from any false doctrines and false prophecies. We repent of the sins in our lives that may cloud our judgement and separate us from You and Your perfect Will. Tell us what you would have us do to prepare Lord and protect us from the things to come. We ask for your mercy on our lives Lord, that we may be counted worthy to escape and that our trust in You will grow and that we will trust your ability to feed us and cloth us and fill us with your Holy Spirit in the day it is needed. In the name of your wonderful son, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

False Prophets 101 - Fables

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. Titus 1:9 – 2:1
The Word of God is pure. The Word of God is sound doctrine. Strong's Concordance defines sound as healthy or of good health and also "of Christians whose opinions are free from any mixture of error."

The opposite of sound doctrine is fables.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Tim 4:3-4
God gave us the scriptures so that we would be able to check whether what we are hearing being taught is actually true or not. But you get into a slippery slope if you have a book other than the Bible as your guide. No book other than the bible can be used to verify whether something is a false doctrine or not.

I went to the library today and did a search for books on fables. The Dewey Decimal system number came up as 199 so I went to that section, but all those books were on fables of other religions. I thought that was kind of funny because every false religion is based on fables. Satan is a much better storyteller than Aesop. But I wanted to write about fables that are considered "Christian."

Take the Book of Mormon for example. Most people know that the Book of Mormon is filled with false doctrines. Except, of course, Mormons. 'The Shack', 'The Secret', 'Conversations with God', all seem like Christian books on the cover but you start reading them and discover that they are filled with blasphemy and false doctrines. But, even that is too obvious. I'm not talking about something that conspicuous.

What about the Apocrypha? There are those that believe that some of the apocryphal books should be in the bible. For example, the Book of Enoch. Now I have read the book of Enoch. I'm not even going to say if I feel like the book of Enoch should be in the bible or if I think it is true or not because it is NOT about what I think. If the book of Enoch should be in the bible, why isn't it? Ok, maybe it was lost all those years, well, it is found now. Couldn't a large enough group of people have gotten together and made the decision that it should be in there if it should be in there? I know that Jude mentions Enoch, but do we know that the book we call the book of Enoch is a real book or a counterfeit?

See, my point is actually not about the Book of Enoch itself. But, once a person allows the Book of Enoch (still an apocryphal book)to be equal to the bible, then they open the door for other apocryphal books to be considered as truth as well. Soon it will be Jasper, then the Book of Thomas, then the Book of Mary and on and on. If you do not hold that only the Bible is pure words from God, then soon you have gone over to the darkside and didn't even know it.

When the Lord told the children of Isreal not to move the ancient landmarks, it wasn't that they just picked up the landmark and openly moved it. No. People would go out and move it a couple inches. Then wait a couple months and move it a couple inches again. Not enough to be obvious - or they'd get caught. But over time the people moving the landmark would have stolen much land from his neighbor. That is how the devil works. If he can get you to believe one of the borderline doctrines then he can get you to believe one a little farther out, then a little farther out, and soon you believe every weird and crazy thing the devil can spit out.

The bible talks about demons. Demons ARE REAL. Jesus Christ totally exposed the adversary and the demonic realm. But demons don't want you to know about them, so they will get you distracted with UFO's and aliens (demons masquerading as aliens), or angels(demons posing as angels of light) or anything else, so they can do what they do best. Seduce the believers into turning from the truth and to believe fables.

It is time to put away all the garbage and seductive doctrines out there and return to the simplicity that is in Christ and check everything to the Word of God, the Bible. Throw away your apocrypha and your alien stuff and repent and get back to the PURE WORD.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for exposing the doctrines of demons and making manifest the hidden things of darkness. Help us to put away childish things and grow up in Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

False Prophets 101 - Signs in the Heavens

“Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.” Jeremiah 10:2
This is the post that is the hardest of all to write. So many people are deceived and being deceived right now by what others are saying are signs in the heavens. I would like to preface this whole post by saying that Jesus Himself said that there would be signs in the sun and moon and in the stars (Luke 21:25.) But He also said, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Matt 24:24 and "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." Mark 13:22.

There is a mass hysteria that seems to be contagious and it is usually titled something like: Niburu slash Planet X slash Brown Dwarf slash Pole Shift slash Kitchen Sink slash ETC. I mean throw whatever other terms you want in there because that is how it is being presented.

Now I know my opinion means nothing, but bear with me for a moment as I tell how I have seen this thing start to unfold with my very own eyes. Tell me if any of this sounds familiar to you:

Timeline starting end of 2009 (I think – I’m not sure now) to present:
Pastor X, who I listened to his radio show, came on the radio and said that God told him that a bomb would explode under Washington D.C by October 31st. He was very convinced and convincing and had numerous “confirmations” including the History Channels ‘what if’ show about a bomb going off in Washington D.C.

Brother B (who wrote a book stating that God told him that the Day of the Lord would occur in 2006 – thus already established as a false prophet) encourages Pastor X in this prophecy, actually stating that maybe it would occur on Oct 11th but quite possibly Oct 31st because, yeah, it could happen.

October 31st comes and goes, thus newly establishing Pastor X as a false prophet.

Another Brother N says that God told him that the global elite will have a secret closed-door meeting in August of 2010 where they will decide to completely stop using the dollar. Brother N believes that he is not a false prophet because, how do you know THEY DIDN’T have a closed door meeting? I guess the fact that as of today the dollar is still going strong (considering) doesn’t prove anything. (Just to add that by secular standards the dollar will have to crash at some point. It does not take a prophecy to know that, history has proven it.)

Brother N has Brother B on his radio show. Brother B says that he met with two scientists who said they totally know about this Brown Dwarf that is headed this way. Maybe it is Niburu or Planet X but it doesn’t really matter because we are in a binary star system. But that one star is a “dark star.” (There is no way to verify Brother B’s story. We don’t know the names of scientists or the company they work for and even if they work for NASA people need to understand that NASA is an OCCULT organization and SPECIALIZES in Virtual Reality. You can’t trust NASA for any of your information.)

Another brother, Brother D and his whole ministry hear about Brother B’s claim and they call Brother B to confirm. Brother B says, “oh yeah, I talked to those two scientists.” So Brother D calls that good and starts talking about Niburu slash etc. as well, even going so far as to put Brother P in charge of scouring the internet for more information because it could be connected to these strange newspaper articles in 1983 and also some clay tablets from ancient Sumeria because everyone knows that the ancient Sumerians are on the up and up and trustworthy as a source, and Brother P was already researching it.

Brother D’s ministry has a falling out with Brother P and even go so far as to state on their radio show that Brother P spent time in a mental institution.

Slowly but surely, almost like pod people, everyone starts having their own dreams and visions proving the validity of the Niburu slash etc. I know 6 sisters PERSONALLY who have fallen, hook, line and sinker for this.

Now on the End Times Forecaster website we have all the documentation about Planet X from Pastor R (and yeah, lets also throw the Comet Elenin in there for good measure, I mean, why not? we already have the kitchen sink!) You can go to the link and read for yourself what is said, because I can't put it all on here.
But I want to focus on Pastor R's scriptural verification.This is what he says:
If this sounds like the raging fanaticism of a wild eyed “conspiracy nut” to some of our readers, then perhaps they should read Psalm 46:2-3, 83:13-15, Isaiah 2:10-22, 14:1-13, 24:1-6, 24:17-20, 40:4, Ezekiel 38:19-20, Micah 1:3-4, Nahum 1:5,Haggai 2:6-7, 2:21-23, Hebrews 12:25-28, Revelation 6:12-17, 11:13, 16:17- 21, and many other similar Scriptures throughout God’s Word. Then after these Scriptures have been read, tell the Lord Himself who gave us His inspired Word that He is just a wild eyed “conspiracy nut” and that these clearly stated prophecies in His Word will never happen. Good luck! You will need it!
I looked up everyone of these verses myself, and you should too. I'll wait. NONE of these verses PROVES Planet X. NOT ONE. The verses mention earthquakes and the day of the Lord and other things but they definately DO NOT prove Pastor R's theories. Pastor R goes on to say that is why the elite are building underground bunkers. Are they? Is that the reason? Look, I have done all the research too and know about bunkers and satan's evil global plans etc. BUT, it still does NOT prove the existance of anything. Those verses that Pastor R uses do not prove him right and anyone who is blindly following any of this should be ashamed of themselves! Planetary alignments? Since when has God EVER had his people be concerned with planetary alignments? Check your sources to see if they are new age or not. Most of the websites that are cited for verification on Niburu slash etc., also talk about the alien invasion that is coming (and not that they are demonic, but are actual extra-terrestials.)

God's word says nothing about two suns or 3600 years or any of it. Even if you try to twist scripture to make it fit, it still doesn't. Oh? Wormwood you say? Add another name to the slash list.

My friends, please do not blindly follow these false doctrines and wait for these false calamities. We have enough real calamities to keep us busy. If you want to really investigate these things for yourself (which every Christian is admonished to test the spirits whether they be from God or not) start with the Niburu Wikipedia page. Zechariah Sitchen (more on Sitchen here) was the one who first talked about Niburu as the source of the aliens who seeded us here! Grrr. No self-respecting Christian should touch a Zechariah Sitchen doctrine with a ten foot pole. Then look at some of the new age sources that this stuff is coming out of and repent, and have the Bible alone as your source of prophecy. Yes dreams and visions are wonderful but only if they line up with God's word.

Dear Heavenly Father, Help us to see the truth of what is coming on the earth and help our eyes to be open so that the elect are not deceived by Satan and his hordes and false prophets. In Jesus name. Amen.

Friday, March 11, 2011

False Prophets 101 - Old Testament vs New Testament

(I want to say first of all that my heart goes out to all the people and their families who have been affected by the Japan earthquake and it's aftermath. I am praying for them and for those Christians who have been affected as well.)

It is impossible to really recognize a false prophet and/or false prophecies without understanding what the TRUE prophets and TRUE prophecies are. The subject of prophecy is so huge, that I cannot possibly cover everything. One thing to recognize is the difference between what prophets and prophecy was in the Old Testament vs what it is today, under the New Covenant.

In the Old Testament, prophets were required to speak for God, because Jesus Christ had not yet come. "Holy men of God spake, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." The average believer could not hear from God for himself, like we can today through Jesus Christ. Even King David had Nathan and Gad and other prophets in order to inquire of the Lord, to determine His Will. Job lamented that, "Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both." Job 9:33. The daysman was referring to Jesus Christ who would be our advocate with the Father.

Now, by what Jesus Christ accomplished, the veil seperating us from God has been torn. In the Old Testament, they were servants, but we are sons and the Lord desires to have a relationship with us AS a son, in the same way that He had a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are now fellow-heirs and sons (and daughters). Therefore if you are truly a born again son of God, your Heavenly Father will tell you Himself what His Will is for your life. In fact God specifically tells you to ask Him for wisdom and what to do in your life. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5.

If you are having trouble hearing from the Lord for yourself SEEK HIM and you WILL find Him - it is a promise. I wrote a series on that last year:

Listening to the Lord - Part 1 - The still small voice
Listening to the Lord - Part 2 - The sound of silence
Listening to the Lord - Part 3 - Don't listen to the Old Man
Listening to the Lord - Part 4 - Counterfeits and Spiritual Warfare
Listening to the Lord - Part 5 - Fasting
Listening to the Lord - Part 6 - Conclusion
For good measure I'll throw in: Take Heed that No Man Deceive You

But don't take my word for it. Look in God's word, and search for these things on your own, whether they are true or not.

Here is a good book from Zac Poonen you can read online that can help:

Finding God's Will

Of course, the question arises; How about Agabus? How about Philip's daughters? Well, there is still a need for the office of a prophet. If you look in the Book of Acts - before Agabus came, before Philip's daughters prophecied, Paul said he was "Bound in the spirit" to go to Jerusalem. God had already told Paul HIMSELF not to go to Jerusalem. But Paul was "bound in the spirit" to go anyway. Have you been bound in the spirit? I have - I have fought against the clear instructions of the Lord to me about areas of my life - but I have pushed through (been bound in the spirit) AND suffered the consequences of it. So because Paul was determined, the Lord had to send a prophet to tell him that he would be bound if he went to Jerusalem and we don't know what Phillips daughters prophesied, but it then says, "And when he (paul) would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done." Acts 21:14. Remember that commas were added by translaters and were not in the original text. But then again - maybe that is just a heresie like my friend Richard was saying. Be a Berean and read Acts carefully and ask the Lord about it for yourself.

Was the Lord able to use Paul after that? Yes. If we tell one of our children to not get into a car and drive drunk and they do it, do they cease being our child. No. If they get arrested and end up in jail, do they cease being our child. No. Would we visit them and make the best of it? Maybe. Could they repent and witness to someone in jail with them and that person gets saved. Sure. Was it then the Lord's Will that they got arrested? No, but the Lord was able to make the best of the situation, and He also in His foreknowledge knew what was going to ultimately happen.

In your life - don't just believe someone who comes up to you and tells you that they know the Will of the Lord for your life or that calamity is going to hit and what that person says, is not something the Lord Himself told you about or to do. No matter how "holy" that person might seem. These "prophecies" you read online? Ask the Lord to confirm them to you Himself before you start forwarding emails to everyone in your address book.

Dear Heavenly Father. You are so mighty and wonderful. Thank you for teaching us what Your Will is individually for our lives and thank you for opening our eyes to the false prophets in our day and time. Praise Your Holy NAME. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

False Prophets 101 - Another Gospel

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. II Cor 11:3-4

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. II Cor 11:13-20
The context of II Corinthians is that not only was someone teaching another gospel and another Jesus but he was charging the believers money for the message. The believers thought that since Paul was giving the message for free - this other guy must really know something if he was charging for it. Even back then, a man would punch someone in the face and try to pass himself off as a minister of righteousness.

It wasn't just in Corinth that this was occuring, but also in Galatia. Paul writes:
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Gal 1:6-9
Paul is saying that it is not JUST that it is another gospel, but it is a perverted gospel - a twisted gospel. Notice that twice it says "let him be accursed." That means it is a very serious offense with God and the punishment is established. Whoever perverts the gospel, a curse will come on them.

2nd Peter also addresses this same issue. Please read 2 Peter because I don't have the space to put the whole chapter here, just a few verses:
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 2 Peter 2:1-3
But it gets worse, for Peter states how the true brethren are OVERCOME by these false prophets:
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
This is deadly serious! Heresy is a very serious subject, one that we don't hear enough teaching on. There are several definitions of the word heresy. It means sects or denominations, any opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, it also means to take or to capture as in storming a city! Bottom line it is false doctrine. Someone who believes heresies is a heretic. That is the rub, THEY BELIEVE HERESIES.

I am very concerned about the plethora of heresies being bandied about on the internet these days. One by one I have watched as brothers and sisters that I have respected in the Word and in Christ - get sucked into the dark side of some of these heresies. What am I to do when I watch all my internet friends become heretics before my very eyes? This is what God's Word says:
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. Titus 1:1-3
So here is my first admonition. But I will be posting on some of the specific heresies and false prophecies that are on the internet these days. Am I posting this because I'm so great and I'm such an on-top-of-everything believer and therefore closer to God than you? By all means NO! I have believed some of the same things until the Lord opened my eyes and I repented of the belief of false doctrines. I'm just a regular joe-blow believer who loves God and loves the TRUTH and loves those believers I see diving into the shallow end of the pool. If one person turns away from and repents from being a heretic by these posts, then praise the Lord. But know this:
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21
Heresy is SIN! Just as bad a sin as Adultery, Fornication and Witchcraft! Those who participate in Heresy WILL NOT inherit the Kingdom of God!

Some excellent teachings from Zac Poonen on how to spot heresies and deception are here:

How To Escape Deception
Eight Ways of Decieving ourselves
I just found these and haven't listened to them yet, but I will as soon as I can:
Another Jesus
Another Spirit
Another Gospel

Dear Heavenly Father, Show us what is YOUR truth Lord in the midst of all this perverted gospel. Help us to change our minds to believe only Your Truth and Your word and protect us from heretics and heresies. Thank you for Your Wonderful Son, Jesus Christ - who died for us so that we can know the truth that sets us free. In Jesus Name. AMEN

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

sorry no post today

I sortof got a job. I am the new personal assistant to a friend of mine, so I have been very busy (doing what I love - grocery shopping, washing the dishes, making three-fold presentation boards out of black foam core and duct tape.) There is alot I want to talk about, but auntie Linda is too tired. Will try soon. Love you all!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

We interupt this scheduled program...

I am spending the weekend at the farm. My sister and I have plans to make homemade pasta noodles and if we have time, we may make some shirts from fabric we bought last weekend at JoAnn's fabric. The realtor is having an open house at my parents this weekend, and my parents are at a retreat and it was a wonderful time to get away from the city.

I am having a wonderful time. I feel like a little kid who got a shiny new acoustic guitar for Christmas! Oh, I've gotten ahead of myself.

So originally I wasn't planning on taking my guitar to my sisters house, but at the last minute, I thought "maybe I would have some time to practice." I am convinced now that it was the leading of the Lord. I've been practicing the guitar, but I have also been praying saying, "Lord, how can I obey you in learning the guitar if I physically can hardly play these chords? But, I only want to do Your Will."

When I got to the farm Friday night, I was talking to my nephew about my dilemma. He also has a guitar and come to find out, has a similar dilemma. So the more we talked the more it was settled, we would TRADE!!!!



I now have a beautiful ACOUSTIC guitar!!! Long time readers will by now have figured out how much I love the acoustic guitar. I did not see this coming. The acoustic guitar has a neck that is 1/2 an inch NARROWER than the classic guitar. 1/2 an inch is ALOT when you are talking about fingers! AAAAAHHHHHH, my hand fits the neck of this acoustic guitar like nobody's business! Not to mention the fact that I absolutely LOVE the sound of the acoustic guitar. The case also has straps so that you can wear the guitar on your back. I told my nephew, "Drifters ALWAYS have guitars strapped to their backs!" I am so very blessed and thankful and excited to really play now.

My nephew was also very blessed. It means alot to him to be playing his grandmothers guitar and his hands were so big for the narrow neck of the acoustic guitar that he was having a hard time. Now, he can play the classical guitar like nobody's business.

I just kept saying over and over in my head, "thank you thank you thank you Lord!!~! You are the most awesome Father!"

Dear Heavenly Father, YOU ARE AWESOME! Thank you so much for always being faithful and that your timing is perfect!! In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

False Prophets 101 - Spiritual Abuse


This post is basically an extension of the last post on Cult Mentality, so if you have not read yesterday's post yet, please scroll down and read it first.

Here is a definition of Spritual Abuse from the Spiritual research network webiste:
"Spiritual Abuse occurs when a leader, church or a belief system, whether well intentioned or not, dominates, manipulates or castigates individuals through fear tactics, mind control, or some other psychological or emotional abuse"
Here are some common charasteristics of spiritually abusive ministries from watchman.org here:
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS
#1) Authoritarian
The most distinctive characteristic of a spiritually abusive religious system, or leader, is the over-emphasis on authority. Because a group claims to have been established by God Himself the leaders in this system claim the right to command their followers.

This authority supposedly comes from the position they occupy. In Matthew 23:1-2 Jesus said the Scribes and Pharisees "sit in Moses' seat," a position of spiritual authority. Many names are used but in the abusive system this is a position of power, not moral authority. The assumption is that God operates among His people through a hierarchy, or "chain of command." In this abusive system unconditional submission is often called a "covering," or "umbrella of protection" which will provide some spiritual blessing to those who fully submit. Followers may be told that God will bless their submission even if the leadship is wrong. It is not their place to judge or correct the leadership - God will see to that.

#2) Image Conscious
The abusive religious system is scrupulous to maintain an image of righteousness. The organization's history is often misrepresented in the effort to demonstrate the organization's special relationship to God. The mistaken judgements and character flaws of its leaders are denied or covered up in order to validate their authority. Impossibly high legalistic standards of thought and behavior may be imposed on the members. Their failure to live up to these standards is a constant reminder of the follower's inferiority to his leaders, and the necessity of submission to them. Abusive religion is, at heart, legalism.

Abusive religion is also paranoid. Because the truth about the abusive religious system would be quickly rejected if recognized, outsiders are shown only a positive image of the group. This is rationalized by assuming that the religion would not be understood by "worldly" people; therefore they have no right to know. This attitude leads to members being secretive about some doctrines and the inner policies and proceedures of the group. Leaders, especially, will keep secrets from their members. This secrecy is rooted in a basic distrust of others because the belief system is false and can not stand scrutiny.

#3) Suppresses Criticism
Because the religious system is not based on the truth it cannot allow questions, dissent, or open discussions about issues. The person who dissents becomes the problem rather than the issue he raised. The truth about any issue is settled and handed down from the top of the hierarchy. Questioning anything is considered a challenge to authority. Thinking for oneself is suppressed by pointing out that it leads to doubts. This is portrayed as unbelief in God and His anointed leaders. Thus the follower controls his own thoughts by fear of doubting God.

#4) Perfectionistic
A most natural assumption is that a person does not get something for nothing. Apart from the express declarations of salvation by grace through faith God has given in the scriptures, it would be natural to think that one must earn salvation, or at least work to keep it. Thus, in abusive religions all blessings come through performance of spiritual requirements. Failure is strongly condemned so there is only one alternative, perfection. So long as he thinks he is succeeding in his observation of the rules, the follower typically exhibits pride, elitism, and arrogance. However, when reality and failure eventually set in, the result is the person experiences spiritual burnout, or even shipwreck of his faith. Those who fail in their efforts are labeled as apostates, weak, or some other such term so that they can be discarded by the system.

#5) Unbalanced
Abusive religions must distinguish themselves from all other religions so they can claim to be distinctive and therefore special to God. This is usually done by majoring on minor issues such as prophecy, carrying biblical law to extremes, or using strange methods of biblical interpretation. The imbalanced spiritual hobby-horse thus produced represents unique knowledge or practices which seem to validate the group's claim to special status with God.
One of the interesting doctrines that the Way International had was "weakness always brings down strength." They would say that to people (who they were subtily accusing of being weak and thus could bring down the whole ministry.) when the Word says God's strength is made perfect in weakness. Actually one of my leaders in the Way said to me one time, "You are frought with weakness." Wow. That REALLY bothered me. The day I left that cult, I said to her, "I am NOT frought with weakness! My mind is strong because I never let you people brainwash me!" But that was after 7 years of spiritual abuse.

If you are being spiritually abused, or know someone who is in a cult or looking into joining a shady ministry, there is a way out. Jesus is the TRUE WAY and He is strong in our weakness and wants us to NEVER FEAR!! Jesus always said, Fear Not! If you are living in fear about the ministry you are involved in, or even if you are receiving revelation that instills you with fear - that is NOT from the true God. God is FIRST PURE, THEN PEACEABLE, easy to be entreated. The biggest lie is that some calamity will hit you if you don't believe like "we" do.

Seek the Lord my friends. FEAR NOT! The cults and ALOT of the churches are basically cults are trying to keep you in fear. Jesus came that you might have life, and have it more abundantly. Free from Fear and intimidation. Zac Poonen said it right when he said, we have a mediator in Christ. We don't need a 2nd mediator in the form of a man (especially an overly religious false prophet of a man!)

If you google spiritual abuse recovery, there is alot of ministries out there with experience in healing and deliverance - but even then - be careful, trust the Lord and pray to find a good ministry that can help you.

Dear Heavenly Father - you are pure in Your love for us and for our lives and we need your help to discern wicked ministries and spiritual abusers that will try to hurt us and make us turn away from you. Thank you for your mercy in our lives. In Jesus name. Amen.

p.s. I am going away this weekend so will probably not be posting for the next couple days. I will be continuing this series when I get back. Take care my friends!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

False Prophets 101 - Cult Mentality


Sometimes, false prophets are so good at what they do, that they are able to collect a huge following of people and the group becomes a cult. The people in a cult usually all agree on a set of doctrines - some true and some false. In fact, the closer the false doctrines are to the truth, the more people will believe and be won over to the cult's way of thinking. I have been the member of two different cults: The US Air Force and The Way International, so I am now immune to brain-washing techniques. (Praise the Lord!)

Here is a the typical way a cult is able to win over a new recruit.

1.) Target those people who are lonely, maybe have no friends or family to speak of, someone who is isolated and who is vulnerable and NEEDS the LORD!

2.) Make friends with that person - witness to them and invite them to come to the cult bible study. Invite them to BBQ's and other fun events and have the boys pay alot of attention to the girls and vice versa. Talk alot about all the benefits of our ministry (vs other ignorant and not as spiritual as us ministries) while still shielding them from any dark secrets that may be going on behind the scenes.

3.) Most cults are pyrimid schemes. The more you know, the more you are responsible to the cult for the knowledge they have taught you. More and more pressure to take their classes and go out witnessing for them is put on people. They want you to drop your old friends, stay away from your "unbelieving" family. We are your family now. Tithing is stressed, not just 10% but you should shoot for abundant giving because you want to please the Lord, etc.

4.) The Lord is the hook. What is really bad about the Way International, is they operate speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues according to the bible, so that the manifestations are true. Only the devil would use real speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues to brainwash someone to trust him.

5.) Our ministry is the ONLY ONE with the truth. If you leave, calamity will strike you and you will be out from under the protection of the Lord.

6.) We are everything to you. Worship us. Where will you go? Only we have the truth.

7.) You will become our little automaton, believing the doctrines we tell you to believe and shunning those doctrines that would question our authority over you. Come tell your leadership before you make any kinds of decisions, in fact, we will tell you what to do. You just concentrate on the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace. What? You would question an elder? You just concentrate on obedience little minion.

8.) Should the REAL Lord be merciful and tell you to leave the cult - even if it is just with the shirt on your back, no-one is allowed to talk to you and you will become Marked and AVOID!

Phew! Not only was I in a cult, but I know a woman who knew David Koresh! She watched as alot of her friends sold property and other stuff and went off with David Koresh and ended up being Branch Davidians. If you don't know what happened to them, google it.

Evil men and SEDUCERS will wax worse and worse. The devil loves to hurt innocent people who are seeking for the truth. And here is another warning. Most people who join the truth movement looking for answers end up falling for the New Age religion, because even in the truth movement there is so much lies and propaganda! As we know, since alot of us know false prophets and false brethren personally, that only the grace of God saved us from being deceived.

That is why you have to seek the Lord with everything you've got and pray and pray and pray for answers, for the truth and to discern. READ YOUR BIBLE! Put on the whole armor of God. But please! Please guard your heart and take everything to the Lord. The Lord NEEDS you to have a personal relationship with HIM ALONE because there are alot of people that will love to make the decisions for you and tell you what to believe and what to do, and to have the power over you! It is a dark scary world out there. BE SAFE!

Dear Amazing Father - thank you for opening our eyes and steering us clear of cults and cult leaders, who ravage the flock and make their followers twice the child of hell then they are. Protect us - keep us wise as serpents and harmless as doves, that we may warn our fellow believers against evil men who would hurt them and use them. Help those who are trapped in cults to leave, and heal them. In Jesus name. Amen.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

False Prophets 101 - Eyes to See

“I have electric light,
and I have second sight,
I have AMAZING POWERS OF OBSERVATION.”
Pink Floyd

"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21
I read a comment from an Anonymous source on another blog recently. The commenter was saying that "When the tower fell in Siloam killing 18 people, I don't see Jesus explaining to his disciples the significance of the number 18 or the hidden meaning of Siloam. I do read Jesus telling his disciples that if they didn't repent they too would perish." I thought that was a very insightful comment, also very true. Here is what Jesus told them:
There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:1-5
The point here is that Jesus makes it clear that these people ARE NOT worse sinners than everyone else, just because calamity fell on them. Don't you think that if it WAS a judgement from God, or that there WAS some spiritual significance in those situations that Jesus would have said so?

There are alot of brothers and sisters out there that analyze the calamities going on in the world, or sporting events, rock stars, memes if you will, and attribute spiritual significance to it. Now I firmly believe that the Lord can and does communicate to His sons and daughters in different ways, but I'm not talking about that.

For example, a brother recently compared Congress to a train wreck and made the claim that God was stating by this train wreck that America would crash during the 111th Congress. This man went into great detail to prove his point. We are now in the 112th Congress and as of yet, America is still standing. This man had to come out and apologize for his false prophecy. Most people don't know this same man made similar proclamations of doom for America at Y2K that he had to apologize for as well, thus establishing himself as a false prophet. Don't be mad at me for stating the facts, this person has a pattern of making false predictions. I feel sorry for the people that are deceived by him. I know I was. God's standard for prophets are 100% accuracy. Period. Deu 18:20-22.

There was alot of talk about the significance of the earthquakes in Christchurch New Zealand recently. Well, there are literally hundreds of earthquakes going on in Arkansas but nobody is talking about that. The point I am trying to make is that there is alot of people claiming this judgement of God and that judgement of God and there are some websites that spend pages and pages making connections that may or may not be there, all the while saying that it is the Lord.

Jesus also told those people that if they did not repent they would likewise perish. I think that is the legitimate comparison. Know all those people who died in Hurricane Katrina? If you do not repent - you will likewise perish. Know the people who died in the earthquake in Haiti? If you do not repent - you will likewise perish.

Repentance is the key. It is so very important to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and repent. Be very careful when looking at the "signs of the times." The devil has many lying signs and wonders, and he will deceive believers with confirmations to false prophecies. Seek the Lord for your own confirmations and do not be so quick to believe every prophecy, even if it was someone who has had very accurate teachings on God's word in the past. Jesus warns about "wolves in sheep's clothing." Because we think they are true brothers, I do believe that there are those who are "deceiving and being deceived." I just don't want you or me to be part of that group.

Dear Heavenly Father, please open our eyes. Help us to discern what is true prophecy and what is false. I lift up to you brothers and sisters that are deceived by false prophecies and for those brethren who have presumptiously made false prophecies. That they will repent. I repent Lord, of any false prophecies I may have passed on in ignorance. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.