Warning to the self proclaimed apostles.

An Open Letter to Peter Wagner, Dutch Sheets & Other "Apostles".

I recently received a report of a new "Apostolic Network" headed
up by Dutch Sheets which held a gathering in Florida last week to
"carve up" territories for it's 'apostles', etc. I need to put in writing
what I believe the Lord would say to these men.

But first I need to remind us all of something. On June 23rd, 2008,
a group of "apostles and prophets" under Peter Wagner's headship
stood on a stage in Lakeland at the Todd Bentley revival - to lay
on hands and commission him, etc. But it was far more than that.
Peter Wagner called it an "apostolic alignment." He made the
following statement before all the TV cameras and all the people:

"I take the apostolic authority that God has given me and I decree
to Todd Bentley:
-Your power will increase.
-Your authority will increase.
-Your favor will increase.
-Your influence will increase.
-Your revelation will increase.
I also decree that:
-A new supernatural strength will flow through this ministry.
-A new life force will penetrate this move of God..."

Onlookers might have thought that Wagner was 'prophesying' the
above statements. But actually what he felt he was doing was
"decreeing" these things over Todd - since he was the 'head
apostle'.  In a letter the following day, Wagner called this a
"groundbreaking event" and stated that, "We are now in a place
in what I see as the Second Apostolic Age..." (In other words,
a "new era" of real apostles).

So how did that work out for you, Peter? Well, literally within
weeks we found out that many of the "miracles" at Lakeland had
no foundation, and then Todd Bentley's wife separated from him
apparently over an affair he was having - and the entire 'revival' fell
to pieces in the worst way possible. That's how it worked out.

All the big Charismatic leaders that had stood on that stage hardly
knew what to do with themselves - they were so embarrassed.
And none more so than Peter Wagner - after making an "Apostolic
decree" like that. -Probably the most colossal disaster of his life.

So who pulled the rug out from under your "apostolic alignment",
Peter? I need to tell you that there are two responsible parties.
One is 'yourself' - clearly. And the second is GOD - because He
is now pitted against you and your so-called "apostles". He is the
one who did this to you.

You and your friends have presumed to an office and a place over
the Body that is simply not yours, and God is in the process of
taking you 'apostles' down - and all your "networks" with you.

Dutch Sheets - can I ask you please, what gives you the right to
carve up the Body of Christ in North America and parcel it out like
McDonalds franchises to all your buddies so they can be 'apostles'
over their own "territory"? Do you have any idea what you are
playing with? Don't you know that if your buddies are not real New
Testament Apostles then all they are doing is painting huge
targets on themselves and begging for the judgment of God?
How dare you treat the Body of Christ like a piece of Real Estate
that you can carve up for your own aggrandizement?

Because of men like you, God is about to judge the leadership
of the church. Do they call themselves an "apostle"? Well, God
is going to put them to the test. If they are not the real thing, they
make themselves His 'enemy' because they are blocking His
real Reformation. Every self-proclaimed "apostle and prophet" is
about to be put to the test. Oh, you call your group an "Apostolic
Council of Elders" or something similar? Expect God to come
calling, and if you are not the real thing, expect Him to take you
down. The Lord God is coming to take back His church with great
violence. And you guys are standing directly in His way.

I've heard that one of these big "apostles" in Canada once told his
network that their "apostle-ness" would be judged by the 'noses
and nickels' that they represented. (In other words, their "numbers"
and their reaping of money). Hmmmm. If I didn't know better, I
would call those the words of a hireling and a wolf.

As Lee Grady wrote about this 'Apostle-Mania':
"In some circles apostles demanded total allegiance from the
leaders who were "under" them. Some required a policy of "tithing
up," creating a monstrous organizational structure similar to a
spiritual Amway. So-called apostles with huge "downlines" made
exorbitant amounts of money. One leader even offered pastors the
opportunity to become "spiritual sons" by contributing $1,000 a
month to his ministry."

And yet here is what the TRUE apostle Paul wrote: "I think that
God has set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to
death... we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are
buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace... we are made as the
filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things..." (1 Cor 4:9-13).

Now THAT is true apostleship. Tell me, Mr. Modern Apostle, do
you match up to the New Testament apostles? If not, what on
earth do you think God is going to do to you if you claim that title falsely?

I believe that many true Apostles, when they do arise, will simply
REFUSE to carry such titles in any way. They will "minimize"
themselves, not exalt themselves. That is the heart of a true leader of God.

In closing, let me again warn those who have titled themselves
"apostle" or 'prophet' in the modern church. God is coming to
"clean house" and if you are not the real deal, expect Him to start
with you. It is as simple as that. You need to repent urgently of
your utter presumption. You have been warned.

Send feedback to-  prophetic@revivalschool.com

God bless you all.

Andrew Strom.

He Preached Repentance

Jesus declares, “My church is a place of shameless, open repentance.”
Indeed, the apostle Paul attests: “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth,
and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 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” (Romans 10:8-11).

Simply put, we are brought to salvation through our open confession of
repentance. Jesus states, “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners
to repentance” (Matthew 9:13). And, he says, repentance is how we are healed
and restored: “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are
sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke
5:31-32).

This is good news. Jesus is telling us, “In my church, everyone is healed
through repentance. It doesn’t matter who you are—the physically broken,
the mentally ill, the spiritually sick. Everyone must come to me the same way.
And all find healing through repentance.

How many churches still open their altars for heart-smitten people to come
forward and repent? How many pastors have stopped giving invitations for this
all-important spiritual work? How many believers have lost all sense of their
need to confess sin?

What is the central message of Christ’s gospel? He makes it plain throughout
the four gospels. He tells us, “Here is what I preach in my church. This is
my message to all sinners.”

“Jesus came…preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe
the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15). This was Jesus’ first recorded message. He
preached repentance!

To some Christians, this may sound like strong language. They may respond,
“Okay, but how strongly did Jesus preach repentance?” Luke answers that in
his gospel. Jesus told his listeners, “Except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish” (Luke 13:5).

David Wilkerson

Deceiving.

"Alot of people cant distinguish what comes from Satan and what comes from God because how can something that feels so good be wrong or feels so right be wrong?"- Jae

So Right.

2 Corinthians 11:14
"And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light."

brian "head" welch

The Breastplate of Righteousness: Don't hammer your own.

THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: DON'T HAMMER YOUR OWN
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God... Having put on the breastplate of righteousness..." - Eph 6:10, 11, 14

Most of us don't wear battle armor today. Yet here is a command in God's Word to appropriate for ourselves the weaponry to protect ourselves, or else we are sitting ducks in conflicts which we cannot avoid. What is the "breastplate of righteousness?"

The Roman Model:
The Roman breastplate was typically made of bronze, backed with leather. It was designed to protect the vital area. A blow through this was usually fatal.

What is your most dangerous vulnerability? Or, alternatively, What is your most important stewardship? There are many good answers: your family, etc. However, I suggest that your most critical area is your heart. The breastplate covered the heart. (A concordance search on "heart" can be very instructive.)

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are (all) the issues of life." -Proverbs 4:23

National Righteousness:
Alexis de Tocqueville, in his famed analysis of America, summarized, "America is great because she is good. If she ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great."

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." - Proverbs 14:34

During Israel's conquest of the Land of Canaan, personal sins resulted in national defeats. Joshua's tragic defeat at Ai is but one example (Josh 7).

When asked, "What is the biggest problem in America?" General Norman Schwarzkopf replied, "Lack of integrity." When asked the same question, author Larry Abraham answered, "Lack of justice." And he subsequently relocated himself outside the United States.

The increasing evidence of corruption in government, in business, and in personal lives continues to propel us toward God's judgment on our land.

Personal Uprightness:
It is easy to point the blame at other people, but the truth is we need to start with ourselves. Walking in righteousness means that we actively tell the truth and do what is right. David was heavily concerned with integrity and uprightness in his personal life (Psalms 7:3-5).

Our own commitment to personal integrity needs to extend to a fiduciary loyalty to our employer (1 Cor 4:2; Eph 6:5,6; Col 3:22), staying current on our payables, and maintaining the sanctity of all of our commitments. But rather than dwell on our own inept pursuit of personal righteousness, I believe that there is an even larger issue involved here.

True Righteousness:
People have different ideas about righteousness. We must understand that righteousness is something we are, not something we do. Righteousness within us affects what we do, but what we do does not make us righteous.

In Matthew 5:20, Jesus said, "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

What a blow for the Jew! They looked up to their professional law-keepers-men who dedicated themselves to keeping every yot and tittle of the law! And even that wasn't good enough! [They have been much maligned in modern NT viewpoints, but they were, indeed, a dedicated lot. They fasted at least one day a week and gave their savings to the poor, etc.]

"Pharisee" means "separated." Separation from the world does not mean salvation as far as God is concerned (John 8:44). Jesus called them liars, vipers, and hypocrites.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." - Matthew 23:27, 28.

What a stinging rebuke to the religiously righteous individuals of that day. (Jesus, whenever encountering sinners of almost every kind, was kind, caring, and forgiving. There was only one group that invariably encountered His ire: the religionists pandering their own ritualistic righteousness.)

These were not the last group of individuals to develop a destructive system of self-righteousness in the name of God. There are many "very righteous" religions. They always include steps to entering the kingdom. There are sacraments to be kept. Certain prayers prescribed to be offered regularly. Special forms of communion and confession which are mandatory. There often is a specific dress code and other expectations of social and dietetic performance.

This all started when Adam and Eve attempted to cover themselves with aprons of fig leaves(Gen 3:7). God replaced them with coats of animal skins (Gen 3:21), teaching them that by the shedding of innocent blood they would be covered. This was, of course, already pointing to the Cross.

Religious righteousness can save no one. God says that this type of righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). External forms of righteousness have always competed with the true faith in Christ as the means of salvation and security.

[This article was excerpted from Chuck Missler's study, Armor for the Age of Deceit. ]

SOAP: Exodus 29:29

Exodus 29:29 (New International Version)

 29 "Aaron's sacred garments will belong to his descendants so that they can be anointed and ordained in them."

Observation: God has chosen Aaron to be the first priest. God had given the Israelites, specifically the Levites instructions on how to be holy. Since they were chosen to go into the holy of holies where the spirit of the Lord was, they had to be set apart. As it is also illustrated in the jewish marriage, the husband is the one that is set apart that can go into the wife. In order for the priests to come before the presence of God, they had to be cleansed with water. (prophetic for water baptism). The priests had to wear certain garments with specific instructions so that they may offer sacrifices to the Lord. This struck out to me because it states "sacred garment" which reminded me of the robes of righteousness that God's people will wear, through Christ' sacrifice and resurrection. 1 Peter 2:9 "9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." Through Jesus Christ, we are made to be priests, set apart from the world so that we can be in the presence of our God. Revelation 1:6 (New International Version) "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen." Amazing how we are like Aaron and his descendants and that there are specific requirements just as they as priests had. Our requirement would be our faith in Christ and proclaiming within our hearts that He is Lord.

Application:
I have to realize that as a follower of Christ, God has set me apart for His glory and His purposes. Through the robe of righteousness that I have received from believing and making Jesus LORD, I will grow in sanctification. I am called to be like my Father in heaven, to strive for holiness and surrender my will so that He may restore me back to Him. 1 Peter 1:16 "for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Prayer: Dear God, help me to touch no unclean thing so that I may live. Help me to surrender my selfishness and help me to grow in holiness. Just like Jesus prayed to sanctify your people with truth, sanctify me.

Genesis 14:22-24

Genesis 14:22-24

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share."

Observation:
Before this proposal from the King of Sodom, Abram meets Melchizedek, King of Salem who was a priest of the MOST HIGH. Many believe that Melchizedek was a type of Christ. Melchizedek possessed both positions as priest and king which is prophetic to the positions Christ would hold.. but as the high priest and the king of kings. Once Melchizedek blesses Abram saying, "Blessed be Abram by God MOST HIGH", it seemed as though Abram realized that the God that has made these promises was God Most High. It seemed to all click since even Pharaoh gave reverence to Abram. (during that time the gods of Egypt were considered powerful since Egypt was very wealthy and prosperous.) The fact that Abram chose to give tenth of everything he had to Melchizedek showed that Abram trusted him. Afterwards, King of Sodom makes his proposal to take his goods. Abram refuses to give King of Sodom any credit for what God has provided.

Application:
I've noticed that there are moments when I give credit to myself. There are moments when I talk with nonbelievers and they praise me for what I do or how I handle certain situations, but by God's grace, I'm realizing that I need to point upwards and not to myself. I know that I would not be who I am in God's grace without Him. Everything that I am is because of God and God only. Even with nonbelievers, I can't just let it slide and slowly grow in pride. I'm not who I was because of my years of practice or works. It was solely because of God.

Prayer:
Hey God,
I want to thank you for all the things you've been doing in my life. You are so faithful in even the little things. Remind me to give you credit. Humble me and break me til all I have and know is Your love for me and how I can serve you with all my heart. I am nothing without you. Lord you have said in Matthew 4:4 that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. It's true. You are the sole provider of all my needs. Help me to praise you moment to moment with my life.

Thanks Jae for recommending me to do this. This will help document my one on ones with God.

Why is the bible important?

This Book Contains;

The Mind of God,

The Way of Salvation,

The doom of Sinners,

And the Happiness of Believers.

Its Doctrine is holy,

Its Precepts are binding,

Its Histories are true,

And its decisions immutable.

Read it to be wise,

Believe it to be saved

Practice it to be holy.

It contains light to direct you,

Food to support you,

And comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map

The pilgrim's staff,

The pilot's compass,

The soldier's sword,

And the Christian's character.

Here heaven is opened,

The gates of hell is disclosed.

Christ is its subject,

Our good its design,

the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory,

Rule the Heart,

and Guide the Feet.

Read it slowly,

Frequently, Prayerfully.

It is a Mine of Wealth,

And a River of Pleasure.

It is given to you here in this life,

Will be opened at the judgment,

and is established forever.

It involves the highest responsibility,

Will reward the greatest labor,

And condemns all who trifle with its sacred contents.

Fight Your Battles on Your Knees

KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 26:36-40


SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 103:19
Isaiah 40:31
Philippians 4:6-7
Romans 8:28
Acts 1:8
1 Timothy 1:18

SUMMARY:

What are you battling?
Some struggles are external—such as your finances, job, or health. Others take place within you. Internal enemies of anger, unforgiveness, or inadequacy can hinder your walk with God. How can you find victory?
Jesus set the example for us the night before His crucifixion. In the Garden of Gethsemane, our Lord prayed, “If it is possible, let this cup
pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39). After seeking the Father, Jesus was willing to face the cross—even though it meant their perfect fellowship would be severed for a time. Whether you realize it or not, you are in a spiritual war. You must stand firm for your
convictions, renew your mind, and resist the Devil. How is this possible? Fight your battles on your knees and you will win every time.

SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES:

A Definition
What does it mean to fight our battles on our knees? Simply this—that you and I approach our holy God and lay our petitions before Him. Rather
than saying a quick prayer before we run out the door in the morning or fall asleep at night, we must invest time in seeking the Lord’s face and
listening for His answer. I first learned this lesson as an associate pastor at First Baptist Atlanta. The church was considering
me for the position of senior pastor, but many people were opposed to the idea. They expressed their animosity in hurtful ways and sought to
manipulate the situation to assure I would be rejected. God revealed to me that in order to win this battle, I couldn’t argue with them or defend
myself. Only by giving the problem to the Lord in prayer was I able to experience victory in that very difficult situation.

The Reasons
Why should we fight our battles on our knees? First, it is the biblical pattern. Throughout Scripture, we see God’s servants falling on their
faces before the Lord. For instance, Hezekiah prayed before leading his army to war, and Daniel knelt in prayer even though it meant being thrown into the lion’s den. Second, when we turn to the Lord, we are no longer battling on our own.We’ve engaged the help of the Sovereign of the universe (Ps. 103:19). He is omnipotent—all powerful; omniscient—all
knowing; and omnipresent—present everywhere. No one else on earth can help you more than He can. God acts on behalf of those who wait on Him—spend time in prayer to Him and trust in Him (Isaiah 40:31).
Third, prayer connects us with the power of the Holy Spirit. Before Pentecost, the disciples weren’t ready to preach the gospel to the world—
even though they had walked with Jesus for three years (Acts 1:8). If you have trusted Christ as your personal Savior, the Holy Spirit dwells within you. We cannot accomplish anything for God apart from the power of the Spirit.

The Results
What can you expect if you fight your battles on your knees? You will have comfort, confidence, and assurance. There is nothing more powerful than having the Creator of the universe on your side. The Father encourages us. When we spend time one on one with Him, His Word and His Spirit lift us up. Prayer gives believers insight we can get no other way. On our faces before Him, we have the clearest view of the challenge ahead of us. Talking with the Lord changes our focus. The enemy wants us to dwell on our problem— how we can defend ourselves or get revenge.
Victory, however, is found in turning our eyes to God, the One who controls all things. He blesses those who are willing to trust and obey
Him (Isa. 40:31). You will have serenity. Believers who turn their burdens over to the Lord have supernatural peace even when situations and circumstancesdon’t change (Phil. 4:6-7).

The Process
How can you fight your battles on your knees? Set aside time to be alone with God. Find a quiet place and devote yourself to the One who has the greatest ability to help you. Listen quietly. The Lord desires to have
an intimate relationship with each one of His children. But you will never know Him better unless you are willing to take the time to listen
for His voice. Expect God to bring up other issues in your life. Before He responds to your cry for help, He may want you to deal with rebellion,
unforgiveness, or bitterness in your life. Until you repent and surrender to the Lord, sin will keep you from experiencing God’s best and stop you
from enjoying a close relationship with Him. Remember that in a battle, there can be only one general. Freely express your desires, but don’t expect God to take orders from you. As you surrender to His guidance, He will engage His supernatural power on your behalf. Know that battles are God’s tools. One of the most important lessons the Father has taught me is to see all adversity as coming from Him. This truth will protect you from bitterness, resentment, and hostility towards those who wrong you. Let me explain. Romans 8:28 says, “We know that God causes all things to work
together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (emphasis added). In a battle, you and I may lose money, pride, or control over a situation. But if the struggle brings us to the point of total surrender to the Lord, we will always win— spiritually speaking.

CONCLUSION:
What are you battling today? Does it seem as if God doesn’t see your pain or understand your heartache? Let me assure you that He knows exactly what you are going through. Go before the Father today and pray, “Lord, I don’t want anything in my life that displeases you. Take my bitterness, resentment, and anger. I give You this battle, and trust that You will turn it for my good in Your way and in Your timing.” My friend, you cannot lose fighting on your knees. Once a day, fall on your face before God and worship Him for who He is. Release your problems to almighty God, and you will findvictory every time.

Charles Stanley
intouch.org