On Prophets and Prophecy: Modern Day Hananiahs

Tags

False Prophets, Hananiah, Holy Spirit, Jeremiah 28, John Bevere, NAR, New Apostolic Reformation, prophecy, Thus Saith The Lord?

It has been said time and again by Church leadership, specifically under the umbrella of the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation, also called Third Wave) that modern prophets are learning, and that even if their prophecies are incorrect this does not make them false prophets. However, how does God handle this?

In Jeremiah 28 an interesting story unfolds. Before a group of people and priests, a prophet named Hananiah dramatically prophesies that God is going to break the Babylonian yoke of slavery off of the Jews. To make this more vivid, he places a wooden yoke on Jeremiah, then takes it off him and breaks it. The prophet Jeremiah agrees, saying, “Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied,” (Jeremiah 28:6). However, he also added, “Nevertheless, hear thou now this word…the prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him,” (Jeremiah 28:7a, 9). Jeremiah agreed with him, but gave the disclaimer that everyone would know if the prophecy was true if it came to pass. Thus, he referred them back to Deuteronomy 18:20-22 which states, “And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?” (Deuteronomy 18:21). And God answers that if the prophecy does not come to pass, then the prophet has “spoken presumptuously” and the people are not to respect that person as a prophet. First John 4:1 agrees with this when it says that we are “not to believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

The story in Jeremiah then takes a twist. God speaks to Jeremiah at home, telling him to go back to Hananiah to tell him the yoke is made of unbreakable iron. “Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now Hananiah, the LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust a lie…this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. And Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month” (Jeremiah 28:15,16b-17).

So, let’s get this straight. Hananiah had thought he was right. “I am sure this prophetic word was well received by the people. It brought edification and comfort. It promised blessings and restoration. It spoke kindly to those who had suffered loss and assured the fulfillment of God’s promises. Most likely the people were praising God and some even weeping for joy” (John Bevere, “Thus Saith The Lord?” pg. 100). It did not seem even slightly false…………but…….. it was NOT a word from the Lord!

Not only was it NOT a word from the Lord, it taught the people to rebel against what God had said. For in Jeremiah 27 Jeremiah prophesied that the Jews were to serve Babylon and not resist. But they did not want to hear that! That certainly could not be a word from the Lord! But, when Hananiah spoke, certainly that was the word of the Lord for it promised good and not evil! Thus, Hananiah’s arrogant words led the people to believe a lie and to rebel against what God really had said.

But perhaps Hananiah had not been prophesying long. Couldn’t he have just gotten it wrong and yet not be a false prophet? He meant well, right? Perhaps he and all those dreamers just needed to be a part of a “school of the prophets.”

Here then is the real question. Is prophecy of the Holy Spirit or of man? It says in 1 Corinthians 12 that prophecy is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. This means, that it is the Holy Spirit speaking through the person that is prophesying. Can the Holy Spirit get it wrong????? “The Holy Spirit is not in training, and He only speaks the true and the pure. The error comes when we speak when He has not or we are silent when He is speaking…Samuel, when he was only a boy, gave a pure and fully accurate prophecy his first time (1 Samuel 3:11-19). He did not have to “grow in the gift”.” (John Bevere, Thus Saith The Lord? pg 98). The Holy Spirit DOES NOT EVER GET IT WRONG.

“In the latter days you will understand it clearly. I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied” (Jeremiah 23:20b-21). God goes on to say that He is “against those who prophesy lying dreams…and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them” (Jeremiah 23:32). Truly, “They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word,” Ezekiel 13:6. Wrong prophecy is divination, plain and simple. “Simply put, these prophets speak their own oracles as though they were God’s. Yet the words are not God’s but their own. This is another way of describing the imitation or counterfeit of the true prophetic word of the Lord” (John Bevere, Thus Saith The Lord? pg 90).

The Hananiahs are not gone. There are modern day Hananiahs who prophesy with great fervor and emotion, and more often than not they are wrong. Dead wrong. Yet they have no fear of death, for they say that God does not judge them based on the O.T. any longer. But….. God does not change, and He honors His word above His name (Psalm 138:2). Thus, “Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones shake…because of the LORD and because of His holy words. For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up…both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house I have found their evil, declares the LORD. Therefore their way shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness, into which they shall be driven and fall, for I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment, declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:9a,c 10a, 11-12). Truly, judgment starts first at the Lord’s sanctuary (Ezekiel 9:6).

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Sources on Catholicism

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Broken Cross, Chris Putnam, Doc Marquis, Lucifer Worship at the Vatican, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Roger Oakland, Roman Catholicism, Sources, Throne of Lucifer at the Vatican, Tom Horn

Pope Benedict XVI leads his Wednesday general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican November 18, 2009. REUTERS/Tony Gentile (Free Bing Picture)

Doc Marquis, youtube documentary: Which Queen of Heaven? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL2fuuy2wTQ

John MacArthur’s sermon, “The Pope and the Papacy,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owg3sDNnXnc&list=PLD1AB878E99585E22

Thomas Horn and Chris Putnam’s scholarly book, Petrus Romanus. Babylon Mystery Religion website: Mother and Child, http://babylonmysteryreligion.com/motherandchild.htm

Jesus-Is-Savior website, Roman Catholicism: Christian or Pagan? http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Roman%20Catholicism/catholicism_christian_or_pagan.htm

Piers Compton’s book, The Broken Cross: Hidden Hand in the Vatican as found at the website:http://www.cuttingedge.org/articles/rc100.htm

J.S. Malan’s article, “The Kingdom of Satan” as found at the website: http://www.indaweb.com/oil/bibleguide/articles/kingdomsat.htm

Vatican website: The Mysteries of the Rosary, Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Crowning of Our Lady Queen of Heaven.   http://www.vatican.va/special/rosary/documents/popup/popup05_glo_en.html

Vatican Website: Ad Caeli Reginam: The Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on Proclaiming the Queenship of Mary: http://w2.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_11101954_ad-caeli-reginam.html

(Youtube 5:34) Vatican Promotes Mary As God: https://youtu.be/iiilR4cyDAQ

Picture of Mary Seated Atop the Silver Cresent Moon of Semiramis Between the Cherubim In Place of God Almighty: http://catholicspirituality.blogspot.com/2008/11/our-lady-of-mercy-ark-of-covenant.html http://remnantofgod.org

(Youtube 18:34) Mary Worship – Destroying Europe: https://youtu.be/ElPlvKAOo58

Vatican website: Catechism of the Catholic Church: Part One, Section Two, Chapter Three, Article 9, Paragraph 6, Number 971 (Marian Worship)http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p123a9p6.htm

Fr. John A. Hardon, Eucharist: Basic Catholic Catechist Home Study Course http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharist/pea/bas_hsc.htm.

Catholic Tradition website: Devotions for May: Soul Shrine for Mary (by Bishop Francis Noll of Ft. Wayne, IN as adapted from the booklet by Libby Rudolf)http://catholictradition.org/Mary/soul-shrine.htm

(Youtube 15:11) Is Satan In The Vatican? part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KvMg5-WnUo

(Youtube 9:21) Full Blown Lucifer Worship at the Catholic Vatican (with Malachi Martin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUN-XEU6HUc

(Youtube 3:16) Pope Francis Declares Lucifer As god (with “Lucifer” song) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcpVrtv2t-M

(Youtube 10:01) Proof! Lucifer Worshiped In Vatican 2013 (Malachi Martin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_An_cTHmIIo

(Youtube 3:51) Lucifer’s Throne Was Erected Inside the Vatican!! (Pictures) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLw3phPXGks

Understand the Times website: Commentary by Roger Oakland, “The Ecumenical Puzzle”: http://understandthetimes.org/commentary/c93.shtml)

Catholic News Agency article entitled “Queenship of Mary”: http://www.catholicnewsagency.come/saint.php?n=343

“Prayer to Mary, Queen of Heaven”: http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=314

In an article entitled, “Pope Francis, Mary Is Not My Mother, and I Am Not An Orphan” at http://charismanews.com/opinion/watchman-on-the-wall/45287-pope-francis-mary-is-not-my-mother-and-i-am-not-an-orphan Pope Francis is quoted as tweeting, “The Christian who does not feel that the Virgin Mary is his or her mother is an orphan.”

To Unify Or Not To Unify: A Study in Ecumenism

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Ecumenism, Ignatius Loyola, James Robison, Joel Osteen, John Arnott, Kenneth Copeland, Martin Luther, Pat Robertson, Protestant Reformation, Rick Warren, Roman Catholicism, The Reformation, Tony Palmer

Over the last few months the Lord has been showing me the fulfillment in the present day of specific scriptures (2 Timothy 3:1, 1 Timothy 4:1, Hebrews 6:4-6, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Luke 21:8, Matthew 24:23-28). Though I had always wondered what the “great deception” would look like and the “great falling away” I never thought it would look like what I’m seeing. What makes it so surreal is that the people who are being influenced by this deception do not realize that they are a part of it; that’s how deceiving it is!

I am compelled to share what God has been revealing to me in order that you too may not be deceived by the great evil that is sweeping unhindered through the Church like a great tsunami, wave upon wave upon wave.

Let’s start with Ecumenism.

Roman Catholicism is trying to mingle with Protestant Christianity. Actually, they’ve been trying to do this since the days of the bloody Inquisition and Ignatius Loyola. But, now they are attempting to do so peacefully in the name of unity, brotherhood and humanitarianism. Numerous Christian leaders in 1994 signed a document entitled, “Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium.” Those leaders included Charles Colson (Prison Fellowship), Pat Robertson (700 Club), Dr. Mark Noll (of Wheaton College), Bill Bright (Campus Crusade), Richard Neuhaus (Roman Catholic scholar), and Dr. J. I. Packer (of Regent College). The main theme seemed to be that “Evangelicals and Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ” (In the “We Affirm Together” section), and we are called to be unified, ONE. John MacArthur in a sermon entitled, “The Pope and the Papacy” addresses this shocking celebration of “a common faith and a common mission” http://webmedia.gty.org/sermons/Low/90-291.mp3.

More recently, many from different denominational backgrounds have met with Pope Francis already, and have come back with glowing accolades regarding the Pope and Roman Catholicism. These Protestant leaders are excited to unify with Rome for the sake of humanitarian efforts around the globe as well as to fulfill the prayer of Jesus in John 17 about the Church being unified. Such ministers as James and Betty Robison (Life Today), John and Carol Arnott (Toranto Blessing), Kenneth and Gloria Copeland (Believer’s Voice of Victory), Joel Osteen, and Rick Warren (Purpose Driven Church) are just a few of these Protestant leaders http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/44555-why-id-copeland-robison-meet-with-pope-francis, http://www.charismanews.com/world/44601-pope-francis-meets-with-kenneth-copeland-james-robison-high-fives-ensue, and http://standupforthetruth.com/2014/06/common-ground-meeting-pope-meets-mormon-senator-joel-osteen/. Indeed, they have even gone so far as to agree with the late Tony Palmer (Episcopal priest and friend of the Pope) that “Luther’s protest is over” http://prophecynewswatch.com/2014/March11/111.html.

To begin with, Luther did not merely protest; he called for Church REFORM, and when the Roman Catholic leadership instead of repenting of their unbiblical actions and doctrines tried to silence him, Luther and others separated from the Catholic church. The movement was called “the Reformation”, not the Protest. And Martin Luther did make those reforms, thus starting what is now referred to as the Lutheran church and inspired the birth of many Protestant denominations.

The Reformation is not null and void simply because Tony Palmer or Kenneth Copeland say that it is. Have they forgotten what that Reformation was about? Have we today forgotten what the Reformation was all about??? Has Roman Catholic doctrine changed that we might now as Protestant Christians unify with them? What radical transition has taken place in order for “Luther’s protest to be over”?

As Christians, we must carefully and seriously think this through! Is what Pat Robertson, Joel Osteen, J.I. Packer, Kenneth Copeland and James Robison doing correct? Is it Biblical? Is it a fulfillment of John 17? The answer to this question is found by unveiling what Roman Catholicism truly is, and whether or not Christianity ought to be unified with it.

To Be Continued…

Flies In Our Perfume

Tags

2 Corinthians 2:14-15, Billy Graham, Denial, Ecclesiastes 10:1, Joel Osteen

In 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 God says that “through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him [Christ] everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). We as Christians are the sweet perfume of Christ to a world that does not know Him. Like a flower sends off its perfume, we send off the fragrance of Jesus’ sacrifice for all, that all might be saved through Him. Can you imagine that? We smell like Jesus’ sacrifice. Can you smell it? God does!

The word “a sweet smell” (vs. 15) is broken down into two words in the Greek: the word eu, and ozo. The word eu we find in our word eulogy, which in Greek means to bless. So, the word eu by itself carries the meaning of being “good, noble”. The word ozo on the other hand means “to smell, to emit an odor,” especially concerning a corpse that stinks. What can then be gathered from us being the “sweet smell of Christ” means that we smell like His sacrifice. The passage goes on to say in verse 16 that this sweet smell is the offensive foul stench of death for those who do not want to be saved by Jesus. However, for those who are being saved, Jesus’ sacrifice is the sweet-smelling fragrance of life.

In verse 14 another word is also used concerning our fragrance, and that is the word “aroma” osme, meaning, “to emit an odor whether good or bad.” This same word is used in the Song of Solomon for fragrant oils and fragrant blossoms (SoS 1:3, 2:13). Thus, the sacrifice of Christ does not stink like death to us or to God, but rather, is fragrant like living blossoms, fragrant anointing oils, and even our modern perfume/cologne.

Thus, the undiluted fragrance of who He is as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, the resurrected savior, soon and coming King, the ONLY Way, the ONLY Truth, and the ONLY Life, is spread everywhere through us to those who are being saved and to those who are not, and this amazing fact is noble and sweet smelling to God.

However, something foul is occurring in the Body of Christ today. Flies have landed in our fine perfume, and there they have wallowed and died. As they lie there in the perfect oil that was once sweet and lovely, their dead bodies fester and the stench of their death mingles with the sweetness, creating a putrid smell. Indeed, “Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor,” (Ecclesiastes 10:1). What folly is this that is outweighing wisdom? What foolishness is this that is polluting honor? What filth is this that has corrupted Christ’s sweet perfume?

Though Billy Graham has time and again said it right (https://youtu.be/VWv1jiWC4b0), on May 31, 1997 he addressed a question posited by Robert Schuler regarding the future of Christianity by stating, “I think everybody who loves Christ or knows Christ, whether they’re conscience of it or not, they’re members of the Body of Christ. And that’s what God is doing today. He’s calling people out of the world for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world or the Buddhist world or the Christian world or the non-believing world; they are members of the Body of Christ because they have been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their heart that they need something that they don’t have, and they turn to the only light that they have. And I think that they are saved, and they are going to be with us in heaven.” Schuler was delighted with that statement and remarked, “there is a wideness in God’s mercy.” And Graham responded, “There is,” thus agreeing that the way of salvation is wide and not narrow.

Then, when being interviewed by Larry King, Graham responded to a question regarding the salvation of Muslims and Jews who don’t believe in Jesus, by saying, “That’s in God’s hands. I can’t be their judge.” When asked by King about preachers who tell those who don’t believe in Jesus that they are going to hell and “are forceful and judgmental” Graham responds, “They have a right to say that. And they are true to a certain extent, but that’s not my calling. My calling is to preach the love of God, the forgiveness of God….that’s what the cross is all about…that’s the Gospel. And you can get off on all kinds of different side trails….in my earlier ministry I did the same. But as I got older, I guess I became more mellow, and more forgiving and more loving” (youtube video “Billy Graham Denies Jesus!” https://youtu.be/-gtR8rp4ozw).

Billy Graham is not the only major minister of the Gospel who believes that Jesus is not the only way and that he cannot judge hearts. When Larry King asked Joel Osteen, pastor of the largest church in America (Erica Hill of CNN Prime News, youtube, “Joel Osteen Denies Jesus Christ and Oprah Winfrey Exposed” https://youtu.be/weEWI52wevl), if it’s possible for a Jew or Muslim to go to heaven, Osteen remarked, “I’m very carefully about saying who would or wouldn’t go to heaven…I don’t know if I believe they’re wrong” (youtube video, “Joel Osteen: Gays Get Into Heaven” https://youtu.be/B4i-00c32J4 ) He goes on to say that “I spent a lot of time in India with my father, and you know, I don’t know all about their religion, but I know they love God, and I don’t know, I’ve seen their sincerity. I don’t know” (youtube video, “Joel Osteen: Gays Get Into Heaven” https://youtu.be/B4i-00c32J4 ). A lady caller from Phoenix, Arizona then called in on the Larry King Show to first of all thank Joel Osteen for his positive message but goes on to say that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Osteen at first agrees with this, until Larry King questions him. It is then that Osteen said, “I can’t judge somebody’s heart. You know, I don’t know. Only God can look at somebody’s heart. I don’t know, to me it’s not my business to say, ‘this one is or this one isn’t’ I just say here’s what the Bible teaches. And I want to put my faith in Christ. I just think it’s wrong when we go around saying, ‘you’re not going…because it’s not exactly my way.” He says he doesn’t see another’s “way” as wrong but he would “present his way” to one who does not believe in Jesus as the only way to heaven, but then “let God be the judge of that. I don’t know. I don’t know.” Even when it comes to atheists, Osteen says that God will determine if they are going to hell or not (youtube video, “Joel Osteen Denies Jesus” https://youtu.be/ihnGEV-q1gw ).

Osteen, in an interview with Chris Wallace, says that to him Mormons are Christians. Though he also admits to not knowing a lot about Mormonism, when they say they believe in Christ as savior that’s enough for him. He doesn’t want to judge the “little details of it” (youtube video, “Joel Osteen Denies the Gospel (Embraces Mormonism) https://youtu.be/_FNvNhq-brs). Furthermore, Osteen was honored to have Oprah Winfrey appear at his church and had his entire church applaud her. Later she asks in an interview, “So here’s the big question. Are there many paths to get to the one god?” And Osteen responds, “Well, I believe, Orpah, that there, that Jesus is the way to the one god, but I believe there are many paths to Jesus. You don’t know how Jesus will reveal himself to somebody” (youtube video: “Joel Osteen: Gays Get Into Heaven” https://youtu.be/B4i-00c32J4).

This little bit of foolishness has marred the honor and wisdom of these leaders. What has happened in them that they can deny Jesus as the ONLY way for ALL? This is a stinking dead fly in the ointment of the Gospel. This is the stench rising from what used to be a sweet-smelling savor unto God. Let us not corrupt the sweet fragrance of Christ’s sacrifice and offering to God for us (Ephesians 5:2). May we not water down the Gospel with talk of “many paths to Jesus”. May we not see the truth as a “side trail”. May we not pollute the Gospel with thoughts that people of any religion can “turn to the only light that they have” and be saved. It is ONLY through Jesus’ name that all MUST be saved (Acts 4:11-12). It is ONLY through Jesus’ death and resurrection that we are reconciled to God and offered eternal life (I Corinthians 15:13-19). It is ONLY through blood that there is forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Romans 3:23-25a). Jesus said and is still saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber…Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep…I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved…” (John 10:1, 7, 9a); “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Why I Write

Tags

2 Timothy 3:16, Deception, Deception in the Church, False Prophets, lying signs and wonders, Matthew 7:22-23, prophecy

 

Dear Reader,

Thank you for visiting my blog, and for taking the time to get to know me a bit better by reading “Why I write.”

I’ve been writing since I could write. As soon as I could shape letters on a page and form sentences (whether fragments, run-ons or otherwise), I wrote. Over time I’ve honed this skill, from the creative writing class in high school, to my English classes in college, from essay after essay, to my Master’s thesis in seminary, and finally a published short story. It has been a constructive and interesting journey.

I have a B.A. in Bible and History, an M.A. in Biblical Literature, have a published story, have worked for years in ministry and am at present a chaplain.

My heart is that of ministering to the Body of Christ. As a chaplain I do this as a profession. As a volunteer I do this with my spare time. As a writer I do this with my knowledge and heart wrapped into one. My writing is all about edifying the Church, and though the edifying is sometimes like pruning, it is always constructive. After all, pruning to a plant is important or else it will get all tangled, have smaller fruit/flowers, and be generally unsightly. Even so, the Body of Christ needs the edification of pruning in order to produce better fruit.

Thus, I write because I love it. I write also because the knowledge within me demands to be let out! I write to inform, to edify by reproving (showing where we might be wrong in our beliefs/conduct), correcting (showing forth the Biblical way of belief/conduct), and by instructing in righteousness (analyzing how we ought to live Scripture in every day life). (2 Timothy 3:16)

Furthermore, I write to expose some deceptions sweeping over the Church. Indeed, over the years I have come to a shocking realization that some of those I’ve grown up highly respecting have been teaching heresy. One such person I grew up wanting to be like. At age 13 and up, I idolized this person. I went to his meetings, bought his books, wanted to talk like, look like, and act like him. I even wanted to gray early because he did! He was anointed, a man of God being used mightily, and I longed to be anointed and be used mightily by God too! I wanted to see the sick healed, the dead raised, the demons cast out, and have the powerful manifestations that he did in his miracle crusades.

However, what I did not realize, is that the minister I idolized was openly teaching unbiblical things not as a theory but as a fact, while at the same time telling everyone that the Bible was the standard to be followed in all doctrine and practice. My heart is grieved now by this powerful truth, and I pray for the minister that I esteemed and looked up to in every way. He is in grave error.

You see, when I write what I write on this website, I will not write simply to expose for the sake of exposing. Though I may get passionate about repentance and the truth, my heart is broken over what is happening to the Church. I am grieved for the Body of Christ that is falling prey to this horrific deception. People, who love Jesus, who are hungry for God, who long for the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, are being led astray to the subtle beat of another gospel and they don’t even know it! This is not about naming names. Rather, it is about false teaching and false prophecy and lying signs and wonders. There will be names mentioned at times, however, because people are being led astray by leaders who are deceived, and by leaders who are deceivers. It is hard to tell the difference between these two types of leaders. But whether deceived or deceivers, they are still propagating deception and that deception must be exposed….that we might better know how to pray….that the Church and its leaders might come to repentance.

After all, “many will say… ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness,’” (Matthew 7:22-23).

Indeed we are living in the Last Days. We must be vigilant. We must be sober. We must watch and pray (1 Thessalonians 5, Luke 21:34-36).

These are some of the reasons why I write. Thank you for your time and consideration and prayers. Blessings to you all!

 

God-Breathed

Tags

2 Timothy 3:16-17, Discernment, God-breathed, Inerrant, infallible, Old Testament, Theopneustos

There are those within various Christian denominations and Church movements these days who question the validity of Scripture, especially the Old Testament. There are those who say the Old Testament has been fulfilled, that God does not do things that way any more. Since an author knows best about his own manuscript, let’s ask the author about this matter: God. Many passages could be turned to, but one is most often used. So, let’s inspect it.

Second Timothy 3:16-17 reads, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

All Scripture is theopneustos, “God-breathed”. What is being referring to when he says “all Scripture” is breathed out by God? The answer to this is found in the preceding verses. Paul had been telling Timothy to “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (vss.14-15). The Greek terms used for “sacred writings” are ta hiera grammata, whereas, the term for “all Scripture” is pasa graphe. Though the Greek words gramma (writings) and graphe (Scripture) come from the same root, grapho meaning “to carve or engrave”, they are still very distinct. However, though distinct, they promote a powerful meaning.

In verse 16, ALL is the Greek word pasa meaning “every part of it together, and every part of the whole respectively and includes the idea of oneness, a totality of the whole”. Graphe is the Greek word most often used for Scriptures in the Bible. Thus, it could read, “every part of the Scriptures together.”

However, in verse 15 the word for Scripture is different. To begin with, the adjective used to define writings/Scripture is the term SACRED, which is hieros in the Greek meaning, “sacred and that which may not be violated” and refers to one’s position not one’s character. It is a thing or person that is consecrated to God, such as items at the Temple or the priests themselves. Gramma, the word translated as “Scriptures” in some Bibles and as “writings” in the ESV, actually carries the meaning of “letters of the alphabet or any style of writing such as a book or letter.” The letters of the alphabet mentioned here would be the letters of the Hebrew language, which Timothy had been trained up in since a child (though possibly the Septuagint was used). And these sacred letters of the Hebrew alphabet make up the words of the books of the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures).

What is the importance of every letter in Scripture? Jesus in Matthew 5:18 states, that “until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” A iota (or jot in the KJV) is the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and a dot (or tittle in the KJV) is the Greek word keraia which refers to the small stroke of the pen that helped to distinguish the difference between the letters. Both the iota and keraia are extremely small, yet extremely important! After all, Jesus said that they are. The smallest marks of the pen in the Scriptures is extraordinarily significant. Indeed, every letter makes up a specific word, and every mark makes the message clearer. Indeed, every letter and mark is sacred, for all will be brought to pass.

Thus, when Paul writes that “all Scripture is breathed out by God,” he means quite clearly that every smallest letter and every tiniest mark is God-spoken. Not even the smallest part can be avoided, for every part of it together is God-breathed and will be fulfilled. For indeed, God honors His word above His name (Psalm 138:2). Thus, He will bring every part of it to pass. Not only this, but this means that the Old Testament is just as important as the New. After all, it is what Timothy was raised up to know. Yes, the New Testament was added later and is verified to be inspired as well, but that does not nullify the Hebrew Scriptures. They still have iotas and keraias to be fulfilled.

With this in mind, let us be ever mindful of the fact that the Word of God is infallible (without mistakes and always effective) and inerrant (without error) in every word and part, for God is truth (John 14:6) and cannot lie (Titus 1:2). And thus, His Word is truth (John 17:17, Psalm 119:160). It comes directly from His mouth (Matthew 4:4), is the sword of the spirit (Ephesians 6:17), and it cannot be broken (John 10:35). It is living and active, judging one’s very thoughts and intentions (Hebrews 4:12), and is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

So then, with Biblical inerrancy and infallibility established, let us proceed into the territory of what God says about prophets, and how to distinguish the true from the false. Let us train our “powers of discernment” by honing our skill in the meat of God’s Word (2 Corinthians 5:13-14), in order that we not be deceived.

Let’s Get Equipped

Tags

1 Corinthians 2:12-16, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Berean, Beroean, Bible Study, Discernment, Hebrews 5:13-14, Word of God

After being bombarded by an angry mob of dissenters in Thessalonica, Paul came across something quite unique in the neighboring city of Berea: a noble-minded people. Acts 17:11 states, “Now these…were more noble than those in Thessalonica: they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” The word used for “noble” in the Greek is composed of two words. Eu meaning good, well, and Genus meaning family, race. To be noble was to be one who was descended from a good family, even of high rank. However, in Acts 17:11, the word is not referring to those of a noble bloodline, but rather, in the metaphorical sense of noble-mindedness.

The second way in which the people of Berea are described is that they “received the word with all eagerness.” In short, the Greek word for “received” means “to readily accept with great favor.” And this was done with alacrity, meaning a spirited enthusiasm. So, they were excited about it, even exuberant! They eagerly and with great joy accepted the offer of the Gospel.

But…..they did not do so blindly, nor did they simply take Paul’s word for it. According to Philippians 3:4-6, Galatians 1:11-17, 2 Corinthians 11-12 Paul was not just anyone. He was well versed in the Scriptures being a Pharisee of Pharisees. He was raised in an environment of learning the Torah. He ate, drank, and slept the Torah. It was everything to him!! His experiences are countless, some extremely painful and some simply beyond amazing. He had seen the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 9:1) and spent time with Jesus, one on one, as Jesus taught him from the Scriptures (Galatians 1:12). Furthermore, Paul was one of the Apostles. Though he called himself the least of the Apostles, he nonetheless was an Apostle (1 Corinthians 15:9). But, the Bereans did not care about his credentials nor his name nor his experiences. Why, he could have come from heaven itself, and they would not have thought anything of it!!

No, the Bereans did not take Paul’s word for it. They “examined” the Scriptures. The Greek word for “examine” is anakrino which is composed of two words fused together. Ana can mean “on or upon” and is emphatic and intensive. Krino means “to judge.” Thus, the two words put together mean, “To distinguish or separate through intense investigation (krino) by looking through the particulars (ana).” Indeed, this word has everything to do with preliminary judicial actions of examination in cases pending a trial. And this type of inquiry is not just for the sake of questioning, but is done in order to come to an accurate conclusion. This is what made the Bereans stand apart as noble-minded.

2 Timothy 2:15 reads, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” An even better way to put this would be, “Diligently make every effort to stand approved (as metal in fire) to God, an unashamed workman, rightly, accurately and skillfully handling the word of truth.” The skillful handling of the Bible comes from the Greek word meaning “to cut straight.” It is imperative that the word of God be accurately interpreted, or else we do violence to the text, and cause harm to the listener as well as ourselves.

Is it easy to skillfully handle the word of God? No! That’s why there are so many still drinking the milk of the word. The author of Hebrews speaks to his listeners as those who still needed the milk of the word but who should have been able to eat the meat of the word (Hebrews 5). Yet again, the Apostle Paul says the same thing to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. The Corinthians should have been ready for meat, but they still needed milk!!! So what does it mean to be a Christian still living on milk? Hebrews 5:13-14 explains, “…Everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” To be “unskilled” is to be “inexperienced” in the Bible. Thus, the milk fed Christians are not “skillfully, accurately handling the word of truth,” as 2 Timothy 2:15 teaches, nor are they “intensely thoroughly investigating” the Scriptures daily as the Bereans. Because of this, the Christians living on milk cannot “discern clearly” what is good or evil because they do not know what God’s word says about it!

As new creations in Christ, Christians have been given the Holy Spirit that we might understand the Bible which is the inspired word of God (2 Timothy 3:16a), even the mystery of God that has been revealed in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 2:6-10). The Bible can only be “spiritually discerned” by those who are “spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:12-16). The word for “discern(ed)” is anakrino which was also used of the Bereans, and has everything to do with “examining thoroughly for the sake of coming to an accurate conclusion.” Near the word anakrino is the word pneumatikos, which means that along with this intense examination one needs the “assistance of the Holy Spirit” in order to fully understand. However, “fleshly” believers who are “inexperienced” and living on the milk of the word cannot and are not able to “discern” it (1 Corinthians 3:1).

In conclusion, no matter what a minister’s credentials, no matter what a reverend’s title, no matter what big name is teaching or prophesying in the name of the Lord, as Christians we are to be like the Bereans who with the help of the Holy Spirit investigated the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was really true. It is time to “skillfully interpret” the word of God that we might be unashamed workers (2 Timothy 2:15), who use the Scripture accurately for the sake of “teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work,” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Let’s be like the Bereans! Let’s get equipped!