I read this piece from RT,kendall. Muse on what he has to say and leave your comments.
God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him. —Acts 10:34-35, NAS
I find it interesting that in 1 Corinthians 9:25 Paul refers to strict training and in verse 27 to the body being tamed: he says, "I beat my body and make it my slave." So our bodies are given to us as a trust from God. Our bodies are also a spiritual temple (1 Cor. 6:19). They are also referred to as "instruments of wickedness" (Rom. 6:13). And last, the source of the tongue (James 3:6), which is considered "a world of evil among the parts of the body."
The Corinthians were in danger of missing out on the prize. The question is: Are we? What grips me, and I pray it will grip you, is that Paul believed in God's ruthless impartiality. Let that grip you. At the judgment seat of Christ Paul knew that his own present intimacy with God did not mean that he could tell God what to do. Paul's intimacy with God did not result in an over-familiarity with Him, whereby he says, "Well, it can't happen to me." Paul did not have indemnity because he was an apostle; preachers do not have indemnity because they seek conversions; high-profile Christians have no indemnity; your years of Christian service are not going to guarantee that you get the prize.
Martin Luther said, "When I get to heaven, I expect to be surprised three times. There will be those in heaven I thought wouldn't be there, and there will be some missing I thought would be there, but the greatest surprise will be that I am there myself." But could I paraphrase that one more time? I suspect there will be three surprises: some will receive the prize I thought would not, some will not be rewarded that I thought would, but the greatest surprise will be if I receive it.
And I pray that we all do.
Excerpted from When God Says "Well Done!" (Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 1993).
Friday, April 17, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Meal that Heals
By Perry Stone
Many of us have missed the spiritual significance of Communion. Today the Lord is inviting you to dine with Him.
When God first established His covenant with us, He also became our great provider. His provision extended to our spiritual, financial, emotional and physical needs—even physical healing. The covenant of healing may be manifested through several different methods of healing described in the Bible, including laying hands on the sick, anointing the sick with oil, and so on. One of the most important methods is receiving Communion.
Many believers have never heard about the link between the Communion meal and healing, but it is time for us to acknowledge the potential power of the Lord’s Supper. After all, the Lord’s Supper is part of the covenant of healing.
However, I don’t think we should approach receiving the Communion meal, which represents the body and blood of Christ, in a haphazard manner. I believe we should follow an important four-part process beforehand and then partake of the meal in seven steps. Here’s what I recommend:
Part 1: Look Inward. Before receiving Communion, believers should examine their own hearts and spirits. This inward self-scrutiny is to ensure that we have no hidden or known sin in our lives. The Bible says, “But let a man examine himself” (1 Cor. 11:28, NKJV).
Doing a self-examination is like placing an MRI or a spiritual X-ray into your mind and spirit. After all, it is what comes out of our mouths (from our hearts) that defiles us (see Mark 7:18-23). If your heart senses a feeling of guilt, then immediately repent and ask God for forgiveness and cleansing. This action will keep you humble before God as well as pure in mind and spirit. As a result, you will live a healthier and fuller life.
Part 2: Look Outward. After looking inward, then look outward. Has strife, misunderstanding or disagreement created a rift between you and a family member, friend or fellow believer? Discern your relationships with others around you. Life is not perfect, and at times people will disagree.
The Bible teaches that if we have something against a fellow believer, our gift, or “offering,” will not be blessed until we first go to our brother or sister in Christ and make amends: “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matt. 5:23-24).
Part 3: Look Upward. As we eat the bread and drink from the cup, we should meditate on the finished redemptive work of Christ, recognizing that He suffered on our behalf and that through His death and resurrection we can be made whole in our spirit, soul and body. As we look upward to our High Priest, Jesus Christ, we should meditate on the goodness of God and His mercy toward us.
Part 4: Look Onward. Live every day with the expectation that you will fulfill your God-given assignments and live out all your days. Seize the promise of Psalm 91:16: “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”
One of the great faith ministers was Smith Wigglesworth. Before his ministry began, he was healed and later emphasized the healing gifts during his long ministry. He also received the revelation of taking daily Communion.
He lived to be 87 and passed away quietly while in a church service. That is the way to go! Live out your assigned days and when you are ready to go, fall asleep and wake up in heaven!
Guidelines for Taking Communion
Before you begin the Communion service, it’s important to consider the actual procedure for it. This includes giving thought to the guidelines that follow, which include where and when you will take Communion, what products you will use, a prayer and more.
1. Choose the location. The location may be anywhere in your home where you can spend a few moments of quality time with the Lord. I have a home office, and at other times I receive Communion at a small table in our kitchen area. It is important to have both an atmosphere and a time that affords you the least amount of noise or distraction. After all, you are approaching the High Priest in His heavenly temple.
2. Purchase the bread. I suggest you purchase a box of Jewish Passover bread, called matzo, from a local store. If this is not possible, then use unsalted crackers, preferably without leaven. If you don’t have unsalted, unleavened crackers, then use whatever bread is available. Remember that once the bread is blessed, God recognizes what you are doing.
3. Select the fruit of the vine. I personally believe it is best to use pure grape juice. This can be purchased in any local grocery store. Many people prefer the red grape juice as a picture of the blood of Christ. It is when the juice is blessed that it becomes more than simply grape juice.
4. Find a special cup. Though any cup can be used, I prefer a special silver-cup set just for the Communion meal. Silver cups can be purchased at various stores. Keep the cup in a special place and use it only for the Communion meal. Jewish sources can provide these cups for purchase.
5. Determine the time to receive. In the time of the tabernacle and temples, a lamb was offered in the morning and in the evening (see Ex. 29:38-39). These were called the morning and evening sacrifices. Morning is typically when a person begins the activities or the work of the day, while evening is when he or she prepares to rest at night. The altar of the Lord had lamb’s blood sprinkled in the morning and in the evening. What we entertain on our mind the first thing in the morning often sets the pattern for the entire day.
6. Recite a prayer. Following is an example of a prayer for Communion. As you grow in the grace of God, pray a simple prayer from your heart.
“Heavenly Father, I thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem mankind. I thank You that, through Christ’s sufferings, He purchased a threefold redemption for my spirit, mind and body. Today I ask You to bless this bread that represents the body of Christ. Bless the fruit of the vine that represents His precious blood.
“Father, as You have forgiven me, so I forgive those who have sinned against me. Lord, I forgive and release anyone who has wronged me, and I ask You to search my spirit and remove any trace of sin or disobedience from my life. Today, I release from my mental prison anyone who has hurt me in any way, and I ask You to bless him and help him spiritually.
“Father, as I receive this Communion, I ask You to bring strength and health to me spiritually, emotionally and physically because of the new covenant that was sealed through the sufferings of Christ. Jesus carried my infirmities; therefore, I ask You to lift from me what Jesus has carried for me. I receive it by faith, and I give You all the glory and honor, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
If you are receiving Communion first thing in the morning, clear your mind and heart of all distractions and fully concentrate on the wonderful graces of God. Pour the fruit of the vine into the cup, take a piece of bread in your hand, and, with your own words of prayer, bless the bread and the cup. Thank God for sending Christ to redeem you.
If you are in need of healing, quote the promise, “With the stripes of Jesus I am healed” (see 1 Pet. 2:24). In prayer, tell the Lord that you believe the blood of Christ was shed for your atonement, including your physical healing.
Remember that this is not a magical formula but a sacred moment between you and your heavenly Father. If a person does not receive Communion every day, he should do so at least once a week. But do not allow this act to become a religious ritual devoid of meaning.
7. Conclude with worship. It is good to spend a few moments in worship after receiving Communion. Perhaps you would enjoy singing a song to the Lord. The Bible tells us that, after the Last Supper, Christ and the disciples sang a hymn:
“ ‘But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.’ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matt. 26:29-30).
Because this was the Passover season, Christ would have sung hymns from the Psalms, such as, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24).
To sing from your heart to the Lord, you do not need musical accompaniment or the church choir. Paul wrote: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:18-19).
This simple process can become a part of your daily life’s routine, and it can create an important window of time for you to spend with the Lord. Daily Communion can be a great physical, mental and spiritual blessing to you.
The Final Key: Faith
After many years of full-time ministry, I have discovered an important key to receiving from the Lord. All truth must be processed through the intellect, where we reason and weigh the evidence that we receive: “ ‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord” (Is. 1:18).
For spiritual truth to impact your life, it must be quickened to your inner spirit. The word “quickened” means “to make alive.” There are times when you hear a message from God’s Word and you are intellectually motivated. At other times, you are uplifted and blessed.
There are occasions when the Word of God pierces your soul like a sword and discerns your thoughts and the intents of your heart (see Heb. 4:12). Then there are those times when the message you are hearing or the book you are reading seems to come alive in your spirit.
You know when this happens because the information becomes revelation as the eyes of your understanding are opened (see Eph. 1:18). The truth seems to jump from the pages, and suddenly you can sense inwardly a strong witness that God will move on your behalf.
The spiritual truth you have read must become more than a book in your hands for this message to impact your life. It must quicken your heart and spirit.
When the Word of God moves from intellectual reasoning to a quickened, living word in your spirit, then faith will enter your spirit. You are able to believe what God has spoken and respond to His Word in faith.
This has personally happened to me on several occasions. I recall praying for several months for direction in my ministry. During a special service in Ohio, the Holy Spirit quickened my spirit to act on my faith and, as I responded in obedience, the Lord would meet the needs of our ministry. I acted in faith, and He met the needs.
Therefore, believe as you receive Communion that the life of Christ is working in your body, driving out every sickness, disease and weakness that is hindering your life. Receive Communion in a spirit of understanding and faith.
None of us has a guarantee of life tomorrow. But I believe it is biblical that we can live out our appointed days and then depart in peace.
Many of us have missed the spiritual significance of Communion. Today the Lord is inviting you to dine with Him.
When God first established His covenant with us, He also became our great provider. His provision extended to our spiritual, financial, emotional and physical needs—even physical healing. The covenant of healing may be manifested through several different methods of healing described in the Bible, including laying hands on the sick, anointing the sick with oil, and so on. One of the most important methods is receiving Communion.
Many believers have never heard about the link between the Communion meal and healing, but it is time for us to acknowledge the potential power of the Lord’s Supper. After all, the Lord’s Supper is part of the covenant of healing.
However, I don’t think we should approach receiving the Communion meal, which represents the body and blood of Christ, in a haphazard manner. I believe we should follow an important four-part process beforehand and then partake of the meal in seven steps. Here’s what I recommend:
Part 1: Look Inward. Before receiving Communion, believers should examine their own hearts and spirits. This inward self-scrutiny is to ensure that we have no hidden or known sin in our lives. The Bible says, “But let a man examine himself” (1 Cor. 11:28, NKJV).
Doing a self-examination is like placing an MRI or a spiritual X-ray into your mind and spirit. After all, it is what comes out of our mouths (from our hearts) that defiles us (see Mark 7:18-23). If your heart senses a feeling of guilt, then immediately repent and ask God for forgiveness and cleansing. This action will keep you humble before God as well as pure in mind and spirit. As a result, you will live a healthier and fuller life.
Part 2: Look Outward. After looking inward, then look outward. Has strife, misunderstanding or disagreement created a rift between you and a family member, friend or fellow believer? Discern your relationships with others around you. Life is not perfect, and at times people will disagree.
The Bible teaches that if we have something against a fellow believer, our gift, or “offering,” will not be blessed until we first go to our brother or sister in Christ and make amends: “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matt. 5:23-24).
Part 3: Look Upward. As we eat the bread and drink from the cup, we should meditate on the finished redemptive work of Christ, recognizing that He suffered on our behalf and that through His death and resurrection we can be made whole in our spirit, soul and body. As we look upward to our High Priest, Jesus Christ, we should meditate on the goodness of God and His mercy toward us.
Part 4: Look Onward. Live every day with the expectation that you will fulfill your God-given assignments and live out all your days. Seize the promise of Psalm 91:16: “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”
One of the great faith ministers was Smith Wigglesworth. Before his ministry began, he was healed and later emphasized the healing gifts during his long ministry. He also received the revelation of taking daily Communion.
He lived to be 87 and passed away quietly while in a church service. That is the way to go! Live out your assigned days and when you are ready to go, fall asleep and wake up in heaven!
Guidelines for Taking Communion
Before you begin the Communion service, it’s important to consider the actual procedure for it. This includes giving thought to the guidelines that follow, which include where and when you will take Communion, what products you will use, a prayer and more.
1. Choose the location. The location may be anywhere in your home where you can spend a few moments of quality time with the Lord. I have a home office, and at other times I receive Communion at a small table in our kitchen area. It is important to have both an atmosphere and a time that affords you the least amount of noise or distraction. After all, you are approaching the High Priest in His heavenly temple.
2. Purchase the bread. I suggest you purchase a box of Jewish Passover bread, called matzo, from a local store. If this is not possible, then use unsalted crackers, preferably without leaven. If you don’t have unsalted, unleavened crackers, then use whatever bread is available. Remember that once the bread is blessed, God recognizes what you are doing.
3. Select the fruit of the vine. I personally believe it is best to use pure grape juice. This can be purchased in any local grocery store. Many people prefer the red grape juice as a picture of the blood of Christ. It is when the juice is blessed that it becomes more than simply grape juice.
4. Find a special cup. Though any cup can be used, I prefer a special silver-cup set just for the Communion meal. Silver cups can be purchased at various stores. Keep the cup in a special place and use it only for the Communion meal. Jewish sources can provide these cups for purchase.
5. Determine the time to receive. In the time of the tabernacle and temples, a lamb was offered in the morning and in the evening (see Ex. 29:38-39). These were called the morning and evening sacrifices. Morning is typically when a person begins the activities or the work of the day, while evening is when he or she prepares to rest at night. The altar of the Lord had lamb’s blood sprinkled in the morning and in the evening. What we entertain on our mind the first thing in the morning often sets the pattern for the entire day.
6. Recite a prayer. Following is an example of a prayer for Communion. As you grow in the grace of God, pray a simple prayer from your heart.
“Heavenly Father, I thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem mankind. I thank You that, through Christ’s sufferings, He purchased a threefold redemption for my spirit, mind and body. Today I ask You to bless this bread that represents the body of Christ. Bless the fruit of the vine that represents His precious blood.
“Father, as You have forgiven me, so I forgive those who have sinned against me. Lord, I forgive and release anyone who has wronged me, and I ask You to search my spirit and remove any trace of sin or disobedience from my life. Today, I release from my mental prison anyone who has hurt me in any way, and I ask You to bless him and help him spiritually.
“Father, as I receive this Communion, I ask You to bring strength and health to me spiritually, emotionally and physically because of the new covenant that was sealed through the sufferings of Christ. Jesus carried my infirmities; therefore, I ask You to lift from me what Jesus has carried for me. I receive it by faith, and I give You all the glory and honor, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
If you are receiving Communion first thing in the morning, clear your mind and heart of all distractions and fully concentrate on the wonderful graces of God. Pour the fruit of the vine into the cup, take a piece of bread in your hand, and, with your own words of prayer, bless the bread and the cup. Thank God for sending Christ to redeem you.
If you are in need of healing, quote the promise, “With the stripes of Jesus I am healed” (see 1 Pet. 2:24). In prayer, tell the Lord that you believe the blood of Christ was shed for your atonement, including your physical healing.
Remember that this is not a magical formula but a sacred moment between you and your heavenly Father. If a person does not receive Communion every day, he should do so at least once a week. But do not allow this act to become a religious ritual devoid of meaning.
7. Conclude with worship. It is good to spend a few moments in worship after receiving Communion. Perhaps you would enjoy singing a song to the Lord. The Bible tells us that, after the Last Supper, Christ and the disciples sang a hymn:
“ ‘But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.’ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matt. 26:29-30).
Because this was the Passover season, Christ would have sung hymns from the Psalms, such as, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24).
To sing from your heart to the Lord, you do not need musical accompaniment or the church choir. Paul wrote: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:18-19).
This simple process can become a part of your daily life’s routine, and it can create an important window of time for you to spend with the Lord. Daily Communion can be a great physical, mental and spiritual blessing to you.
The Final Key: Faith
After many years of full-time ministry, I have discovered an important key to receiving from the Lord. All truth must be processed through the intellect, where we reason and weigh the evidence that we receive: “ ‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord” (Is. 1:18).
For spiritual truth to impact your life, it must be quickened to your inner spirit. The word “quickened” means “to make alive.” There are times when you hear a message from God’s Word and you are intellectually motivated. At other times, you are uplifted and blessed.
There are occasions when the Word of God pierces your soul like a sword and discerns your thoughts and the intents of your heart (see Heb. 4:12). Then there are those times when the message you are hearing or the book you are reading seems to come alive in your spirit.
You know when this happens because the information becomes revelation as the eyes of your understanding are opened (see Eph. 1:18). The truth seems to jump from the pages, and suddenly you can sense inwardly a strong witness that God will move on your behalf.
The spiritual truth you have read must become more than a book in your hands for this message to impact your life. It must quicken your heart and spirit.
When the Word of God moves from intellectual reasoning to a quickened, living word in your spirit, then faith will enter your spirit. You are able to believe what God has spoken and respond to His Word in faith.
This has personally happened to me on several occasions. I recall praying for several months for direction in my ministry. During a special service in Ohio, the Holy Spirit quickened my spirit to act on my faith and, as I responded in obedience, the Lord would meet the needs of our ministry. I acted in faith, and He met the needs.
Therefore, believe as you receive Communion that the life of Christ is working in your body, driving out every sickness, disease and weakness that is hindering your life. Receive Communion in a spirit of understanding and faith.
None of us has a guarantee of life tomorrow. But I believe it is biblical that we can live out our appointed days and then depart in peace.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Rick Joyner’s Response to Lee Grady’s Column, “The Tragic Scandal of Greasy Grace”
(Rev. Rick Joyner of Morningstar Ministries sent this response on March 12, 2009)
Lee, I think what you call "the Lakeland disaster" would be disputed by multitudes of people who got healed or touched there. If you are such judge of this what gives you the credentials? What moves of God have you led? What have you built? Paul the apostle claimed to have authority for building and for tearing down, but what gives you authority to tear down the work of others is having built something yourself.
I, Todd, Bill and Jack all know this is a very serious matter, and are treating it as such. I am deeply offended that you would call our work "a travesty." The Lord had far more grace for sinners than for the self-righteous, who He had no grace for at all. I am personally far more concerned for you than for Todd.
Lee, I love some of the things you write, but I also feel that some are straight from the mouth of the accuser. I do think you have done at least as much damage to the church as Todd's fall has by your unrighteous and unfair judgments. I don't think you have earned the credentials for it, and you're putting yourself in far more jeopardy by trying to be such a self-appointed judge.
I'm quite sure you will misunderstand what I'm saying, and I'm definitely not implying that we want to cover anything up, or promote cheap grace. We have just started the process and its being judged negatively. Give us some time, and some grace. Grace is, by the way, something we are supposed to be giving to each other.
If you care to follow this, Todd and I will be doing Video Special Bulleting each week that will be posted on our website, U-Tube, and carried by many others. These will be short, like the first, only about 10 minutes, but we want to cover the mistakes Todd has made, and as much as we can in the time we have, how he fell into some of the traps he did, strictly for helping others to not have to go through what Todd has. He will no doubt be doing a lot of public apologizing during this time because the public deserves these apologies.
I think you owe Todd, myself, Bill, and Jack apologies for your presumptuous judgments. I think they should be as public as this letter was. If not, I feel that I will have to address this publicly, and I don't think that is in your best interest.
I also think you need to come down and spend some time with Todd and me. If you have problems with someone we have Matt.18 as a guide to how we should deal with them. Read the first part of that chapter. This was given to help protect people from becoming stumbling blocks, which the Lord made quite clear was something we do not want to be. If you think being a journalist exempts you from complying with Scripture, I would like to know what philosophy you have bought into that trumps Scripture.
Sorry if this comes across as harsh. I don't mean for it too but I am quite busy and just don't have the time that I would like to maybe be a bit more tactful.
Lee, I think what you call "the Lakeland disaster" would be disputed by multitudes of people who got healed or touched there. If you are such judge of this what gives you the credentials? What moves of God have you led? What have you built? Paul the apostle claimed to have authority for building and for tearing down, but what gives you authority to tear down the work of others is having built something yourself.
I, Todd, Bill and Jack all know this is a very serious matter, and are treating it as such. I am deeply offended that you would call our work "a travesty." The Lord had far more grace for sinners than for the self-righteous, who He had no grace for at all. I am personally far more concerned for you than for Todd.
Lee, I love some of the things you write, but I also feel that some are straight from the mouth of the accuser. I do think you have done at least as much damage to the church as Todd's fall has by your unrighteous and unfair judgments. I don't think you have earned the credentials for it, and you're putting yourself in far more jeopardy by trying to be such a self-appointed judge.
I'm quite sure you will misunderstand what I'm saying, and I'm definitely not implying that we want to cover anything up, or promote cheap grace. We have just started the process and its being judged negatively. Give us some time, and some grace. Grace is, by the way, something we are supposed to be giving to each other.
If you care to follow this, Todd and I will be doing Video Special Bulleting each week that will be posted on our website, U-Tube, and carried by many others. These will be short, like the first, only about 10 minutes, but we want to cover the mistakes Todd has made, and as much as we can in the time we have, how he fell into some of the traps he did, strictly for helping others to not have to go through what Todd has. He will no doubt be doing a lot of public apologizing during this time because the public deserves these apologies.
I think you owe Todd, myself, Bill, and Jack apologies for your presumptuous judgments. I think they should be as public as this letter was. If not, I feel that I will have to address this publicly, and I don't think that is in your best interest.
I also think you need to come down and spend some time with Todd and me. If you have problems with someone we have Matt.18 as a guide to how we should deal with them. Read the first part of that chapter. This was given to help protect people from becoming stumbling blocks, which the Lord made quite clear was something we do not want to be. If you think being a journalist exempts you from complying with Scripture, I would like to know what philosophy you have bought into that trumps Scripture.
Sorry if this comes across as harsh. I don't mean for it too but I am quite busy and just don't have the time that I would like to maybe be a bit more tactful.
Charismatic Character Clash - Joyner/Bentley debate continues
By Polycarp
After ducking scrutiny that followed the Lakeland Revival’s abrupt end in August 2008, Todd Bentley resurfaced this month. The Canadian Pentecostal disappeared from the public eye in August after filing for separation from his wife. Issuing a statement through the pastor overseeing his restoration process, Bentley said he was “sorry for the hurt and confusion that my decisions have caused the body of Christ.” He indicated that he was pursuing a return to ministry in order to “fulfill God’s call on my life.”
Bentley fell even faster than he had climbed to prominence in 2008. He became a viral sensation during a healing revival that ran 100 consecutive nights and attracted 30,000 visitors per week. His renown spread with reports of his unusual healing tactics and claims that he had raised 25 people from the dead, all over the phone. But the Florida-based event could not survive Bentley’s divorce and mounting criticism. One critic, Charisma editor J. Lee Grady, faulted Bentley for sending the charismatic movement into a “tailspin.” He quoted an anonymous Pentecostal evangelist who said, “I’m now convinced that a large segment of the charismatic church will follow the Antichrist when he shows up because they have no discernment.”
Grady said he groaned when he learned from the March 9 statement what Bentley had done since August. After divorcing his wife, Shonnah, he married Jessa Hasbrook, a former intern. The statement provided no update on Bentley’s ex-wife. Grady also found fault with how Bentley’s ministry was characterized by Rick Joyner, who once counseled Jim Bakker and has taken Bentley under his wing.
From Grady’s perspective, gifts trumped his character in Joyner’s decision to aid Bentley’s return to ministry. The ends seemed to justify the means. “From the time I first met him nearly ten years ago,” Joyner said of Bentley, “I knew that he had an extraordinary purpose and a gift of faith for the miraculous that would be desperately needed in these times.” He closed the statement with an appeal for funds to launch Fresh Fire USA, Bentley’s new ministry, now headquartered at Joyner’s church in South Carolina.
“As we have been constantly reminded, the Lord had great patience with sinners, but He had none for the self-righteous,” Joyner said, anticipating the inevitable criticism for his work with Bentley. “We’re all here because He had mercy on us, and we know we still need it. However, we also know that true repentance and restoration can only come if we refuse to compromise the clear biblical standards for morality and integrity.”
Joyner’s argument hardly placated Grady. “What is most deplorable about this latest installment in the Bentley scandal is the lack of true remorse,” Grady responded. He wondered how Bentley could accept responsibility for his share of the divorce and not repent of his decision to pursue the relationship with Hasbrook and marry her soon thereafter. And he asked why Bentley had not sought reconciliation with his first wife. Then Grady’s argument escalated.
“Many Christians today have rejected biblical discipline and adopted a sweet, spineless love that cannot correct,” Grady said. “Our grace is greasy. No matter what an offending brother does, we stroke him and pet him and nurse his wounds while we ignore the people he wounded. No matter how heinous his sin, we offer comforting platitudes because, after all, who are we to judge?”
Joyner and Grady’s exchange raises a host of questions about the nature of forgiveness and qualifications for ministry. Their public debate was intensely personal. Admitting he had no time for tact, Joyner took issue with Grady’s qualifications for judging. In so doing, he seemed to confirm Grady’s cause for concern about ends justifying means. “If you are such [a] judge of this what gives you the credentials?” Joyner asked Grady on March 12. “What moves of God have you led? What have you built?” He went so far as to allege that Grady’s judgment matched Bentley’s infidelity in the economy of sin.
Joyner’s indignation reflects a common misconception about judgment. Elsewhere he faults Grady for violating Matthew 18 and airing his concern publicly before going to Bentley personally. But this pattern for church discipline, taught by Jesus himself, presupposes that local church leaders will need to hold one another accountable to God’s standards. Similarly, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:12, “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?” Christians must judge one another in this way to preserve the church’s moral witness and warn one another against sin.
But if church leaders will judge the body of Christ in order to protect it, they must be marked by godly character. And that’s exactly the standard for leadership that Paul lays out in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. As they represent God in positions of authority, overseers must demonstrate God’s communicable attributes, including love, patience, and fidelity. In a Christian of godly character, gifting such as knowledge, prophecy, or teaching brings glory to God alone. It does not exalt the gifted but the Gift Giver.
As Joyner suggests, King David’s example shows us that God can still do mighty things with great sinners. But does God want us to learn from David’s story that infidelity should be no impediment to ministry? God deposed other leaders, including Saul, when they had sinned against him. He spared David this fate because of the covenant he initiated to preserve the David kingdom forever (2 Sam. 7:14-16), culminating in Jesus. The outcome of David’s life warns us against learning the wrong lessons. David’s sin undermined his leadership permanently. His son Absalom rebelled and chased the king from the city of David (2 Sam. 15).
To be sure, God’s Word commands Christians to forgive, because God has forgiven them (Col. 3:13). But this forgiveness does not trump judgment as properly exercised in church discipline. And it cannot erase the temporal consequences of sin. Character, not gifting, is a leader’s most important asset. This is the means God has ordained to accomplish his ends
After ducking scrutiny that followed the Lakeland Revival’s abrupt end in August 2008, Todd Bentley resurfaced this month. The Canadian Pentecostal disappeared from the public eye in August after filing for separation from his wife. Issuing a statement through the pastor overseeing his restoration process, Bentley said he was “sorry for the hurt and confusion that my decisions have caused the body of Christ.” He indicated that he was pursuing a return to ministry in order to “fulfill God’s call on my life.”
Bentley fell even faster than he had climbed to prominence in 2008. He became a viral sensation during a healing revival that ran 100 consecutive nights and attracted 30,000 visitors per week. His renown spread with reports of his unusual healing tactics and claims that he had raised 25 people from the dead, all over the phone. But the Florida-based event could not survive Bentley’s divorce and mounting criticism. One critic, Charisma editor J. Lee Grady, faulted Bentley for sending the charismatic movement into a “tailspin.” He quoted an anonymous Pentecostal evangelist who said, “I’m now convinced that a large segment of the charismatic church will follow the Antichrist when he shows up because they have no discernment.”
Grady said he groaned when he learned from the March 9 statement what Bentley had done since August. After divorcing his wife, Shonnah, he married Jessa Hasbrook, a former intern. The statement provided no update on Bentley’s ex-wife. Grady also found fault with how Bentley’s ministry was characterized by Rick Joyner, who once counseled Jim Bakker and has taken Bentley under his wing.
From Grady’s perspective, gifts trumped his character in Joyner’s decision to aid Bentley’s return to ministry. The ends seemed to justify the means. “From the time I first met him nearly ten years ago,” Joyner said of Bentley, “I knew that he had an extraordinary purpose and a gift of faith for the miraculous that would be desperately needed in these times.” He closed the statement with an appeal for funds to launch Fresh Fire USA, Bentley’s new ministry, now headquartered at Joyner’s church in South Carolina.
“As we have been constantly reminded, the Lord had great patience with sinners, but He had none for the self-righteous,” Joyner said, anticipating the inevitable criticism for his work with Bentley. “We’re all here because He had mercy on us, and we know we still need it. However, we also know that true repentance and restoration can only come if we refuse to compromise the clear biblical standards for morality and integrity.”
Joyner’s argument hardly placated Grady. “What is most deplorable about this latest installment in the Bentley scandal is the lack of true remorse,” Grady responded. He wondered how Bentley could accept responsibility for his share of the divorce and not repent of his decision to pursue the relationship with Hasbrook and marry her soon thereafter. And he asked why Bentley had not sought reconciliation with his first wife. Then Grady’s argument escalated.
“Many Christians today have rejected biblical discipline and adopted a sweet, spineless love that cannot correct,” Grady said. “Our grace is greasy. No matter what an offending brother does, we stroke him and pet him and nurse his wounds while we ignore the people he wounded. No matter how heinous his sin, we offer comforting platitudes because, after all, who are we to judge?”
Joyner and Grady’s exchange raises a host of questions about the nature of forgiveness and qualifications for ministry. Their public debate was intensely personal. Admitting he had no time for tact, Joyner took issue with Grady’s qualifications for judging. In so doing, he seemed to confirm Grady’s cause for concern about ends justifying means. “If you are such [a] judge of this what gives you the credentials?” Joyner asked Grady on March 12. “What moves of God have you led? What have you built?” He went so far as to allege that Grady’s judgment matched Bentley’s infidelity in the economy of sin.
Joyner’s indignation reflects a common misconception about judgment. Elsewhere he faults Grady for violating Matthew 18 and airing his concern publicly before going to Bentley personally. But this pattern for church discipline, taught by Jesus himself, presupposes that local church leaders will need to hold one another accountable to God’s standards. Similarly, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:12, “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?” Christians must judge one another in this way to preserve the church’s moral witness and warn one another against sin.
But if church leaders will judge the body of Christ in order to protect it, they must be marked by godly character. And that’s exactly the standard for leadership that Paul lays out in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. As they represent God in positions of authority, overseers must demonstrate God’s communicable attributes, including love, patience, and fidelity. In a Christian of godly character, gifting such as knowledge, prophecy, or teaching brings glory to God alone. It does not exalt the gifted but the Gift Giver.
As Joyner suggests, King David’s example shows us that God can still do mighty things with great sinners. But does God want us to learn from David’s story that infidelity should be no impediment to ministry? God deposed other leaders, including Saul, when they had sinned against him. He spared David this fate because of the covenant he initiated to preserve the David kingdom forever (2 Sam. 7:14-16), culminating in Jesus. The outcome of David’s life warns us against learning the wrong lessons. David’s sin undermined his leadership permanently. His son Absalom rebelled and chased the king from the city of David (2 Sam. 15).
To be sure, God’s Word commands Christians to forgive, because God has forgiven them (Col. 3:13). But this forgiveness does not trump judgment as properly exercised in church discipline. And it cannot erase the temporal consequences of sin. Character, not gifting, is a leader’s most important asset. This is the means God has ordained to accomplish his ends
ENCOURAGEMENT
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25 NIV).
God is redefining what it means to be a Christian today. Therefore, there is a commitment to teach biblical principles on kingdom living. Biblical truths are taught and practiced and traditional religious mind- sets are being broken. A major part of this emancipation is the emphasis on apostolic reformation of set ideologies and mentalities that have entrapped and conditioned our behavior for so long.
We live in a very individualistic society. So it sounds strange to be told that as the Day of Judgment draws near our greatest need would be to meet together on a regular basis. This text challenges us to forsake our self-reliance and solitude, and move towards others to bless and be blessed by them. Real Christian encouragement is a rear commodity these days, so God wants every one of us to be an encouragement, not a stumbling block.
The word en-courage means to “put courage into” or comfort. My prayer and desire is that the internal order of the operating system of our lives would be to “put courage into” and help those who are coming along. The greatest need in the life of every human being is to feel loved and appreciated. Let us remember to encourage and support one another the way God has used others to encourage and support us during different seasons in our Christian adventure. It works!!
God is redefining what it means to be a Christian today. Therefore, there is a commitment to teach biblical principles on kingdom living. Biblical truths are taught and practiced and traditional religious mind- sets are being broken. A major part of this emancipation is the emphasis on apostolic reformation of set ideologies and mentalities that have entrapped and conditioned our behavior for so long.
We live in a very individualistic society. So it sounds strange to be told that as the Day of Judgment draws near our greatest need would be to meet together on a regular basis. This text challenges us to forsake our self-reliance and solitude, and move towards others to bless and be blessed by them. Real Christian encouragement is a rear commodity these days, so God wants every one of us to be an encouragement, not a stumbling block.
The word en-courage means to “put courage into” or comfort. My prayer and desire is that the internal order of the operating system of our lives would be to “put courage into” and help those who are coming along. The greatest need in the life of every human being is to feel loved and appreciated. Let us remember to encourage and support one another the way God has used others to encourage and support us during different seasons in our Christian adventure. It works!!
God’s Blank Cheque Book
“I AM THAT I AM.”
Exodus 3:14
God gave Moses a blank cheque, and as life went forward for the next forty years, Moses kept filling in the blank cheque with his special need. He was ‘cashing on’ the revelation of God he got from the burning bush experience. He filled in fearlessness before Pharaoh. He filled in guidance across the Red Sea. He filled in manner for a whole population. He filled in water from the rock. He filled in divine protection through the wilderness. He filled in victory over Amalek and also filled in clear revelation at Sinai. And so Moses, for the rest of his earthly life, had little else to do than to take God’s blank cheque book signed by God’s name, I AM THAT I AM, and wrote in I AM guidance; I AM bread…etc. He presented the cheque and God honored it.
Dr.A.B. Simpson says that whenever a Christian comes to live upon God’s plan as Moses from that moment did, one can absolutely trust God for everything. And at the end of the journey declare like Joshua, “Not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you” (Joshua 23:14). Let God be the “I AM” in your life today.
Exodus 3:14
God gave Moses a blank cheque, and as life went forward for the next forty years, Moses kept filling in the blank cheque with his special need. He was ‘cashing on’ the revelation of God he got from the burning bush experience. He filled in fearlessness before Pharaoh. He filled in guidance across the Red Sea. He filled in manner for a whole population. He filled in water from the rock. He filled in divine protection through the wilderness. He filled in victory over Amalek and also filled in clear revelation at Sinai. And so Moses, for the rest of his earthly life, had little else to do than to take God’s blank cheque book signed by God’s name, I AM THAT I AM, and wrote in I AM guidance; I AM bread…etc. He presented the cheque and God honored it.
Dr.A.B. Simpson says that whenever a Christian comes to live upon God’s plan as Moses from that moment did, one can absolutely trust God for everything. And at the end of the journey declare like Joshua, “Not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you” (Joshua 23:14). Let God be the “I AM” in your life today.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The Presence Driven Life
God is doing some powerful things in His Church today. It is exciting to see proper order and structure come into His House. But we must constantly remember that the most important thing in the life of a local Church is not only order or structure. It is not having a large number of people,a good building, a big budget or a large Sunday school. The most important thing in the Church is the presence of the Lord. It is the presence of the Lord that God has promised to His House that will make the difference between a church that has life and a church that merely has the name of one who lives (Rev.3:1). It is the presence of the Lord, not our structure that will protect us in the day of storm (Isa 4:5-6). Nonetheless, it is important to have right structure,but structure in itself is like a body without breath ( 2Cor.3:5-6).
Moses realized the absolute necessity of being guided by the presence of the Lord. At one point God was angry with the idolatory of His people and told moses He was no longer going to journey with them in person,but that He would send His angel to lead them on. Moses was very emphatic at this point. He told God he was not going to accept a substitute. He did not want an angelic visitation;he wanted the presence of the Lord (Exo 32:34;33:15). Moses was no longer interested in programs for the sake of programs. He wanted nothing else if it would be a substitute for divine presence. Can we say the same for ourselves? Are we Performance-Driven or God-Driven? Certainly our structure will make a difference in the degree to which God is allowed to move among us,but God’s presence is primarily dependent on the condition of our hearts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
