But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:16-17 ESV In Matthew 13:10, we read of the disciples coming to Jesus and asking Him a question, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” His response helps us to…
But Christian and Faithful behaved even more wisely and bore the humiliation and shame with so much meekness and patience that they won several of the men in the fair to their side (though few in comparison to the rest). This made the others so enraged that they decided the two men should die for what they had done and for deluding the men of the fair. If you have read Pilgrim’s Progress, you are likely familiar with the town…
A man and his wife were seated on a stage before a large gathering of people. Those in attendance had come to glean from this man and his prophetic revelations and insight. He begins to tell them that he wants to prepare them for visitations to the third heaven, or what he calls “raptures”. In preparation for this, he instructs them to take deep breaths while discouraging praying, stating that thinking with your mind and praying is the worst thing…
From time to time, I receive messages from women seeking input surrounding specific teachings in the hyper Charismatic church. It is encouraging to see both brothers and sisters in Christ using Biblical discernment and desiring Biblical truth. There are people coming out of this movement who want clarity and answers after the fog lifts from some areas in life. Recently, I received one of those messages from a sister in Christ. She had come across a social media post from…
A few weeks ago, Bethel released a video in their series, Rediscover Bethel, dealing with their teaching on basic prophetic ministry. I took time to listen to this video while keeping my Bible open and taking notes. The more I listened, the more I noticed familiar words and phrases mentioned, which originated from a DVD curriculum Kris Vallotton had released several years ago about prophetic ministry. I had taught from this curriculum provided in the former church I attended, the…
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:16,17 ESV For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21 ESV It is an interesting observation. Whenever I…
Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. Psalm 42:7 ESV For the longest time, Psalm 42:7 was lost on me, and I didn’t even know it. I had taken this verse to mean something it was not saying, that the depths in me called out to the depths of God within me. How poetic, right? Not really. I had never read it in context. I had never…
While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” Acts 21:10-11 ESV Recently, I was listening to an online discussion regarding prophecy in the Old Testament versus the…
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” Acts 17:1-3 ESV A few weeks ago, I was…
This is bound to stir the hornet’s nest. I realize that is probable, and though I do not personally enjoy confrontation, I am compelled to address certain topics of concern and to point myself and others back to Scripture. This is one of those topics. I wrote a post recently about Christian deliverance and how I disagreed with the premise that born again believers can be indwelt by demons and how Scripture does not support such a belief. This is…