Facebook Lamentation

This morning as I was perusing my facebook page I was struck by all the prayer requests from hurting people from my 1,500+ friends list. Reading all the sorrowful reports, I took them to the LORD in prayer with tears caused from the empathy they aroused in me.

There's so much hurt going around in this Valley of Tears. Social media has given us a glimpse of the many prayers God receives every day. We've all read them. People asking for prayer for various reasons:

* Painful cancer treatment;
* Loss of house trying to pay for wife's medical needs;
* Emotional struggles facing first Christmas after loss of loved one;
* Living in fear over rising crime rates in neighborhood;
* Pictures of decapitated children murdered in Islamic countries:
* Persecuted believers being imprisoned for their faith.

And on and on. Reading all of these can be overwhelming. We understand what the Bible means when it says, "When one member suffers, we all suffer; and when one member rejoices, we all rejoice." (loose paraphrase). Yet with all the information coming our way on facebook, the sounds of sorrow can drown out the sounds of joy.

A scene from the film 'Bruce Almighty' came to mind. In this farce the Jim Carrey character was granted the ability to be God for a day. He became inundated with voices of prayers coming at him. He started writing the requests down on post-it notes, and then filled file cabinets. Finally he sent out a huge group email saying 'Yes' to them all.

I wish I could do the same for all those suffering. But I'm not God and neither is Bruce. God does have His purposes for suffering. He can even turn "all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes." (Rom 8:28) And Jesus identifies with our infirmities. He was a 'man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.'

It is comforting to know that we can cast all our cares upon Jesus today, even as we bear one another's burdens. We do have the joy set before us of our redemption and can look beyond this life's troubles to our coming reward. On that note, I hope this song is an encouragement.

Merry Christmas!

"looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Heb 12:2

Proclaim Him at the Party

With Christmas and New Year's coming up many of us will find ourselves at parties where baby Jesus is welcome but the risen, ruling Christ the King is not. Many a holiday party, especially on New Year's eve, will have alcohol and other temptations designed to inhibit self-control and stumble the believer.

How can we let our hair down while keeping our guard up? Some might be tempted to just stay home alone, but is that what Jesus would do? He ate and drank with sinners and gave them the good news of the gospel. We should follow His example and not hide our light at the same time.

It is difficult in these dark days to heed the Apostle Paul's example to become all things to all men that we might save some. That's a fine line we must walk, to fit in with unbelievers yet not indulge the flesh. Jude put it well - "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." (v. 23)

We are not Amish, separating ourselves from the world and living in our own little closed communities, fearing outsiders. We're to be in the world, but not of it -- another difficult thing to balance.

We can look at those invitations as opportunities to be used by the LORD to draw men to Him. Pray before you go asking the LORD to give you an open door in conversations to speak the truth in love to those who are open to the truth. Put a gospel tract or two in your purse or pocket. If anyone is flying on a plane to go home for the holidays, that is another place we can pray the LORD sit us next to one who is being drawn by God and is looking for answers.

Time is short for getting the gospel into the highways and biways. It's all up to us. God gives us divine appointments as His ambassadors to light the way for others. That is our assignment, the Great Commission; let's fulfill it until He comes for us.

"No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light." - Luke 8:16

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" - 1Pet 3:15

"Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." - 2 Tim 2:21-26

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nPFUh4j2OM  

Life Extension

My sister Karen and I were talking yesterday and both of us were marveling at how good the LORD has been to us. She said she knows that without the LORD she wouldn't be alive today and before I could get a word out of my mouth she said, 'you too.'

Yes, we each had a life-threatening condition from which the LORD miraculously rescued our lives. I was at death's door in 1983 and again in 1997. Without the LORD neither of us would be here today.

We agreed that that the time we have left on this planet is not our own. Time is a gift from God. Many of you reading this have also received an extension of your life. That extended time is not yours. My extended time is not mine. Karen's time extension is not hers either.

Those added years belong to the LORD. Although all born-again believers know from God's Word that they are new creatures in Christ and the old man is dead, those of us who have experienced divine intervention to extend life (and you all know who you are) have a more tangible revelation of that fact that is true for all God's children.

God has a reason for keeping us here. Let's pray that for all us He would direct and guide our steps to fulfill the work He wants us to do. We will only know His will in our lives when we put Him first and set aside any self-centered pursuits. We belong to Him. May He live in us and through us until He brings us home.

Maranatha!

"Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." 1 Peter 4:1-5

The Living Word of God

Our God IS an awesome God!! And His Word is awesome and powerful and alive! It lays out the beginning to the end - a very complete Word. There's no need to add to it, and God help anyone who tries to remove any part of it or distort it.

I've read thousands of books by the best authors this world has ever produced - and no human writings can hold a candle to the Bible. All other books are just dead words on paper - one-dimensional. But God's Word strikes at the heart and is as relevant today as it was when it was written thousands of years ago.

Yet who can read something by Shakespeare without struggling to understand the flowery dialogue and outmoded ideas. Even the 1611 King James Version reads smoother in its grammar and usage than Macbeth or Hamlet.

The Bible never gets outdated - the truths in it are eternal and prophetic. This little Psalm might be even more meaningful today than it was when King David wrote it under the anointing of the Holy Spirit four millennia ago. Ponder it for true meditation.

Psalm 12:

Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

The Time for Gleaners

The LORD Jesus when He walked this earth told those who believed on Him to, "Follow Me." They were to forsake all and follow Him wherever He led.

How many today are so attached to a home town, a farm, a job, a house, a business, that if Jesus impresses upon them to go to a certain place, they will say to Him, 'sorry I just can't get away'? Could that attitude and attachment to this world come back to hurt us in these perilous times?

I'm sure there are those whom the LORD calls to stay where they are planted. And they follow Him by bearing fruit where they are. But we need to learn to hold onto the things of this world loosely if we are to be ready to get up and go when God says go.

It seems as the time gets closer to His coming for His bride, the need to get out into the highways and biways is greater than ever before. If the harvest was ripe and the workers were few back in the first century, the need is even greater today. The harvest is almost over - the invited guests are busy with the world's affairs - and the gleaners need to be sent out to gather what's left.

We all need to pray that the LORD would give us our assignments for what could be the last call before He comes for His church. We need to loosen our grip on the things of this world if we are going to be vessels God can use while it is still day - before the night comes and no man can work.

This is where the scattered sheep need to come together, each bringing his/her gifts and abilities for the task. When the LORD says go, will we be ready?

LORD Jesus, please guide our steps and direct our paths to our assignments so we can be wise servants busy about our Father's business in this needful hour. May we be found so doing when You come to catch us up in the clouds to be with You forever and ever!

Amen!

“But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” - Luke 12: 31-40

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdRKPO9BZ_g

No Doom-And-Gloom

We who are looking for the coming of our LORD and Messiah Jesus Christ are often mischaracterized as negative doom-and-gloomers.

You and I know that is far from the truth. We have the joy set before us anticipating our reunion with loved ones and excitement that we will soon see Jesus face-to-face and come back with Him to rule and reign on earth with Him.

That does bring joy to my heart, along with love for the One who washed me from my sins that were many. I can relate to the woman who wept tears over Jesus' feet and dried them with her hair -

“Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” - Luke 7:47

Our gratitude for what He did for us and our eagerness to see Him and bow before Him and cast our crowns at His feet is what really characterizes the watchful saints. Even though Jesus had to endure the cross for the joy set before Him, we too must endure the birth pangs and many of us are affected by them. But we endure those things knowing that the joy of the LORD returning and setting up His Kingdom is the end result.

So with that in mind - today is a day to be happy knowing His return is so near. So I've posted a happy song that we can sing with true joy, unlike those who mis-sing it at the Mardis Gras.

Maranatha!

"Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" - 1 Pet. 1:5-8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf61Vk-Q2mo

Weep With Those Who Weep

As we see the birth pangs - earthquakes, weather disasters, pestilence - taking place, like the typhoon that just hit the Philippines, you will hear many say this is God's judgment. They will say God is getting back at the Philippines for their Catholic idolatry or their tolerance of sin. No matter where the disaster hits, many will sit in judgment over that location with a self-righteous voice of condemnation thinking no storm will befall them for they are so good.

The book of Revelation reveals the coming wrath of God and this ain't it. For now, disaster befalls saints and sinners alike. We are in no position to look down upon people who are suffering as if we're up on some holy pedestal. When I see professing Christians make such pronouncements against victims of natural disasters, I can sense the Holy Spirit being grieved. Now is not the time to point fingers, but to lend a helping hand. These sorts of proclamations of condemnation against hurting people give all Christians a black eye before an onlooking world.

Jesus had to straighten out His followers when they made similar assumptions. 

"There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.'” - Luke 13:1-5

We are all worthy of judgment and only pass out of judgment when we are redeemed by the LORD. But we all are still possible victims of coming tornadoes, hurricanes, illness, and towers falling.

It is an insensitive and ungodly response to those in pain to tell them God is judging them. Those who do that better look out for falling rocks or even towers.

From an aging regenerate hippie - We could all use a little bit more peace and love in a world filled with hate. 

"Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." - Rom 13:8

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." - 1 Jn 4:7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMnHutmo7OM

November 8, 2013 - Scattered Sheep Report Recap: Morris Cerullo - Who's Who in The Great Apostasy

Morris Cerullo has been in the spiritual sheep-shearing "ministry" for over fifty years. He has built himself quite an empire off the wool of the flock of God with an estimated worth of 100 million dollars. He is reported to live in the most expensive gated community in all of San Diego in a 12,000 square foot mansion valued at over twelve million dollars. He also owns several multi-million dollar jets and has two pilots on staff.

Most of his crusades are done in third world countries where his sullied reputation does not precede him. He has been thoroughly exposed and debunked in America and preys upon the most needy people giving false promises to those who give to him sacrificially. He takes along with him the most swarthy of all the prosperity gospel shysters such as John Avanzini and Mike Murdock to work their black magic on the poor of world.

He claims to be a prophet and an apostle and his credentials for such a superior position in the church in his estimation is his claim that he was taken to heaven as an 8-year-old child by two angelic beings and was commissioned by God face-to-face. 

His message hasn't changed much in fifty years. He says he is building up God's army of overcomers and the manchild company of spiritual end times warriors, what is known theologically as Joel's Army or the Manifest Sons heresy. He stands up in front of huge crowds and tells them that he heard an audible voice that is giving them a direct message from God that usually included talk of a great last days outpouring of God's Spirit, upcoming miracles and signs and wonders or the biggest outpouring of God since Pentecost. And he delivers absolutely nothing.

I watched him in action in 1991 and reported on his miracle crusade for The Christian Sentinel magazine. In part, I wrote:

"As the crowds filed into the Philadelphia Civic Center, you could see the excitement on their faces. They came expecting a miracle, for the ads said there was to be a "miracle Explosion" and they believed it...Halfway through the service things started heating up. 'You don't serve theology,' Cerullo screamed. "You don't serve doctrine...you serve God who does not change.' The momentum increased. 'COME ON, GIVE IT TO EM RIGHT NOW!' he wailed as he began dancing a jig. 'IT'S LIKE LIQUID FIRE. Miracles are happening all over the auditorium. I have no control over what's happening! God is sending a new wave.'

"'Someone's being healed of emphysema,' the preacher proclaimed. Immediately the usher brought up a gray wrinkled old man along with his scuba-diver sized oxygen tank with a breathing apparatus in a leather carrying case. They handed it over to the faith healer who asked the man what he was healed from. 'Bronchitis' came the answer. 'I also used to have lung cancer.'

"Cerullo raised the tank over his head, parading it up and down the platform and then handed it over to the song leader. The old man was then 'slain in the spirit' as the healer touched him. He lay flat out on the floor until the preacher turned his attention elsewhere.

"After the rally ended I walked up to the platform and asked the song leader, John Price, what was to become of the oxygen tank. 'How would I know?' he snapped back. Just then an elderly gray-haired woman walked up on the platform and retrieved the tank. I ran over to her and said, 'What are you going to do with the tank?' 'Oh, does he need it again tomorrow night?' she responded, mistaking me for a crusade representative. 'Who?' I asked. 'Dr. Cerullo,' she said, 'because I have a $200 deposit on it.' 'Why would you need it if your husband is healed,' I inquired. 'Maybe he might want to uses it again as a demonstration of how God heals,' she said.

"After further inquiry the lady admitted that the tank was used merely as a demonstration of a healing her husband received several years ago. The old man probably saw nothing wrong in reenacting something he believed to be real, thinking it would inspire faith in others. The culprit though is Morris Cerullo who cashes in on the naivete of others by using them in this manner." 

One observer, Bob Liichow, noted that Cerullo often uses the language of the occult and new agers when describing spiritual experiences and practices. "Then Mr. Morris gets spooky, Liichow wrote in his article, The Last Great Anointing. 'God is going to take these folks into the spirit world!' This is occult language, it is not biblical language. The Bible does not speak of God ever taking His children into the 'spirit world.'"  

In a clip played on this blogcast, Cerullo can be heard telling his audience to get into their sixth sense, another occult term, not found in Scripture. Go to the link below to listen to Cerullo's own voice saying this, if you can tolerate listening to his twangy voice with the organ playing behind it and a ram's horn blowing with every mindless proclamation he dramatically screams to demonstrate his so-called anointing.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rapturereadyradio/2013/11/09/scattered-sheep-report-with-jackie-alnor 

 

"Fall on Your Knees"

Have any of you noticed that the Christmas season has already begun as the stores remove Halloween candy and replace it with candy canes and stockings stuffed with goodies? They just can't wait to cash in on our culture's obsession with the holidays.

I myself do not hold one day above another. I'm very non-traditional when it comes to the 'church calendar.' Some Christians follow it religiously - but for most born-again believers, we don't take it too seriously but having the days off work are a nice benefit.

There is one Christmas carol I do particularly like - and I've posted it below. The line in the song that says, "Fall on your knees" gives me chills every time I hear it. It brings up a vision to my mind of the day when every knee shall bow - the entire world.

"For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." - Rom 14:11

Many will bow their knee right before they are cast into outer darkness. Those who curse God and His Son now will regret it eternally. They will fare no better than the false god Dagon did when that statue was forced to fall prostrate before the Ark of God.

"And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him." - 1 Sam 5:3-4

We are seeing today such blasphemy and cursing against God and His people in the world like never before - this post-Christian society not only denies He exists, but ridicules the very idea of a God. We who are not ashamed of Him before men are being marginalized and belittled in every sitcom, comedy program, and HBO special.

But, their day is coming soon - ALL will bow - every knee!

Do not delay, Oh my God!

O, How I Love Jesus

Dear fellow pilgrims-

I love the words of this song -
"O, how I love Jesus,
O, how I love Jesus,
O, how I love Jesus,
Because He first loved me"

When someone is hit with true love s/he wants to spend all his/her waking hours with the object of their affection. If they are apart geographically they stay in touch by letter or email and anticipate the next communication with excitement and joy.

I remember a silly song from the 60s, called "Let it Please Be Him" - about a love-struck girl sitting by the phone.

"That's when the phone rings
And once again I start to pray
Let it please be him
Oh, dear God,
It must be him
Or I shall die
Oh, hello, hello, my dear God
It must be him
But it's not him
And then I die
That's when I die"

In the book of Revelation Jesus tells us to return to our first love - which, of course, is Him. If we truly love Him, we will love Him 24/7 and not just on Sundays or when we're in the fox hole. We don't even have to wait for a communication from Him - we have His word and we can meet Him there anytime. We can commune with Him in our prayer closet and think about how awesome He is.

He is not just some person we are dating on Saturday night. If He has become that then it is definitely time to recapture that initial excitement we had in the beginning - when we were first born again.

I love the Bible's comparison of the church to a Bride waiting for her Groom to come for her. We're not waiting for the phone to ring, but we are waiting for that trumpet to sound and for His words to us - "Come up here."

Even so, LORD - Come! Maranatha!

"And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Himfn because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:16-19

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWgOVG63blU

October 25, 2013 Scattered Sheep Recap: Patricia King, Who's Who in the Great Apostasy

Patricia King is the female equivalent of Christian TV's Sid Roth, both of whom interview guests on their programs that most believers would consider extreme. Perhaps that is why King's ministry and TV show is called Xtreme Prophetic. When you tune in, you will hear testimonies of heavenly encounters, dream interpretation, portal places where angels come and go into the earth realm and a variety of 'eye-witness' accounts of holy ghost feathers, oil, gold dust and gems planted by angelic beings.

A native of Canada, King has expanded from British Columbia to Arizona and now into Cambodia. In her vision statement on her website, King says, "The power of God is testified to as well as demonstrated on Extreme Prophetic Television. Viewers are captured by way-out and glorious stories of supernatural phenomena and encounters, all couched in a program full of personality, controversy and favor! Our vision is to demonstrate the POWER of God to the millions who are gravitating to a spiritual experience. The program introduces spiritual terms and encounters in a natural and "non-religious" way... In the 'God Says Hi!' segment specific words of knowledge are given to viewers to help them realize God is real, He knows everything about them, and that His heart is to love and encourage them in all that they do...Extreme Prophetic TV is purposefully 'out-there,' unafraid to break into new territories."

Her style is more akin to clairvoyance than to any gifts of the Holy Spirit. Where in Scripture does God prophesy using people's addresses or what clothes they're wearing or what message they can get from the bald spots on their chia pets? Her prophetic pronouncements would be more at home at a psychic faire than in any conceivable church gathering. 

In 2004, Charisma Magazine published an article favorable to King called 'Canadian Evangelist Takes Prophetic Ministry to the Extreme' written by former Kansas City Prophet Mike Bickle. Bickle wrote in his Loving God column, "King has become known as a Bible teacher who emphasizes prayer, evangelism and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. She credits a 1994 visit to the Toronto Blessing renewal with spawning both a storm of questions and some 'amazing' spiritual experiences that motivated her to dig deeper in prayer and Bible study. The result was a teaching series about biblical encounters with a supernatural God. She later founded a 'glory school' and wrote a book, Third Heaven, Angels and Other Stuff."


Many of today's professing prophets point to the Toronto or the Brownsville 'revival' for their impartation into prophetic ministry. You will see the same names of their inner circle when any of them hold 'prophetic' conferences. Just this week Patricia King is conducting The Big Tent Event heralding a new move of the spirit trying to recapture the so-called anointing of the 'God's Generals' of the past such as Aimee Semple-McPherson, Kathryn Kuhlman, William Branham, and Oral Roberts. The usual slate of speakers included false teachers such as Roberts Liardon (who was exposed years ago for a long-term homosexual affair with his assistant pastor), Randy Clark (the man responsible for carrying Rodney Howard-Browne's holy laughter spirit to Toronto), Mark Chironna (the TBN 'prophet' who declared Benny Hinn the fulfillment of the prophecy of the coming of Elijah) and an assortment of other false prophets, many of whom were once affiliated with the Kansas City Prophets that featured 'super prophets' such as Paul Cain (another man exposed for homosexual liaisons) and Bob Jones, a good friend of Patricia King's (known for using his alleged prophetic office to get young women to disrobe for his pleasure.)

One of her speakers at The Big Tent Event is Randy DeMain who "shares about how the wicked [mutants] of Noah's day, the Nephilim, are once again walking the earth." He wrote a book on the topic but has a twist to the story and also teaches the serpent-seed doctrine. The evil half human/half demon Nephilim DeMain warns about are not giants as they are in the biblical account, but look totally normal like any human and you can only detect them if you have the spirit and can know them in how they resist your ministry. I wonder who they could be?? In a recent interview with Patricia King, DeMain he had a slip of the tongue referring to these Nephilim as "third wavers," quickly recovering and calling themselves something else. The Third Wave is something he and King would actually support - but the slip of the tongue gave them away - the 'third wavers' are indeed part demonic.

In the same interview with DeMain, both of them affirmed the 7-Mountain Mandate and connected it with the ministry of fellow false teacher Lance Wallnau, who is part of Fuller's C. Peter Wagner's NAR (New Apostolic Reformation). As with all dominionists, they teach that Christians must take over the world before Christ can come back.

King also is ecumenical and promotes unity with the Roman Catholic Church and is angry at 'critics' who see Rome as Mystery Babylon. She says that since they adhere to the Nicene Creed, that makes the institution Christian. She has prophesied a "move of the Spirit of God" coming to the Catholic Church.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rapturereadyradio/2013/10/26/scattered-sheep-report-with-jackie-alnor#.UmrJlopL0k4.facebook

Simplicity in Christ

As Christians gathered this week to dissect how they think God does things, I'm praising the LORD for what He has done. His ways are beyond finding out with our puny minds. We know in part - when we see Him face to face then we will know fully.

He has revealed Himself to babes - has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. The smartest guys on the planet still must become as little children to enter into the Kingdom of God. He exalts the humble and humbles those who exalt themselves.

Jesus Christ, Redeemer, Savior, Lord, Master, Friend, Advocate -- I could go on and on. There is none like Him! He can be known personally to those who call upon His name out of love and thankfulness for all He has done on our behalf. "Thank you Jesus" is no cliche for those with a grateful heart.

Our good Shepherd says that all who come to Him, He will in no wise cast out. Must we know the mechanics of how that happens, free will or irresistible grace, in order for our reaching out to Him to be valid? What a foolish notion!

We love Him - that's all we need to know. We follow His voice and will not heed the voice of a stranger- that's what matters. We anticipate with excitement in our hearts His soon return whether or not we have all the timing figured out.

The Gospel is so simple - why do we need to complicate it?

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence." - 1 Cor 1:27-29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_YM_hYzcPo

October 18, 2013 Show - Dead Orthodoxy vs. Charismania: Two Erroneous Extremes

"For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you." - 1 Cor 11:19

The Strange Fire conference at the church of John MacArthur that has been going on over the past few days seems to have shed more heat than light. It was held in conjunction with the release of MacArthur’s new book of the same title. The roster of speakers featured were all experts in Reformed theology; only one speaker had expertise in the topic of charismatic extremes, Justin Peters, who was relegated to doing workshops – the ones best attended.

MacArthur set the atmosphere with the first words out of his mouth welcoming the crowd by addressing them as the elect and predestined. In his opening speech he lifted up Reformed theology as the one true faith and lamented that he had to share the label ‘Evangelical’ with charismatics of any stripe. 

“My great fear is that people are lost;” said MacArthur, “chasing carnal desires and false promises with little or no understanding or interest in the true Christ and true salvation …Evangelicalism has thrown its arms open and welcomed the ‘Trojan Horse’ of the charismatic movement into the ‘city of God’ and its troops have taken over and placed an idol in the ‘city of God’ – not the truth. Is there anything more serious than this? There can’t be. By contrast, Reformed theology, sound doctrine, is not a haven for false teachers. It’s not where false teachers reside. Reformed theology, sound doctrine, faithful, biblical exposition among a long line of godly men is not a place for false teachers. It’s not where frauds go…You’re not going to go to an association of Reformed churches, those who believe the doctrines of the Reformation that goes back to the doctrines of the New Testament and find false miracles, false visions, false prophecies…that’s not going to happen in that environment because they’re anchored to the truth.”

His repeated references to “the city of God” refers to its author, Augustine, who just so happens to be the Roman Catholic Church’s theologian and canonized saint. This is a very appropriate acknowledgment by a Calvinist that Augustine is the true source of Reformed theology via John Calvin who did not break from Catholicism at the Reformation, but just wanted to reform the Roman system back as far as Augustine. What truly needed to happen, that the Anabaptists tried to accomplish after the Reformation, was to recognize that Catholicism was false from the very start and the true New Testament faith needed to go back in history to the book of Acts and the apostles.

One of the speakers, Steve Lawson, indeed did acknowledge that it is Calvin and the so-called early church fathers that established Reformed theology upon which they build their creedal apologetics. The creeds and confessions of church history is the basis upon which these men judge the charismatics or anyone who believes that God gave the gifts of the Holy Spirit for the building up of His saints until Jesus comes back for us at the rapture.

So the outcome of the Strange Fire conference was to further divide the visible ‘Evangelical’ church into their various camps. The battle lines are being drawn and at this time before the soon return of the LORD, the goats and sheep are separating. 

This must certainly be a work of the Holy Spirit in our time to make us choose sides – to separate from what is known as the Evangelical church and let them keep that title for themselves. The cessationists (like the Reformed believers who say the gifts of the Holy Spirit ended in the first century) and the Charismaniacs (those who use mysticism and unclean spirits to imitate the gifts and come under a kundilini deception) are opposite extremes of the visible church that both misrepresent God by their traditions.

It is time for the scattered sheep to come out from among her and reclaim the term ‘born-again Christian’ to define those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who are filled with the Holy Spirit, and who are excited about our Master’s soon return.

The closer we come to the time of the great tribulation, the more we need to be tuned into His still-small voice so that we will be given understanding and wisdom in applying Scripture to our circumstances. Remember what the angel told the Prophet Daniel:

“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”… And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” – Dan 12:4,9-10

John MacArthur and his Reformed associates have boxed themselves into a corner by believing that God no longer speaks, guides, or directs our path. As far as they’re concerned, the “perfect has come” – the Bible -- and they can understand it with their historical/grammatical exegesis alongside Augustine’s “City of God” and Calvin’s “Institutes.” When the LORD unseals what was told to Daniel to seal up until the end, they will reject that information as extra-biblical. Should archaeology unearth one of the missing letters that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians or the Laodiceans, those too will be denounced as unauthoritative.

For us born-again, washed in the Blood believers, we still have a little power – better a little than none. Our hope is set on Jesus’ words to us that come alive as the Spirit gives illumination:

“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name…Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Rev 3:8,10-11

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rapturereadyradio/2013/10/19/scattered-sheep-report-with-jackie-alnor#.UmF2-pdP4dM.facebook

Three Theologians Give 666 a Pass

In this clip, Jimmy DeYoung and Brannon Howse keep saying of John MacArthur, 'he's reading the same book as I am and coming up with the same conclusion' - that accepting the mark of the beast during the Great Tribulation does not mean you can't get saved. Well, they're reading a different book than I'm reading. Here's what my book says on the topic:

"Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 'If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.'” Rev 14:9-11

How clearer can that be? I wonder if God removes discernment from church leaders who put their own agendas ahead of truth.

I have wondered about people who perhaps get that mark forced upon themselves against their will and what their recourse will be and I think the Spirit has shown me in the Word what they are to do:

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their RIGHT hand, or in their foreheads:" - Rev 13:6

"And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy RIGHT hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." - Matt 5:29-30

Notice that the prophecy of the mark in both passages specifies "the right hand" - and also I have heard of e-chips being put in the back of the eye - that would be the forehead. I do not think it is any coincidence.

But all three of these men - DeYoung, Howse, MacArthur - have now given their go-ahead to people that it is quite alright to take the mark of the beast. That is unconscionable!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yteZw7VMaRU&feature=youtu.be

 

The Spirit Gives Life

When the LORD saved me over 30 years ago, my first inclination was not to attend church somewhere. The Jonestown debacle had just happened and I knew I had nothing to go on to make sure I wouldn't end up in a dangerous cult somewhere. So I decided to hang tight - stay put - and just get to know the LORD Jesus Christ in His Word.

I did so for about six months and it wasn't until my sister came to Christ that on her suggestion we attended a church. By then I felt the LORD was giving me peace about doing so and fellowshiping with other believers. Since that time I have always had a church home to attend and a pastor to learn from as he taught verse-by-verse through the Bible.

All that changed earlier this year when the house church I belonged to imploded and shut down. Since then I have visited a couple of 'official' churches, with bad results. I would search church websites in the area and found no good leads for churches that weren't tainted with one deception or another. I've been forced to remain at home, studying God's Word with my adult children and listening to good teachers online.

By taking a step back I'm getting a better understanding of the big picture of the condition of the church and how much of the visible church has been so carnally minded and run more as a business than as a gathering for the saints.

I find it interesting that the Apostle Paul after his radical conversion on the road to Damascus had a similar impulse to get alone with God before joining in with the other apostles.

"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me...Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days." - Gal 1:15-18

In surveying the body of Christ from my vantage point, I can understand better some of the Scriptures that used to baffle me in my early walk with Jesus. This one came to mind lately:

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." - 2 Cor 3:5-6

I have seen friends arguing over interpretations of the Bible, trying to fit things into their own systematic theologies, putting a spin on vague passages in order to fit them into their own credos. It was an ugly scene to us onlookers to see men fighting like that over Bible mysteries that are beyond finding out this side of glory. I was reminded of this verse:

"Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers." - 2 Tim 2:14

I hadn't understood that warning until now. The author of the book, The Harlot Church System, Charles Newbold Jr., expressed the very thing I was seeing on page 3 (I'm not done reading the book):

"The carnal mind has no ability whatsoever to understand the things of God which are Spirit. When inspired things of God are reduced to rigid doctrines, systems of theology, reasoning and logic, they are no longer Spirit but have become flesh. And if flesh, then deception. The carnal mind is at total odds with the Spirit of God: it is hostile to God."

Praise the LORD that we are free from the letter of the law as we feed upon the Living Word and are nourished by God's Manna for our spirits. When we lean unto our own understanding and try to fit the Word of God into a system, we've passed from sowing to the Spirit and are indeed sowing to the flesh.

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." - 1 Cor 2:12-16

October 11, 2013 SCATTERD SHEEP RECAP: Lance Wallnau: Who's Who in the Great Apostasy

Lance Wallnau is one of the false apostles of the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) headed up by church growth false teacher C. Peter Wagner. Wallnau is the NAR's comedic front man who is featured in many conferences sponsored by a variety of NAR-sympathisers like Rick Joyner's MorningStar, John Arnott's Catch The Fire and Patricia King's XP Ministries. He is associated with Cindy Jacobs and her Generals International.

His grid from which he sees life and ministry is that of Kingdom-Now theology, i.e. Dominionism. He scoffs at Christians who await the LORD's return to rule and reign with Him and says that he and his ilk rule and reign now as they pursue worldly and carnal success in their 7-Mountains of influence over culture: government, church, education, family, media, arts, and business. Wallnau scoffs at Christians whose only interest is evangelism, seeing souls won to Christ, and sees them as having a narrow focus since the church mountain is no more important than the other six in his view.

Wallnau says that he is a member of an organization called Global Priorities. Perhaps that is what influenced him to adopt evangelization of nations in lieu of evangelism of individuals with the gospel of Christ. Global Priorities is an inter-religious socialistic organization that is pro-United Nations and anti-Zionist.  It even has Islamic members and is "endorsed by the Vatican, the Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches" in their common goal of uniting the worlds religion under the banner of peace and love. 

All roads do seem to lead to Rome. The purpose of the Roman Catholic Church's "new evangelization" is directed at cultures, rather than merely individuals:

The New Evangelization "teaches that not only individuals but whole cultures need to be transformed by influence of the Gospel. In her missionary activity the Church encounters different cultures and becomes involved in the process of inculturation. By inculturation the pope means, the intimate transformation of authentic cultural values through the integration in Christianity and the insertion of Christianity in the various human cultures. The new evangelization must strive to incarnate Christian values and open the Gospel message to human cultures. Evangelization according to John Paul should lead to, "a civilization of love." [http://www.christlife.org/evangelization/articles/C_newevan.html ]

This global inter-faith trend in the Catholic and Protestant churches is the seed-bed for the great apostasy of the church and the unification of all faiths under the jurisdiction of the Vatican. This doctrine of demons is paraded under the banner of peace, love, and liberty. "It looks like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon."

The Bible tells us to test the fruit of professing believers when discerning whether or not to listen to them. There are many red flags concerning Lance Wallnau that should tell any Christian to run the other way. Some include:

• His endorsement of false prophet William Branham, a 'revivalist' of the 50s who had a familiar angel that was required for him to perform miracles. Wallnau says, "Supernatural lights, often called "pillars of fire" were visible in many meetings of Wm Branham... Branham was a pioneer of the gifts of the Spirit in post WWII. He rocked the global religion mountain as a forerunner. You are the NEXT runner in the 7 Mountains. You are the supernatural 7M Gen."
• His elevation of the spirituality of new age goddess Oprah Winfrey. Wallnau has a meme on his facebook page with a quote of Oprah's that reads: "Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you Higher." His comment above the meme reads: "If you want to raise the dead, you need to put some people out of the room."
• Wallnau points his followers to the prognostications of false prophet Bob Jones, well-known for his blunders as a Kansas City Prophet when he was caught using his so-called prophetic office to get young ladies to disrobe for the pleasure of the prophet. On his facebook page he links to the latest "Shepherds Rod" in which Jones says God gave him an egg and he broke it and fire came out, thus predicting the next fire revival to sweep the country: something he and his fellow false seers have been saying for 20 years or more.
• His sensational promises used to con people out of their hard-earned money such as what he told those who would go with him on vacation. The vacation package to Mexico boasts: "You will be together for 5 Days and 4 Nights of divine visitation while learning the worlds sharpest tools, practices and strategies for WEALTH CREATION, and dominance within your sphere...You will learn how to create and refine your Extreme Dream Blueprint and discover the stages and steps to making it manifest. You will learn key's to supernatural business explosion as you partner with God in building a kingdom enterprise."  

Link to Scattered Sheep Report of 10/11/2013

The New Testament Church

 The visible church has so many conflicting voices in these days of apostasy that they can drown out the Master's voice. Jesus said His sheep would not follow the voice of a stranger, but many are doing so for lack of faithful under-shepherds. It makes me think of an old song, "If you can't be with the one you love, honey love the one you're with." That is the world's solution, but we are the Bride of Christ and no substitute will do for us.

Yet many true believers remain in a church fellowship that has gone astray just for the sake of having some place to go on Sunday morning. We tend to be creatures of habit. We get comfortable in our routines and fall asleep spiritually even as we nod off during a boring sermon.

Today's institutional church has become a one-man show. The job description of the career pastor encompasses all the gifts of the Body of Christ in himself. In our modern age he is the only active one when the church gathers. The passive congregation tends to leave all the thinking and doing to the guy on salary.

This is where true born-again believers must break with tradition and rediscover the New Testament church fellowship. So much of modern church structure is not based on the Bible, but on the hierarchical model of the Roman Catholic Church and her spin-offs.

Better to be scattered sheep following the Shepherd than to assemble with the church of Laodicea where you will be fed stubble and be treated as the outsider you truly are.

We really need to get back to the Word of God and gather together in the unity of the Spirit. When we do, God will raise up elders and gifted teachers once again in the assemblies of the saints. We will all be better equipped to tune in to His voice in this last hour as we await our final redemption.

If you already have such a church fellowship, you are truly blessed. You are all working together to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the highways and biways and are bearing fruit for His Kingdom. May God continue to build you up and use you as a light to the lost.

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit. . . But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ." - 1 Cor 12:4-8; 11-12

"How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification." - 1 Cor 14:26

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmvnE6erj6I

April 19, 2013 Show - Scattered Sheep Vision Statement

Scattered Sheep Report Vision Statement:

Through blogcasts, articles, facebook and other social media, inspire others to not grow weary as we see the day approach. Track the signs of the times leading up to the coming of our Bridegroom as laid out in Matt 24, Revelation, and other prophetic passages in the Bible.  Network with other believers, looking out for one another as we warn of danger signs others might not be seeing because they are asleep. Unify God’s remnant of faithful Bible-believers and gather the scattered sheep in cyberspace.

Stir the pot, rock the boat, burst some bubbles, rain on parades, burn some bridges, spill the beans, and wait for the other shoe to drop – you get my drift!

With an understanding of Bible prophecy, here are some areas to watch that are setting the stage for the final seven years of the world as we know it:

1.    Technology

2.    Wars & rumors of wars

3.    Earthquakes and other natural disasters

4.    Apostasy, lapses of those who once walked the narrow road

5.    False prophets/teachers who come into the church

6.    Mockers – professing Christians turning hostile or apathetic toward us who love His appearing

7.    Lying signs and wonders & strange metaphysical phenomena/UFOs

8.    Normalization of immorality  - calling good evil, evil good, ex: homosexual agenda, abortion etc. general wickedness

9.    Ecumenism with the Roman Catholic Church and other religions.

10. Persecution – anti-Christian rhetoric in society.

Besides these things, I share links to good teaching and resources for research and education. Like-minded believers meet each other and offer information and advice to others looking for direction. Inspirational music/messages and news is also highlighted.  As you peruse the articles I and my friends share on facebook, the big picture emerges.

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.” – 2 Thes. 2:7

"For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” – Acts 20:29-31

"Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.  And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."” – Luke 12:37-40

“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.  You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” – 1 Thes 5:4-6

"Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” – Rev 3:3