The Real Reason Jesus Sent the Holy Spirit

by SAMUEL RODRIGUEZ

Editor's Note: This message by Rev. Samuel Rodriguez was delivered at the recent Empowered21 Jerusalem 2015 conference in Israel.

Acts 2:14 says, "Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:"

This passage represents a lot more than the normative description regarding the occurrences of that blessed day. This Scripture actually speaks to the catalytic macro-metric of a Spirit-filled encounter.

It provides the prescription for the church in our troubled times.

In other words, the fact that it was Peter who stood up and raised his voice should compel us. The same Peter that, before the cross and the upper room, fell in the water and was now standing up. It was the same Peter that hid from the crowd in denial of Jesus.

When you are filled with God's Spirit, everything changes. When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you are able to do what you were not able to do before.

The Spirit came down and Peter did what? He stood up and raised his voice.

The Spirit filled those in the upper room and Peter did what? He stood up and raised his voice.

This change of physical position embodies much more than a passive act of physical posturing. It actually reveals what we as believers must do in response to the adversity of our times.

In essence, we can extrapolate from this Scripture the following truth: Religion makes us complacent while revival makes us courageous.

Saints, listen carefully. Today's complacency is tomorrow's captivity. There is no such thing as comfortable Christianity.

Let me be clear today.

The Spirit did not come so we could stay seated. The Spirit did not come so we can be complacent.

The Spirit did not come down so we can sing "Kumbaya." The Holy Spirit came down so we can get up.

He came down so we can go from ...

Natural existence to supernatural living; from "I am OK" to "I am more than a conqueror"; from surviving to thriving; from making excuses to making history ...

From saying "bless me" to "make me a blessing." From "answer my prayer" to "make me the answer to someone else's prayer." From seated with anticipation to standing with revelation!

The Holy Spirit came down and Peter stood up and raised his voice!

Simply stated, Spirit-filled people do what others cannot do. That's why The Bible does not say, "Be touched, caressed, motivated or excited about my Spirit." It says in Ephesians 5:8, "Be filled with the Holy Spirit."

People full of the Spirit thrive with the prophetic in the midst of the pathetic. Our faith stands measured not by what we do when heaven falls upon us but rather by what we do when hell stands next to us.

You are what you tolerate!

We are filled with the prophetic so we can stand up in front of the pathetic.

Full of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:14, in the face of false accusation, "They are drunk," Peter stood up and spoke truth.

Full of the Holy Spirit, Acts 7:55, Stephen, facing persecution, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God's right hand.

Full of the Holy Spirit, in Acts 13:9 Saul, also known as Paul, looked at the sorcerer, rebuked him and spoke a word that blinded him. Spiritual warfare!

Full of the Spirit, in Acts 27:21-22, that same Paul stood up in the midst of the storm and declared to those on the ship, "You will not die, you will live."

Saints, Just like in the book of Acts, just like with Peter, the accuser has risen labeling us as intolerant, bigoted and irrelevant.

Just like with Stephen, the enemy threatens, persecutes and slaughters our brothers and sisters—the people of the Cross.

Just like with Paul, we find ourselves under immense spiritual warfare where all hell has risen to impede us from occupying what God has promised.

And just like with the Apostle in Acts 27, the storms of relativism, decadence and apathy threaten to do nothing less than drown those in our ships.

So what are we going to do? Are we going to shrivel up in fetal position? Are we going to stay seated?

We are here filled not with emotion, constructs or religious paradigms, but with the Holy Spirit of God. Guess what the church guess will do next? Stand up!

Why? It's because we are not just any people. We are not Google, we are not Apple, we are not Ford, we are not even Starbucks.

We are the church of Jesus Christ. We are the bride. We are a Spirit-empowered ekklesia.

And the gates of hell shall not, cannot, will not and may not prevail against us!

So, with fear and trembling not out of the womb of emotional exuberance but by the very impetus of God's Spirit and an unbridled commitment to biblical orthodoxy I've come here to tell you what God told me to tell you:

Saints, go back home, filled with the Spirit and stand up! Stand up, for those who falsely accuse you will be silenced! (1 Pet. 2:15)

Stand up, for those who persecute you will discover that you overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony (Rev. 12:11).

Stand up, for you will occupy the very area hell has fought to keep you out of (Ex. 33:1).

And stand up in the face of life storms and declare, "I will not die until see all of God's promises fulfilled in my life" (Ps. 118:17),

Look at your neighbor and tell them: "We've been seated for too long. We've been analyzing for too long. We've been hoping for too long. We've been planning for too long. This is our season and to be filled and do one thing—Stand up!

And Raised His Voice

Not only did Peter stand up, but he raised his voice. Understand this; the sound came from heaven so our voices could be raised in this world!

He came with a sound so we can stand up with a voice!

There is no such thing as silent Christianity. There is no such thing as Christianity on mute. There is no such thing as a silent Pentecostal.

A silent Pentecostal is an oxymoron on steroids.

What you have been through was meant to silence you, but from this moment on you will do one thing: Raise the volume!

Testimony: As reported by the St.Louis Dispatch, Daily Mail and others, on Jan. 19, 2015, John Smith was playing in the Saint Louis Lake when he fell in and drowned.

He died for a total of 45 minutes; 15 minutes under, 27 minutes of attempts to resuscitate and three additional. Mom walked into room, raised her voice, "Holy God, send your Holy Spirit to save my son!"

At that moment, the boy came back to life.

Writing in the journal, Dr. Ken, the doctor treating him stated the following regarding cause of resuscitation; "The Holy Spirit did it in response to his mother's prayer."

Church, just like that boy, the world declares the next generation to be dead. God told me to tell you that as you stand up for righteousness, in holiness, and raise your voice, your children and your children's children will be saved.

In conclusion, stand up and cast out demons! Stand up and heal the sick! Stand up and speak in other tongues. Stand up and fulfill the great commission. Stand up and make disciples. Stand up and preach the Word in and out of season. Stand up and be fruitful. Stand up and be faithful. Stand up and be holy. Stand up and be light!

Be filled! Stand up! Raise your voice! And change the world!

Stand up!

Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez is the president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. 

A Prophetic Vision of Scrolls With Wings Flying Toward God's People

9:00AM EDT 5/27/2015
LANA VAWSER

This morning I had a vision and in this vision I saw scrolls with wings and they were being released from the hand of the Father to the people of God.

These scrolls were flying towards the people of God, they were on a mission, they had an assignment and knew exactly where to go. As I saw them flying they were being carried on the breath of God.

As their wings flapped I could hear the rhythm of a strong beating heart. Their wings flapped in unison with this heartbeat. I wondered what these scrolls represented and suddenly the understanding came to me, like pieces fitting perfectly into a jigsaw puzzle.

These scrolls have been sent to the people of God that have been crying out for wisdom and direction. Upon these scrolls was contained words of wisdom from the heart of God.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally and without criticism, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5).

The wisdom being sent to the people of God as they cried out was birthed out of His heart of love for His people. As this wisdom of God was applied and followed, it would see the people of God moving deeper into the rhythm of the Spirit and moving in sync with the heart of God.

In this receiving of heavenly wisdom and direction there were invitations into the heart of God at a deep, deep level—an invitation to see what is on the heart of God and to partner with Him.

As these scrolls landed in the lives of the people of God through visions, dreams and revelation in the Word, He was speaking.  I saw many unroll these scrolls and many were surprised by the wisdom and direction it contained, for it seemed different to what they had expected and for some, a completely different direction. I sensed the encouragement and reassurance of the Lord that as this wisdom was followed and applied, even though it was not what was expected, it was going to give the people of God wings, to soar higher than they ever imagined.

The Lord began speaking to me about how His wisdom is ALIVE and creates. As His word of wisdom went forth and was received and applied by His people it was creating and manifesting in the natural what was in the heart of God in the Spirit.

Even though many were surprised by the wisdom and revelation they received and which direction to go, as they moved forward following His prompting, SUDDEN breakthrough was taking place. Immediate shift. Incredible openings.

Many of the people of God were moving into lands of great abundance, overflow as they applied the wisdom of God to their circumstances and decision making. Overwhelming JOY was before them, as His wisdom not only opened new doors and avenues that they had never dreamed of, but it activated promises of old that had been hindered to COME FORTH. Great change was occurring as the people of God moved in the revelatory wisdom He was releasing in their daily lives and decision making.

God is releasing heavenly wisdom as many of the people of God have been crying out for it, and even though it may not look how you expect, it is leading you into the fulfilled manifested promises of God, the NEW that He has stored up FOR YOU!

A birthing is happening in the partnership of wisdom and the people of God that is releasing a momentum of "heavenly ideas" being released to the people of God that will open doors all around to see the kingdom of God established.

Many are being LED DEEPER into the revelation that you have the mind of Christ. The Lord is leading many of His people deeper into operating in that revelatory place of truth. YOU have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

The wisdom of God has wings. Embrace it. For it will lead you to the most beautiful place of knowing His heart, what is in His heart. It is inviting you deeper into moving in the rhythm of His heart, that will open up "new realms and avenues" for you where you will go out with great joy and singing.

As you embrace His wisdom you are being given wings to soar higher than you EVER imagined.

Lana Vawser has a heart to encourage the body of Christ and individuals in their walks with Jesus; deeper intimacy with Him; and learning to hear His voice. She operates in the prophetic and loves to share the heart of God with others. Lana has written her first book, titled Desperately Deep—Developing Deep Devotion and Dialogue with Jesus, and loves to see others grow in all that God has for them.

Why Team Ministry Is Better Than a One-Man Show

by J. Lee Grady


Last week I served alongside a team of pastors at a ministry school in Debrecen, Hungary, a city I've visited four times. Even though I don't speak Hungarian (it's one of the most difficult languages on the planet), I had a blast working with my friends Zsolt, Eugene, István, Pál and Attila. We shared meals, worshiped and prayed together and opened our hearts on a deep level—with the help of my interpreter and, on a few occasions, the Google Translate program on my phone.

Nobody tried to be the star as we shared teaching slots during the week. We preferred each other and encouraged each other. And we laughed a lot because we really enjoyed each other's company. Every leader contributed his part—and in the end the students were blessed that their teachers flowed in harmony.

Teamwork is an essential part of God's plan for ministry. In both the Old and New Testaments, we see teams of people working side-by-side to further His kingdom. Moses shared leadership with Aaron and Miriam (see Micah 4:6) and David had a group of "mighty men" who performed valiant deeds under his command. Solomon appointed a team to serve as his deputies, Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem with teams of workers, and Esther's maidens prayed and fasted with her before she saved Israel from genocide.

Jesus loves teams. He gathered a group of hand-picked disciples and then sent them out to minister in pairs (Luke 10:1). He involved them in feeding the multitudes and healing sick people. In the same way, the apostle Paul never traveled anywhere alone, and he always credited the people who helped him. His love for Timothy, Phoebe, Luke, Silvanus, Titus, Priscilla and other team players is an obvious backdrop in his epistles.

So if teamwork is so essential to Christianity, why do we prefer the celebrity model of ministry today? Here are five clear reasons that teamwork is a better approach:

1. Teamwork accomplishes more. Anybody who has ever chopped down a tree with an axe or painted a house knows the job gets done quicker and easier when more people are working. Ecclesiastes 4:9 says: "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor." Ministry leaders are compared to oxen in the Bible, and Jesus said He would place a "yoke" on us when we are called to ministry (see Matt. 11:29). A yoke connects a team of oxen. Jesus never referred to his followers as renegade stallions who run off on their own. He called us to be yoked together with others. You will not achieve as much if you insist on doing everything yourself.

2. Teamwork unlocks people's potential. In a one-man show, a leader performs the up-front job, a few overworked people help in the background, and the crowd watches. Religious spectators are trained to sit—as if they have nothing useful to contribute. Yet the New Testament tells us the Holy Spirit gives every believer certain gifts, and we all are to use these gifts for the common good (1 Cor. 12:7, 11).

In today's megachurch culture, the celebrity pastor looms large on the big screen, and he may even broadcast his message to several satellite congregations. This might effectively reach some people for Jesus, and it might be a short-term solution for growth, but does it encourage every church member to discover his or her potential? The best leaders know how to involve lots of people to reach God's goal.

3. Teamwork encourages healthy relationships. It's easier to do ministry alone. But you will never grow if you do a solo act. When you are part of a team you must deal with competitive attitudes, jealousy, pride, complaints and hurt feelings. This is exactly why Jesus wants us to work together! You will never confront the flaws in your character unless you work with others. They will expose your selfishness, and you will expose theirs. Proverbs 27:17 says: "Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." God will use Brother Bothersome and Sister Sandpaper in your life to make you more loving—and more humble!

4. Teamwork prevents scandals. Years ago after televangelist Jim Bakker was released from prison, he admitted that he had surrounded himself with yes men who didn't have the courage to tell him he was making unethical business decisions. Leaders with a one-man-show mentality are in danger of doing incredibly stupid things because they lack accountability. Team ministry encourages transparency, and senior leaders recognize the value of getting honest feedback from their colleagues. You will fail as a leader if you don't have wise counselors who have access to you. Surround yourself with team players and ask them to point out your blind spots!

5. Teamwork keeps us from idolizing men. A well-known pastor in Nigeria was known to record his sermon each week and then send tapes of his message to his pastors throughout the country. The pastors were then expected to stand in their pulpits the following Sunday, play the recorded sermon ... and move their mouths to the words! They had no message of their own. They were simply clones of the "All-Important Man of God."

That may sound silly, but aren't we guilty of similar foolishness when we put leaders on pedestals and idolize their preaching style? The one-man show may have worked in the past, but the emerging generation has zero tolerance for religious phoniness. People today want healthy leaders who know how to share power instead of grabbing or abusing it.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. He is the author of The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale and other books.

Billy Graham's Daughter: We're Coming Close to the End of Human History as We Know It

4:20PM EDT 5/29/2015 JEREMY BURNS

In an interview with liberal commentator Alan Colmes on his Fox News Radio program, evangelist Anne Graham Lotz made the bold claim that we are "coming close to to the end of human history as we know it."

The daughter of Billy Graham and sister of Samaritan's Purse President and CEO Franklin Graham, Lotz points to two key reference points Jesus made about His return: the restoration of Israel and the evangelization of the whole world.

Lotz was born in 1948, the year the modern state of Israel was restored in the Jews' ancestral land, and she believes that the generation that saw that event happen will also see the second coming of Christ.

Further, she said that the proliferation of air travel and the ease of information dissemination via the Internet has finally enabled the gospel to be spread across the world like never before.

On the negative side of things, she points to the judgment upon the earth that will accompany Christ's return, a judgment for which she says that the earth as a whole, and the United States in particular, is certainly sowing the seeds.

"He removes His hand that's been protecting us and restraining evil," she said. "And when He removes it because we keep telling Him to get out, life can't go on as it has."

She references the recent escalation in effort to remove God from our nation's schools, military and public discourse, as well as the increasingly mainstream vilification of traditional biblical values upon which our nation was founded.

"Everywhere they're telling Him to get out," she said. "They don't want His name in the Pledge of Allegiance; they don't want Him in the schools; they don't want to say the name of His Son, Jesus, in public settings; they don't even allow chaplains now in the military to pray in the name of Jesus."

Though God's judgment may not come in the form of lightning strikes or a nuclear bomb at first, she says something equally fearful and entirely of our own making is on its way if we don't change our course.

"God is a gentleman. He doesn't go where He's not wanted. He gradually begins to walk away, and that's what He told Israel in Deuteronomy 28. He said, I'm going to bless you if you turn to me, but if you turn against me, I'll just back away. Then He allows us to be subjected to the things He's been protecting us from."

Joseph Prince Renounces The New Covenant

October 2, 2013 by Peter Michael Martinez

I’m sure I’m going to take a lot of heat for writing this article. I have no personal axe to grind with Joseph Prince.

Before we get too far, let’s examine the word we KNOW is a sure word. Jesus said this.

Matthew 5:17-19 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

 Now let’s look at what our Father in Heaven says …

Hebrews 8:10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people”

Hebrews 10:16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them”

Proverbs 28:9 “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”

Joseph Prince Renounces the Law

In many of his public teachings many of which are available on Youtube, Joseph Prince flat rejects the notion that law has any place at all in the life of the Christian. He flat REJECTS the words of Hebrews when he says, “the Law is no more” in this video.

“They put themselves under law.” says Joseph Prince speaking of the children of Israel.

He states blatantly that Israel was in “pride” when they received the Torah/Law of God and arrogantly received the Ten Commandments.

This declaration is beyond blasphemous.

The inference is that had Israel continued in “grace” they would never have come “under the law” and so, this was a mistake according to Joseph Prince.

Joseph Prince believes we need to “cast the Law out” and that there is NO PLACE for any of GOD’S law in the lives of New Covenant believers. He is NOT bashful about his doctrine. He is blatant and bold. Unfortunately, he is completely incorrect.

Under the doctrine of Joseph Prince, the “christian” under “grace” never needs to feel guilty or repent because the Passover lamb took care of everything so that you don’t need to repent of anything once you are saved.

He said, “You must be finished with guilt, condemnation, feeling guilty … even when you fail … you should not be feeling this anymore” inferring that this is all the work of the law and that it is not for us today. The Law Is No More!  See This Video

This is a fable and should have caused people to walk out of the meeting but instead, he is cheered and adored by millions.

According to Joseph Prince’s gospel, Israel “fell from grace in accepting the Torah”, the Law of YHWH God. The subtle message this man is preaching is that they should have rejected the commandments and continued in “grace” straight through to the promised land.

There is no question that this man preaches “lawlessness” or “Law-FREE living” and behind his message, the LAW of YHWH GOD is supplanted by Grace.

He even goes so far as to say we must “cast out” the law. See this video.

The popular T.V. Preacher Joseph Prince from Singapore has a message that some believe is uplifting and encouraging. Others believe it is heresy and will lead many to die in their sins rather than repent of sin they know they need to repent of.

Whether or not Joseph Prince is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” or not will be for you to decide for yourself, and ultimately for YHWH God to judge for eternity. We cannot judge his soul nor his destiny, but we are commanded in the scripture to “judge a tree” by its fruit and to “test the spirits” because of the perilous days we live in.

While I have no personal axe to grind with the likeable Joseph Prince, there are things that this man has preached to the nations that I believe are “gainsaying” or contradicting the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom preached by Messiah and the Apostles.

While he often quotes Apostle Paul in many of his sermons, he places a specific bent or spin on the scriptures he quotes to affirm his “message” of “mother grace” and consequently undermines the message of redemption, repentance, holiness, and righteousness as ministered by Messiah.

We are warned by MESSIAH that in the last days, MANY false prophets shall rise and DECEIVE. What is the deception that they will be walking in? I believe the key is in the following passage.

Matthew 24:11-13 “And MANY false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive MANY. And because INIQUITY (Lawlessness) shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

What is INIQUITY? I looked it up …

1) the condition of without law

a) because ignorant of it

b) because of violating it

2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness

A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

Matthew 7:14-15 “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

All sober and watching Christians understand the warnings of Jesus and the Apostles concerning the last days were dire and serious. We are called to be “sober and vigilant” in these days like never before.

Jesus told us that we would know a wolf in sheep’s clothing by their fruits.

We can see by the passage in Matthew 7 that these wolves will:

Cast out devils
Prophesy in Jesus’ name
Do many mighty works
So it may be difficult to discern them based on their popularity or their bold preaching. Instead, Messiah gives us the way we can know for certain that they are indeed wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Matthew 7:22-23 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Notice the fruit that Messiah indicates would separate the wolves from authentic shepherds.

Wolves “work iniquity” or “lawlessness” which as we have already seen, is to discard the law that was prophesied to be written in the hearts of the New Covenant believer. Is Joseph Prince working against the Law written in the hearts and minds of New Covenant believers? You decide.

It seems pretty clear to me that he has renounced the premise of the New Covenant and rejects any form of the Holy Law of YHWH God from being in his heart or mind. As he has already said, Grace and Law cannot abide under the same roof. As he has clearly stated, we must “cast out the law” and walk entirely under his doctrine of grace.

The Law and the New Covenant Believer

Now, while it is TRUE that no law is required for SALVATION. Just blood on the doorposts. We see this pictured beautifully in the Exodus from Egypt. The Passover Lamb’s blood on the doorpost by faith was all that was needed for salvation from Egypt.

After being saved, delivered from their enemies, baptized in the Red Sea, and LED OF THE SPIRIT by day and night … where did YHWH bring HIS now DELIVERED HOLY PEOPLE? Clearly they were SAVED BY GRACE … so where did HE bring them?

To a mountain … to teach them WHO WERE SAVED … how to act right.

Law came after salvation which is why Paul wrote Galatians. Man is not justified by the works of the Law for by the works of the LAW can no flesh be justified … just blood.

Following the salvation from Egypt, Israel was taken by the Holy Spirit to the Mount Sinai where they received the Torah/Law of YHWH God. This was a type and shadow of the New Covenant where once a believer received the atoning blood of the Lamb of YHWH GOD, Jesus Christ, the LAW of GOD would be written on their hearts and minds.

THIS IS the New Covenant as declared by the Messiah and the Apostles. Joseph Prince rejects that. He says, “the law is no more.”

According to Joseph Prince, he says “grace and law cannot abide under the same roof” thus contradicting the word in Hebrews which states that YHWH God will write His Laws on the hearts and minds of all New Covenant believers. This IS the promise of the Father sealed by the Holy Spirit. According to Joseph Prince, this is replaced by “grace.”

Taking Paul’s comments in Galatians out of context, he preaches that we are to REJECT the New Covenant and the Holy Laws of God written in our hearts to instead walk in GRACE.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

Source: Joseph Prince Renounces The New Covenant

Joel Osteen Rebukes Apostles Paul, Peter, and John

August 27, 2013 by Peter Michael Martinez

According to Joel Osteen – Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, these first century apostles are wrong and outdated and he has come out boldly to imply that Apostles Paul, Peter, and John who wrote much of the New Testament were wrong and need to be corrected and rebuked.

When asked directly by Oprah Winfrey if people who are openly practicing homosexuals are accepted into the Kingdom, Joel Osteen responded with “Absolutely, anybody is.”

Joel does acknowledge that some things are “sin” but says, “I don’t address these things from the pulpit. They only come up in interviews.” When asked by Piers Morgan if openly practicing gay/homosexual people will be accepted into heaven, Joel Osteen responded, “I believe they will.”

John 7:16-18 “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

He that speaketh of himself (his own opinion) seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.”

Joel makes no mention of the need for repentance nor does he ever even use the word.

2 Peter 3:7 “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

Listen to this interview.

Oprah asks, “will a gay person be accepted into heaven, as you see it” at about 1:10 into the interview.

You’ll hear him say point blank, “well I believe they will.” Joel says YES, Apostle Paul, Peter, and John say … NO!

Now read Franklin Graham (son of Billy Graham) answer the same question here. You’ll see a very different answer!

http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/evangelism-missions/560-evangelism/20282-franklin-graham-answers-can-gay-people-go-to-heaven

Since Joel is telling us all what he believes, I will say what I believe. I believe he took a position contrary to the word of YHWH God as established by Messiah and the Apostles and what follows is my reason for believing that. You may or may not agree with me.

While he did not come right out and say Apostle Paul, Peter, and John were wrong in so many words, his inference is clear to any who pay attention to what he’s saying. The answer he gives to a question already answered by the Apostles is the OPPOSITE of what they wrote. So, you decide if what you hear him say is what Heaven is saying.

I have no personal axe to grind with Joel Osteen. I say Father, Forgive him, he knows not what he is actually saying. Please forgive him Father.

I always pray that we all come to the UNITY OF THE FAITH as Ephesians says. Nevertheless, millions of people listen to this man and when he says something concerning a critical issue discussed clearly in scripture, we are responsible as watchmen to “test the spirits.”

If even one soul perishes because of any error, I believe we can all agree that one soul is one too many.

In my assessment based on the comments that Joel continues to make publicly, he is establishing a doctrine that is VERY different than that which was preached by the Apostles Peter, John, and Paul. He may not believe that and his supporters may not see it, but hundreds of thousands, if not millions of other born-again believers certainly do.

What follows is my reasons for believing that essentially he is correcting Apostle’s writings with what “he believes” when speaking concerning these issues. When he speaks contrary to the clear word of Apostles, he leaves no alternative in my view but for one to be right and the other wrong. You are welcome to draw your own conclusions.

If you believe Joel is correct, then by extension, you have to conclude the Apostles are incorrect as you will see … or vice versa. You may discern for yourself.

Either way, it is my prayer and the prayer of all saints that all who sin come to repentance no matter who they are … for our father in heaven is not willing that ANY should perish but that ALL would come to REPENTANCE!

Under no circumstances should you ever “fake it till you make it” in your walk in the Kingdom with God or your brothers and sisters.

You cannot accurately arrive at your destiny if you fake the journey.

You serve a REAL GOD who sent his REAL SON and you are empowered by the REAL HOLY SPIRIT … so be a REAL VESSEL.

Joel Osteen Brings Us Universalism

The doctrine of universalism is the belief that all people are “saved” with or without repentance.

This is a new version of the “good news” that is MUCH BETTER than the message the Jesus and the Apostles preached 2,ooo years ago which was far too narrow according to the way Joel Osteen explains his “message.”

“I’m for everybody” says Joel Osteen, “I’m not into excluding people. Jesus can reveal himself to anybody.”

The idea is that since no one would be accepted if we are called to be “holy” then all have to be accepted. So goes this logic. This doctrine also believes that all roads lead to heaven so there is no one “way, truth, and life that leads to the father.”

According to Joel, “sin means to miss the mark” which, while that is correct, let us remember that Kingdom of Heaven is the mark. If we sin and do no repent, then yes, we are in danger of missing the mark which means, we miss eternal life. That’s the mark.

1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.“

According to the Bible, the “wages of sin is death” for which blood is required and for which a sacrifice was presented.

It sounds a lot more harsh to say SIN is TREASON punishable by death than to say it is “missing the mark” which is a bit incomplete unless you understand that the mark is the Kingdom of heaven. Sin is also  “to incur guilt, incur penalty” which according to the scripture is death.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

When asked about people who live in open sin, Joel smilingly said, “I’m not going to bash those people. I’m not going to be against those people. They’re good people.”

So by contrast, Apostle Jude, using Joel’s definition is “bashing people” when he said:

Jude 1:14-16 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.”

Joel’s wife recently said to Piers Morgan. “It’s the people that we’re after. We’re not trying to judge their sin. We want to encourage them and love them. You’re only going to win people by reaching out to them.”

While we are certainly understanding of their goal of church growth, the Apostles were concerned with the KINGDOM. Joel Osteen wants to teach that you and I be accepted without having to discuss anything like repentance or righteousness. These are “judgmental” subjects that we just don’t need, according to the comments Joel makes.

These modern day ministry giants have gone on national television to essentially correct Apostles Peter, John, and Paul to say … they are wrong … if you listen to Joel Osteen. So many across the nation are so proud of this Pastor and his courage in confronting the church fathers!

According to Joel Osteen, Apostle Paul erroneously stated to the Corinthians …

1 Corinthians 6:8-10 “Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.“

In saying this, according to Joel Osteen, Apostle Paul is being “exclusionary” and should be rebuked and corrected. He is obviously wrong and should never have said these things to the Corinthian church.

Corinth was known for its sexual openness and promiscuity so for Paul to “condemn” all these “good people” was completely out of order and he needs to be rebuked.

When Paul wrote to the Romans he also was in complete error in stating the following in the first chapter of his letter, according to Joel Osteen.

“And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”

According to Joel Osteen, Paul was “bashing people” when he states that being a homosexual is a sin is being “judgmental” and should not be tolerated. It is just wrong according to Joel Osteen. Many people agree with Joel Osteen today and so, Apostle Paul is apparently misguided and incorrect in his letter. You can’t have it both ways.

Joel goes on to point out the additional errors in the words Apostle Paul wrote.

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Paul went on to write in the first chapter of Romans, which according to the words of Joel Osteen, he is deeply misguided and mistaken.

Apostle Paul should repent for saying such things according to Joel Osteen. A growing number of people in America agree with Joel that Apostle Paul should be rebuked for ever saying such things because Paul isn’t accepting of people like Joel Osteen is.

Equally misguided and incorrect according to Joel Osteen is Paul’s words to the Galatian church. In his writings, Apostle Paul made stunning comments that were clearly exclusionary statements concerning the Kingdom and those who are accepted, and in so doing has made grave error according to Joel Osteen.

See if you can detect the absolutely false statements that Apostle Paul made to the Galatian church according to the stated doctrine of Joel Osteen.

Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.“

You can clearly see what has Joel Osteen so unhappy that he’s gone on national television to correct this! It is this type of rhetoric, according to Joel Osteen, that is completely false and misrepresents the God he serves.

Joel Osteen’s God loves everybody and there are no exclusions because then, according to Joel, “none of us would be saved.” So again, Apostle Paul was completely incorrect and should never have written such harsh and insensitive words to the Galatian church according to Joel.

I imagine Joel Osteen would say “shame on Apostle Paul for ever writing such hateful words!”

Now, not only is Joel out to correct the misguided Apostle Paul, but Apostle Peter was also brought into serious question for clearly being exclusionary when he wrote these words.

1 Peter 1:14-16 “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

According to the doctrine Joel Osteen has now shared with us all as “his message,” being clearly more evolved and enlightened than the archaic Apostle Peter,  no one can be holy. We are left to conclude that Peter is misguided and is being judgmental. What a terrible yoke and condemnation Apostle Peter is trying to put on the good people he is writing to.

Additionally, Apostle Peter goes on to say things that are completely against the Lakewood Church Pastor’s God when he stated the following.

2 Peter 2:6-8 “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”

According to Joel Osteen’s public comments, one could conclude that Apostle Peter was in complete error and deceived when he wrote such things. What a terrible condemnation. He clearly did not know the doctrine that Joel Osteen preaches or he would never have said such awful and critical things.

Joel Osteen indirectly implies (subtly) that these apostles were false and were critical and judgmental and should NOT be listened to in America today. We all need to listen instead to Joel Osteen and Oprah Winfrey.

Now Apostle John made even greater errors if the benchmark is Joel Osteen’s “message” when he stated some of the thing that he wrote which, according to Joel Osteen, is just plain and simply not true.

It takes a lot of courage for Joel to stand against these writings but he believes strongly in his “uplifting and encouraging” doctrine that does not endorse such harsh and judgmental statements as written by these ancient Apostles.

We should all pray for Joel Osteen because he needs our prayers if he’s going to continue to champion the cause of those oppressed and condemned by the writings and statements of Apostles like Paul, Peter and John.

Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

You see, according to Joel Osteen in a recent interview, “God doesn’t see any sin as worse than another” and all are going to heaven. Apparently in Joel Osteen’s bible, he has redacted the unpardonable sin. So if you’re a follower of Joel Osteen’s then this statement by Apostle John must seem just plain wrong.

Apostle John doesn’t know what he’s talking about and we need to listen to the wisdom of Joel Osteen. Apostle John clearly was in error and should be rebuked for suggesting that people who tell lies are going to have their part in the lake of fire.

What was Apostle John thinking writing such judgmental things???

That’s a terrible thing to say and no one, certainly not Apostle John, should be allowed to say such things. As Joel says, “there’s enough condemnation in the world” and we don’t need anymore.

Additionally, in his letter, Apostle John says things like …

1 John 3:8-10 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

Now according to Joel Osteen and the thousands that agree with his “message,” this entire passage should be removed from the pages of the bible and no one should be saying such things. In fact, Joel goes on to share that it is this exact kind of preaching that will hinder “church growth.”

Apostles Paul, Peter, and John listen up. Joel Osteen rebukes you all.

Now listen, Joel Osteen and his ministry in Houston are all about people. He is standing up for your rights! He is taking a REALLY BIG RISK because … if he’s wrong, and Apostle Paul is right … then he stands to be cursed! So he needs your support in prayer NOW!

Galatians 1:9 “As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

Instead, you all need to listen to his message of universal acceptance and lawless living without any condemnation so we can all “lift our spirits” and be “encouraging and loving” to all people no matter what lifestyle or choices they make. After all, according to Joel, God loves us all and everyone is going to heaven so lighten up!

There is no exclusive path to the Kingdom. According to Joel Osteen, we need to hear this message because it’s the right  message and anyone that says that there is an exclusive path to God is wrong.

Joel would know, look at the size of his church! He is clearly telling you the truth more than anyone in history.

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

 Exactly how much error is too much?

Sources:

Joel Osteen on Oprah:… Here’s the link: http://youtu.be/7XXUfTNCkzc
Joel Osteen meets with Larry King … Here’s the link: http://youtu.be/KwL1DThtxYg
Joel Osteen meets with Piers Morgan … Here’s the link: http://youtu.be/tgCpRNfBzys

To his credit, in this interview Joel does call out sin, however, he softens it and backs away from talking about repentance … and when he is asked “what would you say” his comment is that he doesn’t understand. You’re leading the largest church in America and you don’t understand REPENTANCE?

The quotes are taken right from what Joel himself has spoken. He positions himself on his own without being told how to answer. On the one hand he wants to appease his Christian followers by saying “the bible says” but on the other he clearly fellowships with darkness and facilitates those who deny the power thereof.

2 Timothy 3:1-7 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Based on what I observe, I believe there are spirits at work to undermine the clear preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom in America. I believe that there are compromises being made to yield to pressure of modern culture as if somehow the WORD of the LIVING GOD was subject to private interpretation. You may not agree with me. You are entitled to your opinion and I respect that.

Nevertheless, tens of thousands if not millions of born-again believers and disciples of Messiah believe that what Apostle’s Paul, Peter, and John wrote is indisputable and anyone who deviates in any way from the clear and direct teaching of the Apostles is preaching “another gospel.”

Let us keep praying for the “unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

Source: Joel Osteen Rebukes Apostles Paul, Peter, and John

Self-Promotional Churches Will Soon Be Judged by BERT M. FARIAS

I believe that much of what the Lord is doing today is completely counter to Christian pop culture and the flow that we are seeing in the Western Church. It is typical in such times that there will be a counterfeit that runs parallel to the real.

There will be an echo arise right alongside the authentic voice. Some of these echoes are very deceptive and hidden from the casual hearer, while others are rather obvious and easy to discern. For instance, there's a false teaching out there that says the Christian doesn't need to repent—that God has forgiven all your past, present and future sins. Yet there's never been a greater need for repentance in the church world than today.

In a recent poll done by ChristianMingle.com, single Christians between the ages of 18 and 59 were asked, if given the opportunity, would they have sex before marriage. A whopping 63 percent stated that they would. How does that happen? It's simple. Either they are hopelessly backslidden or they've never repented of their sins and experienced true conversion. A majority of them belong to a church culture that is perhaps trendy and popular, but has no interest in fulfilling the demands of Christ. Many of them serve an "American Jesus" who lets them live as they please, and of course, will never judge them. Amidst all of the frenetic religious activity going on today, we need the ability to recognize the real Jesus, the Lamb of God.

In John 3, John the Baptist who was filled with the spirit and power of Elijah, and who ministered with Divine authority, declared, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" Then he declared again, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

John's ministry was not one of self-exaltation or self-promotion as is so common today, but he was separated by God for the sole purpose of exalting the Lamb of God and preparing a people for Him, a bride for the bridegroom.

"He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice" (John 3:29).

Those who are true friends of the Bridegroom hear His voice, not an echo. The voice of His messengers, who are filled with the spirit and power of Elijah, will point people to the Lamb of God, not to their own ministries, personalities, and agendas. John the Baptist was a voice crying in the wilderness. The entirety of his ministry was focused on the Lamb and His bride.

If a ministry is not pointing people to the One who was, and is, and is to come it, will be judged harshly in this hour. Those who are exalting the Lamb of God have no interest in being seen or heard. They are not looking for a platform to promote themselves. The things that denote ministerial success in our day, such as large buildings, large followings and popularity, are of no interest to the true messengers of the Lamb.

Actually, the Lord is leading ministers right now to do the opposite of what it takes to build a large ministry. He is stripping away human wisdom and all we've utilized in our own efforts to build things, for He will not share His glory with another.

The Ephesians 4:11 gifts are to equip the saints for service and to prepare a bride for the Bridegroom, or a wife for the Lamb. "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John" (John 1:6). There is a present-day ministry with a mandate just as John the Baptist had, to turn hearts back to the Lord, to make a people ready for Him.

One of the great emphases of the Lord in this hour is on the preparation of His bride. There must be a distinction made between the church world and the bride of Christ. This is more than a salvation issue. It is more about the Lord possessing our vessels for His eternal purposes. This is the spirit and power of Elijah that was upon John the Baptist, and would also be a characteristic of those who would minister before His second coming (Mal. 4:5-6).

God's invitation is to everyone, but that invitation demands a dedication and a consecration. Counting the cost and paying the price are no longer terms we hear today in the marketplace of Western Christianity, but this language is found everywhere in the Scriptures.

It is time to wake up the sleeping church! She can be awakened kindly with a kiss or be shaken with the Lord's severity (Rom. 11:22). It's our choice. If we put it off to the future it will demand His shakings, which often come in the form of tests and trials, or a crisis that will expose our pride and crooked ways. Wholeheartedness is what the Lord desires.

In the times of Elijah we see this ministry in manifestation in the spirit and power of Elijah as he stood on Mount Carmel and contested with the false prophets of Baal. The fire fell and consumed the sacrifice along with the wood, stones, dust and even the water. This mighty manifestation caused the people to fall on their faces and declare the Lord as God.

"Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, 'The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!'" (1 Kings 18:39).

We also see this ministry exercised in the days of Moses as he stretched forth his rod, and the Red Sea swallowed up and drowned the Egyptian armies. The results of this anointing and authority are noted in Exodus 14:31: "Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses."

This anointing administered in the spirit and power of Elijah will be seen again. Its purpose is always redemptive—to bring forth true repentance and cause the hearts of the people to turn to the Lord.

We are in the infantile stages of the release of this authority. This will include a worldwide company of men and women who have been summoned by the Lord to be His messengers.

In the times of Moses and Elijah, great severity was necessary to turn the hearts of the people back to the Lord. Often people quote the scripture in Romans 2:4, properly stating that it is the goodness or kindness of the Lord that leads to repentance. But when the Lord's goodness does not lead to repentance, then He is forced to move us into the realm of Divine severity.

Too many people have taken the Lord's goodness to further their pleasurable, worldly and even sinful lifestyles. Therefore, for the sake of their salvation and perseverance of their souls, the Lord has to administer His severity.

And so we will see both the manifestation of the goodness and severity of God side by side in the days ahead. Bittersweet times are upon us. We will choose our own medicine. These things will come with great cost and great loss to many as well as great glory and victory to others.

I find the scriptural reference to Jesus as the Lamb of God very rare until we get to the book of Revelation. There the Lamb is referenced 27 times. That is more than the rest of the entire New Testament combined. It was the revelation of the Lamb that ushered in His first coming, and it is that same revelation that will usher in the end of the age. It is only in the Lamb's meekness that we will triumph. Let's make ourselves ready!

"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7, emphasis added).

Bert M. Farias, founder of Holy Fire Ministries, is the author of The Real Gospel and co-host of the New England Holy Ghost Forum. He is a missionary evangelist carrying a spirit of revival to the church and the nations. Follow him at Bert Farias on Facebook or @Bertfarias1 on Twitter.

Religion Expert Exposes Real Danger of Halloween by DEBORAH HAMILTON

With Halloween just days away, children—and some parents, too—are eagerly anticipating donning costumes and asking for a 'treat' from neighbors as the price for not having a 'trick' played on them. Meanwhile, decorations designed to terrify—from skulls and witches to life-sized graveyards and giant insects—have turned homes across America into virtual haunted houses.

It's all just harmless fun. Or, is it?

Religion and culture expert Dr. Alex McFarland says that while many see Halloween as a chance to dress up and get goodies, there is real danger involved.

"Many of the common activities and themes associated with Halloween provide opportunities for harmless fun and togetherness," McFarland said. "At this time of year, churches often capitalize on the spiritual openness of people, on children's capacity for imagination and on the enthusiasm that Halloween generates. But parents need to know that beneath the costumes and make believe are spiritual realities that should be taken seriously."

As an example, McFarland points to the prevalence of witchcraft and the occult during the Halloween season. Indeed Wicca, which is the prominent religion of witchcraft, views Halloween, or 'Samhain,' as a high holy day, and a day for communicating with the dead.

"Halloween in America has become a celebration of darkness and of the supernatural as it relates to darkness," McFarland continued. "This is compounded by the fact that people long for spiritual experiences, spiritual fulfillment and a place to 'fit in'—all of which are promised by witchcraft and other occult activities. While it used to be that witchcraft was widely viewed as evil, today there is growing mainstream acceptance of it. Much of our media and culture in recent years has centered on themes of witchcraft, vampirism, communication with the dead and paranormal phenomenon in general—for example, the 'Twilight' books and films; Katy Perry's 'Dark Horse' performance at the Grammys, which had the feel of a satanic ritual; Nicki Minaj's 'Roman Holiday' performance; and more. Halloween annually fans this cultural trend."

McFarland adds that because the supernatural is real and not simply a figment of the imagination, playing with the supernatural should not be taken lightly.

"One must use caution and exercise discernment when seeking spiritual reality, meaning and truth," he said. "The Bible clearly speaks out against occult practices and all forms of witchcraft. Today, many dismiss the Bible as outdated or marginally relevant at best, but it contains clear and emphatic prohibitions against occult involvement, in both the Old and New Testaments. This is not because God wants to take away our fun but because He loves us and wants us to be protected from evil spiritual entities whose desires are to deceive and destroy. Could it actually be that there is tangible danger in opening oneself up to certain types of spiritual experiences by participating in a supposedly innocuous celebration of a day devoted to death, darkness and witchcraft? According to the Bible, yes."

15 'Signs of the Times' Indicating Judgment by LARRY TOMCZAK

 The Bible warns us about saying "everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation" (1 Pet. 3:4) when judgment is at hand. We know that God is "patient not wanting anyone to perish" (v.9), but there comes a time when the gavel falls!

After Hurricane Katrina, I spoke with a former resident of Louisiana. He told me he grew up hearing warnings of levies breaking but folks simply tuned it out when nothing happened. This describes America today.

If you fell asleep like a Rip Van Winkle for 30 years and awoke today, imagine how shocked you would be at what happened to America.

1. Divorce: Increased from 4% to 51% in one generation.

2. Cohabitation: 65% of "altar-bound" singles live together, a euphemism for lifestyle fornication.

3. Abortion: 57 million unborn babies aborted, some with taxpayer funding and now part of socialized medicine.

4. Marijuana: Being legalized in several states.

5. Euthanasia and Infanticide: Being legalized under camouflage names.

6. Pornography: Rampant, graphic, just a "click away" on hand-held devices.

7. Homosexuality, lesbian and transgender lifestyles: Promoted even by our president along with gay marriage and homosexual ordinations.

8. Movies and music: Standards almost nonexistent with graphic nudity, profanity and blasphemy commonplace.

9. Out-of-wedlock births: 1st time in U.S history – more than 50%.

10. Sexually transmitted diseases: Over 110 million in our population infected.

11. Economic insanity: $18 trillion national debt; millions unemployed deriving benefits; $60 billion in annual Medicare fraud and waste.

12. Illegal immigration: Over 11 million and politicians pushing open borders and amnesty.

13. Political leaders: Corruption, incompetence and deception at all levels.

14. Radical Islam and terrorism: Exploding in regions of the world with an increasingly vulnerable America dismantling militarily and docile politicians calling it a "peaceful religion."

15. Should we add illiteracy... crime... catastrophic fatherlessness... human trafficking... adultery... profane comedians...an ignorant and low information populace? How about the ongoing erosion of our religious freedoms and secularism taking over society? And last but not least, how about a Laodicean, apostate church compromising and lacking the courage to address the defining issues of our day with clarity and conviction while defining success in terms of happy sermons, attendance, offerings, number of staff, programs and square footage?

Do we see the "handwriting on the wall" that we are at an unprecedented tipping point? Are we aware that America is rapidly spiraling into a lawless culture similar to Germany of a generation ago?

My wife and her parents are German and they will tell you an educated and civilized nation moved from democracy to dictatorship and then demise in less than six years! A once-thriving nation can have its heritage and faith so decimated that history records it as a tragic collapse.

Our Only  Hope for Turnaround is a Heaven-sent Awakening That May Require A Calamity to Jumpstart

As long as things continue to run somewhat smoothly on the surface, we have an amazing ability to cope and carry-on, all the while making flimsy excuses for compromise and a comfortable "Christianity."

• "I don't like what's happening in America on so many issues, but it's not      really affecting me or my family."

• "I prefer they not schedule soccer games on Sunday morning but I guess we can live with it. As a family we try to make it to church at least twice a month unless we need to catch up on our rest."

• "I wish our pastor would address these critical issues but his role model is Joel Osteen so he avoids controversy."

• "I grew up with Sunday school, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services but times have changed and I guess we can get by with a brief Sunday service."

• "Our worship leader is gay, I think, and the primary singer is living with her boyfriend but it's probably best not to stir up problems."

• "I wish our church gave out voter guides so we knew where candidates stand but since we're in a building program, leadership said they don't want to jeopardize fundraising."

"Our pastors tell us they don't put out any lawn signs for candidates or  speak about anything political because of separation of church and state."
         "We got the evite for the citywide gathering to pray for transformation in our city but it's the same night of Dancing With the Stars finale and we just can't miss it."
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked" (Rev. 3:15-17).

           8 Potential Disasters to Awaken Us?

Will it take another stock market crash, severe financial recession or, God forbid, global economic collapse to get our attention?

Might it take a series of beheadings and coordinated Islamic terrorist attacks in malls and cities by ISIS supporters slipping through unprotected borders to wake us up?

Would a massive power outage shutting down computers and canceling NFL games nationwide strike fear into the hearts of citizens and sober us to the urgency of the hour?

How about an airborne Ebola virus outbreak and the "pestilences and diseases" (Matt. 24:7) Jesus predicted at the end of the age? Maybe a mass migration of infected Central Americans streaming through our porous Southern border?

Perhaps the beginning of war in the Middle East as Jerusalem is surrounded by enemies (Luke 21:20) and Iran launches the "bomb" on Israel causing catastrophic disruption in the Straits of Hormuz (where 20% of the total world's gas supply passes)? Recall the long gas lines of 1973?

Friends and family "handed over to be persecuted and put to death...hated by all nations because of Me" (Matt. 24:9)? Imagine us saying what a Chinese pastor, Huang Yizi, said this week upon being arrested in a government crackdown: "I am grateful to God for the opportunity to go to jail."

Perhaps the very real, dreaded, catastrophic EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) attack causing unimaginable devastation by paralyzing America as all power lines burn out and all goes dark instantly? USA Today stated: "Cities darken, food spoils and homes fall silent. Civilization collapses." Cause: One terrorist A-bomb or a severe solar storm.

Massive earthquake(s) as Jesus foretold (Matt. 24:7). Scientist Dr. Lucy Jones issued a dire warning on Oct. 15 to the L.A. City Council of the effects: "Infrastructure crippled; power grid and communications knocked out; water supply disrupted; 1,800 fatalities, 53,000 injured and ½ the buildings unusable." [Note: This is not the inevitable "Big One" set for San Francisco.]

                                 Awakening From Spiritual Coma

After the disaster of 9/11, people flocked to church buildings, prayer meetings mushroomed and streets were lined with marquees calling for God's blessing on America. We got our wake up call and people were motivated to seek the living God as atheists and the ACLU were silenced.

Unfortunately, we hit the snooze button and fell back asleep. African pastors gathering in D.C. stated it this way just a week ago: "America is in a spiritual coma!"

Providentially, the same week over 100 churches gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in our Nation's Capital to cry out to God for one thing - spiritual awakening in the United States of America.



In the time of Esther, things looked bleak and God's people were very discouraged at the prospect of a national disaster. But through prayer, fasting, seeking God and Spirit-led action, God intervened to save the day. "Who knows if you've come into the Kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14) was spoken over one believer. As the clock is ticking, can you hear God issuing you and me the same challenge?

This is the second installment of a two-part series. Part one was posted yesterday.

Unless otherwise specified, the opinions expressed are solely the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Charisma Media.

City Harvest Church leaders tried to "bamboozle" auditor: Prosecution

By Alice Chia : 25 Sep 2014 Channel NewsAsia

Messages between church leaders Sharon Tan and Chew Eng Han were cited by prosecutors as proof that they tried to not let the church's auditor find out that church funds were used to redeem Firna bonds.

• APTION 

SINGAPORE: At the City Harvest Church trial on Thursday (Sep 25), the prosecution said finance manager Sharon Tan was not the "innocent follower" that she tried to paint herself as, when it came to plans to use church funds to redeem sham bonds.

Tan was taking the stand for the tenth day. She is one of six church leaders who are accused of using millions of dollars from the church's building fund to buy sham bonds in two companies, Firna and Xtron.

Lead prosecutor for the case, Mavis Chionh, showed the court messages between Tan and co-accused Chew Eng Han, in which Tan proposed using a third party to redeem the Firna bonds. She had proposed using Pacific Radiance, a company linked to member John Lam who is one of those on trial.

In one message, Tan said that even if church auditor Mr Sim Guan Seng suspected that church monies were used to redeem the bonds, "he can't fault or pinpoint". The prosecution accused Tan and Chew of trying to "bamboozle" Mr Sim and not let him find out that church funds were used to redeem the Firna bonds.

Tan disagreed and said that she was worried about "disclosure" as she had the understanding that the drawdown from the Firna bonds would be used to support the Crossover Project, which involved church co-founder Sun Ho recording and launching secular music albums.

The prosecution also showed a chart drawn by Chew during a meeting on Sep 29, 2008, with co-accused Serina Wee and Tan. The chart illustrated the flow of funds and transactions for the redemption of Xtron and Firna bonds. After the meeting, Tan updated deputy senior pastor and co-accused Tan Ye Peng about the plans.

It is the prosecution's case that these were not genuine investments and that the four accused were planning to use church funds to redeem the Firna bonds by roundtripping the funds in a series of transactions.

For example, in one chain of transactions, the church would invest S$11.4 million in a Special Opportunities Fund by investment company AMAC Capital Partners (AMAC), which has Chew as its sole director.

AMAC would then loan the amount to Ultimate Assets, a company owned by Indonesian businessman and church member Wahju Hanafi. Ultimate Assets would in turn loan the amount to Firna, which would use the money to redeem the bonds.

- CNA/xy

CHC - E-mail with :) under the spotlight (Emoticon would not be sent if there was a conspiracy, says accused)

BY FENG ZENGKUN  September 19, 2014



A smiley face emoticon which one accused e-mailed another came under the spotlight in the City Harvest Church trial yesterday.

Former church fund manager Chew Eng Han said the icon, which was sent to him by church finance manager Sharon Tan, showed that he and his alleged co-conspirators did not believe they were doing anything illegal.

"Sharon, you and I have been charged for conspiring to defraud the auditors," Chew told Tan, who turns 39 today.

"If we were really conspiring, would you put a smiley face (in the e-mail), unless you are a seasoned conspirator?"

Tan, who had inserted the icon at the end of a series of e-mail messages discussing what to tell church auditors about various church-financed investments, replied: "No."

Tan, Chew, church founder Kong Hee and three others face charges for their part in allegedly misusing some $50 million of church funds for the secular music career of Kong's wife, Ms Ho Yeow Sun, and then covering it up.

Chew, who is representing himself, yesterday used his chance to cross-examine Tan to refute the prosecution's allegation that his fund management firm AMAC Capital Partners was nothing more than a shell set up to funnel church funds illegally into Ms Ho's career.

AMAC had helped the church buy $13 million worth of bonds issued by Xtron, the company that managed Ms Ho's singing career. The bonds, allege the prosecution, were "sham".

In one e-mail, Chew instructed Tan to keep details of various AMAC investments financed by the church from auditors, since there was no legal obligation to disclose the information.

He told the court yesterday that he did so because "some of the loans that were made to shareholders of listed companies were sensitive information".

"We were not trying to make the job difficult for the auditor," he said.

He also pointed out how AMAC, through investments unrelated to Xtron, had also made "serious money" for the church, with one deal reaping $703,500.

Tan simply nodded or said yes to most of Chew's assertions, a stark contrast to her demeanour earlier in the day.

Having broken down on Wednesday as the day's hearing drew to a close, she was again in tears yesterday when describing her long relationship with the church, which she insisted precluded her from doing anything to harm the organisation.

She told the court how she had joined City Harvest when she was 15, then worked there for more than a decade and married a cell group leader. Now, her three children are members.

"This is my first and only church. Everything that is me right now I learnt from this church," she cried. "I never had the intention to cause any loss to the church. Never."

- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/chc-funds-case/story/e-mail-under-the-spotlight-20140919#sthash.OEkZAHTO.dpuf

City Harvest trial: Finance manager concedes her action may have deceived auditors

BY IAN POH  26 September 2014



SINGAPORE - City Harvest Church finance manager Sharon Tan broke down on the stand on Friday, even as she conceded that information she had inserted into church board meeting minutes may have deceived auditors.

Choking up under cross-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mavis Chionh, the 39-year-old said: "Your honour, it might be seen like they are being deceived, but... it wasn't my intention."

Tan had inserted information into the document, dated Sept 12, 2009, that the board had approved "advance rental" payments to music production firm Xtron of $7 million per year for eight years - part of a plan to purge bonds held in the firm from the church's books.

The court heard that the information was false, as no such approval was received from the board on that day.

Tan is one of six people, including founding pastor Kong Hee, accused of misusing $50 million of church funds to boost the music career of Kong's wife, Ms Ho Yeow Sun, and covering up the misuse. The prosecution believes that all of the accused, except Tan, channelled money from the church's building fund into sham bond investments in Xtron, which is Ms Ho's management company, and glass manufacturer Firna. Four of them, including Tan, then allegedly devised transactions to clear the sham bonds from CHC's accounts to throw auditors off the scent.

Friday's hearing has centred on the church's book-keeping, with Tan taking the stand for the tenth day. This is the third time she has broken down on the stand.

- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/chc-funds-case/story/city-harvest-trial-finance-manager-concedes-her-action-may-have-d#sthash.xgmnDDOF.dpuf

An Appeal to Joel and Victoria Osteen

MICHAEL BROWN



Dear Joel and Victoria, I hope and pray that you will read this letter and that you take to heart the things I'm sharing. I write as a friend wanting to help, not an enemy wanting to hurt, and everything I write, I write out of love for God, love for you, and love for the church and the world.

I have said many times that I'm glad to see your smiling faces on TV as you speak about Jesus rather than some stern-faced, joyless, angry Christian leader. And I believe you genuinely do care about people and want them to find wholeness in the Lord.

Joel, I appreciate the fact that you end every service by asking people to get right with God, having them pray a prayer where they say to Jesus, "I repent of my sins, come into my heart, I make you Lord and Savior."

The big problem is that you haven't told them what their sins are, and you haven't told them what real repentance is. And since you are speaking to people around the world, you can't possibly assume that all of them understand the meaning of sin and redemption and repentance. (Most American Christians don't even understand these things today.)

In short, you have not shared with them the whole counsel of God, and by telling them only part of the story, you have done what the false prophets of ancient Israel did: "You superficially treat the fracture of My people saying to them, 'All is well, all is well,' when nothing is well" (Jer. 6:14, my translation).

A true physician tells his patients what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. As one preacher of old, Jean Daille, once said, "Ministers are not cooks, but physicians and therefore should not study to delight the palate, but to recover the patient."

Have you been more of a junk-food cook than a physician? Have you been afraid to tell people their true condition? Have you been so concerned with making them feel good about themselves and giving them a sense of hope that you failed to diagnose their terminal sin disease?

Paul said to the elders of Ephesus, "I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:26-27).

Do you really believe in your heart of hearts that you have declared the whole counsel of God to your listening audience?

God has given you one of the largest platforms for the gospel in human history. Can you say before Him that you are "innocent of the blood of all"?

Have you ever taught extensively on the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount? Have you ever worked your way through one of the letters of Paul? If not, why not?

Proverbs tells us that, "Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue" (28:23). Do you believe God's Word, or do you feel you have found a better way to do His work?

I appreciate the fact that you hold up your Bible before you preach, as your father did, and you have people make a confession about God's Word, as you also learned to do from your father. But do you really preach that holy Word?

Shortly before Paul was martyred for his faith, he reminded Timothy that, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16).

He also gave him this solemn commission: "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching" (2 Tim. 4:1-2).

Is this your pattern of preaching and ministry? Do you rebuke in love (Prov. 27:5) as well as exhort and encourage?

Perhaps it's time to ask yourself honestly where you fit in this warning from Paul: "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths" (2 Tim. 4:1-4).

Wouldn't it be utterly heartbreaking if, on the day you stand before God, you discovered that you were one of these teachers? Wouldn't it be tragic if your efforts were found to be wood, hay and stubble on that great and glorious Day (1 Cor. 3:11-15)? And may I ask you candidly if you even talk about that holy day of accounting?

Some Christians have referred to you and Victoria as outright heretics, others have said that you are fighting against the Holy Spirit (since the Spirit convicts the world of sin but your preaching does not), others have said that you are a pagan religionist, while others have said that your superficial message of material prosperity cannot bear the weight of the gospel.

These are very serious charges, but rather than just saying, "Hey, I'm just going to love everybody and stay in my lane," perhaps you should ask if these leaders might be saying something you need to hear. Is there any truth at all in their words? Could it be that God's lane for you is different than the lane you're in?

It would be far better for you to see your TV ratings fall and your crowds dwindle than to displease the Lord. (Perhaps if you preached the whole counsel of God, your audience would end up even bigger.)

By all means, you should be an ambassador of hope and joy—that's all part of the gospel—but if you don't speak about sin plainly and without compromise and if you don't tell people that there will be suffering and hardship in this world as we follow Jesus, then the hope that you offer will only go skin deep.

Have you ever wondered about how your message plays out among Christians who are going through hell on Earth because of their faith in Jesus? Have you ever thought about what your message sounds like to persecuted believers today who just had to leave their homes and possessions behind to flee for their lives?

And Victoria, if I may speak with you for just a moment, your recent comments that have gone viral have drawn a stream of well-deserved criticism, even if some of it came in an ugly and wrong spirit.

The reality is that our lives are supposed to revolve around God; He doesn't revolve around us. And even though worship and praise are good for us too, since they focus our attention on who God is and bring us into His presence, we do not worship or serve Him for ourselves but for Him. As Paul wrote, Jesus died for all so "that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised" (2 Cor. 5:15).

This is Gospel 101, as basic as it gets, yet you turned things upside down during that one regrettable moment on TV, a moment that reflected a wrong, off-base theology that starts with us and that says God is here to please us rather than starting with God and recognizing that we are here to please Him.

Joel and Victoria, I know these words have been strong, but they are written with love and concern. And since I have no connection to anyone on your team and I don't know of any way to reach you directly, after prayer and reflection, I felt that this was the best way to go, addressing public statements publicly, jealous for the Name of Jesus, jealous for your massive listening audience, and jealous for both of you.

Without a doubt, there are many people you have helped; you have also hurt far more than you realize. I pray you will take this to heart.

Michael Brown is author of Can You Be Gay and Christian? Responding With Love and Truth to Questions About Homosexuality and host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show The Line of Fire on the Salem Radio Network. He is also president of FIRE School of Ministry and director of the Coalition of Conscience. Follow him at AskDrBrown on Facebook or at @drmichaellbrown on Twitter.

The Wrath of God Is Coming

MICHAEL BROWN



The Bible speaks of the day in which Jesus will "tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty" (Rev. 19:15), a day when He will come "in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (2 Thess. 1:8).

Almost all the writers of the New Testament spoke of this day when the wrath of God would be poured out on the earth. Why is it that so few of us speak about it today? Why aren't we sounding the alarm?

When Paul exhorted believers to live holy lives and to abstain from sin, he reminded them that wrath was coming on the disobedient and ungodly.

To the Ephesians he wrote, "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them" (Eph. 5:6-7).

To the Colossians he wrote, "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming" (Col. 3:5-6).

Did Paul know something we don't know? Was there a reason he wanted to remind the godly about the fate of the ungodly? Did he feel it would help us not play games with sin?

Paul actually wrote about God's wrath one-fourth as many times as he wrote about God's grace. Do we follow his lead?

In his short little book, Judah (Jude) found it important to quote this prophecy from Enoch, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him" (Jude 1:14-15).

Why did he emphasize this? Why not just speak about the love of God (which he does as well; see v. 21)? Why remind the righteous about the coming judgments on the unrighteous?

Some teachers today try to downplay this theme by claiming that the verses that speak of Jesus coming in flaming fire and wrath referred to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Are they right?

Certainly, Jesus did warn about the coming destruction of Jerusalem both directly and in parables (see, for example, Matt. 23:37-39; Luke 19:42-44; Matt. 21:33-45).

But it is the height of absurdity to reinterpret all these wrath-related Scriptures to fit that singular event, especially in light of Paul's frequent references to the coming wrath, as if he was saying to believers in Ephesus, "Don't play games with sin, because Jerusalem will soon be destroyed." Hardly!

Worse still is the tendency in some hyper-grace circles to eliminate the wrath of God by simply removing it from the Scriptures, as the Mirror Bible does at times.

As I pointed out in my book Hyper-Grace: Exposing the Dangers of the Modern Grace Message, in the ESV, Romans 1:17 reads: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." In the Mirror translation, it becomes: "The righteousness of God that is endorsed in the heavens is in such contrast to the counterfeit earthly reference that blindfolds people in their own unrighteousness." What happened to God's wrath?

Or consider Colossians 3:6, which we quoted earlier: "On account of these the wrath of God is coming." In the Mirror translation, it becomes, "These distorted expressions are in total contradiction to God's design and desire for your life." Yes, "wrath" has completely disappeared once again!

But most teachers and preachers today have not gone so far as to eliminate God's wrath from their Bibles or to interpret it away. They simply ignore it. Why?

Revelation 6 presents this shattering, overwhelming account: "Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?'" (vv. 15-17)

Do we just ignore this because Revelation is hard to understand? Shouldn't this rather shake us to the core because, as surely as God is God, His wrath will one day be poured out on a sinful and rebellious world?

Peter, like Paul, told us that this should affect the way we live today.

First, he describes what is coming: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed."

Then he makes application: "Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!"

And he adds this promise: "But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace" (2 Pet. 3:10-14).

The wrath of God is coming, and a new heaven and earth are coming.

How then should we live, and what then should we preach?

Michael Brown is the author of Can You Be Gay and Christian? Responding With Love and Truth to Questions About Homosexuality and host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show The Line of Fire on the Salem Radio Network. He is also president of FIRE School of Ministry and director of the Coalition of Conscience. Follow him at AskDrBrown on Facebook or at @drmichaellbrown on Twitter.