I don’t intend to be mean-spirited in pointing out errors I have found in another’s teaching, yet rather in becoming a victim myself to some near heretical ramblings, I offer the following insights…
I once spent six years in street ministry learning Bible from a man holding three doctorates which he spent 22 years in seminary to achieve. Yet more importantly, he could move in the things of God, and not just teach about them. He was a doer of the word, not just a hearer – or what we used to call on ship, a repeater. I even have had experience in some dealing with demons, as Dr. Gross was one of two top exorcist in Baltimore City.
To a large degree, I too have moved in the power of the Lord, and if I didn’t scare people by sharing these events in my life, then they were more like stolen treasures to me: as I had willingly attempted to build up others in encouragement of the Lord, within the leadership with the things I had experienced. Little did I realize, but most were ravaging wolves and pigs who perhaps unwittingly just wanted to make a name for themselves.
Have you ever heard it said that the first witness is of God, and the others Satan? I never understood this till recently, as I had never met a man who speaks so fervently about the Lord, in being with him, following him, and moving in his power. Yet he often speaks as if, no others are capable of doing it, and the past churches he often speaks about are certainly not moving within the power of the Lord (any longer). He speaks continually about all types of churches who once had something of the Lord, yet no longer do… He says this is deadly serious stuff, and warns of the broad roader’s destruction should they not heal to the Lord continually.
Allot of people are attracted to such a showman, especially in having a large amount of understanding of the scriptures, (including myself). Yet I learned later, that the man cannot move within the things of God, which he often preaches about to others!
I can tell you, which for the most part, his preaching he is correct; as I too once moved in the power of the Lord, and I must say I experienced rejection by most churches, probably starting in the mid 90’s. Yet the reason for not moving now, is because I believe the Lord has chosen this time to remain silent!
No matter how fervently one follows the Lord, it is not possible to move him to power within your life, unless he chooses to move (in the manner – in which you might wish). I learned this years ago as, when he did move in power within my life, it was often a surprise to me – as I’m simply a jar made of clay like any other.
If the Lord has decided to shelve me for some later use, that is up to him. As “I wasn’t there when he made the heavens and the earth”, but I rather am most grateful when he does decide to use me in some task. What I find most irritating is one who chooses to speak for God, when they have not the authority nor commissioning! It seems to me the brethren of today are experiencing the great falling away, and all the attacks on other brethren (Churches) will not, and does not change the place and time we are in within world history. All the fervent preaching in the world won’t change this fact of the history we are all witnessing. As an example, I have been watching television for years, and I never could understand why Hollywood, and others found acceptable the stars and behavior exhibited and promoted in programming. This is primarily because a believer has a nature change, yet the world does not, and to them we seem antiquated and rigid.
Yet nowadays it is now most evident, that decency and righteousness have become an item of the past: it is as if the staging has collapsed, with special interest groups, and debauchery being sold all over the world to people, in any color, taste or form.
Also, most churches are dead now, and even the PCA is under tremendous LGBT attacks, by people who wish to be identified as followers of Christ: (yet cannot be, as the fruit is wrong within them) – in accordance with the scriptures. Yet false brethren continually push the envelope in defiance of God.
Sin is the issue, and I am convinced this is the age of strong delusions, which the Bible prophesied about. I cannot fault a man’s zeal for the Lord, but I must condemn the condemnation of other real brethren, whom he feels have become unworthy of their calling, and have taken the broad road, which leads to spiritual death. The man then may cut off all forms of communication with you as he fancies, (as he has done it before) but unless you have sinned against God, and the brethren, he has no justification in accordance with the scriptures, and needs much more than a couple sycophants to collaborate his viewpoint in condemning another (which is the wrong type of judging).
Allot of people can pump up other believers to be fervent in the faith, and even zealous to gain “more power” in the Lord, but this will not happen unless the Lord himself decides to empowers you! It seems to me, when I had run short of stories of the Lord empowering me, to the man, then I was accused of “not being in the right place any longer with God”, and even “chastened of God” when I got sick. But I’m quite sure that if I had, had “another” miraculous near death experience of the Lord, I would have stifled this type of spiritual judgmentalism; which is deeply destructive to an actual child of God. And all for the sake of aggrandizing oneself in the eyes of others, and feeding your own sense of grandeur about yourself: assuredly because of the same type of rejection which you have suffered from others and so feel justified in doing the same thing, I suspect. This is horrid to me, anyone who loves the truth of God so much, yet will then castigate others upon being challenged; especially when he falls short of his own expectations’ of what he expects from others (Romans 2: 1-4) !
I think a combination of hurt, rejection and wounded pride are to blame for such an idiosyncratic viewpoint of people, in whom may now consider you an opponent or challenger to their “Narrow Road” legalism, which has unwittingly been used in justifying oneself before the Lord, while condemning others. This poor fellow even speaks about a condemnation upgrade from hades to hell for the wicked, in given that the more scripture they know (truth), (yet they do not do), leads to deeper punishment prior to the great throne judgment. This could be very possible, but I would hate to have a head full of scripture (truths), yet preach it as a heretic to others, only to later suffer the very condemnation which you have preached about, God forbid!
All actual brethren and Elders, need much prayer and compassion in this time of great trail; but instead, the love of many has grown cold, and many believers are tossed upon the ash heap unjustifiably. This is precisely why two or three elders are needed prior to condemning another believer in the church, as it is too easy to misjudge another – even if you claim to be nearly infallible in your walk with the Lord!
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