The Lord Will Expose Lying Prophets in Media

10:00AM EST 2/26/2019 WANDA ALGER



Just as the Lord has raised up watchmen and watchwomen in this hour to pray for this nation and report what they see in the distance, so are there secular prophets and watchmen who are broadcasting false information and biased predictions aimed at undermining the agenda of heaven. Many of these false prophets manipulate the facts and skew our perceptions in order to keep us from learning the truth.

Those who are being used of the Lord to sound the alarm are often ridiculed, mocked or totally ignored by the mainstream media. The challenge we have faced is to see through the confusion in order to see God's plan at work. As believers continue to pray for those who report the news in the secular arena, we can be encouraged by a story in the Old Testament that sheds light on God's higher purpose and strategy.

In 1 Kings 22:13-37, the story is told of how God placed a lying spirit into the prophets of King Ahab's court, specifically so he would be "enticed" to listen—and thus be destroyed. Ahab had continually ignored the voice of the Lord and was rebellious in his heart. Because God saw the force of Ahab's false prophets at work, He used their own self-interest and greed against them. The king's ego led him to believe the false narrative, and he went into battle without the Lord's blessing.

Only one prophet, Micaiah, discerned the true voice of the Lord and warned Ahab not to go. Going against all the other false prophets, he risked his life to be faithful to God's word. It so enraged Ahab, he sided with his court and marched straight into a death trap. Just one word from a true prophet of God was all that was needed to institute God's plan, and those who opposed Him were destroyed.

Scriptures tell us that God hardens hearts in order that His power might be seen (Rom. 9:17). Even as we pray for hearts to be softened towards the Father's will and heaven's plan, God sees those whose hearts are unregenerate and fixed against Him. He uses their own self-inflated importance and pride to accomplish His purposes.

We can take courage in this because God's enemies will be destroyed. As only He can do, His strategy draws them right into a corner with no way out. Those who speak truth will be vindicated, and God's plans will succeed. It doesn't matter how big the secular media giants are; God's Word is bigger. Even as we watch the false prophets of the day lie and manipulate the facts for their own gain, a trap is being set. God is pulling the strings and determining the outcome. Our part is to continue to pray and intercede for truth to be heard and God's will to be done.

To the watchmen of the hour, God says, "Declare My Word! Report the truth! Do not fear the enemy or those who prophesy against Me. Do not retaliate, but let My Word accomplish its purposes. Yours is to sound the alarm and trust My plan."

God wrote the playbook, and He is making His moves. The enemies of God will not prevail. Though their reports may be outrageous and their godless rants filled with contempt, it is the prayers and proclamations of God's prophetic people that will signal heaven's response for justice.

The strategy is simple: Trust in God. Declare His Word and watch His enemies fall. Their own deception will take them down.

For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so they will believe the lie and so all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in unrighteousness (see 2 Thess. 2:11-12).

Wanda Alger is a field correspondent with Intercessors for America. She ministers with her husband in Winchester, Virginia. Follow her blog at wandaalger.me.

'Stop Apologizing!': A Prophetic Word for Authentic Prophets

10:00AM EST 3/5/2019 DAWN HILL



Over the past few days, I keep hearing this stirring in my spirit. It began on Sunday morning when the Lord started speaking to me during a time of worship. I heard Him say, "Stop apologizing." I wrote the things down He was speaking to me, and I want to share them with the body of Christ. I truly believe that God is searching for those who will not apologize to the world for the power of His holy Word and the ferocity of His everlasting love yearning to set them free from the entanglement of sin.

As the body of Christ, we have been established as a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. We are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). If we are the light, why are we apologizing for letting the light shine? You see, His light pushes back the darkness. Jesus doesn't apologize for pushing back the darkness; He simply overcomes it making His ways known. We are to make His ways known by demonstration of His kingdom in word and deed. Resist putting a dimmer switch on the light within you. There can be a temptation to dim the light of Christ from our lamps so as not to offend. Bright light is offensive to those whose vision is not accustomed to it. We inadvertently apologize for preaching more of the Word than our opinion. We apologize away the penalty of sin and the call to righteousness before God. This is good news, beloved! Let it shine!

The word apologize means to express regret for something that one has done wrong. Standing on the Word of God and the truth of His Word needs no apology. No matter how difficult it may be to hear the truth, He changes not. He has no shifting shadow in Him (James 1:17). Be encouraged to stand upon the infallible Word of God in this hour, unashamed and unapologetic. First Peter 3:13 -17 says,

"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil."

This passage charges us to make a defense with gentleness and respect for our relationship and the hope we have in Christ. This sounds like it would be unobtrusive and without revile before others, but this is not the case. If our personal version of the gospel is edited for content so that it is suitable for the carnal nature of a person, then it is not authentic but rather apologetic. I am increasingly aware of the heart of the Father drawing us back to what truly matters, and every facet of Him matters. Stop apologizing, church. The authentic gospel and presence of the Holy Spirit offends, brings persecution and multiplies the church. Reformation is not satisfied with warm corpses shrouded in bondage, and reformation does not apologize for being mindful of another's eternity. Wake up, church! Arise and shine!

Prophet, Stop Apologizing

I want to speak to the authentic prophetic mouthpieces in this hour. Stop apologizing for a concentrated word. There is a hesitation to release a word that is difficult and not well-received. This is not a statement to usher in rebellion or dissension. This is a rally to all the authentic voices of God to stop apologizing for wielding the sword of the Spirit. The Lord woke me up the other morning to Jeremiah 23, and I wept as I read it. It is past time for a healthy dose of salt to penetrate the body. Sugar is in abundance, and exhortation comes on the winds of loving warnings so that we do not lose our flavor. Contend to be one standing in the council of the Lord, proclaiming His words to His people (Jer. 23:22). Stop apologizing for ministering purity and for refusing to flow with dead fish. Stop apologizing for calling a spade a spade. If it is perversion, then it is perversion. If it is murder, then it is murder. Do not come off the wall, watchmen. Do not relent in sounding the alarm. I know it is hard, but the reward is not the roaring approval of the crowd. The reward is Jesus. I fully believe that God is cleaning house in this hour, and those who will declare the truth of His infallible nature and His infallible Word will be given a voice to those willing to listen because genuine hunger desires substantial sustenance.

Areas where the body of Christ has been spiritually ill will be healed by authenticity only found in Him. I am so encouraged by what I sense in the Spirit because we are on the precipice of something of astronomical proportions. It does not come with bowing to the culture in the world. It comes when the church takes its place and without apology establishes the counterculture originating from the throne room. This is a church without apology.

Dawn Hill is a Christ-follower and a freelance writer. She writes a blog called "Lovesick Scribe."

This article originally appeared at lovesickscribe.com.

Is the Church Being Taken Over by Success-Seeking Pastors?

By Bob Ditmer - May 29, 2018



Some are recognizing a trend in the church toward focusing less on humility, weakness and sacrifice, and instead prioritizing triumph, power and boasting of success.

Authors Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel wrote about the trend in The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb.

In it they write about pastoral pride with some personal confessions, “I have seen my thirst for power driving my ministry. I have viewed other pastors as competition and the church as a means of self-glory. I have acted in ways that place me alongside the power mongers I so readily critiqued.”

J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., sees the trend too and it worries him. He is so concerned that he had his staff read Goggin and Strobel’s book.

Pastoral pride is real

In a recent article on his website he said the criticism hit close to home.

Early in my ministry, I was praying for miraculous revival in Durham, where our church is. The Holy Spirit impressed upon me this thought: “What if I bring the revival you are asking for…but do it through another church?” I knew the right answer. I should have said, ‘Yes, Lord! You must increase and I must decrease!’ But the impulsive answer that bubbled up from my heart was much less flattering.

Ethan Renoe, a youth pastor in Denver, says that need for power and influence doesn’t happen only in the confines of the church building; it’s now evident on Facebook and Twitter:

I think social media highlights everyone’s insecurities, not just pastors. I have felt the pull to be a famous pastor, like a new Judah Smith or Carl Lentz, rather than to focus on the people God has placed me over in a given season. If anything, I wonder if this is something younger pastors can learn from the older generation. For instance, my current pastor is in his 60s, has never been on social media, and is unquestioningly committed to his small, local church. He feels no temptation to gain followers, likes, views or a book deal; his focus is to pastor well the church God has given him for the past 30 years.

Greear identifies “focusing on the big things” as one of the danger signs of becoming obsessed with power.

This is probably my greatest temptation in ministry. I am always eager to rush ahead, trying get to the “next thing.” That impatience might look impressive to others (and it may feel great when I’m “accomplishing” things), but it leaves hurting people by the wayside.

Another example of a desire to be a “dragon,” according to Goggin and Strobel, is an inattention to developing the next generation of leader: “Toxic leaders do not develop other leaders because they pose a threat to their own power.”

Renoe, a young pastor, has seen it.

I feel like there are elements of the older generation which are unwilling to ‘pass the torch’ to the next generation of church leaders. This is evidenced most widely by the Boomers’ invention of megachurches and tele-preaching to satellite campuses. What better way to tell a millennial pastor-to-be, “No, you’re not ready to preach, I’d rather preach to all of the campuses than to raise up a new leader and let you preach to one of them.”

Renoe points to Tim Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City as one church leader who’s doing it well.

Keller could easily seize the preaching control and install giant screens to do the preaching, but instead he has chosen to raise up new, younger pastors to fill his shoes when he moves on. Personally, as someone who has seven years (and counting) of theological and biblical training and education, and about the same amount of time in practice, I can count on one finger the number of times I have been asked to preach to a pastor’s congregation.

Greear offers this advice to senior pastors:

Our attitude toward power should always be, “I will serve in this role until someone better comes along.” Always. Don’t get caught up asking, in fear, “What will happen to me if I raise up this other leader?” After all, people don’t usually look to those who empower new leaders and think, “Well, that person is dispensable.” Empowering others isn’t self-sabotage; it’s wise.

And he suggests pastors look for two or three others who they can invest in “hoping that they will one day excel, replace or surpass you.”

Bob Ditmer has worked in Christian media for more than 20 years including positions with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and Focus on the Family.

Why Are We Afraid to Preach About Sin?

J.Lee Grady

I don't like angry preachers. If a person mixes a sermon with hateful language, he's in the wrong profession. Yet today we've jumped to the opposite extreme. Now we are so afraid of sounding angry that we stopped confronting sin altogether.

We can't preach about materialism because we might offend rich people in the audience—as well as the poor people who buy Lotto tickets every week. We can't preach about fornication because there are people in the church who are living together. We can't preach about adultery or homosexuality because our culture says it's hateful to label those behaviors sins.

We can't preach about domestic violence because there are deacons who sometimes hit their wives. We can't preach about abortion because there might be pro-choice Democrats in the pews (or hypocritical Republicans who say they are pro-life but who secretly pay for abortions for their own daughters). And in the Trump era, we can't challenge racist attitudes toward immigrants because evangelical Christians are expected to blindly support a wall to keep Mexicans out of our country.

And the list goes on. In fact, some preachers are avoiding the word "sin" altogether because it's too "negative." Church growth experts tell us that people want a "positive" message.

This temptation to dilute the gospel has produced a new recipe for a trendy sermon. We start with some great motivational speaking ("Your past does not define your future!"), add a few quarts of cheap grace ("Don't focus on your sin!"), pour in some prosperity gospel ("Run to this altar and grab your financial breakthrough!"), flavor it with some trendy pop psychology ("It's all about you!") and you end up with a goopy mess of pabulum that not even a baby Christian could survive on.

I've often wondered how the apostle Paul would view our weak-kneed American gospel. Just before he was martyred, Paul gave his spiritual son Timothy clear instructions on how to keep his message on track. He said, "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction" (2 Tim. 4:2, NASB).

We've rewritten Paul's words today. Our rule is, "Preach what the people want to hear! Avoid controversy! Stroke, soothe and pacify the people so they will come back next week!" Is it any wonder this low-protein spiritual diet has produced an anemic church?

Paul's preaching in the first century was unquestionably confrontational. He didn't hold back from addressing sin, nor was he afraid to call sin what it is. Paul knew a spineless Christianity would produce spineless Christians. He told Timothy that biblical preaching would require three brave verbs:

Reprove. The Greek word here, elegcho, means "to convict, admonish or expose" or "to show one his fault." The word can also mean "to scold" or "to reprimand." Anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of a mother's discipline knows that reproof can be the purest form of love.

Rebuke. The word epitimao means "to admonish strongly" or "to charge strictly." The English definition means "to express sharp, stern disapproval." And the origin of the word means "to beat or strike." I'm not talking here about a preacher who beats people with the Bible. Screaming at people is not biblical rebuke. But when was the last time you felt the Holy Spirit strike you in your conscience during a sermon because the preacher was truthful?

Exhort. This is the gentlest of the three words. Parakaleo can be used to mean "to comfort" or "to call alongside." It's the same root word used to describe the Holy Spirit, who is our Comforter. True biblical preaching not only exposes sin and warns us of its consequences, but it calls us to reach out to God for help to overcome our weakness. When we challenge sin, we must point people to deliverance and healing. Biblical preaching is never condemning—it provides hope!

Paul was also not afraid to name sins. I recently did a survey of all of Paul's epistles to see how he addressed sexual immorality. I discovered that he confronted sexual sin head-on in 10 of his 13 epistles. He boldly called out adultery, fornication, sensuality and homosexuality in a culture that was saturated in hedonism.

After exhorting the Thessalonians to practice abstinence, he rebuked them sternly by saying that anyone who opposes God's laws about sex "is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you" (1 Thess. 4:8b). Those are forceful words. They need to be repeated in our pulpits today.

Paul wasn't trying to win any popularity contests, and his comments about sex would get him blacklisted if he tried to buy airtime today. Yet when he penned those tough words, he was speaking from God's heart—with love—under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to all of us.

It's time for us to grow a backbone. Let's get rid of weak Christianity, spineless preachers and jellyfish morals. Let's preach the message of the Bible instead of a neutered version. Let's not only point out sin but also point people to the only hope they have of overcoming it—our strong Savior, whose death on the cross was the ultimate confrontation of sin.

J. Lee Grady was editor of Charisma for 11 years before he launched into full-time ministry in 2010. Today he directs The Mordecai Project, a Christian charitable organization that is taking the healing of Jesus to women and girls who suffer abuse and cultural oppression. Author of several books including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, he has just released his newest book, Set My Heart on Fire, from Charisma House. You can follow him on Twitter at @LeeGrady or go to his website, themordecaiproject.org.

'Outrageous!' Disturbing New Video Game Allows Players to Simulate Rape, Murder of Women

CBNNEWS.COM

A graphic and violent new computer video game that lets players simulate the rape and murder of women is coming under fire.

The developer of "Rape Day" describes it as "a game where you can rape and murder during a zombie apocalypse."

"Rape Day is a visual novel where you control the choices of a sociopath during a zombie apocalypse," reads a statement on the game's website. "You can verbally harass, kill people, and rape women as you choose to progress the story."

The game, which contains graphic depictions of sexual violence, allows players to click on outcomes to violent scenarios, which are illustrated with characters rendered in 3D.

The game's creator calls it "fantasy" stating: "Every good fantasy is a power fantasy. Even if it's some odd-ball story about gaining the acceptance of the loss of control, it's still a form of power."

But many call the game evil and "outrageous."

"To think that people under the age of 18 are able to access this is just plain wrong," Debbie Tohill, executive director of New Zealand advocacy group Rape Prevention Education told Newshub.

"Making a game out of rape is never ok - it's outrageous, and it totally negates the impact that sexual violence has on its victims," she added.

Many online are also speaking out against the game.

"What sick mind plays a video game where the objective is to rape women," tweeted Logan Andrew.

The game is currently being reviewed by the popular online gaming platform Steam. If it passes, it will be available to purchase and play worldwide.

Meanwhile, a game called "Active Shooter" was set for release after the Parkland shooting last summer for its depiction of a school shooting. It was pulled before it was released.

Change.org says Rape Day is going to belittle rape and violence towards women and is urging people to sign a petition to get it banned.

BREAKING UPDATE: Pope Francis Stripped of Power w/ Kevin Annett