Just sayin

Song by The Kry

A Message That Could Change Your Life

The Naked Communist - a book written in 1958 - and its implications TODAY

This is the first part on the scary truth that America is falling into the communist mind set more and more each month. This particular message deals with a book written by Cleon Skousen, a former member of the FBI, back in 1958 and shows the communist plan to overthrow the United States

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5

What To Expect In These Last Days

Wide Is The Gate part 2 The Emerging "New" Christianity - A MUST WATCH!

Is Mormonism Christian? I think not!

As someone who was formerly raised in the Jehovah's Witness cult I am qualified to  say with absolute conviction  that Mormonism IS a cult!!

The Bible or the Book of Mormon you cannot believe  both if you read the scripture below

The Bible: Galatians 1:6-9  
6I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

It has:

A different God

A different Jesus

A different Holy Spirit

A different Salvation

A different Scripture

A different origin

A different heaven

A different Eternity

Sorry, Mitt Romney, but you and your church are not Christians!
The Dallas Pastor was right.

Mitt Romney
At a recent Perry rally, Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress described the Mormon religion as a "cult," agreeing with about 75% of Christian pastors throughout the country. His sin was saying it publicly in a political meeting.

The immediate and relentless media response was to beat the issue to death, all the while bashing the pastor and others like him for expressing their opinion publicly.

Fuller Seminary President, Richard Mouw, a staunch defender of the Mormon Church, said this about that:

Some prominent evangelical pastors have been telling their constituents not to support Mitt Romney's bid for the presidential nomination. Because Romney is Mormon, they say, to cast a vote for him is to promote the cause of a cult….. I beg to differ….. While I am not prepared to reclassify Mormonism as possessing undeniably Christian theology, I do accept many of my Mormon friends as genuine followers of the Jesus whom I worship as the divine Savior.

Richard J. Mouw, Special to CNN October 9th, 2011

The Problem with DR. Mouw and other Christian leaders like David Barton is that they don't seem to realize that their Mormon friends play the word/definition game with them, all the while smiling like they are best of friends.

When I was a Mormon, we called men like Mouw and Barton "Hirelings of Satan." Now, in the new, friendlier "Emergent" Mormon Church they are brothers. Seems more like a pack of those ravening wolves the Scriptures warn us about. One of the signs of a cult is that its adherents can tell a lie and smile at you the whole time they practice their "heavenly deception."

The Mormons know from a hundred examples in history that if you tell a lie long enough, it somehow makes it true.

A lie is a lie is a lie is a lie until it isn't a lie any more

This weekend, Newt Gingrich said because of the Federal and Supreme courts have taken constitutional power away the Executive and Legislative Branches of government,
they have the power to say that 2 plus 2 is 5 and it would become the law of the land But is still doesn't make it so..

Some lies that are now being accepted as truths

Islam Koran and Islam teach a religion of peace and respects all people
Israel Aggressors/murderers and occupiers of Palestinian lands
Congress: we know what we are doing. Your best interests are #1 concern
Mormonism: We are Christians, just like you.

Let's Look at the Facts:

I am going to take you through some of the Moron truths that they don't share with the Mouws and the Bartons of the world. So that you cannot be accused of invention, every statement herein is fully supported by Mormon Scripture of Legal documents.
The Christianity of Mormonism

They claim:
Only True Christians
Only True Church
Only True Jews
Only True Scripture
Only True Authority
Only true Prophet
Only true priesthood
Only true doctrine
Only Truth

The center of their faith
"as Man is, god once was, as god is, man may become"

The work of mankind is the Preparation for godhood :
This is the function and work of the LDS temples.
The core doctrines of Mormon Christianity

# 1: Nature of God

Achieving Celestial Marriage Manual (abbreviated ACCM), p.129.
God was once a mortal man. He lived on a planet like our own. He experienced conditions similar to our own and advanced step by step.

Mormon Doctrine (abbreviated MD), p.322.
"Further, as the Prophet also taught, there is a god above the father of our Lord Jesus Christ...If Jesus Christ was the son of God, and John discovered that God the Father of Jesus Christ had a father also...Was there ever a son without a father?"

Doctrine and Covenants ( abbreviated D&C) 130:22.
God has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's.

ACMM, p.129
God is now an exalted man with powers of eternal increase. He lives in an exalted Marriage relationship.

ACMM, p.129-130.
We are the literal Children of God, a part of his family unit. We lived with our heavenly parents before coming to earth.

ACMM, p.4.
...giving birth to spirit children and setting them on the road to exaltation. And if this is to be done, you must have an exalted man and an exalted woman.

MD, p.239
God continues to progress, as his creations expand and his spirit offspring multiply.

#2: Pre-existence and our First Estate

Moses 3:5-7 (Pearl of Great Price, LDS Scripture)
Every form of life was created spiritually in Kolob first.Abraham 3:22-23 (Pearl of Great Price)
At first we were all spirit children, living in the presence of God, our heavenly father.

JESUS THE CHRIST, Apostle James Talmage pp.15-16
Apostle James Talmage's detailed explanation of the primeval council of the Gods.

Book of Abraham 3:23-28 (Pearl of Great Price /LDS Scripture)
A Council called of all the leading spirits.

Book of Abraham 4:25-26
God proposed a plan for our progression. [Ed: to a council of "higher Gods for their approval]

Book of Abraham 3:24-26, Doctrine & Covenants 29:39.
That plan was for us to come to earth, gain physical bodies, learn good from evil and have the free agency to choose which we wanted to follow.

Moses 4:1-4, Abraham 3:27-28 (Pearl of Great Price)
Lucifer, our elder brother who desired the glory for himself, stood up and proposed his own plan.

Ensign (official Church magazine), December, 1980, pp.3-5.
"Jesus of Nazareth", Spencer W. Kimball, First Presidency Message:
"His [Jesus'] trials were continuous. Perhaps his brother, Lucifer, had heard him say when he was still but a lad of 12, 'Whist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?'" (Luke 2:49)

"...Then came the time when Satan thought to trip him. Their encounter in the previous world had been on more equal terms, but now Jesus was young and Satan was experienced."

Moses 4:1-3 (Pearl of Great Price)
Lucifer's plan was to take away our free agency, force us to obey all the law. He wanted us to worship him.

Moses 4:2
Jesus stood and offered himself as our sin-offering, giving man his free agency and the chance to attain eternal glory, or godhood with heavenly father.

Abraham 3:28
All the council voted No to Lucifer and Yes to Jesus.

Abraham 3:28, D&C 29:36-37.
Lucifer, very angry, persuaded one-third of the spirit children to follow him and rebel against God and the plan of Jesus. They were cast from God's presence and sent to this earth without bodies of flesh and bone.

MD, p.828, D&C 29:36-41
Describes the war in heaven, Lucifer sent here to earth where he continues to battle against the saints.

MD, pp.526-528, Moses 5:16-41, 7:8-22.
Those who were least valiant in the pre-existence are known in mortality as negroes. They came to earth through the lineage of Cain, with black skin.

#3: The Creation of the Earth and our Second Estate

D&C 77:12, Moses 1:39, Abraham 3:19.
The earth was created, in the same fashion of many worlds, populated by intelligent people, in his image. Man would always be learning and growing.

Abraham 2:28
God tells Abraham about the "heavenly" control center, Kolob.

2 Nephi 9:25-26, Alma 42:17-21.
The earth is controlled by eternal laws. If we break one, we must be punished.

Moses 4:29-31
Adam and Eve are cast out of the Garden.

Moses 5:6-9
They learn that their transgression was necessary that man might live. Adam is baptized, received the Holy Ghost and the priesthood. He becomes the first patriarch.

MD, p.546-547.
Our Lord is the only Son of the Father in the flesh. Each word is to be understood literally. Christ was begotten by an immortal father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers.[ Ed: what this means is thatGod has sex with his daughter Mary]

MD, p.742.
God is an immortal personage, an exalted man...Christ is his literal son...there is nothing figurative about his paternity...He was begotten, conceived and born in the normal and natural course of events.

ACMM, p.235.
The Lord is now sending the Choicest Spirits to earth. "I see an improvement each few years in the young people of the church. I believe that you are the cream of all the spirits in the hosts of heaven and God has sent you here to do a great work." Mark E. Peterson (apostle) BYU address.

#4: GODHOOD Our Third Estate
MD, p.321
That exaltation which the saints of all ages have so devoutly sought is Godhood itself.

MD, p.321
"You have got to learn how to be gods yourselves...the same as all gods have done before you." (quoting Joseph Smith)

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, (HC) vol.6, p.306, by Joseph Smith.
My Father worked out His Kingdom with fear and trembling, and I must do the same; and when I get my kingdom, I shall present it to my Father, so that He may obtain Kingdom upon Kingdom, and it will exalt Him in glory. He will then take a higher exaltation, and I will take His place, and thereby become exalted myself.

ACMM, p.3.
If God became God by obedience to all of the gospel law with the crowning point being the celestial law of marriage, then that's the only way I can become a god. [answer] Right! [Ed: he had to earn his godhood and be approved for godhood by his god]

ACMM, p.203.
(12-15) The endowment is the celestial course of instruction...being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the priesthood and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.

D&C 124:28-36; 127:128; 128:15
Baptism for the dead/keys to the holy priesthood ordained so you may receive honor and glory. For their salvation [the dead] is necessary and essential to our salvation.

D&C 131.
Three degrees of glory, celestial the highest.

Moses 1:39
This is my [God's] work and my glory: to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man

D&C 76:51-60, 70.
vs.51-53 list some of the requirements, vs.54-60, 70 list the rewards. They [temple Mormons] will be Kings and Priests and Gods

D&C 132:19-20.
Then shall they be Gods, they shall have all power, the angels are subject to them.
ACMM, pp.131-132.
(1-12) The Lord commands marriage.
(1-13) Exaltation is based on celestial marriage.
(1-14) Then shall they be Gods, because they have no end.
(1-15) Only resurrected and glorified Beings may become Parents of Spirit Offspring.
(1-17) Celestial marriage prepares men to be Kings and Priests unto Go
(1-18) Celestial marriage makes women Queens and Priestesses to their husbands
(1-19) Celestial marriage makes it possible for us to claim our moral children in eternity as well as to propagate ourselves throughout eternity.


D&C 132:1-7, 27-35, 49, 61-64.
New and Everlasting Covenant [plural marriage]: Abide or be damned, etc. Law of the Priesthood/also the name of the temple covenant sworn by all the temple endowment sisters.

MD, p.529-530.
Celestial marriage is the new and everlasting covenant of (plural) marriage.

#5: JOSEPH SMITH
Come unto Christ, Melchizedek Priesthood Manual, 1984, pp.126-132.
If we get our salvation, we shall have to pass by him [Joseph Smith]; if we enter our glory, it will be through the authority that he has received. We cannot get around him.

D&C 1:17-18; 35:17.
God called Joseph Smith and commanded him to proclaim the gospel...Fullness of gospel set forth by Joseph Smith.


HC, vol.6, pp.408-409.
[Joseph Smith speaking] I have more to boast of than any man ever had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.

HC, vol.6, p.78.
[Joseph Smith] I combat the error of ages; I meet the violence of mobs; ...I cut the Gordian knot of powers, and I solve mathematical problems of universities, with truth diamond truth; and God is my "right hand man."
HC, vol.6, p.319
[Joseph Smith] God made Aaron to be the mouthpiece for the children of Israel, and He will make me to god to you in His stead, and the Elders to be mouth for me; and if you don't like it, you must lump it.
LDS Hymn Book, #147, 296, "Praise to the Man"
"Long shall his [Joseph Smith's] blood which was shed by assassins plead unto heaven while the earth lauds his fame."

"Joseph the Seer"
"He pleads their cause in the courts above...He died, he died for those he loved...He reigns, he reigns in the realms above...Unchanged in death with a Saviour's love, he pleads their cause in the courts above...The Saints, The Saints, his only pride, For them he lived, for them he died."
D&C 135:1-7.
To seal the testimony of this book (The D&C) and the Book of Mormon, we announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch...It shall be said of me, He was murdered in cold blood.
Joseph Smith, History 2:30-59 (Pearl of Great Price)
The story, in Joseph's own words, of the angel Moroni's visit, the uncovering of the gold plates and the eventual translation of the Book of Mormon.
Joseph Smith, History 2:55-56
Joseph involved in treasure seeking.
Joseph Smith, History 2:17-20.
All Christian creeds were an abomination in [the LDS god's] sight, and all Christian professors were corrupt.
D&C 20:1-2
Joseph Smith commanded to organize the church.
#6: ANOTHER JESUS
The Christ of Mormonism is not the same Christ of the Bible.
2 Cor.11:3-5 tells us that there will be those who would teach a different Christ. Paul says of them, "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ". There is a Biblical warning about those who would bring the doctrine of another Jesus and a simple test. Do the Mormons and their Jesus pass that test? No.
The Mormons have a difficult time understanding what actually happened at Calvary. In their pamphlet, WHAT THE MORMONS THINK OF CHRIST, we see the problem.
In the section, The Blood of Christ (page 22 in the 1976 edition), we read:
"Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and its cleansing power. Much that is believed and taught on this subject, however, is such utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one's salvation. For instance, many believe or pretend to believe that if we confess Christ with our lips and avow that we accept him as our personal savior, we are thereby saved. They say that his blood, without any other act than mere belief, makes us clean.

"What is the true doctrine of the blood of Christ? Salvation comes because of the atonement, and the atonement was wrought through the shedding of the blood of Christ. In Gethsemane Christ sweat great drops of blood from every pore when he conditionally took upon himself the sins of the world, and then the shedding of his blood was completed upon the cross."
The LDS Church teaches in its Articles of Faith, Article 3,
"We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel."
The Mormon Jesus has been stripped of his unique Deity and his sacrifice on the cross has been robbed of its power. Theirs is a tragically bloodless Christ, whose death only brought us immortality, NOT eternal life. Their Jesus forces us under laws, ordinances and an all-too-human priesthood. This is not the "Good News" of the Bible.
In the early LDS church, there was a more orthodox Christ preached. But, when Joseph began to teach the strange doctrines of this different Christ, one without the redemptive powers, the church could no longer deal with the reality of the blood of Calvary and its full redemptive work. That was when the church removed the red wine from the communion table and went to water. This act literally washed away the reality of the blood from its basically Christian converts. The same holds true today. The cross and the blood have become strangers to the saints.

#7: Another Salvation
Mormonism teaches that there are two separate levels of salvation. Bruce R. McConkie clarifies the LDS distinction between these two LDS salvations, the general and individual salvation:


1. Unconditional or general salvation, that which comes by grace alone without obedience to gospel law, consists in the mere fact of being resurrected. In this sense, salvation is synonymous with immortality. This kind of salvation eventually comes to all mankind, excepting only the sons of perdition.

2. Conditional or individual salvation, that which comes by grace coupled with gospel obedience, consists in receiving an inheritance in the celestial kingdom of God. This kind of salvation follows faith, repentance, baptism, receipt of the Holy Ghost, and continued righteousness to the end of one's mortal probation (Doctrine and Covenants 20:29; 2 Nephi 9:23,24 BOM).

Even those in the celestial kingdom, however, who do not go on to exaltation will have immortality only and not eternal life. Along with those of the telestial and terrestrial worlds they will be "ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory." They will live "separately and singly" in an unmarried state "without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity" (Doctrine and Covenants 132:16-17).

3. Salvation in its true and full sense is synonymous with exaltation or eternal life and consists in gaining an inheritance in the highest of the three heavens within the celestial kingdom. With few exceptions, this is the salvation of which the scriptures speak. It is the salvation which the saints seek. . . . This full salvation is obtained in and through the continuation of the family unit in eternity, and those who obtain it are gods (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 669-70).

When Mormons claim to be saved, it only means that they have gained this general resurrection. Beyond this, everything in the LDS "plan of salvation" is by works (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 3:1257).

Thus, to meet a Mormon on his own terms, one must ask the important question, "Do you have eternal life?" Mormons believe that eternal life is exaltation, the highest degree of salvation. Few, if any, Mormons dare to presume this eternal life.

Jesus bore our sins at Gethsemane according to Mormonism. The early quotes are like this one: "Forgiveness is available because Christ the Lord sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemane as he bore the incalculable weight of the sins of all who ever had or ever would repent...In a garden called Gethsemane, outside Jerusalem's walls, in agony beyond compare, he took upon himself the sins of all men on condition of repentance" (The Promised Messiah, LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, p. 337 & 552.

#8: MORMONISM : Christian Churches are all False!

Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith 2:19.
"I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; and those professors were all corrupt

McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 670.
"This Church is the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth." Doctrine and Covenants 1:30. "There is no salvation outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Orson Pratt, The Seer, p. 255."All other churches are entirely destitute of all authority from God; and any person who receives Baptism or the Lord's Supper from their hands will highly offend God; for He looks upon them as the most corrupt of all people. Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the whore of Babylon."

Is Mormonism Christian?
I think not!

Dangers, Toils and Snares: End Time Warnings by Jenn Lawson

Summarization of a Conference that was held at CALVARY CHAPEL CYPRESS, California
http://calvarychapelcypress.net/index.html
          
                   The 2011 Women on the Watch Conference entitled “Dangers, Toils and Snares in the End Times” was held in the middle of the southland on the border of Orange County and Los Angeles county, in the city of Cypress in mid-September.  One would expect thousands of women to show up, but it was a small turn out with about 200 people.  Speakers with pre-Christian backgrounds in the New Age/New Spirituality movement, witchcraft and the occult gave their testimonies and warned about how these things have not only crept into Christian churches, but are boldly and blatantly being accepted by many undiscerning people who attend these churches.  This begs the question - Are Christians being deceived and falling away from Biblical truth? 

Just about every speaker referred to the biblical account in Genesis where Lucifer (Satan), possessing a serpent, deceived Eve through dialoging with her and questioning God's Word.  In Genesis three verse one, the serpent said, “Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”.  The major question being asked at this conference was are we listening to God or to the Serpent - the Devil?  A personal friend from Scotland, Deborah Menelaws of Bethel Communications, was one of the guest speakers.  She asked challenging questions like: Do we really believe we are in the end days?  Are we really hearing the Word of God and responding properly?  Are we relying on our pastor or husband or some other person rather than God?  Are we relying completely on God and what He says?  Do we know what God says and do we care?

As a person who is not a citizen of this country, our friend Deborah boldly asked, “Are you, as Americans, being duped into believing that America will stay strong and free?  Do you believe tha

t God will keep America strong even when America is no longer following Him as a nation?  Are you prepared for the economy to totally crash and America to be devastated?  In what (or who) do you put your trust?  Do you truly trust in God regarding your country?  Do you listen to man (and rely on man’s systems) or to God?

THE DANGERS OF SYNCRETISM AND THE WORLD OF THE OCCULT

Author Johanna Michaelsen, taking us on a journey through the Bible, addressed the growing global trend of religious syncretism - the blending of irreconcilable parties (worship of the Creator God with pagan practices), and showed the dire consequences of such.  She explained how the Christianization of yoga, Hindu breath prayers, occult visualization, inner healing, altered states of consciousness, and spiritual chanting and drumming are all inroads to the world of occultism – into the mystery religions where seeking “the hidden things” [occult] is the root, and goal, of becoming “god,” the realization that “we are all gods.”  She stated that New Age teachings such as the “Law of Attraction,” “positive confession, and “sending vibrations” are all rooted in occult [hidden] power. “To worship God as the pagans do is an abomination.”  In other words God hates syncretism.  She quoted several verses to back up the biblical principle of not mixing pagan worship practices with the worship of God.

When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you. (Matthew 9:14-18)

 Johanna went on to say, “Contemplative, Emerging, and New Spirituality claim to be authentic.  It is authentic alright – authentic to the occult!”  This comes from a woman who once was heavily involved in the world of the occult and demonic power.  She explained that this is simply ancient Gnosticism revived for those seeking new knowledge, power, and experience.  Johanna talked about an extremely problematic idea that is prevalent in our “politically correct” world today; that as long as we are sincere in our beliefs and practices, we are all right.  She explained how this is nothing more than a lie from the Devil.  Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

She also pointed out in Genesis 3:5 where the foundation of all occultism and apostasy stem from. “For God knows that in the day you eat of it (the forbidden fruit) your eyes will be opened and you will be like God knowing good and evil.”  It should be forever remembered that the quest for “knowledge” and “wisdom” apart from the revealed will of God is simply an open door for spiritual deception – i.e. occultism, witchcraft, false teachings in the church, apostasy (to turning away from the truth).

Johanna’s book, “The Beautiful Side of Evil” is her testimony of how she came out of the occult.

HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT GODS, DIVINE EMANATIONS, AND SPARKS OF DIVINITY

Another common theme at the conference was exposing the popular deception that we are all divine, or a part of divinity. The New Age religion, otherwise known today as the New Spirituality/The New Gospel, is at its root and core pure Hindu philosophy [evolutionary occult pantheism].  It is simply the same old lie of Lucifer found in Genesis 3:5, couched in modern terminology, that states that we can be as God.  Filmmaker Caryl Matrisciana explained that through yoga one seeks to “awaken the serpent power” in order to come to the realization that “we are God.”  She said, “There is no yoga without Hinduism and there is no Hinduism without yoga.  The exercises of yoga cannot be separated from the spirituality of yoga.”  She also rightly stated what Hindu philosophy declares, “In Hinduism all is deity.”  Caryl was raised in India and is very familiar with Hinduism and its practices.  She has produced a documentary on this topic called, “Yoga Uncoiled: From East To West.”

At this conference Caryl Matrisciana rightly stated the truth about yoga!  The entire goal of yoga, whether it is called “exercise” or not, is based on occult Hindu philosophy – the practices and postures are inextricably intertwined.  Practical Hindu spirituality, which is rooted in occult philosophy, teaches that through yoga [yuj Sanskrit; yoking] individuals can become One with the Brahman – the “Divine Ground of All Being,” or, the “Divine Consciousness” of Hinduism.  It seems that today, the vast majority of Christians in the West are completely unaware of the reality and dangers of yoga.

MANIFEST SONS OF GOD AND THE LATTER RAIN MOVEMENT - GONE MAINSTREAM AND GOING GLOBAL

Researcher and writer with Herescope, Sarah Leslie spoke on the Manifest Sons of God/Latter Rain movement and how they are going mainstream.  She explained their heretical Seven Mountains of Dominionism and how their goal is to take over government, education, media, business and other systems in order to usher in the Kingdom of God. This very unbiblical movement promotes the idea that the church is the ongoing representation of God on earth and that God is raising up a “new breed” of god-men or an “elect seed” for “Joel's Army” to destroy or subdue all enemies of Jesus Christ.  Many in these movements believe and teach that Jesus will not return until we are perfected on earth to usher in the Kingdom of God.  In their mind, it is up to us to make His appearing – the Second Advent – happen!  Scripture teaches that Christ will come and set up His Kingdom, not the heretical “Manifest Sons of God” and “Joel’s Army.”

THE STATE OF THE CHURCH:  LUKEWARM AND PLAGUED BY THE FEAR OF MAN

Conference organizer and author, Jackie Alnor, spoke on spiritual apathy in a lukewarm church.  She reiterated the warning from Jesus in Revelation 3:16, “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”  She explained how the church growth movement started by C. Peter Wagner has created mega-churches full of goats and tares among the sheep and wheat, respectively, which result in lukewarm Christians.  Pastor Chris Quintana gave a message about the real mission of the Church.  He said, “Men fear man and not God and they focus on action and not the message.  If we depart from the Bible we can't meet human needs and we use the Bible as an accessory rather than the authority.”  He rightly exhorted us not to be men and women who suppress the truth regarding unrighteousness, as so many are doing today.  Proverbs 9:25 says “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”

Caryl Matrisciana previewed a portion of her new DVD entitled “Wide is the Gate,” an exposé on the Emerging Church/New Spirituality/New Gospel and how the false teachings of these “change agents” are flowing straight into the church, causing a great delusion which will ultimately end in shipwrecking the faith of many.

Attendees also watched clips from the new full-length documentary, “The Daniel Project.”  This film investigates 20 major Bible prophecies in relation to past, present and future events.  The theme of this film is taken from Daniel 12:10 in reference to the end times, “...only the wise shall understand.”

LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU

The overall theme of this conference was that spiritual deception is all around us – in the world and in much of the church.  It was a call to test all things - trusted teachers at the local church fellowship, all TV preachers/teachers, and even authors of the latest popular “Christian” books.  When the disciples asked Jesus what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age in Matthew 24:3-4, Jesus responded by saying, “Take heed that no one deceives you.”

Johanna Michaelsen closed the conference with an intense message about how individuals, including Christians, can be freed from the subtle power and influence of occult bondage.  She rightly said, as the Bible teaches, that many in the church are being groomed for the Anti-Christ.  In light of what happens when people yield to the influences Johanna was warning us about, she said, “God allows a deluding spirit and the symptoms are horrendous.”  She encouraged us to read Ezekiel 8 and Second Thessalonians 2, and to study the Word of God to know what we believe and to be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks.

So many Christians are admiring and promoting heretical books like William Paul Young’s book “The Shack,” Rob Bell’s “Love Wins,” and Rick Warren’s panentheistic [God in all things] “Purpose Driven Life.”  Others are involved with groups and churches teaching heresy that clearly go against what the Bible says.  It makes one wonder what deceptions are coming and what undiscerning Christians will embrace next.

TEST ALL THINGS, HOLD FAST TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD!

So that you are thoroughly immersed in the Word and can clearly understand God’s views on these subjects, please take time to read the following scriptures for your own encouragement and edification.  The Word of God is our only defensive weapon to fight against the schemes and teachings of the Devil.  Guard yourself with what God has said.  “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies.  Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”  (1 Thess. 5:19-23)

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.  For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:33-37)

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in 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: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. (II Thessalonians 2:15)

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.  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.  (II Timothy 4:1-8)

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (II Corinthians 10:1-6)

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (I John 4:1)

 Do not err, my beloved brethren.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  (James 1:16-17)

Jesus You Are The WAY

Those Who Know Your Name, will Trust in You, for You Lord, have Never Forsaken Those Who Seek You  --Psalm 9:10

"Come now, and let us reason together,"
Says the LORD,
"Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.
- Isaiah 1:18

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS !"
- Romans 10:14-15

A must see!

Spiritual Warfare

Jacob Prasch - Why Does God Allow Evil In The World?

Are You Praying to the Only True God?

Christianity holds to the view that prayer is of the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Octavius Winslow put it in these words:

It must be acknowledged by the spiritual mind that all true prayer is of the leading of the Spirit; that He is the author of all real approach of the soul to God. All true prayer is put into words by the Spirit. He is the Author of prayer in the soul.

The scriptures speak of God the Holy Spirit residing within all who believe in the Son of God.  The Spirit guides, instructs and empowers believers. (John 14:16-17)  As well, the "Spirit of truth" confirms everything about Jesus. (John 15:26)   The unregenerate (unsaved) person is not Spirit filled.  God does not hear anyone's prayer unless it is put into words by the Holy Spirit.  So if we want our prayers to be heard and answered we must pray to the right God. 

"This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God,

and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3).

Before I move on it's necessary to briefly explain what other world religions believe about God. 

WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?

Judaism has one God (monotheistic) that is eternal and all-knowing.  Jews believe the world was created by God and that all things within the world were designed to have meaning and purpose as part of a divine order.

The Hindu religion has somewhere around 330 million gods (polytheistic).  It also has one god, Brahma, that is supreme. Hindus believe Brahma is both impersonal and unknowable and inhabits every portion of reality and existence throughout the universe. Brahma is believed to exist in three separate forms: Brahma-Creator, Vishnu-Preserver, and Shiva-Destroyer. Trying to explain what Hindus believe is like trying to explain gravity.  Suffice it to say that there are a wide variety of core beliefs and sects in the Hindu religion.

The religion of Islam believes in one God (monotheistic), Allah.  Muslims hold that Allah is the only true God and that Muhammad was Allah's prophet. "Muslim" means "one who submits to Allah."

Buddhism has an elaborate theology of deities and exalted beings. I must elaborate a bit here.  "Buddhism can be hard to pin down as to its view of God. Some streams of Buddhism could legitimately be called atheistic, while others could be called pantheistic, and still others theistic, such as Pure Land Buddhism. Classical Buddhism, however, tends to be silent on the reality of an ultimate being and is therefore considered atheistic."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) teaches that God "has not always been the Supreme Being of the universe, but attained that status through righteous living and persistent effort. They believe God the Father has a "body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's."  As well, Mormons believe the true faith was restored through its founder Joseph Smith and that the entire structure of Christian orthodoxy is corrupt and false. 

The great confrontation of this century is between the New Age movement (NAM) and historic, orthodox Christianity. NAM is a hodge-podge of such Christian cults as New Thought, Unity School of Christianity, Religious Science, religions of the Far East (specifically Hinduism and Buddhism) as well as spiritism, theosophy, scientism, mysticism and many other pagan beliefs.

NAM holds to monism, we are one and pantheism, all-is-God. New Agers believe in "humanity's fall into ignorance and the gradual ascent into enlightenment."  They receive enlightenment through mystical spiritual experiences and spiritual searching. 

You can create your own reality say New Agers.  "As your thoughts are so is your life."  Because thoughts have a power of their own, whatever thoughts you send out into the "universe" will come back to you.  Their faith is in the power of positive thinking.  "A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind expects, it finds."

One New Ager describes God in this fashion: "Our daily reality is not only a matter of connection with God or Universal Consciousness.  We are in fact, actually composed of the same essence as that which is called God….we are as 'cells in the infinite body of God.'  There are no ultimate boundaries in the cosmos.  The universe is actually composed of the very same underlying substance in all places, peoples, and times.  We are all 'made of God', or in other words, Consciousness." 

Many New Agers consider themselves Christians. 

Here's why they are not.  A true Christian believes in a personal God.  We believe there is one God (monotheism), the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Traditional orthodox Christianity, which is the objective standard by which to define what is and is not Christianity, holds to a belief in the Trinity.

THE TRINITY

The doctrine of the Trinity is the most basic Christian belief of all.  Trinitarians hold that God eternally exists in three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There never was a time when God was not, nor was there a time when the Son and Spirit were not.  In other words, the three Persons of the Godhead have eternally existed.  However, the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Father, the Father is not the Spirit and so forth.  In essence, they are one in nature (nature describes what it is to be God) with three separate, distinct personalities.  When Jesus talked about the Holy Spirit, He used the personal pronoun, referring to the Spirit as a person, not a "force," as the cults believe. "The Holy Spirit is a person who can be grieved (Eph 4:30), bear witness (1 John 5:7), and teach (John 14:26) among many other things." (For more info on the Trinity check the links below.)

Individuals do not have to understand the Trinity to be saved.  However, a belief in the Trinity is essential.  It is not a peripheral issue Christians can vigorously debate but not divide over.  How you baptize; the sign gifts; eschatology (future things); instruments or no instruments in churches are non-essentials.  "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love."

The Trinity is a central doctrine of Christianity, as are the authority of Scripture; Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man; Christ was born of a virgin; He led a sinless life; He died to atone for our sins; He was bodily resurrected from the dead and will come again in power and glory to judge the world and deliver His people. 

THE BODY OF CHRIST

Protestants (evangelicals) hold to the view that the Bible-the inspired Word of God--is the sole authority (sola Scriptura) for establishing and confirming our Christian beliefs--not the Pope of Rome or any other person, alive of dead. The Bible says that salvation cannot be obtained through our "good works." Salvation comes by faith alone (sola fide).

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph 2:4-9). (See also John 11:25, John 14:6, John 6:40, Rom 10:13, Gal 3:26)

Let Us Reason Ministries has an article posted on its website "Salvation, A hidden teaching of the Roman Catholic church" that details Roman Catholic's completely different approach to salvation:

"They combine elements from the Old Testament (ie. priesthood, dress, rituals etc.), as the means of grace is dispensed by the priest and through the church.

"Canon 4 'If anyone shall say that the sacraments are not necessary for salvation, but are superfluous, and that, although all are not necessary for every individual, without them or without the desire of them, through faith alone men obtain from God the grace of justification; let him be anathema.'"

Further down…

"According to Catholic teaching, 'Baptism is a sacrament which cleanses us from original sin, makes us children of God and heirs of heaven.' 'Baptism is necessary to salvation, because without it we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.'

"Catholics also believe that water by baptism takes away their original sins. Baptism becomes the means of cleansing."

As for the Eastern Orthodox view of justification by faith:

"[T]he doctrine of justification by faith is virtually absent from the history and theology of the Orthodox Church. Rather, Orthodoxy emphasizes theosis (literally, "divinization"), the gradual process by which Christians become more and more like Christ. What many in the Orthodox tradition fail to understand is that "divinization" is the progressive result of salvation, not a requirement for salvation itself. … The call of the Reformers for 'Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, and Christ alone' is missing in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and that is too precious a treasure to do without."

Protestants, Catholics and Eastern Orthodox affirm the Trinity.

AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY

To begin with, the Body of Christ should have a thorough knowledge of the essential doctrines of the faith.  Additionally, believers should at least know what the Person they have committed their lives to and to His discipleship had to say about life's most pressing issues.  I will go out on a limb and say that most professing Christians do not have a clue what Jesus taught about most things.  Hello!  The very words of Christ are preserved in the pages of Scripture-and He has a lot to say! 

No one is born into Christianity.  Authentic Christians have made a confession of faith.  Romans 10:9-11 says:

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

Moreover, followers of Jesus are commanded to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3) And by the way, we are not given a choice in the matter.  The last thing Jesus told his disciples to do was, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 15:15).  How can a person preach the gospel if he/she hasn't the foggiest notion what the true gospel is?  Gospel means "good news" and the good news is:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).  The bad news is: "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18). (Read more here)

NOW TO THE BURNING QUESTION…

Are you praying to the only true God?  For those who are not regenerate (born again) Christians, the answer is a resounding No!  As I said above, God does not hear anyone's prayer unless it is put into words by the Holy Spirit. 

At this point readers are wondering: Does God even hear, act on, or grant the prayers of unbelievers?  Dr. John MacArthur was asked this very question.  In response he said, "A strict yes or no answer is difficult without qualifying the answer in various ways."  He then offered 15 reasons for unanswered prayer:

1. Who have personal and selfish motives. (James 4:3).

2. Who regard iniquity in their hearts. (Psalm 66:18).

3. Who remain in sin.  (John 9:31).

4. Who offer unworthy service to God. (Malachi 1:7-9).

5. Who forsake God. (Jeremiah 14:10-12).

6. Who reject God's call. (Proverbs 1:24-25, 28).

7. Who will not heed God's law. (Zechariah 7:11-13).

8. Who turn a deaf ear to the cry of the poor. (Proverbs 21:13).

9. Who are violent. (Isaiah 1:15; see also 59:2-3).

10. Who worship idols. (Jeremiah 11:11-14; see also Ezekiel 8:15-18).

11. Who have no faith.  (James 1:6-7).

12. Who are living in hypocrisy.  (Luke 12:1).

13. Who are proud of heart.  (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).

14. Who are self-righteous. (Luke 18:11-14).

15. Who mistreat God's people. (Psalm 18:40-41).

Writer and preacher John Bunyon gave us this insight into prayer:

"Prayer is a pouring out of the heart to God, through Christ, in the strength of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised. Prayer must be within the compass of God's Word; it is blasphemy or at best babbling, when the petition is beside the Book. David therefore in his prayers kept his eye on the Word of God: 'My soul cleaves to the dust; quicken me according to Your Word.'

"'Remember Your Word to Your servant, on which you have caused me to hope.' Indeed the Holy Spirit does not immediately quicken and stir up the heart of the Christian without, but by, in and through the Word. The Spirit, by the Word, directs the manner as well as the matter of praying."

Someone one said that we argue our case with God, not to convince Him, but to convince ourselves.  God is not a cosmic sugar daddy as the prosperity preachers would have us believe.  Biblical prayer is to bring Christians into conformity with God's will.  When we don't know how to pray according to God's will, "the Spirit of God intercedes for us according to the will of God" (Rom 8:27).

"What is it to pray according to God's will?" asked John Cotton. "When we pray for things which are agreeable to God's will, i.e. His revealed will; we should ask for nothing but what He commands us . . . for those things we have warrant to pray."

Further Study on the doctrine of the Trinity:

What is the Trinity-By Let Us Reason Ministries

Trinity-By Theopedia

Jonathan Edwards essay on the Trinity (heavy reading for some of us)

Recommended Reading:

The Sovereignty of God and Prayer--By John Piper

http://tinyurl.com/25dcz7n

Justification through Faith Alone--By Zacharias Ursinus

Don't we all believe in the same God, but try to know Him in different ways?-By Watcher's Lamp

Book:

Communion with God--By John Owen

By Marsha West

Why Kids Are Becoming Obsessed With The Occult, Including Harry Potter

The Voice of Truth

"If you want to hear from God, read your Bible; if you want to audibly hear from God, read your Bible out loud." - Justin Peters

Stand Up No Matter What The Cost

All I Have Is Christ - An Animation

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way.
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave.
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will.
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still.

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross.
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace.

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life
Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me.
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose.
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You.

Wide Is The Gate

Wide Is The Gate examines the intrusion of the 60's and 70's New Age Movement, steeped in its pagan eastern mysticism, and traces its morphing over the last 4 decades..from its repackaging as the Self Help Psychology, Wholistic Health Movements of the 80's, to its Seeker Friendly, Mega Church appearance in the 90's, to its coming out in the 21st century as The New Spirituality. Its slick reinvention of "new truth" shows itself off today as a new "Emerging" Christianity, a Vintage, Ancient Future Movement that is supposedly taking us back to our "Christian" origins in the Desert Fathers of 300 years after Christ. Sadly, that "taking back" does not go back far enough. Missing is a return to the Early Church's foundation, birthed in Jerusalem, at Pentecost, 40 days after the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who at that time, filled His Believers with His Holy Spirit and instructions to go out, preach the Gospel and make disciples.


Today's new brand of Christianity has a different gospel and is targeting thousands of the younger generation with a so-called hip, cool, experiential spirituality, much of which is embracing the mysticism of Roman Catholicism with its ecumenical philosophy of uniting people from all faiths to work together and bring about a new world of peace and harmony. This notion dovetails with the heart of New Age thinking and the utopian ideals of many world religions who all await their religious leaders and dreams of world domination.

The dangerous result of this new spirituality in the church is bringing about the rise of today's "Christianized" occultism. It's stretching its tentacles around the souls of unsuspecting youth, setting them up for the lie that subjective emotions of "power" and "experience" are "feelings" to be held higher than an objective walk in the Christian Faith, based in Truth found in the Pure Word of God. The Holy Bible is presented as unattainable truth: "stuffy", "dry" and "churchy". .

The Bible warns of great heresy and apostasy in the church of the last days. It foretells of false teachers, prophets, doctrines of lying spirits and their signs and wonders. For 2000 years, since the crucifixion of Jesus Christ the Bible has been attacked. Alongside the Apostolic Church, based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and his apostles, counterfeit Christian heretics, apostate denominations and false movements have proliferated. Ecclesiastes says, "There's no new thing under the sun". (I:9)

Learn what Scripture teaches about the times we live in, the ways in which Christians are being seduced away from Biblical Truth, and the methods used by the New Spirituality to usher in the counterfeit Kingdom of God on earth. Jesus said, "My Kingdom is not of this world" (Jn. 18:36) and "Narrow is the Way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:14)

In recent decades Christianity has been redefined giving rise to unprecedented quasi-Christian spiritual philosophies and practices. Claiming to be "revivals" are these the counterfeits Jesus warned would occur before His return? (Luke 18:8)


Many so-called Christian leaders are introducing innovative teachings based on new Bible translations and paraphrases that alter the timeless truths of Holy Scripture. A more progressive spirituality, with roots in eastern mysticism, is replacing faith in God's Word. This "New Christian Spirituality" poses as a more relevant "New Gospel" for today's Postmodern culture that prefers subjective and emotional feelings, rather than absolute truths.

Biblical Truth is the foundation for knowing God. His promises and prophecies. At Pentecost, the Church was given the Holy Spirit of Truth to be guided into all Truth. Jesus Christ, Who is Truth Incarnate, taught that after His death, resurrection and ascension to Heaven, He would bring His Church to His Father's house before returning with them to govern the world for a 1000 year Kingdom period. Biblical faith trusts God's promise to fulfil these prophecies.

However many within the Emerging, Seeker-friendly, Purpose Driven, New Apostolic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Reformed, neo-Evangelical, Charismatic and Pentecostal Churches deny many teachings and Prophesies in God's Word as literal Truth.

Many promote the false gospel of transforming the world for the common good, encouraging a "working together", and bringing about social justice on planet earth. Through modern marketing techniques and business management skills a global agenda of faith, commerce and government is being orchestrated for churches to partner with other faiths for world peace and unity. This man made utopia will usher in the reign of Antichrist and his kingdom, preceding the coming of the True Jesus Christ and the True Kingdom of God on earth.

JUDGE NOT LEST YOU BE JUDGED........One of the Most Misquoted/Misused Scripture

The church has had such a misunderstanding of 'JUDGING' that it's not only blinded us, but has put us in danger of sitting under the WRONG spirit.

Do you not know that we ARE to judge/test teachings/doctrine/prophets? The apostles warned us tremendously about FALSE teachers/prophets amongst God's people, and yet you say, "don't judge". Sorry, but you're misunderstanding "judge not".

If we do not not judge/test/discern in these last days, we are going to be headed for some SERIOUS trouble. If we are NOT to "judge", then, WHY did Jesus, along with the apostles constantly WARN the church about false teachers and false prophets among us? WHY BOTHER WARNING US IF IT'S OK TO SIT UNDER JUST ANY KIND OF TEACHING????
THIS particular scripture in Romans means taking ACTION on those false teachers/prophets:
Romans 16:17 | Now I beseech you, brethren, MARK THEM which cause divisions and offences CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and AVOID THEM. (Notice the word 'DOCTRINE'?)
We are to MARK and AVOID false teachers like those NOT just on TBN, but anywhere!

YET ANOTHER WARNING: 2 Peter. 2:1-3: | But there were also false prophets among the people, EVEN AS THERE WILL BE FALSE TEACHERS AMONG YOU, who will SECRETLY bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And MANY WILL FOLLOW THEIR DESTRUCTIVE WAYS, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with DECEPTIVE WORDS; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.”

MORE WARNINGS:
Acts 20:29 | For I know this, that after my departing shall GRIEVOUS WOLVES ENTER IN AMONG YOU, not sparing the flock.

Matthew 7:15 | Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Read Acts 17:10-13 - The Bereans DID NOT just take Paul's word for what he taught them; after Paul departed, the Bereans STUDIED to see if what Paul taught them was CORRECT! There are NO Bereans today; just blind followers, following the false teachers & false prophets.

In Galatians chapter 3, we find the people in Galatia actually BELIEVED they were following the TRUE God, but they would have continued on being deceived HAD NOT the Apostle Paul warned & corrected them:
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth , crucified among you?

Galatians 5:7-9 | Ye DID run well; who did HINDER you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion COMETH NOT OF HIM THAT CALLED YOU. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
The judging that is WRONG is this:(EXCERPT from article; link attached):
John 7:24 Jesus says: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” What Jesus does tell us is not to judge by our own opinions, but instead judge by the word of God, that is what it means to judge righteously. He always encouraged the people to judge. God told Israel to judge the prophets in the Old Testament. He had the true prophets judge the false but the people reacted saying the very same things people are saying today. Your being negative oh you never have anything good to say. In the New Testament we are told to judge prophecy, to discern, to test the spirits and we are told to test ALL things. We are told to do this because it helps keep us away from what is false and evil. The apostle Paul showed us how to judge so there would be no second guesswork. The apostle Paul said, “If anyone preaches another gospel let him be accursed” Would anyone say to Paul's face “your judging.” In 2 Thess. 3:14-15 “And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” Strong guidelines that many avoid to do today. These are done not to condemn but to bring repentance and restoration.

Here's the SCRIPTURAL way to Judge:
http://www.letusreason.org/Pent44.htm

"Do What You Want"..? Exposing Satanism in Music

"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law" is the Satanic philosophy derived by the founder of modern Satanism Aleister Crowley. In fact, it is the law stated in the Satanic Bible. These three videos expose how prevalent this demonic philosophy has crept into society.

The Bridge across the Tiber back to Home Sweet Rome is now open for traffic Truth About Peter Scazzaro, RCC and Mysticism

By Orrel Steinkamp
The Plumbline
Volume 15, No. 6, Dec 2010

The title and subtitle are metaphoric symbolism. Crossing the Tiber River near Rome is often used for Protestants returning to Roman Catholicism. Scazzero is an Italian name for Peter Scazzero who is senior pastor of New Life Church in Queens, New York City. Rev. Scazzero has not claimed Rome for his official residence, but makes many trips across the Tiber. Scazzero's stated mission is to introduce Catholic contemplative prayer and practice to evangelicals. Scazzero avoids the term Catholic for obvious reasons but uses "Contemplative Prayer" freely, assuming probably correctly, that evangelicals will not know the meaning of the term. Scazzero's book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality recounts how after his seminary experience at Gordon-Conwell, he launched into growing an evangelical church in Queens. However, as the years went by, his marriage nearly collapsed and his time consuming ministry was brought to a standstill. I am not sure why he and his wife Geri took a 6 month sabbatical and visited monasteries overseas including Taize in France. They came home, however, converted to Contemplative Spirituality (henceforth CS). They assumed that their church would refuse this but the elders were open to try it. The rest is history. They implemented a Benedictine Daily Office devotional routine, a Sabbath experience and a Rule for Life. All of this is presented as the solution to Scazzero's insufficient experience in traditional evangelical spirituality. Going further, Scazzero is convinced that living a life of contemplative rhythms and discipline is the primary way to bring evangelical emotional and spiritual lives into health.

Scazzero has found that he is in demand among evangelical pastors nationwide. He has been invited to speak to AOG pastors conferences, CMA pastors meetings and even to Focus on the Family retreats. He quotes primarily from famous Catholic monastic mystics both living and dead, and he proudly announces that he attends a Trappist monastery in MS on a regular basis participating in the rigors of monastic life. It appears that his audiences have no problems with the source of his material. Trappist monks, and other emergent universalists get generous quotes in his writings and are ALWAYS quoted favorably. One can only assume he sees their teaching found in their writings as beneficial and that his evangelical audiences either don't care or know to whom he refers in his writings.

The wider context of this is that there have been years of efforts to bring about a practical union between Rome and evangelicals. The prominent person in this endeavor has been and continues to be Chuck Colson. He has spearheaded this effort of some years now called ECT (Evangelicals and Catholics Together). One could say that Colson built the bridge over the Tiber and now Scazzero and others have widened the bridge and taken down any warning signs still remaining so that evangelicals can easily go back and forth. Now evangelicals can shoot across the Tiber and land in some of the historic monasteries. All of this now without even a waking or a stirring among evangelicals who owe their existence to the Protestant Reformation. Only a few "hard hats" so-called make a few grunting noises. Given the quiet intrusion of postmodern deconstruction of almost all truth claims in the church and the prevailing winds of tolerance, the deal can now be sealed sooner rather than later. Luther, Calvin and Zwingli are quietly relegated to the scrap heap of ancient church history. The Reformation can be buried as an unfortunate mistake, and an inconvenient episode in church history. Many evangelicals are convinced CS is just a way to slow down and have quiet devotions in a busy life style. But for people who know, - it is not remotely like a quiet bible study. It would only take a few minutes on a computer to establish that CS is not really an option. Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen, the big two of monastic mystics leave no doubt that "entering the silence" is essentially an eastern way of eliminating all conscious thought so that we can uncover God's presence already buried deep in all humans and in all living things (panentheism). Scazzero's quotes are from nearly all the luminaries of CS. But he does not go on to describe in detail their practices and teachings, however. This is unfortunate for very quickly that would nail down a few undeniable features of CS. First by meditative techniques and disciplines there is a desire to reach an alternate state of spiritual consciousness in which unknowing rather than knowing is the goal. In past centuries that monastic goal often took years to attain. But in recent times Father Thomas Keating, quoted freely by Scazzero (Thomas Keating, Intimacy With God: An Introduction To Centering Prayer, in Daily Office by Scazzero, p. 44) along with Father M. Basil Bennington [famous quote: "The soul of the human family is the Holy Spirit], found a way to attain mental silence and unknowing in about 20 minutes. Father keating attended the 6th annual Christian-Buddhist meditation Conference recently. Here he presented this centering prayer short cut to "Nirvana" to Asian Buddhist monks. Father Keating was praised as a good bridge between Christianity and Buddhism. An attendee stated that his centering prayer seemed to tie in with Transcendental Meditation, yoga mantra meditation, the Jesus prayer and Hindu readings on meditation. Tilden Edwards, founder of Shalem Institute who is also quoted in Scazzero's book, p. 170, states in his book that "This mystical stream (CS) is the western bridge to Far Eastern spirituality" (Spiritual Friend, NY, NY, Paulist Press, 1980, p. 18). Scazzero on page 160 of his book recommends centering prayer. He states: "I often spend 5 minutes centering down…I follow James Findley's guidelines…" (James Findley is a former Trappist Monk and promoter of inter-spiritual contemplative monk Thomas Merton.) Relying on James Findley, Scazzero's book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality states: "Sit still, Sit strait, Breath slowly and deeply…When you find your mind wandering, let your breathing bring your mind back…" (p. 160,161). Finally, contemplatives ALWAYS end up in universal salvation. Thomas Merton, Scazzero's apparent favorite and most quoted contemplative, simply says "At the center of our being (every human) is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin…[Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, p. 157]. Why am I writing now about CS? Well! It so happens Scazzero and his books and Daily Office are the basis of an 8 week attempt to recapture emotional and spiritual health in our very evangelical/Pentecostal church.

Contemplative Prayer Movement and Its Origin – Compiled by S.E. Ray There is a prayer practice that is becoming popular within the evangelical church. It is primarily known as contemplative prayer. It is also known as centering prayer, listening prayer, breath prayer and prayer of the heart. The practice is now widely embraced and taught in secular and professed Christian seminaries, colleges, universities, organizations, ministries and seminars throughout the United States. Academic promoters have introduced these practices in the fields of medicine, business and law, while countless secular and Christian books, magazines, seminars, and retreats are teaching people how to incorporate these techniques into their daily lives. Promoters promise physical, mental and spiritual benefits. The essential function of contemplative prayer is to enter an altered state of consciousness in order to find one's true self, thus striving to find God. Proponents of contemplative prayer teach that all human beings have a divine center and that all, not just born-again believers, should practice contemplative prayer. To achieve the state of emptiness, they employ a "mantra," a word repeated over and over to focus the mind while striving to go deep within oneself. The effects are a hypnotic like state: concentration upon one thing, disengagement from other stimuli, a high degree of openness to suggestion, a psychological and physiological state that externally resembles sleep, but in which consciousness is interiorized and the mind subject to suggestion.

In the early Middle Ages during the 4th through the 6th centuries, there lived a group of hermits in the wilderness areas of the Middle East. They are known to history as the Desert Fathers. They dwelt in small isolated communities for the purpose of devoting their lives to God without distraction. The contemplative movement is traced to these monks. They were the first to promote the mantra as a prayer tool. [These desert fathers reasoned that as long as the desire for God was sincere anything could be utilized to reach God. If a method worked for the Hindus to reach their gods, then Christian mantras could be used to reach Jesus] (Ray Yungen, A Time of Departing). Some of the most influential writers who have popularized contemplative prayer in the evangelical church are Richard Foster and Brennan Manning. Both these men have written popular Christian books about contemplative prayer. And both quote the Catholic mystics such as Thomas Merton and Thomas Keating. Through the late 1960's and early 1970's, Father Keating and Father Bennington met together with an effort to understand the mass defection of young Catholics at the time these people were drawn in part to the East's meditation practices. Their research led Keating, at the time an abbot at a Massachusetts monastery, to begin unearthing a similar meditative method based on a Christian tradition [the Desert Fathers]. The East was mixed with Catholicism to yield new appeal to the defecting younger generation of the time.

Contemplative prayer differs from Christian prayer in that the intent of the technique is to bring the practitioner to the center of his own being. There he is, supposedly, to experience the presence of God who [already] dwells in him. Christian prayer, on the contrary, centers on God in a relational way, as an independent power apart from oneself but realized intimately through the Holy Spirit. The confusion of this technique with Christian prayer arises from a misunderstanding of the indwelling of God. The fact that God indwells us does not mean that we can capture His presence by mental techniques. Nor does it mean that we are identical with Him in our deepest self…

Silence, appropriate body posture and above all, emptying the mind through repetition prayer – have been the practices of mystics in all the great world religions. And they form the basis on which most modern spiritual directors guide those who want to draw near to God…Silence is the language God speaks…says Thomas Keating who taught "centering prayer" to more than 31,000 last year. "Keating suggests that those who pray repeat some 'sared word' like God or Jesus." (Newsweek, January 6, 1992, "Talking to God" p. 44).

The God Who is [Already] There
Francis Schaeffer once wrote a book entitled, The God Who IS There (emphasis added). Now, conversely, the Contemplative mystics teach that God is already there, namely He indwells every human in his inner and "higher self." But furthermore they teach that God not only indwells every human but He indwells all his creation. This is not exactly pantheism, but a variant called panentheism. Pantheism teaches that God is all things. But Pantheism has now been combined with Theism (God is a personality) and this produces panentheism, which attempts to retain God's personality but adds that He also indwells every created thing. Contemplatives fully schooled in the Contemplative paradigm embrace panentheism. Fr. Ken Kaisch, a prominent teacher of the contemplative, has written in his book, Finding God: "The first and important result [of this prayer] is an increasing sense of God's presence in all things." William Johnson also states in his book The Mystical Way, that: "God is the core of my being and the core of all things." (compiled from Ray Yungen). But this teaching undermines the biblical teaching of the sinfulness of all men and makes the atonement at the cross unnecessary. Furthermore, if God is in every human and all things, then he is in all religions. Tony Campolo and others see that this is a necessary corollary and Campolo has stated: 'Mysticism provides hope for common ground between Christianity and Islam.' (Speaking My Mind).

The lure of mysticism of all varieties belies a huge hollowed out vacuum in current evangelical spirituality, courtesy of Seeker-Sensitive. What else can account for the seeming insatiable hunger for all things mystical and particularly physical techniques leading to some kind of mystical and altered state of ecstasy. Across the evangelical spectrum people are signing on to various expressions of the contemplative. Below are a series of examples that defy understanding:

- Brennen Manning in his book "The Signature of Jesus" which explicitly gives training for centering techniques has his book endorsed by Max Lucado and Amy Grant.

- Youth Specialties has gone aggressively for contemplative spirituality being supported by Zondervan. The president of Youth Specialties, M. Oestreicher, is quoted as saying that 'Christianity is an eastern religion.' He dismisses criticism in the following quotes: 'If a Buddhist is using a breathing exercise to bring some peace to her life – bless her. But that shouldn't have any bearing on whether I chose to focus on my god-given breath." But, Mike Perschon, an Edmonton associate pastor of a Mennonite church, describes in a magazine "YouthWorker" his contemplative experience: "I built myself a room

 – a tiny sanctuary in a basement closet filled with books on spiritual disciplines, contemplative prayer and Christian mysticism. In that space, I lit candles, burned incense, hung rosaries and listened to tapes of Benedictine monks. I meditated for hours on word, images, and sounds. I reached the point of being able to achieve alpha brain patterns."

This appears much more than focusing on my god-given breath. Though some may pursue contemplative as a way to be silent, etc, the origin of all this is ancient Catholic mysticism borrowed from Eastern mysticism in the 4th century and mixed with a Catholic tradition of monasticism.

The Contemplative Paradigm
- God lives deeply inside every human.
- Man's problem: All man's problems are from not being in contact with God inside.
- By ancient prayer techniques man can restore union with God within.
- Sin is neglecting to establish union with God within.

The Gospel Paradigm
- God requires righteousness.
- Man's problem: since Adam, all have sinned and stand condemned before a holy God.
- Christ died to pay the debt of man's sin.
- Christ's righteousness is credited to the believing sinner's record.
- God regenerates sinners who believe the Gospel and gives them the indwelling Holy Spirit.
- Man is thus accepted in God's sight.
- Believers now focus on God and what He has done for them.