There was an article recently published in The Baptist Reflector that was written by Evangelist Justin Peters that claimed that the Word of Faith movement was heresy and that it wrecked lives. This article named several different teachers from Ken and Gloria Copeland, Joyce Meyer, T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen and Benny Hinn. According to Mr. Peters he claims that this Word of Faith movement dresses its doctrine in Christian apparel and that it does not find its roots in orthodox Christianity.
These claims come from a man that is suffering from cerebral palsy and a man that is representing a denomination that has been unfortunatley declining over the years due to their own lack of understanding in how to add new wine into an old wine skin. With these ingredients of cerebral palsy and a declining denomination it can be easy to lean our beliefs in a particular direction if we are not careful. This is not to say that Mr. Peters has formed his opinion without consideration of these facts but they are to insure the awareness of each teaching being fairly evaluated without someone leaning more in one direction due to their own personal objectives. It is very important that when we make accusations against another teaching that we look at both sides of the picture in depth to better understand what is actually taking place. Because when we really investigate both sides of the teachings it is easy to find that both have their own positives as well as they both tend to leave out areas of the Full Gospel. This is where Balance is required due to the purpose of order, respecting authority and having the freedom to worship God through the love of Jesus Christ who makes all things possible to those who believe.
For years people have picked specific areas of the Holy Bible to follow while leaving out another area. Either because of their own lack of understanding, maybe because their own fears while some are simply seeking selfish desires. It is vital that we teach the full gospel without leaving out specific parts to maintain the integrity within the body. If you were to ask any of these names mentioned from Justin Peters to the ones mentioned in his article we will find that they all claim that Jesus Christ is the key to our eternal salvation. God’s Word teaches us in 1 John 2, “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either;he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”
Rather than us striking at one another in a way that can cause confusion or in a way that can end up in a division lets learn how to address each other in love and humility so that God may open up our minds to receive the Truth. When we really study both sides of this article from Justin Peters to the Word of Faith movement in the teachers that he mentioned we can find a similar parallel that took place in Acts 19 in the riot of Ephesus. The people of Ephesus set out to kill the movement due to the financial impact and for placing their trust in what they see rather than they don’t see.
Based on Mr. Peters testimony of his cerebral palsy it appears that he has received the peace of God in this circumstance but nowhere in the Holy Bible does God ever teach us to lose Hope in the healing powers of Jesus Christ. When we accept something with no hopes of being healed in the will of God it is like taking in a negative seed and planting something that is not true according to God’s Word. The man at the well never gave up nor did the brothers that lowered their friend through the roof to be healed. Praise God for those brothers that did not leave someone else behind! The important part about our temporary life is learning how to have peace where we are while knowing that God’s Will will be done. God’s Word teaches us to never lose Hope no matter our circumstance and as He teaches us through the life of Joseph we are to learn how to make a positive difference wherever we are or whatever we have to go through.
God’s Word teaches us that when we encounter different trials that they are there to help shape us into who He wants us be and not for something that we may want for ourselves. These type of test help us to develop a deeper love for our Father in Heaven and they help us to teach others how to have faith no matter what trials we face. There are very few people that have not encountered some sort of illness or some type of loss that would not have chosen to be healed if they were completely honest within themselves. God’s Word tells us that even greater miracles are possible when we believe and this is so true.
The segment in Mr. Peter’s article that claims this movement is wrecking lives can be justified if we are not teaching the importance of building on a solid foundation without the cracks of sin that can cause us to fall. God teaches us to build one brick at a time without jumping ahead and to be happy where we are while always being ready to move how He directs. So many times in our youth we miss this understanding because in our flesh we tend to want the ship before we know how to set sail. It is imperative for God’s children to know the purpose of time and to understand the difference between the power boat and the sail boat. There are days for high octane and days to relax in the gentle spirit of God that carries forward. For if we don’t know how to Balance between the two then we can either blow the engine or fowl the plug. The object is for the engine to run lean and efficient of knowing when to call on the power and when not.
The gospel is not about external prosperity but about an internal richness that is gained through the love of Jesus Christ in respecting the time that we are given with our family and friends. Every single soul has a responsibility to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and to teach the importance of being obedient to God’s Word to maintain our homes and our nation. If we are failing to speak the Truth and the restoration that comes from sincere repentance through the love of Jesus Christ then spiritually Satan can take us off course.
Where many followers of this Word of Faith movement are suffering comes from their lack of commitment in seeking God for their understanding verses leaning on someone else besides Jesus to get them through. When we attend a rally where there is music and worship but fail to prepare the new converts of what they are going to face after receiving Christ then we are only setting them up to be conquered by Satan once again. Jesus teaches us that when demons are cast out in the desert that they will return to their original home if the home stays vacant and be even stronger than before. This is the part which I believe Mr. Peters is speaking against in the lack of disciplining that is taking place in the overall church body today. When we enter into a setting where the presence of the Holy Spirit is so strong that the demons can’t stay around it is easy for them to be cast out but don’t think that they are not hanging out in the parking lot waiting for our return. This is where so many lives are being wrecked because many of the new converts are not being discipled nor grasping the importance of digging into God’s Word to develop their sense of discernment between good and evil.
The Word of God plainly teaches us not to fall into useless debates in the book of 2 Timothy 2 and God’s Word plainly tells us to address other believers in humility so that God may open their minds to receive the Truth. It is our sincere prayer at Balanced Life that we quit splintering the body and learn to work together in parties roll in the body of Christ to move forward once again. There should be no battle between true believers for the battle is in the field where the harvest is plenty. Please God help us to work together for your gloryt and not our own…Amen
May God unite us for His candle power to shine in the love of Jesus Christ…
James A. Harrison / Balanced Life Ministry
Bryant says
Great points to all comments. But I to struggle with the actions of churches, Christians, many false teachers. We must remember this, How long did it take us to get it. To come to a true relationship with Christ. Now we want to throw stones at the ones who have not got it yet! What if we had been stoned before we found the truth. I’m different than most, we home school, we teach our children the Word of God we do not leave it up to the church. We read Gods word daily, we do not look for the pastor to feed us, just to proclaim the word of God. The reason so many get upset at church is that is as deep as their faith goes, change anything and they get made because that is all they know. On the 1st post by Jay. There is a movement going on that can not be backed up by the word of God. They say Jesus plus this, or Jesus plus this, it is Jesus plus nothing. Jesus is all we need. David did not kill Saul because God said touch not thy anointed. David obeyed God’s word. Its not our place to remove pastors, its Gods place. Its not our place to convict sinners, its Gods place. We are called to love and proclaim Jesus. Jesus said if I be lifted up I will draw men unto me. The Message we should be preaching is Jesus and what he did for us.
Amen
Joe Dwyer says
You should get a hold of a Catholic Bible there are some books in there that you would enjoy……
Russ Hinds says
Hey James,
Yes, I do agree with the message.
But, oops! Your message is pointing out the faults. Just like I do. And in your reply you criticize my “brow-beating” criticism.
Criticism is essential to faith. Especially in writing, lol. Paul said, 2Co 13:10 This is why I write these (strong) things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
Paul also used love and encouraged love, but if we love we must be willing to teach the Truth. Lev 19:17 Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.
Please remember that God draws people to Him. God is love and Truth, 1Jn 4:8 and John 14:6.
Today’s men are weak and too often too polite, aren’t they? No one likes confronting sin, much less the people doing sin. God draws people to Himself. People must hear the Truth to be drawn to it. And they must know that God loves them, as well. God proved His love, Jn3:16 and Jn 15:13. So, we speak the Truth with love for our brother, then their freewill takes over. Will they be attracted to the Truth, or will they hate the light, Jn 3:20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
This is hard stuff to believe. But it is hard only because we have grown soft and squishy. Men have been turned into wimps through our schools and wives. Men used to be leaders, firm leaders. And David was a man who led firmly. He had a heart that was after God’s own heart. David knew this, Am 5:15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. But David was a fallible man, too. He desired a woman just like we do, but we do not become the weaker sex in submission to the weaker sex. Let us submit to God and love our wives as He loves the church. Men must seek the Truth and lead with it. We cannot forever speak sweetness and honey and expect results. None of the prophets spoke sweetness and honey. They spoke the Truth. They criticized, and they reserved the sweetness and honey for AFTER THE REPENTANCE. Then the prophets assured the repentant of God’s blessings and milk and honey.
Trying too hard to be liked and accepted by the lost has gotten our churches to where they are at. I look at them and think of the Laodocean church in Revelations.
God is love, but if we truly love our fellow man, we must speak the Truth so that we are not sharing in their guilt.
Seeking and testing scripture BY DOING IT will build our faith and leadership skills. It cements understanding when we remain innocent. Other prople will always come along to point out faults, but we point to the Truth. God is the judge, not man. But a righteous man will use God’s word to judge rightly, for God is the judge of the world, not me.
I pray that God gives me the courage to speak the Truth rightly. I speak only from his Word. Let His Word be the judge, and if I need correction please correct me with God’s Word. I do not want to mislead anyone.
Blessings.
James says
I hear you brother and agree with you. For the record I stand on the Truth and believe fully in correcting and rebuking through the Word of God. Do you recall the lesson with David and Saul? Even though Saul was out to kill David, David was obedient to God in respecting authority and waited on God to open the doors for him to move forward.
David was very strategic and was mindful of how the people had abandoned the Lord. God surrounded David with loyal men and David did not try to force something on the people that would not listen until he was in the position to hold his ground. This relates to the teaching of Jesus of casting our pearls among the swine and another important part of this is casting our pearls before someone is ready to receive. (People need to learn how to handle the manna before they can receive the pearls)
Learning to plant ourselves where God wants us and then waiting for God to provide the water from the well instead of trying to take it on our own as David teaches us in 2 Samuel 23 is an invigorating experience beyond the expression of words . This test of waiting on God while we stand on the truth where He plants us will absolutely be felt in every fibre of our body because this is going against every part of our flesh in just wanting to knock the wall down instead of learning to teach in love while standing on the truth for God to bring down the walls one brick at a time.( I know this is the part that every man can’t stand because we desire the wrecking ball instead of taking the time to save those good bricks that still can be used in the Kingdom of God.)
As these walls begin to fall and we begin to see the eyes of those who have been traveling in circles come out of the forrest it is a rejoicing moment without words as the unity and strength returns to the family of God. For those that don’t listen and avoid the truth God will shake the tree and remove what needs to be removed for His church to go forward when we have the right motives in only God’s glory and not our own. The Lord tells us that vengeance is His and the righteous rejoice in their heart when the Truth wins out. Another vital lesson we learn with David and Saul is how he took care of Saul’s family instead of casting them out. David never wanted to harm Saul because he only wanted him to receive the truth and he trusted God.
Regarding the churches we can look at them as a feed troff where many are coming to be fed without learning how to eat on their own due to the lack of discipling in the Word of God. It is easy to see the ones that are hogging all the food for themselves and the ones that are filling their own barns verses sharing with the ones that are weak in the herd. This makes it a great place to disciple because why do we need to go looking when they are coming to be fed?
Kinda like these men on the hunting channel that call themselves hunters when they have food plots set out and they stage themselves as an ambush for the prey. It would be funny to watch one of these modern day hunters be dropped off in the woods to see how they would act without the comfort that we have today. Kinda like some pastors as well, have you ever noticed how some struggle to survive when they lose their herd? The question is are they feeding off of the people verses learning to be content while being fed by the hand of God?
I hear your frustration and it reminds me so much of myself and the journey that began several years ago. I have learned that I have to earn the trust of those that don’t know how to trust and this takes time in starting out in the classroom as a student even though we should be the teacher. Over time in our commitment and showing our faith God will open the doors for us to teach and then He will bring us the flock and eventually build our herd. God wants our obedience first and then comes our sacrifice of letting go of ourselves for the love of teaching others.
There is an art to teaching brother and it comes in love with patience and trusting God you know this but honestly your frustrations are overiding your actions.(lol) Like myself it is hard because it blew my mind how someone can be studying the Word for years and not understand what it is actually teaching. We are in a modern day Pharisee society with a country that is falling like Sodom and Gomarah. I believe the time is close at hand that God will be opening the doors for us in a mighty way and until then lets teach the Word to everyone that is willing to listen….Stand strong my brother and be ready when you are called…
Russ Hinds says
James,
You have made some very good points. I’ll comment on each.
Your first point about David: David refused to kill Saul because David knew God and men. David’s keen insight allowed him to see the future. If David had killed Saul, there would have been a segment of the population that remained loyal to Saul and his descendents. They would undermine David’s kingship by claiming that he took the throne by violence. David had a keen eye. He knew history. He saw men’s hearts, BECAUSE HE COMPARED THEIR ACTIONS TO GOD’S WORD. He didn’t want to give people ammunition to use against him.
You are right. David waited on God to open doors, while David pursued righteousness. David also won the hearts of the people by protecting them from the marauding Philistines, something Saul was failing to do.
Casting our pearls before swine: This one, I have trouble with. I cast Truth before everyone. I get in trouble too much. Actually, I am very mindful of who I am speaking to (gently to the curious lost), but when speaking to churchmen, I challenge them with strong words hoping that they will dig deeper. Are churchmen swine?
“waiting on God while we stand on the truth where He plants us” This one is tough. How to interpret it? If my actions are rash and unwise, that may be getting ahead of God, and giving ammunition to be used against me. But just speaking the Truth? Shouldn’t we all love the Truth? Why would just speaking and teaching be “getting ahead of God.”
Try this perspective: It takes a stubborn wise man to confront a stubborn stupid man.” If no one confronts him won’t he continue to mislead people?
I do the best I can. I try very hard to be sensitive to His Spirit. It grieves me that I am so alone in this place. I looked for someone to teach me, but I found none. For 20 years I have had to rely a lot on this verse, Jn 6:45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
Anyway, I have to balance “waiting” with “not missing an opportunity.” I just try to keep a clear conscience.
we desire the wrecking ball: I don’t desire a wrecking ball. I simply want to warn and equip men to do the role God has given them. They need to know the Truth so that they can pass it on to their children. Certainly, God would require men to protect their children from government school curriculum and unchurched peer pressure. BUT THE CHURCH HAS LEFT TOO MANY GENERATIONS BEHIND ALREADY. Were Isaiah and Jeremiah wrecking balls? Or were the people stubbon and stiff necked? They weren’t ready to listen until it was too late.
Real men of God would surely be loving, leading, teaching, taking care of, and protecting their children in the churches. Building schools in the churches would provide an alternative and a light to the lost. Perhaps then we could raise up wise loving lawyers, judges, teachers, professors, policemen, and politicians. Does America see what is coming? What will be the result of worsening debauchery over the last 50 years? Failing to “train them up in the way they should go…” Repent! I say repent!
someone can be studying the Word for years and not understand what it is actually teaching. Isn’t that what the Pharasees did? Is it possible that is what hireling preachers do? The Truth is, people can study and teach scripture their whole life, but miss the narrow gate. Once again, I repeat the Bible, “Seek first His kingdom…” Don’t stop until you find it. And when you find it, you will want to love, lead, teach, take care of, and protect your children and loved ones. You will want them to find His kingdom, too. You will long to fellowship with others in His kingdom, but can you find any?
Come out from among them, 2Co 6:17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 2Co 6:18 “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
It may be hard teaching, but it makes sense to me. Pretending to be a church while leaving your children in the hands of “hostile to Christianity” government school teachers is evil to me. We have left too many generations behind already.
Geeze… It looks like I just unloaded both barrels… What to do? Delete it? …..No. I’ll let it stand. Jesus, the Morning Star, can rise in the humble contrite and seeking heart. His kingdom can be found, now, while we are alive…
2Pe 1:19 And we have the word of the prophets (the Old Testament) made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place (our dark world and dark churches), until the day dawns (light bulbs come on in your head) and the morning star (Jesus, the Truth, undestanding, His kingdom) rises in your hearts.
Dig deeper than those around you. Don’t stop where the Pharasees stop.
Pour out your Spirit, Father, on those who love your word
Ac 2:17-21
James says
You have made some great points and I will try to address yours as well.
A. Casting our pearls before swine: This one, I have trouble with. I cast Truth before everyone. I get in trouble too much. Actually, I am very mindful of who I am speaking to (gently to the curious lost), but when speaking to churchmen, I challenge them with strong words hoping that they will dig deeper. Are churchmen swine?
No, churchmen are not swine because it was an inner desire for the Truth that brought them to the church. I have discovered though that many churches have been invaded by the enemy through controlling spirits that are suppressing the people and when we find God’s children being robbed of the Victory in the Truth then it is our job to enter into God’s house for the people to be set free.
There are those Pharisees that simply just don’t get it and due to their temporary influenence we have to be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove. When we enter the field with a mission of God there are one of two things that will happen. 1. God will either open their hearts to receive the truth
2.Or, God will move the the people due to the wrong spirits that they carry.
My point is this, the people in the field are the ones that we need to reach and when the people open their eyes the leaders will possibly do the same. “Remember the harvest is plenty by the workers are few.”
B. “waiting on God while we stand on the truth where He plants us” This one is tough. How to interpret it? If my actions are rash and unwise, that may be getting ahead of God, and giving ammunition to be used against me. But just speaking the Truth? Shouldn’t we all love the Truth? Why would just speaking and teaching be “getting ahead of God.”
I am in agreement here with you and it the part which I did not clarify is that when God points out to us an issue within another brother it is wise to teach in love over time without pushing them away. If they are directly sinning that is another issue for it is our responsibility to stand on the Word. This part of my message is referring to those in authority and having to wait on God to move us into position so then we can apply what we learned without falling into the same traps.
C. “men are like wrecking balls” As men we tend to hit with discipline but the area which we often neglect is the need for compassion. Our lives are like brick walls that have been built over time. When we learn how break them down one brick at a time and analyze each brick to before we place it back in place God will build a wall that will not fall when our bricks are held together in the love of Jesus.
Sometimes God breaks us down all the way to our foundation in order for us to stand again on the rock that will never fail.
I agree with you whole heartily and where I am waiting on God to prepare the hearts for those to receive His Word. I am praying for God to open the doors in a mighty way to speak what needs to be said. Until then I am going to continue to work where I am and build a strong foundation for the future.
Russ, I am curious are you attending a church where there are people that are hungry for God’s Word?
Russ Hinds says
Praise be to God for our open and friendly discussion! “Iron sharpening iron.”
You have once again spoken wisely. Let us keep our hearts with love and respectful fear of the Lord.
No, churchmen are not swine because it was an inner desire for the Truth that brought them to the church. I agree! Many people come seeking the Truth. I pray for wise teachers to “feed my lambs and take care of my sheep.” Unfortunately, our society and the “explosion of information” has made it more difficult for seminaries to raise up competent, loving, and wise disciplers. Theology in seminaries becomes a “science,” or an intellectual quest, for one example. Perhaps like the Pharasees’ seminary. Combine that with political corrrectness, the sexualized TV, the portrayal of fathers as dolts, etc, and the minds and hearts of men are distracted into error and delusion. Ac 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John m and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, n they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. The Truth can be found by even the common man, when he seeks it with all his strength. It really is not that hard to understand once we accept the fact that we are born ignorant and when we test everything we hear against love and God’s Truth. You see? God is love. Love without God’s Truth is not love. Love doesn’t hurt. Sin and ignorance hurts. Evil hurts. God teaches us what is evil and how to avoid evil.
The Truth that we were born without teaches us what is evil. Everything else seeks to distract and justify evil. People reflexively protect their egos and ignorance, therefore the Truth makes them uncomfortable. Jn 16:8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: The unrepentant, those without a humble childlike heart, will do all manner of things to throw a seeker of Truth off track. THIS ALSO PREVENTS EVEN EARNEST SEEKERS OF TRUTH FROM FINDING THE TREASURE IN THE FIELD, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 1Pe 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1Pe 5:9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1Pe 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you y to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. Too many “infant” Christians in today’s churches throw each other off the Truth. They are like “roaring lions.” They are poor disciplers, but the real servant of God will become a competent discipler, actually desiring to lead others to the Truth and defend the Truth and pass His kingdom on to their children. Obeying God is easy when we truly love our Father in heaven, because we want to be faithful and wise servants, children of God. Imagine a church full of competent faithful and wise servants. Unfortunely, the faithful are alone and scattered among the churches… possibly being held back by the roaring infants.
…God points out to us an issue within another brother it is wise to teach in love over time without pushing them away. I do agree. I really do. Actually I don’t have problems with men who may still be “in sin.” I need improvement myself, but, when someone misleads another person, intentionally or not, boy that gets me riled up. So, my battle seems to be a battle of words. Shout the words from the rooftops and let men decide for themselves if they want to hear it. (He who has ears let him hear) God has provided the way and the forgiveness, but will men seek it? Words shouldn’t push Christian men away. Geeze… what if the prophets let the words of their detracters push them away? Seems kind of squishy and lacking faith and wisdom to me. If anyone lacks wisdom, simply ask God and go to His word. In the Bible, the words of men can be discerned True, or not. I desire to equip men with HIS TRUTH. Let them walk in HIS TRUTH, not mine. But too many preachers have their own followers. Follow God and not men.
Russ, I am curious are you attending a church where there are people that are hungry for God’s Word?
No, I am not. I am going to three men’s Bible studies. I have enough trouble stirring the pot there.
I admit that I don’t have a great deal of patience “waiting for God to open up hearts.” How can He open up hearts if people aren’t hearing the full Truth? The fact is, the traditional Sunday church service has become ineffective. I think a church might be wise to try and conduct Sunday programs in a manner like college courses. Go to worship and prayer, first, then go to appropriate classes with gifted leaders on discipleship/discovery, or to classes applying (and doing) God’s word to the reality surrounding us in the churches and our society and our government and history. After the classes, fellowship, even feasts to the Lord would be good. MAKE HAPPY MEMORIES WITH FELLOW CHRISTIANS! Don’t just go home and close the door.
Anyway, I do the best I can. I find too much resistance. I think people in church leadership think that I want to take over… One pastor asked everyone in the congregation to find a place of service in the church. I offered to get to know him and build a relationship with him so that we could trust each other, but he asked for my testimony. I gave it to him, including my battle with the courts for my sons, and he said , “Your services are not needed in my church.” I’m still alone…
God bless.
James says
I know exactly what you mean when you mentioned that others feel threatened by you. I encounter the same issue as well. What has helped me with this matter is recognizing the type of spirit within me and recognizing the spirit within others.
As an eagle you rarely see them flying with a flock and usually if they are flying with another it is always with their mate. An eagle rarely plays like the sparrows and they don’t travel in circles like the pigeons that don’t know how to leave their comfort zone. Eagles are protective and always watch full and if you notice their is a strength and tact within them that no other bird can compare.
Once we learn our spirit then God will teach us how to respond to others who have not figured it out. For instance you meet a ball player that knows the game and thinks that he knows how to play due to the education that he has received. Then he meets someone that has learned the game from the ground up. This is the interesting part that takes place because the one with the education looks down on the one without the background while the one that learned from the school of hard knocks walks circles around them to the goal. That is because anyone can learn the rules but what good are they if we don’t know how to play?
Awards and diplomas often cause others to have to prove their self worth due to their own lack of understanding. This is exactly why Jesus was crucified due to showing the ignorance of the ones that thought they were wise. Why do people try to make Christianity so complicated when it is so simple? What is it that someone can’t understand about unconditional love? This is where our society has lost it in trying to prove something when there is nothing to prove. For what has been done has already been done and it is only up to us to follow and serve God’s will.
What I have received has not come from schools nor from parents here on this earth. Your statement ,” Theology in seminaries becomes a “science,” or an intellectual quest, for one example. Perhaps like the Pharasees’ seminary. Combine that with political correctness, the sexualized TV, the portrayal of fathers as dolts, etc, and the minds and hearts of men are distracted into error and delusion.” This could not be more true!
It is wise to recognize the importance of of all birds in the flock for without the eagle who would protect the others from being the prey? Unfortunately, due to our pathetic nature and men that walk around with their feelings on their shoulders like little girls it is very difficult to establish that brotherhood which sharpens the sword. After two years of working and standing on the Truth this is finally starting to take place here in our area and God is bringing this together.
Here is another interesting biblical fact when two or more come together with the spirits of an eagle that respect each others space something takes place beyond what we see. I am literally watching spirits leave while setting others are being set free. If you can find another brother in your area that can join you in spirit and in truth then travel together into the darkness and watch what takes place. If you can’t find someone there to connect with in your journey then pray for God to connect you either there or even if you have to move. Jesus always sent us out in pairs and this was for a reason beyond what we see…Stay Strong Brother and don’t be discouraged…..
Russ Hinds says
James.
I like your eagle analogy. God is really speaking to you. I would like to carry it further.
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God does raise up “eagles.” They are the “noble and good heart that perseveres and produces a crop.” Another way of saying this is, “Truth raises up eagles.” They hold to his teaching and they know the Truth, Jn 8:31,32.
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You mention being able to “see the spirit” in yourself and others. Well, the “spirit” in a noble and good heart is “Love.” Eagles love God (the Truth) and they love their neighbors. Love God first, and He will teach you how to love family, friends, and neighbors in the Truth. Let us stress “Truth” because error, misunderstanding, and lies block us from “knowing the Truth.” But the Word of God renews our minds to conform to God’s Truth. Be born of the Spirit and the Word, for Jesus said, “The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life, Jn 6:63.” Choose life, flee from error and misunderstanding. Seek His wisdom and understanding, Pr 8:1-36. Seek first His kingdom…
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Now, what are the spirits that you are “watching leave people?” I define spirits as characteristic things that cannot be seen with the eye, like “greed.” Greed is a spirit and we have truthful words that define it so that we can see it in our mind’s eye. God’s word gives the gift to see spirits. 1Co 12:10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits,– So, are you seeing spirits of fear and mistrust leave? Isn’t that great? When people permit themselves to trust God and the people lovingly trying to speak and teach God’s Truth, then the spirits of fear, mistrust, and wrong assumptions leave.
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Actually, infant Christians moving from the “world we grow up in” into God’s Truth is moving from believing error and lies into believing Truth and reality. So, when a fallible man like me comes speaking Truth, those whose minds are not fully renewed tend to distrust and fear me. Thus, I must become what I preach, not give them reason to doubt or accuse (Our infant churches have been giving people ammunition to mistrust their shepherds and brothers and sisters, Rom 2:24). I must be a servant and a willing helper to them. But, in my case, I need to remind people that I am not perfect. I need improvement, too. Still others in the church will cling to their own egos. Truly, they are kings in the own hearts, Jesus is not king in their heart. For if Jesus was tuly king, they would work alongside eagles who speak the Truth in order to raise up eagles who speak the Truth and teach it competently. Their is no “ego’ in that. God alone is the one who should have an ego. WE ARE ALL EQUALLY SINNERS SEEKING TO BECOME SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD. Egos and fear of man are a snare that prevents finding the kingdom of God and understanding the Truth correctly. Pr 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. See? We say, trust in the Lord, not me! But still, many infants and professing Christians will cling to error. The may concoct false assumptions about an “eagle” and choose to believe those assumptions. They may choose to believe that the eagle is a boisterous know it all seeking to prove himself above others. That lowers the eagle and lifts up the infant professing Christian in his own mind. ISN’T THAT WHAT THE PHARASEES DID TO JESUS? We are to be like Jesus, and we will be hated like Jesus was hated.
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An eagle seeking to raise up eagles must never lord over people. The greatest will serve the least, but he will stand firmly in the Truth to teach the Truth. Teach the Truth to equip others to teach the Truth and pass it on to their offspring. Men must allow the Truth to convict them, they must not resist the Holy Spirit, Ac 7:51 “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Ac 7:52 Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute?
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Obviously, there is much wisdom we need to persevere and produce a crop. We need love and self control. And you are right, we need brothers and sisters working beside us. This is where I am lacking. I did something few people have the courage to do, and they cannot bring themselves to trust me after hearing my testimony, or parts of it. Here we are in a nation which needs courageous men to stand up to the control freaks in government who are enslaving us, but these infant Christians have no idea how. They are not equipped in the armor of God (Truth). They can’t pass on the kingdom to there children, much less stand eye to eye with the enemies of the Truth. Jesus stood eye to eye. Stephen stood eye to eye. But because I stood up to the government, I confuse them… They can’t see what government schools, TV, ignorance, and sin has done to themselves and their children, and I make them uncomfortable. Nobody wants to be knocked out of their comfort zone, but that is exactly what God’s word does to people. His grace is not an excuse to remain in the recliner, but that is where modern men are, while our children’s future is taken away.
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We need to wake up fathers and equip them to be eagles. I am trying to do that, but I must ask, where are the shepherds? I did not ask God to be a shepherd. I just wanted a wholesome family, a decent job, and my own home. Why have past shepherds allowed the government schools to raise up ignorant generation after generation? These generations are running government, courts, schools, and bureacracies like welfare and CPS that destroy lives on the basis of lies and error.
Idiots governing idiots doesn’t work.
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“This constitution is written for a moral and religious people. It is wholy inadequate for the governance of any other.” John Adams, founding father.
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Mal 4:6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.
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You stay strong in the Lord, too!
Blessings
James says
The object of an eagle is to teach its young how to fly and to always maintain a watchful eye. An eagle seeks peace to protect its home and will not back down when challenged by the enemy confronted but will hold its ground even if it has to hit the ground.
Have you ever noticed how they hunt? They often fly at altitudes that others miss and when they go in for their target they accomplish their goals as the Truth is unfold.
A true eagle does seek glory for himself nor does he fly around flaunting his wings. He is committed to his love and displays this as gentle as a dove.
The eagle is the one that flys in the spirit without fear because he knows that God’s hand is always near. In their flight we can find a respect for another because they understand what it means to be a real brother…
Yes brother you are right on recognizing the different spirits like greed, lust, anger, pride, bitterness, fear, mistrust, etc. It is an awesome experience to see the hand of God at work and watching another brother be delivered from the pit he was once in.
I am praying that God will surround myself with other brothers like yourself so we can begin to unite to then see what happens when we take flight. Brother I am so ready to fly and I can feel my wings being stretched with a strength like I have never known. My wings were once clipped due to some lessons that needed to be learned. Now that they are growing back I am standing on the Edge of the cliff waiting on my orders to fly like I have never flown. Because this time I will not be flying for others to see because I only want to teach others how to believe.
Our God is an awesome God and it is sad how ignorant we are. Like you I never wanted to be a shepherd either but since when is this life to be about our wants instead of His? Over the last 40 years the average American family has pushed its responsibilities off on schools and other institutions while they chased the world. This is where we have gone wrong in placing our trust in man instead of teaching our children through our examples of how to walk with God instead of following the world.
Russ Hinds says
Hello James,
I have kind of a melancholy post today. Your reply is very refreshing. I’d like to take off without being held back, too. I have noticed that men who do seek the Truth tend to have larger mood swings. It is like I am excited and hopeful for all the good that can happen, ISEE THE GOOD! I SEE IT! IT IS SIMPLE! IT IS GREAT! Then I swing back the other way. TOO MUCH OPPOSITION. NO ONE CARES. WHAT A MESS. PEOPLE CHOOSE TO BELIEVE LIES AND ERROR.
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What to do, what to do? I honestly find it very hard to know what to do. Christians in my circle simply have no commitment. One minute they are with you, the next they are fearful. I am speaking of my Bible studies. Since I have been going, I can see how my enthusiasm and commitment has rubbed off on them, but they only wish to go so far. They want to avoid certain subjects. They like their comfort zone. Meanwhile, in my heart I’d like to start a “pilgrim” church. You know, a church like the pilgrims with men who had courage to cross the Atlantic to worship and serve God in freedom of religion. Where they would be free to keep the fruits of their labor, pursue happiness, and build a better future for their children.
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Anyway, wisdom is telling me not to get my hopes up too far. For too long, I have expected more from others than they are capable of giving. Many disappointments… I try to wait on the Lord. I try to be content in all things. But, every so often I get a high hope that refreshes me. Your post did that for me, but I want to caution you about disappointments and expecting more from today’s men than they are capable of giving. Somehow they need to catch the vision first. Once they get the vision, then they will desire to fulfill the role God has given them.– a Pilgrim father who knows the Truth, can pass it on to their children, and can work with other fathers to build a better future for their children with justice and liberty for all.
This nation used to have pilgrim fathers… founding fathers… and pioneer fathers… and churches that united them and organized the building of towns, farms, schools, etc… today, I wonder if we only have TV fathers. Let the TV raise the children…
My goodness! See how far I can swing? From a Pilgrim father to a TV father. I guess that indicates how far light is from darkness. I choose light, but I must temper it with reality.
Stay wise. Wise men still seek Him. Have faith. Be a light. Wait on Him.
Blessings
James says
I can relate to your swings as you stated but lets look at these as shifts in the spirit. We can be on top of the world and flying high with God and then all of a sudden a shift takes place because we are encountered with a spirit of challenge, judgement, lack of belief or simply something in darkness and this counters the spirit within us.
This is the tough part because no matter what we face or how much opposition we encounter God”s Word tells us to hold our heads up an d trust in Him to get us to the other side. This part of teaching is being an example and a witness of faith to follow God instead of man. As Saul caved in to the people in 1 Samuel 15 we are to learn from this lesson and hold stroing no matter what we face.
It is easy to become impatient but always recall Isaiah 40:31 “Those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength and soar high on wings like eagles.” This life is going to be discouraging if we focus on man but when we begin to develop our senses between good and evil and look beyond the immediate God will begin to show us the outcome in the future. We just have to be faithful and obedient while trusting in Him to work out what we see.
This is the part where we Jesus teaches us how to live in this world but not in this world…Have peace brother and ask God to give you the direction of where you are to go and then He will begin to bring those pilgrims together once we learn to commit where He plants us….
Russ Hinds says
James,
What grabbed me about this post was “commitment in seeking God for their understanding verses leaning on someone else to get them through.”
In the divided churches, people are simply falling short. The parable of the sower reveals the dangers that confront new believers. WOF and all denominations are not preaching enough of “Seek first His kingdom” and they are not teaching well enough to help people find it.
If all Christians were the “noble and good heart” then we would be in unity. As it is, the churches and denominations are infants exactly as in 1Co 3:1-3.
Mathematics:
Infant churches plus government schools equals backsliding and ignorance.
A noble and good heart would not hire the hostile to Christianity to educate their children. It simply breeds confusion, division, and exposes vulnerable children to powerful unchurched peer pressure.
Lk 8:15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
We need to equip fathers to find His kingdom so that they can courageously teach, protect, and love their children. That would be a revival and unity on the Truth.
But I am just a father. I have not sought to be a shepherd. It is necessary for shepherds to lead and protect and teach. Too many shepherds that I have met, resist my offer to teach classes. Of course, my teaching would include revealing the shortcomings of America’s churches and shepherds. I simply cannot find a church who will let me help equip fathers in the church.
The Bible is easy to understand when it makes sense. Too much confusion out there causing division and “internal wars within the church.”
I guess I’ll just wait until God’s timing opens up for me.
James says
Good to hear from you Russ. I agree with you on many not teaching to seek the Kingdom of God first. When we seek God’s Word for the Truth we find the Truth and He gives us the understanding of how to apply His Word to our lives to better something for His glory and not our own.
Regarding you having no luck in finding a church seek God to point you in the right direction to locate this church. What I have come to learn after dealing with the same issues that you are expressing is that instead of delivering a brow beating message to those that are asleep to deliver a message in love by teaching the Word as God has placed it in our hearts. So many times we allow our emotions to cause us to miss what God tells us to do because He says we are to obey and leave the rest to Him. Think about it; How much more receptive would you be to someone teaching in love verses someone trying to teach by telling you what you are doing wrong? As the Prodigal Son they already know that they are doing wrong but they just don’t know how to step out of the wilderness.
Personally, I believe we spend too much time trying to prove our point when it is not our point to prove. It is our job to teach the Truth without holding back the Word. Regarding the post do you agree with the message? Based on your reply it sounds as if you do but I respect your teaching and would appreciate your response.