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.

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

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.