Encounter God

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:36:00 +0000

The Kind of Revival We Need
by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Itis good for us to draw nigh unto God in prayer. Our minds are grieved to see so little attention given to united prayer by many churches.
How can we expect a blessing if we are too idle to ask for it? How can we look for a Pentecost if we never meet with one another, in one place, to wait upon the Lord? Brethren, we shall never see much change for the better in our churches till the prayer meeting occupies a higher place in the esteem of Christians.
But now that we have come together, how shall we pray? Let us not degenerate into formality, or we shall be dead while we think we live. Let us not waiver through unbelief, or we shall pray in vain. Oh, for great faith with which to offer great prayers!
We have been mingling praise and prayer together as a delicious compound of spices, fit to be presented upon the altar of incense through Christ our Lord; may we not at this time offer some special far-reaching petition? It is suggested to me that we pray for a true and genuine revival of religion throughout the world.

A Real and Lasting Revival

I am glad of any signs of life, even if they should be feverish and transient, and I am slow to judge any well intended movement, but I am very fearful that many so called revivals in the long run wrought more harm than good. A species of religious gambling has fascinated many men, and given them a distaste for the sober business of true godliness.
But if I would nail down counterfeits upon the counter, I do not therefore undervalue true gold. Far from it. It is to be desired beyond measure that the Lord would send a real and lasting revival of spiritual life.
We need a work of the Holy Spirit of a supernatural kind, putting power into the preaching of the Word, inspiring all believers with heavenly energy, and solemnly affecting the hearts of the careless, so that they turn to God and live. We would not be drunk with the wine of carnal excitement, but we would be filled with the Spirit. We would behold the fire descending from heaven in answer to the effectual fervent prayers of righteous men. Can we not entreat the Lord our God to make bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the people in this day of declension and vanity?

Old-fashioned Doctrine

We want a revival of old-fashioned doctrine. I know not a single doctrine which is not at this hour studiously undermined by those who ought to be its defenders. There is not a truth that is precious to the soul which is not now denied by those whose profession it is to proclaim it. To me it is clear that we need a revival of old-fashioned gospel preaching like that of Whitefield and Wesley.
The Scriptures must be made the infallible foundation of all teaching; the ruin, redemption and regeneration of mankind must be set forth in unmistakable terms.

Personal Godliness

Urgently do we need a revival of personal godliness. This is, indeed, the secret of church prosperity. When individuals fall from their steadfastness, the church is tossed to and fro; when personal faith is steadfast, the church abides true to her Lord.
It is upon the truly godly and spiritual that the future of religion depends in the hand of God. Oh, for more truly holy men, quickened and filled with the Holy Spirit, consecrated to the Lord and sanctified by His truth.
Brethren, we must each one live if the church is to be alive; we must live unto God if we expect to see the pleasure of the Lord prospering in our hands. Sanctified men are the salt of society and the saviours of the race.

Domestic Religion

We deeply want a revival of domestic religion. The Christian family was the bulwark of godliness in the days of the puritans, but in these evil times hundreds of families of so-called Christians have no family worship, no restraint upon growing sons, and no wholesome instruction or discipline. How can we hope to see the kingdom of our Lord advance when His own disciples do not teach His gospel to their own children?
Oh, Christian men and women, be thorough in what you do and know and teach! Let your families be trained in the fear of God and be yourselves "holiness unto the Lord"; so shall you stand like a rock amid the surging waves of error and ungodliness which rage around us.

Vigorous, Consecrated Strength

We want also a revival of vigorous, consecrated strength. I have pleaded for true piety; I now beg for one of the highest results of it. We need saints. We need gracious minds trained to a high form of spiritual life by much converse with God in solitude.
Saints acquire nobility from their constant resort to the place where the Lord meets with them. There they also acquire that power in prayer which we so greatly need. Oh, that we had more men like John Knox, whose prayers were more terrible to Queen Mary than 10,000 men! Oh, that we had more Elijahs by whose faith the windows of heavens should be shut or opened!
This power comes not by a sudden effort; it is the outcome of a life devoted to the God of Israel! If our life is all in public, it will be a frothy, vapoury ineffectual existence; but if we hold high converse with God in secret, we shall be mighty for good. He that is a prince with God will take high rank with men, after the true measure of nobility.
Beware of being a lean-to; endeavour to rest on your own walls of real faith in the Lord Jesus. May none of us fall into a mean, poverty-stricken dependence on man! We want among us believers like those solid, substantial family mansions which stand from generation to generation as landmarks of the country; no lath-and-plaster fabrics, but edifices solidly constructed to bear all weathers, and defy time itself.
Given a host of men who are steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, the glory of God's grace will be clearly manifested, not only in them, but in those round about them. The Lord send us a revival of consecrated strength, and heavenly energy!
Preach by your hands if you cannot preach by your tongues. When our church members show the fruits of true godliness, we shall soon have inquiries for the tree which bears such a crop.
Oh the coming together of the saints is the first part of Pentecost, and the ingathering of sinners is the second. It began with "only a prayer meeting", but it ended with a grand baptism of thousands of converts. Oh that the prayers of believers may act as lode stones to sinners! Oh that every gathering of faithful men might be a lure to attract others to Jesus! May many souls fly to Him because they see others speeding in that direction.
"Lord, we turn from these poor foolish procrastinators to thyself, and we plead for them with thine all-wise and gracious spirit! Lord, turn them and they shall be turned! By their conversion, pray that a true revival has commenced tonight! Let it spread through all our households, and then run from church to church till the whole of christendom shall be ablaze with a heaven-descended fire!"

Fine print of last post...

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:53:00 +0000

List is not to be exhuastive, and not everything is a sin (i.e. it is also a spiritual survey).

Revival Checklist

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 05:23:00 +0000

Revival! It is a familiar term to most that are connected to the church. A deacon in a church where I was ministering once asked me, “What do you mean ‘revival’?” This is a deacon that is about 40 and has been raised in an Assembly of God church. He was familiar with different workings of the Holy Spirit. He has also experienced as many of us have experienced what we often call “a good service” or we may say, “The pastor didn’t even preach.” Can these be dubbed revival? In some people’s minds this is revival. I want to submit to you that it is something much greater. In fact, I don’t believe we know when or how revival is going to happen or what it is going to look like. Two examples would be the Pensacola Outpouring and The Bay of the Holy Spirit Revival. It has the almost the same leadership, but they look and even feel different. Here is what I believe and know to be true. Revival is more than a good service. Revival is more than a service where a preacher doesn’t preach. Revival is more than even having an encounter with the Holy Spirit that causes some weeping and a “changed feeling” on the inside of us when we leave the service. I know that is a bold statement. I will explain further in a moment. In revival there are several things that happen and they can all be found in Acts 2. I also believe it happens in the same order that it happens in Acts 2. Here is the pattern: unity, prayer, manifestations of the Holy Spirit, amazement, critics, preaching, repentance, salvations, awe, and discipleship. It brings me to ask the question, do you really want revival? Revival will do more than mess up your schedule! Revival will do more than mess up convictions! Revival will do more than mess up the affections of your heart! Revival will do more than mess up your relationships! One thing you can be sure of is that when revival hits it will change everything about you. It will change how you speak. It will change what/if you watch TV. It will change how you treat people. It will change everything about you. The one thing you can be sure of is that revival will mess you up.
In preparing for revival I believe that 2 Timothy chapter 2 needs to be a constant reminder for us. In verses 20 -21 in the NLT states, “In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.” I like the NIV in the first part of verse 21, “if a man cleanses himself.” We must allow the work of the Holy Spirit to search us and reveal to us where we must be cleansed. Every action and every thought must be put through the judging fire of the Holy Spirit. Only then will we be on the path of a revival consuming us. I won’t take the time to include it, but the rest of the chapter in 2 Timothy 2 must be read and digested. In these days of prayer and fasting and Sunday night revival services, keep these things in mind. We must allow the work of holiness in our lives. We must allow the conviction of the Holy Spirit to have its way in our hearts. I would never suggest that we have to get cleaned before coming to God to new converts, but if you would consider yourself a mature believer, ready yourself. Think of David in Psalm 139:1-4:

“O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I'm far away.
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.”

Are there areas in your life where you would rather not let the Holy Spirit tread? Open up the recesses of your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to cast his searching light for sin and bring upon you the change that your spirit has been longing and crying out to take place. Have you been dry? Then allow the Holy Spirit to put the search light on to find the root of the dryness. Have you thought there is more, but don’t know what could be? Allow the Fire of the Holy Spirit to ignite within you, and then be quick to obey His promptings about change in your life.
There is no doubt in my mind that revival is needed. Charles Finney defines revival as, “Renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God.” He also said there are conditions when to expect revival or to hunger for revival. Where there is a lack of love, where there are dissensions, where there is a love for the world, where there is scandalous sin, and/ or where there are no new salvations, revival is needed. What follows is a list to use while praying. Be honest with yourself and God regarding the sins and struggles for which you need to repent and for God to intervene in your life. The list is not exhaustive nor is it meant to be condemning. I am convinced that when Jesus asked blind Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:46-52) Jesus would have done anything that Bartimaeus asked, but he was honest with his need. We should use the same example and be honest with our need. Acts 3:19 states, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

Mind – Thoughts – Will
o Suicide (have tried or thought of killing myself)
o Rebellion (against parents, pastors, God, or any other spiritual or civil authority…anti-submissiveness)
o Lust (Sexual movies, fantasies, illicit thoughts of having sex)
o Insecurity (low self esteem, feel you are not attractive, fell that you can’t do anything right)
o Fear (of being alone, of death, of losing love, of living up to expectations, of future, of sinning, of life, not having a mate, commitment)
o Thoughts of being with someone of the same sex (homosexuality or bisexuality)
o I have been verbally abused (always told you are worthless, stupid, god for nothing, junk, you are an accident, you were never wanted)
o I have a problem with telling the truth
o I tend to have unclean thoughts
o I lack in the area of prayer
o I lack in the area of reading the Bible
o I struggle with depression
o I struggle with anxiety
o I have a lot of doubts (about my faith)
o I have trouble making decisions
o I don’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God
o I don’t believe that Jesus’ death cross really paid for my sin
o I am anti-Christian (I think Christians are hypocrites)
o I am anti-Church (I can do just fine without church)
o I always justify my sin (make excuses for not doing the right thing)
o Mental Illness
o I am addicted to T.V. and other forms of entertainment

Heart – Emotions – Relationships
o Betrayed (by someone I trusted)
o Rejection (by one or both parents, mate, friends, spiritual leader)
o Unhappy
o Don’t feel loved
o Feel Neglected
o Anger towards mom
o Anger towards dad
o Anger towards child
o Unforgiveness
o Hatred
o Resentment
o Bitterness
o Inferiority
o Shame
o Self-Pity
o Selfishness
o Self-Righteousness (I am better than others, I have no problems)
o Pride
o Loneliness
o Fears (death, punishment, abandonment)
o Jealousy
o Envy (greed, spite, resentment)
o Lack of love toward spouse
o Uncaring for kids
o Bad provider
o Bad helpmate
o Racism
o Dead in traditions and religion
o I have a spirit of competition (I always have to be better)

Body – Physical
o Unhappy with personal appearance
o I am obsessed with my physical appearance
o I have had an abortion
o I go to Night Clubs
o I go to Strip Clubs
o I have been sexually or physically abused
o I have abused someone else (verbally, sexually, physically)
o Sexual Habits (masturbation, affairs, adultery, illicit sexual activities, pornography)
o Drugs (illegal, prescription)
o Alcohol
o Cigarettes or cigars
o I eat too much
o I have a disease that I can control with diet, but choose medication
o I am addicted to caffeine
o I am addicted to sugar
o Nervous habits
o I am sick all the time
o I have an eating disorder (bulimia, anorexia)
o I still wet my bed
o I steal
o I curse
o I am very critical
o Blasphemy
o Gossip, slander, backbiting, or murmuring
o Dirty Joking
o Mockery (making fun, sarcastic, belittling, cutting people down)
o I am lazy
o I have a problem with anger
o I have a problem with violence
o I have a problem with activism (always have to be doing something)

The Occult
o I have or still read my horoscope
o I have had my palm read
o I consult mediums
o I have played with an Ouija board
o I have desires to kill
o I have tormented animals
o I enjoy setting fires
o I have done satanic rituals
o I have objects from false religions
o I have cultic literature
o I am or have been involved in another religion
o I have been involved in cults
o I have been involved in the New Age
o I am superstitious
o I have been involved in witchcraft
o I wear or have occult jewelry (Ankh, good luck charms, mood beads, yin-yang symbols)

*List adapted from Encounter Retreat

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 11:03:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:49:00 +0000

This testimony was recently sent to me through Facebook. I just copy and pasted. I removed her name and church's name for privacy.

TODD I'M SURE YOU MAY NOT REMEMBER ME BUT YOU AND YOUR WIFE WERE AT ..... A FEW WEEKS AGO. I HAVE OSTEOARTHRITIS IN BOTH FEET..AND ON THAT DAY I HAD HEEL SPURS AND A CRACKED BONE IN THE SAME FOOT....I HAD BEEN GOING TO THE DOCTOR FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND WAS FINALLY TOLDED THAT WEEK I NEEDED SURGERY TO FUSE THE BONES IN BOTH FEET I TOLD MY HUSBAND I WAS NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT DONE....IN YOUR SERVICE IT HIT ME BETWEEN THE EYES THAT I NEEDED TO ASK GOD FOR HIS HEALING....I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE ASK HIM AND WHY I HADN'T I DON'T KNOW.....BUT DURING THE SERVICE I STARTED PRAYING AND ASKING GOD FOR HIS HEALING....WHEN YOU ASK PEOPLE TO COME TO THE FRONT FOR PRAYER I STARTED TO GET UP BUT COULDN'T MOVE BECAUSE GOD WAS HEALING MY HEEL SPURS AND MY CRACKED BONE...IT FELT LIKE A ELECTRIC SURGE GOING FROM MY FOOT UP INTO MY LEG....I TOOK MY BOOT OFF (THE DOC GAVE ME TO WEAR) WHEN WE GOT HOME AND HAVEN'T HAD IT ON SINCE...I STILL HAVE ARTHITIS IN BOTH FEET BUT I THANK GOD FOR MY HEALING AND I KNOW IN MY HEART AND I HAVE FAITH ENOUGH THAT GOD WILL HEAL THAT ALSO...IT SOMETIMES TAKES SOMEONE LIKE YOU AND OUR LORD AND SAVIOR TO GET YOU ON THE RIGHT TRACK....GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY YOUR IN MY PRAYERS...

Kris Vallotton "Moving from Denominationalism to Apostleships"

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:01:00 +0000

Word Of Faith Doctrine Articles

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Wed, 05 May 2010 04:37:00 +0000

I came across this article. Felt it needed exposure. Make your own decsion. There are things I disagree with because of the belief that I have in Pentecost, but believe that he shares truth. He also shares truth for the reason truth should be shared. Hopefully you will find it interesting.

http://www.mbcb.org/business_services/br/peters.aspx

“Word of Faith” series by Justin Peters
Following is a series of analyses by correspondent Justin Peters. These special articles were first printed in the Baptist Record each week from September 25, 2003, to October 16, 2003.

Analysis: Word of Faith crosses heresy line
First in a series (originally printed 9/25/03)

“Satan conquered Jesus on the cross.” “He died spiritually! …Jesus Christ understood that spiritual death is union with the satanic nature.” “Man was created on terms of equality with God, and he could stand in God’s presence without any consciousness of inferiority.” “He [God] doesn’t even draw a distinction between Himself and us. …I have His name. I’m one with Him…I am a little god! Critics, be gone!”

Shocked? You may have just read the above four quotes from four separate individuals and are wondering, “What blasphemy is this? Who teaches such heresy? Mormons? Jehovah’s Witnesses?” You would be correct in discerning such statements as heretical but, unfortunately, incorrect in assuming that they come from groups considered outside of orthodox Christianity; they come from within.

More commonly known as the Health and Wealth, Name It and Claim It, or Prosperity gospel, the Word of Faith (WOF) movement comprises the majority – though not all – of what is seen on cable Christian television. WOF doctrine is beamed to hundreds of countries around the world via Christian networks such as TBN and Daystar, and preached in thousands of churches across the United States.

Much of WOF doctrine is in line with orthodox Christianity. However, the error is sufficient and egregious enough to persuade many, myself included, to conclude that the Health and Wealth gospel is indeed a different gospel (Gal. 1:6-9).

The WOF movement compromises the non-negotiable fundamentals of the faith. The origins of the WOF movement can be traced directly to the metaphysical cults such as Unity School of Christianity, Religious Science, Christian Science, and New Thought. Though the father of the modern WOF movement is often considered to be Kenneth Hagin (whose son can be seen preaching today on TBN), as he is referred to by Charisma magazine, this dubious honor actually goes to one Essek W. Kenyon (1867-1948), whose works were extensively plagiarized by Hagin.

Kenyon was heavily influenced by the metaphysical cults which flourished at Emerson College of Oratory where he attended. Kenyon, in turn, was influenced by Phineas P. Quimby (1802-1866), a student of occultism, hypnosis, and parapsychology and the father of New Thought. Knowing the roots of a theological movement or system is critical in understanding its teachings and practical implications.

What follows is a very brief listing of some of the doctrines of the WOF movement:

•Positive confession – The belief that what is spoken can be brought into literal existence. Believers may simply speak the things which they desire of God and He is obligated to give it to them; hence the label “Name It and Claim It” gospel. If this sounds eerily like God’s act of creation in Gen. 1 and 2, it is.
•Little gods doctrine – The belief that man was created to be an exact duplicate of God. Believers, then, are little gods on the earth.
•Spiritual death of Jesus – The belief that Christ’s physical death was insufficient to atone for sin. He also had to die spiritually. Of course, if Jesus died spiritually, then He ceased being God and if He ceased being God even for an instant, He never was God to begin with.
•Revelation knowledge – The belief that God dispenses to certain believers, apart from the Scriptures, secret knowledge of Himself. This is a modern day version of the ancient heresy of Gnosticism against which the New Testament repeatedly warns.
•Health and wealth – The belief that all believers have the right to walk in perfect, divine health and prosper financially. This stems from the erroneous view that sickness was paid for by Christ’s spiritual atonement in hell and that prosperity is a cosmic law ordained by God respectively.
Heresy is never promoted in a manner which exposes its darkness for all to see. Rather, its poison is wrapped in familiar Christian language to make it more palatable. The WOF movement has craftily packaged its counterfeit gospel to look like the real thing. It is making alarming inroads into all Christian churches, including Southern Baptist churches. Many honest, sincere, born-again Christians are being deceived and hurt.

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Analysis: Hinn, others shun sound doctrine
Second in series (originally printed 10/2/03)

If you do not know him by name, you would almost certainly know him by sight. Toufik Benedictus “Benny” Hinn is one of the most widely recognized individuals in Christian television today.

A self-proclaimed “healing evangelist,” Hinn has achieved almost superstar status. His daily television show, This Is Your Day, can be seen in 190 countries and his monthly miracle crusades are almost always attended by overflow crowds. Tens of millions worldwide believe Hinn to be one of God’s greatest spokesmen.

Undoubtedly, Hinn’s teachings on physical healing are for what he is best known. In short, Hinn teaches that it is always God’s will for the believer to walk in perfect divine health. Says Hinn, “He promises to heal all – every one, any, any whatsoever, everything – all our diseases.” This is an exceedingly reckless and unbiblical assertion.

It is a matter of biblical record that not all of God’s servants walked in perfect divine health; i.e. Job, Epaphroditus, Trophimus, Timothy, and the Apostle Paul all suffered physical ailments. If an afflicted believer prays for healing but does not receive it, then whose fault is it?

By definition it cannot be God’s. The fault, then, according to Hinn’s theology, lies squarely at the feet of the one who is sick. Says Hinn, “If you do not receive your miracle, it’s not God’s fault. You say, ‘Well whose fault is it?’ You figure that one out yourself.” Exactly.

Hinn knows that not everyone is healed. In fact, his ministry is notoriously silent when asked for documented proofs of healings. Therefore he has adopted the standard Word of Faith (WOF) excuses that the chronically ill believer must not have enough faith, sin is present in his life, he has not given enough money (have you ever heard a preacher ask you to “sow a seed” so you can “reap a harvest?”), or he is not even saved.

This is not an exaggeration. At a 2001 Miracle Crusade in Nevada, Hinn told the audience, “Healing should never be separate from salvation.” (emphasis mine.) The cruelty of this is hard to imagine. Now the sick person has to struggle not only with his malady, but also his own perceived spiritual deficiencies. Through no fault of his own he is cast into the deep valley of doubting his very salvation.

At his Miracle Crusades, Hinn “slays” people in the Spirit (though this practice is completely without biblical precedent) as if he is some anointed dispenser of the third Person of the Trinity, and he claims that thousands are healed. Are the people that claim to be healed really healed? The vast majority are not.

Most of what is seen on the stage of a Hinn crusade is resultant of very high states of emotion. In a closed environment with dimmed lights, rhythmic music, and a highly charismatic leader dressed in gleaming white on stage, the energy is almost palpable. With adrenaline rushing, some begin to convince themselves that they feel better and, for a while, they do.

However, when the show is over and a new day dawns, the symptoms almost always reappear.

Notice that those who get on stage suffer from something that cannot be readily seen. If God is truly healing the sick through Benny Hinn, where are the Down’s Syndrome children, the quadriplegics, the amputees?

I myself have a moderate case of Cerebral Palsy. As a teenager I went to see a faith healer and fully expected to walk away whole. I did not. That incident began my interest in the WOF movement and all these so-called faith healers and led me to recently write my Master’s thesis on Benny Hinn and his theology.

This series of articles is not intended as a personal attack but rather a call for discernment. Recall the words of Jesus: “For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders.” (Matt. 24:24).

I close with words of encouragement. For those of you that suffer physically, pray that God will heal you. If you have enough faith to be saved, you certainly have enough faith to be healed.

Know, though, that it is not always God’s will for us to be healed. If healing does not come, God’s “peace that transcends all human understanding” (Phil. 4:7) and His “strength made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9) most certainly will.

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Analysis: False prophets abound in WOF
Third in a series (originally printed 10/9/03)

I believe the Word of Faith (WOF) movement is home to many false prophets. Both the Old and New Testaments are replete with warnings about false prophets and, on at least two occasions, the Apostle Paul called out by name men who were teaching false doctrine (1 Tim. 1:18-20; 2 Tim. 2:16-18). There is, therefore, biblical precedent for calling by name purveyors of spiritual error. Such action should not be undertaken lightly, however, so the names that follow are included only after great study and careful analysis:

•Kenneth Hagin. Recently passed away, he is considered the father of the modern WOF movement. Hagin claimed that his faith teachings came to him by divine revelation, but they were actually the product of his extensive plagiarizing of Essek W. Kenyon.

Hagin’s son, Kenneth Jr., carries on his father’s work as pastor of Rhema Bible Church and head of its school in Tulsa, Ok. Boasting of at least eight personal visits from Christ, Hagin, as did his father, blurs the crisp line between Creator and created as in, “You are as much the incarnation of God as Jesus Christ was. The believer is as much an incarnation as was Jesus of Nazareth.”

•Kenneth Copeland. Along with his wife Gloria, the Copelands are considered to be two of the movement’s more intellectual leaders. Students of Hagin Sr., the Copelands have built a multi-million dollar “Christian” media empire.

Kenneth Copeland is known for his deification of man. According to Copeland, the Holy Spirit personally told him, “A born again man [Jesus] defeated Satan. You are the very copy of that one.” Incredulous, Copeland then asked the Holy Spirit, “Well, now, you don’t mean that I could have done the same thing?” (emphasis original) Replied the Holy Spirit, “Oh yeah, if you’d had the knowledge of the Word of God that He did. ’Cause you’re a reborn man too.” This, sadly, just scratches the surface with Copeland.

•Jesse Duplantis. With little doubt, this self-labeled Cajun preacher is the most entertaining of the WOF leaders. He is well known for his comedic style, prosperity teachings, and personal visits from Christ. (Regarding the latter, do you see a pattern developing?)

In his Voice of the Covenant magazine Duplantis claims, “The very first thing on Jesus’ agenda was to get rid of poverty.” In his video Close Encounters of the God Kind, Duplantis relates how one day he was ushered into Heaven itself. There King David told Jesse that he regretted writing some of his Psalms (what does this imply about biblical inerrancy?) and then upon seeing Jesus, Jesse noted that He “was taller than I thought He would be.”

Safely back on earth, one day Jesse sensed that Jesus was sad over something. After being asked what was wrong by the concerned Duplantis, the Alpha and Omega told him, “I need you, boy.” (emphasis original)

•Creflo Dollar. This rather aptly named preacher is pastor of World Changers Church International in Atlanta, and is prominently featured on Trinity Broadcasting Network. He preaches the prosperity gospel quite convincingly. He confidently asserts that Jesus wore designer clothes and that that prosperity can be ours provided that we “sow a seed” into his ministry.

Even more disturbing, though, is Dollar’s outright denial of the deity of Christ: “If Jesus came as God, then why did God have to anoint Him?Jesus came as a man, that’s why it was legal to anoint Him.” (emphasis original)

Space does not permit me to go into detail on all of the WOF leaders. Others to watch include Paul and Jan Crouch, Marilyn Hickey, Paul Cain, John Avanzini, Joyce Meyer, Mike Murdock, Rod Parsely, and R.W. Shambach.

Be wary also of preachers who share their pulpit with these people. Most preachers are very protective of their pulpits and rightly so; whom a preacher invites to fill his pulpit speaks to what that preacher believes.

Again – please understand, gentle reader, that this is not a personal attack on anyone. This is a call for discernment. Though I wish that this call was not necessary, both the present reality and the Word of God (Matt. 24:11; 2 Cor. 11:13f; 2 Pet. 2:1) indicate that it is.

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Analysis: Scripture exposes false prophets
Fourth and final in a series (originally printed 10/16/03)

Both the Old and New Testaments are replete with warnings of false prophets. The following is intended to provide biblical criteria for discerning false prophets and teachers. If a preacher engages in any of the following behaviors, be very wary of him or her:

•Repeated immoral, unbiblical behavior. A false prophet may be detected by examining his moral character. If a prophet habitually displays character incongruent with that of God, then the former cannot speak for the latter. In Jeremiah 23:14, God speaks of prophets that “commit adultery and live a lie.” It is important to note that it is spiritual adultery, not marital, that is in view.

Evangelist Benny Hinn, for example, has a habitual problem with the truth. He has been caught in numerous lies about his own life and ministry. He has threatened not only his critics, but also their innocent children. He claims to have been visited by Elijah and the late Kathryn Kuhlman (a Word of Faith evangelist to whom he often refers for inspiration), and he reports to get “an anointing” from visiting the grave of Aimee Semple McPherson, founder of the Foursquare Gospel movement – evidence that Hinn has delved into the biblically forbidden realm of necromancy (Deut. 18:10-11; Lev. 20:27; Jer. 14:14).

•Prophesying under a false god. If a prophet worships or prophesies in the name of a god other than Yahweh, then he or she is a false prophet (Jer. 2:8). Though the Word of Faith (WOF) preachers will not do this explicitly, they come very close.

Hinn once related to his audience that he learned spiritual truths regarding positive confession not from God’s Word but from a witch. Evangelist Creflo Dollar’s Jesus, who came not as God but only as a man whom God anointed, is not the Jesus of the Bible.

•False prophecies and visions. One of the most recognized tests for a false prophet is whether or not his prophecies come to pass (Deut. 18:21-22). At his church on Dec. 31, 1989, Hinn went into a trance-like stupor during which God supposedly spoke directly through him to enlighten the congregation on some of the major events of the coming decade. Hinn prophesied that Fidel Castro would die in office, the U.S. East Coast would be ravaged by earthquakes, and that by “’94 or ’95, no later than that, God will destroy the homosexual community of America with fire.”

Many of the WOF leaders are also known for relating false visions and dreams but claim for them divine origins. The Bible does not smile upon such as these (Jer. 23:25-32).

•Revelation Knowledge. This is the belief that God imparts to a select few extra-biblical knowledge of Himself and various other spiritual truths. The doctrine of Revelation Knowledge assumes a spirit/matter dualism in which the spiritual and physical realms are forever separate. Therefore, rational thought is of no value in spiritual matters.

Hinn, under the authority of Revelation Knowledge, has taught of a nine-member Trinity, that women were to give birth out of their sides, and that Adam could fly to the moon. One can see how rational thought might be a hindrance to the WOF teachers. Was it not Christ Himself that taught us to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind (Matt. 22:37)?

Approach with caution preachers who claim to have regular visits from the supernatural, claim to have a special “anointing,” claim that it is always God’s will for you to be healed, claim that God will bless you when you “sow a seed” into their ministries (rather than to your local church), or try to send you an anointed “point of contact” such as a handkerchief, prayer cloth, vial of oil, etc.

Watch also for those preachers who publicly speak in tongues with no interpreter or who engage in “slaying in the Spirit.” Lastly, remember that someone’s apparent miracle-working abilities are not necessarily from God (Matt. 24:24).

Finally, bothers and sisters, I leave you with this Scripture passage: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

Peters is interim minister of education at First Church, Vicksburg. He holds a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in Biblical Languages and a Master of Theology (Th.M.) from Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth. Peters can be contacted at (601) 636-2493 or by e-mail: jpeters@fbcvicksburg.org.

Who is there?

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:11:00 +0000

Matthew 14:13-36

Have you ever been in a dark, unfamiliar place? It seems at those times is when our minds and imaginations play tricks on us. You hear weird noises. You have that feeling that somebody is watching you. My father-in-law has some land that we call the shinry. (The spelling is up for debate.) It is where we like to camp and hunt. I am not one that gets scared to be alone. I have been camping alone. I actually appreciate those times. I do have to admit that alone at the shinry gets a little creepy. We sometimes make the same mistake in our storms in life. The disciples are out in the boat being hit by the waves, and land was too far to swim for it. To top it all off it is at night. Then they see Jesus, but didn’t know it was Him. Scripture says they were “terrified”.

The disciples here are making the same mistake that the religious of the day had made. They didn’t realize who He is. The hurting and non religious are the ones that embraced Jesus. The religious who should have recognized Jesus through all their knowledge of scripture did not. In the midst of the storms we face we must recognize Jesus in them. Let’s remember the disciples just saw Jesus feed the five thousand. Many times after great victories is when the storm surges.

He has promised that He would never leave us alone. The next time you are in the middle of your storm let your faith see for you. In the middle of the night, when the storm rages, Jesus is with you. Hear His words, “Take courage, It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

His Kingdom

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:28:00 +0000

Matthew 13:44-46

I would love to give a creative thought on this verse, but the study notes in the Fire Bible SE states an awesome commentary on this passage.

"In ancient times it was not uncommon to hide treasure in the ground since there were no organized banks. The parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl teach two truths: (1) The kingdom is a priceless treasure that is to be valued and desired above all else. (2) People who become part of the God’s heavenly kingdom must be willing to give up everything that could hinder their relationship with God or prevent them from accomplishing his purpose for them. Jesus in no way implies that we can earn a place in his kingdom with money or good works. He is telling us that the kingdom must be our absolute highest priority ‘Selling all’ means that we must transfer our whole heart from other interests to the one supreme interest—that is, Christ. We must be willing to put aside everything else in order to serve him."

Hope!

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:33:00 +0000

Matthew 12:21

If you have ever been through anything tough, or if you have ever been hurt. It is difficult to hope again. Hope is what sustains us. If we don't have hope then we don't have much of a chance.

Proverbs 13:12 in the New Living Translation statest, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." That is it! It is just that simple when our hopes are crushed we get sick on the inside. The Message says it this way, "Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick."

Is that the way you have felt? Have your hopes been dashed? Have you hoped about something and then it fell through? It makes us sick inside.

But...
Prov 13:12 contiues in the message, "but a sudden good break can turn life around" or in the NLT, "but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life." Allow God to renew your hope. Scipture also tells us that our "hope will not be disappointed."

Miracles!

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:49:00 +0000

Matthew 10:1-23

Since I have been trying to keep my thoughts I write down short, YES! Miracles are for today. I am just not saying those things that we dubb miracles that happen everyday. Getting a warning for speeding instead of ticket may not really qualify has a miracle. In the text Jesus told the disciples to, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons" and the key to the verse, "Freely you have received, freely give." God is still performing these types of miracles and we have the opportunity to be right in the middle of it all. Signs, wonders, and miracles are happening through the power of God all over the world. The testimonies out there are amazing. Yes, we live in a day where the supernatural is critizied in America, but don't let that deter you from allowing God to use you in some amazing ways. Try it today, step out on the ledge...if you see somebody in pain ask if you can pray for them. It doesn't matter if your in a store, work, out eating somewhere or on the street. Pray for somebody. No, just don't pray for somebody...pray for a miracle for somebody.

Good News

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:04:00 +0000

Matthew 9:35

There is good news. In the midst of all that we face we must believe the good news of the Kingdom. Let me put it this way. Without the lion's den there would be no story of Daniel in the lion's den. WIthout a Golaith there would have been no story of David and Goliath. If there had been now shipwreck then we would not have anything about Paul and the shipwreck or being bitten by a viper. I am not trying to suggest some sort of new age positive thinking. People and believers face things in life that are unimaginable. Here is what I am suggesting...That Jesus will build His Church just as He said He would. He has brought the Kingdom. What comes with that Kingdom is His power. His power to face the lions, to face the giants, to face the storms. He is above it all, and His hand is upon us. What we go through may not be easy, and we might not understand...but He is with us. The ultimate goal will be the good news of the kingdom and the healing of those in need. Who even seem to be faces in the crowd. Scipture tells us that, "Hope does not disappoint." Let your hope and faith rest in HIm.

The Doctor!

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:47:00 +0000

Matthew 9:12

"Mere outward correctness and attention to forms and ceremonies will not do. God must have reality." --Harry A. Ironsides

If there is one thing that God wants from us is for us to admit our condition. It seems to be an important prinicple throughout scritpure. We can't recieve salvation until we admit our state as sinners. Blind
Bartimaeus was...well...blind, and when Jesus asked what it was the Bartimaeus watned he answered according to his need. Sight! Any of the sick that encountered Jesus in the New Tesatament new exactly what they needed Jesus to do in their life. When we are in need we must recongize our need. It is amazing of the people that refuse to be honest about their need. Jesus told the religous in these few versus to go and learn what it meant when He said, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." The religous refused to be honest to what they needed most, but the ones who recongized that they didn't know the answers got the attention of the Great Physican. Maybe there are principals that we feel that we have got a hold in scritpure, but Jesus might be speaking, "go and learn".

Allow your heart to be sensitive to what He is teaching. Be open and honest about where you are in need in your life. Be willing for God to change your opinions according to the Truth of His Word.

You Are...

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:54:00 +0000

Matthew 5:1-48

The "you are" statements in Matthew 5:13-16 kinda got my brain flowing...

Matthew 10:31(NIV)
So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Luke 13:10-13 (NIV)
On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."

John 15:5 (NIV)
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

1 Cor 3:17 (NIV)
If anyone de7stroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

1 Cor 12:27 (NIV)
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

1 Cor 15:2 (NIV)
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.

Gal 3:26-27 (NIV)
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Gal 3:29 (NIV)
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Gal 4:6-7 (NIV)
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Make Me!

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:41:00 +0000

I am not trying to create some new theology today, but I did have a simple thought. Jesus didn’t say that He would make us rich. Jesus didn’t say that He would make us a better leader. Jesus didn’t say that He would make us better fathers. What He did say is that He would make us fishers of men. Matter of fact as I look through Scripture I don’t see much of what He will make us, but I find several places where He will make us into fishers of men. The question for me today is, “How does He fish for men?” The answers are simple: He has love, He has compassion, He has forgiveness, He has power, He has answers, and we could go on and on. We know how the principal works of following Him. We follow Him and we become like Him. His character begins to shine through us. The key for this transformation taking place is that we “follow” Him. We take His lead. We react the way he would react in a situation. We follow His leading and example. The key that many are missing in their walk with Christ is they are not following completely. We say to ourselves, “There are many things that I can embrace about my faith, but that fishing for men stuff is just not for me.” Really, the one thing that Jesus said He would make us, and you want to deny yourself what He would make us into. As I heard Ed Young say once, “followers fish, and fisherman follow.”

Let Your Light Shine

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:21:00 +0000

It is always hard for me to read Matthew chapter 3 and not focus on verse 8, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” To make it elementary (which is the only way for me to grasp things sometimes) what is on the inside will show on the outside. I have always had this visualization of somebody taking an orange and taping it to an apple tree and saying, “what we have here is an orange tree”. Something that we all have probably heard many times is that acting like a car and being in a garage makes you a car about like just going to church makes you a Christian. Here is the question I have to ask myself. What is it that is inside of me? What is that nature inside of me? There it is where it all starts. The study notes in my Fire Bible states, “showing outward evidence of true inward faith through obvious growth in character, compassion, and godly behavior.” I want the nature of Christ to be evident in my life, so where that starts is in the inside of me. So my prayer today, “Lord let the fruit be evident in my life, not because I have to go over the top in effort to make people see it. Let it simply be the nature inside of me. I truly want Your likeness thriving on the inside of me. I want people to see Your light in me, not because I wear a tshirt, have a fish on my car, or go to church. Let it be something in me that just shines. And not some little flickering candle that is fighting to keep burning, but Your blazing fire in me that will pierce the darkess.”

Why God?

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:34:00 +0000

If you haven’t asked this question then you probably have only been of follower of Christ for a short time. I can think many times I have cried out asking this very question, “Why God?” I know you’re disappointed in my lack of faith or my immaturity in my faith. However I think it is a healthy question to ask. Not in a manner of heart that is irreverent or in anger towards God, even though in all honesty we have to process those feeling at times. Here is the deal. Three times God speaks to Mary and Joseph to move. Once to Egypt and then back to Israel, and then through a dream the family finds their way to Nazareth. In essence they were on the run for their lives. To me here is the more important fact. God had a view point they didn’t have. God had a knowledge that they didn’t have. God had a plan that they fully didn’t know yet. Here is where the light bulb should go off. Our job, listen. Follow His direction. He sees the full aspect of our life. He knows where we should be and when. You may be at a place right now where you have the favor of men, but He sees what we don’t. He speaks to us to head to Egypt. “What God? Are you serious? Things are going to so well here. I don’t want to go to Egypt. We are being blessed, people are surrounding us, and life is good. Why God?” His ways are higher than yours, His wisdom greater than yours, and the fact of the matter his foresight is better than our hindsight. As we simply listen and follow we will find ourselves in the place where we are in the middle of His will and accomplishing His purposes. Does it mean it will be an easy road? Does it mean we will understand every difficult thing we face in life? I don’t believe we can answer yes to either question. What does it mean? It means that through our lives He will be glorified. It means through our lives the Kingdom of God will be established. Sometimes when I ask that question, “Why God?” I hear the answer deep within me, “because I love you.” That’s enough.

Useful or Useless?

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:45:00 +0000

Many times because of our past we feel useless in the Kingdom of God. "How could God ever use me for His purpose?", we may ask ourselves. We all have failures in our past. We walk into a church and sometimes feel that everyone has it together except for us. When we read about Jesus family line we see a liar in Jacob or a prostitue in Rahab, yet that is Jesus' family tree. They both along with others encounterd God at some point that changed their lives. Jesus Christ came to take away the sin of the world. Do we mess up sometimes? Do we mess up "big time" sometimes? Absolutely! Scripture tells us that He will forgive us, cleanse us. Scritpure tells us that when we turn from that old person we are new in Chirst. Don't sell yourself short. When you when you have turned your life over to HIm, you are not that old person anymore. You are a child of God, you are now part of His lineage. Wow! We are now in the family tree.

The Word of God

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:34:00 +0000

Taken from "Know What You Believe" by Paul E. Little...

Honey in my mouth (Ezekiel 3:3)
Spiritual food for the hungry (Job 23:12)
Dwelling in me richly (Colossians 3:16)
A lamp for my feet (Psalm 119:105)
A joy and delight to my heart (Jeremiah 15:16)
Renewing my mind (Romans 12:12)
A fire that burns in my heart (Jeremiah 20:9)
More precious than gold (Pslam 19:10)
Sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12)
A great reward (Psalm 19:11)
True and righteous (Psalm 119:160)
Penetrating my thoughts and attitudes (Hebrews 4:12)
Perfect and trustworhy (Psalm 19:7)

I am sure that we could add to this list. How awesome is it that we get to read the letter to us from the creator of the universe.

This author states something else.

We can through the Word of God fathom the mysteries of God and the limitlessness of the Almighty God.

Blessings!

Two simple questions

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:52:00 +0000

How can I strengthen myself in the Lord daily? 1 Samuel 30:6

How can I grow in Honor with the Lord? Luke 2:52

Fighting for You

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:21:00 +0000

Ex 14:13-14
Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

As I read this my eyes welled up with tears. It starts off with the very thing that I need to hear. "Do not be afraid." My mind races of how many times I have made a pun towards those in scripture that were told by an angel who appeared to them, and "don't be afraid." Encounter after encounter this has been said in scripture. But today it is a rhema for me. The Lord is saying to me, "Don't be afraid." The Israelites have just been delivered out of Egypt. The Lord could have taken them another way, but He knew if they had gone through the Philistines’ land they would have gone back to their bondage. Well, He was right. Here they are seeing the Egyptians in pursuit and what do they do? Complain! They allow themselves to be stricken with fear. Moses says, "Don't be afraid."

It seems to me that I can look back and find a lot more comfortable places I have been than I am now. Steady paying jobs and less responsibility. Wow, those were the days. I could pay golf every week. Go hunting anytime I wanted. Buy anything wanted. Who would have ever thought that would be bondage? Maybe not for somebody else, but maybe for me.

Maybe there were things in my life at that time that were my Egypt. Maybe during that time my faith was in bondage. Maybe secretly without me knowing it my spirit was crying out for deliverance. Now I am at a new place. Now I am facing my Red Sea. I look now look back and think, "Wow. Thanks for nothing, God. Why, did you bring me out of the comfort I knew. I could have lived in harmony and peace where I was. I could have done the work You wanted me to do back there. You could have made me successful back there."

There are a lot of issues about looking back.

Luke 9:62
"No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Why would I want to go back! Have I seen God do tremendous things? YES! Do I have good memories? YES! But I know there is a new land to where God is taking me, and He can take me there anyway He wants.

So Lord, those times I am at the Red Seas, bitter waters, and vast enemy armies. Let me remember this. "Don't be aftraid." If I have done my part in following Your lead; if I have done my part to keep my spirit and heart right with you…then what do I have to fear? Help me to stand. Help me to stand looking at the great sea before me, with the enemy closing in behind me, and no escape, and not be afraid.

Nothin' Deep

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:32:00 +0000

This isn't anything that profound or deep. I was just thinking on while driving to Perryton about Hebrews 13:5, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." I don't think I could count the number of times that I have sensed His faithfulness. I may have chose to ignore His presence(not a wise decsion), but He was still there. Ready to embrace me when I woke up, so to speak. He has always been with me. Guiding me. Helping me. Correcting me. Teaching me. He will always be there for me. Thank you, Lord.

Altar Call at a 7@Night

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:41:00 +0000

Something From Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:12:00 +0000

Luke 24:49
“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

It is some people’s reaction when you make a statement like we need to seek something from to say, “Well, we are after His face and not what’s in His hand.” We have heard this statement. I have said this very thing. I have said that I am after Him and not what He does. But what He does is part of who He is. Seeking something from heaven is seeking what He wants us to seek. Him!

I am after Him. I want nothing, but Him, but heaven comes along with Him.

Acts 2:2
“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven.”
It came from heaven. Heaven! God wants to give us heaven. He wants us to take part in His Kingdom. We cannot have heaven without Him, and we can have Him without what His Kingdom represents.

Something from heaven is praying the Lord’s prayer.

Matthew 6:10
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God wants heaven superimposed on earth. Let’s not get tied up in the religious rhetoric of whether it is His face or hands. It is HIM!

God is Moving

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Starnes) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:51:00 +0000

Most people talk about revival and “a move of God”. There are all sorts of catch words we use to pretty much describe the same thing. How about an awakening? In the awakening we can have, renewal, revival, a move of God, and an outpouring. I think awakening because of what we want the end result to be. The church set of fire, and the lost finding the life changing power in Jesus Christ.

What is the picture for this? What will it look like?

1. It begins with somebody seeking something from heaven.

2. The result is God’s Glory touching earth.

3. God’s Glory awakens the church and gets the attention of the lost.

4. It gives God’s people a platform to bring the truth of the Gospel.

5. The pinnacle is people coming to faith in Jesus Christ.