THE STRANGE THINGS WE HEAR
15. "Apostolic" Misinterpretations
I believe the Lord has made it clear to me often that I am never to come against something He may be doing. That's pretty dangerous. So my task today is to work under the umbrella of Ephesus, that exposed people who said they were apostles, but were not.
I tell you the truth, I do not know who is and is not. Not by name. But I do have serious questions about teachings that are floating around in the name of "apostles" and their many followers.
Take Joel 2, for example. The "end time army" of the Lord. This is more than off base. It's scary. Take a few minutes to read the chapter. Ask for enlightenment from the Spirit. See if you come up with, on your own, the idea that Joel is talking about a bunch of super-believers at the end of history.
A better exercise is to keep your finger in Joel 2, then flip over to Revelation 9. There to your wondering eyes will appear a near carbon copy of Joel. Not copied, though. Given by the same Spirit to Joel and John, a preview of a horrendous throng of something that will one day invade this earth as a part of God's judgment on sin.
These "things" can scorch the earth with fire for miles in every direction. They have wings. They cause incredible pain. The sky is darkened. The closest thing Earth has seen that is like them is the swarming of locusts in the part of the earth where Joel prophesied. Actually, swarming had already occurred, and Joel therefore had a context in which to describe the end-time "locusts".
You can take it from there. But please don't take it where men like Todd Bentley have taken it. Read it. Believe that each word is what it says it is.
Or Romans 8:18-25, the whole thing about the sons of God that are soon to be manifested. Apostolic take on this passage: a little bit like the Joel thing. There is going to arise an end-time army of saints that will be so spiritually powerful that they will be able to make dynamic positive changes in the Kingdoms of earth. Righteousness will be exalted. Jesus will be uplifted. The world will actually be changed!
Yes, Paul had it right. The world is waiting for God's people to be manifested. And manifested they will be. Daniel talked about it in his visions. Kings, His own people, will reign with Jesus when He returns. Jesus said, "the meek will inherit the earth." One day indeed the people of Jesus, those who have suffered with Him in particular, will take over the planet and change it from A to Z.
But not now, Kingdom folks. Not now, apostles. Your timing is off. Your theology is off. Your mission is off. Jesus never changed the marching orders of the church to go and preach the good news about His death, burial and resurrection. Call folks out, tell them of the Kingdom that is coming, and send them to do what you are doing, going into all the world preaching. Eventually they will be lifted up, manifested before the world, and the world will never be the same.
What about the notion of Jesus "singing over His people." It's not a bad thing. And I believe that Jesus surely must be pleased with obedient sons and daughters. Unfortunately the only Biblical passage that even hints at this is Zephaniah 3:14-20, a passage outlining what will happen when the Jews finally return, redeemed, to Zion. This is at the end of history, the beginning of the reign of Christ over this earth.
Yes, at that time, the people of God will actually hear the Lord their God rejoicing over the triumphant church with a song. What an amazing day that will be.
Some may have heard bits and pieces of that song today, we must add. Jesus has "Kingdom" people, full of the Holy Ghost, in this generation, who, because they seek, and/or because they suffer and need His present Presence, have heard His voice, have experienced the Comfort of the Paraclete.
My objection to the doctrine among us is that Zephaniah simply does not say what they are saying.
Perhaps the worst of all perversions of our day, the one that needs to be identified and thrown out immediately upon hearing it, is the idea that when Paul said "the letter kills and the Spirit gives life," he was talking about the Bible vs the Spirit.
The Bible and the Spirit must never be allowed to be at war in our thinking. The Bible points to the Spirit. The Spirit gave us the Bible. We must work within that narrow but freeing perspective.
What then is "the letter" ? And how does it kill? Paul uses gramma, a writing. And in this context, it is the Scripture indeed. But the rest of the context shows that he is addressing those who trusted in the "gramma" to save them, through their perfect obedience to it. In that sense the Bible can surely "kill." Jesus accused the Pharisees of searching the Scriptures to look for life and bypassing the true life in Jesus.
Though most of these teachers know all this, the impression they often give is that we are to follow their new understanding of Scripture as opposed to the old ways we have trod. That would be a serious problem.
The only part of Scripture that is ever said to be "death" is the law. But even the law is quoted at times to explain Christian responsibility. Quoted by Spirit-filled apostles who laid the foundations of our faith.
Yes, if we try to keep some written code for salvation, we will die. And if we try to walk in the Spirit, He will live. But the point we need to hear made is that that Spirit will lead us to the written words of God. Every apostolic teacher uses the Bible, and encourages us to do the same, but to change everything we have believed about it up until now. Following the apostles of old would be the "letter" that kills. Following the new apostles will give life.
Again, it is never preached that way. But the implication is strongly there and very dangerous.
The literal interpretation of Scripture is considered by these men and women to be very problematic. Old "rules" about women in ministry and principles of holiness, and Millennial timetables are out the window. That's the letter. It robs us of the "greater truths". Freedom in Christ, the Kingdom NOW.
Jesus used literal Scriptures against Satan. The Gospel writers used literal Scriptures to prove Who Jesus is. Paul did the same, and Peter.
Paul says that whatever was written was for our learning, that we would have hope. And that these things were written for our admonition, since the ends of the world have come upon us. We need direction. It's all written.
"These things I have written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may believe on the Name of the Son of God, says John. Written is good. Literal is good. It is not "the letter that kills" unless you trust your flesh to obey every word of it perfectly or else.
John adds that we are not to add to or subtract from what is written. Apostles of today, beware. Period. End of discussion. End of article.
16. Gotten a "rhema" lately?
Bible believers should enjoy bursting bubbles, if done with love, of course. Bubbles are all over the Body these days. Like for example the proposed difference between the "logos" word and the "rhema" word.
We're told by those who are supposed to know that the "logos" is the inspired word found in Scripture but not necessarily a "word" to bless or inspire us personally. The "rhema", they say, is a special message directly from God to the heart, a personal word. It may or may not be in the Bible...
Believers accept the notion of a living God who speaks a living Word to His people, enlightening them as they are reading the Holy Word. We also must acknowledge that there are portions of the inspired Book which are very difficult to digest, other portions for which we are not ready.
So the division is not so bad, but the choice of terms won't stand a Biblical test. Yes, both words are in the Greek. Both mean roughly the same thing, "an utterance", something said. The key is how both words are used in the Bible.
How about when talking about a gift of the Spirit, the "word" of wisdom? Seems like that should be "rhema" by the current definition. Nope. "logos."
How about when Paul is talking generally about the law and says it can be fulfilled in one "word"? "logos"? No, "rhema."
"I say to YOU by the word of the Lord..." Paul's clear personal word from God to individual believers. You guessed it. "Logos."
There are times when both words fit the modern description and times when they don't. In other words, the "sheep" have fallen for another fad.
Not a big point. But everyone reading can think of a similar silliness floating around. Let's be on our guard and give no place to anything God has not said.
17. The New "Bad Guys"
I confess. I’m one of ‘em. A bad guy. I just keep seeing and saying things differently. Just can’t fit into the new mold being cast by today’s “prophetic” teachers.
Now there’s a word to start with, for example: “Prophetic”. It no longer is relegated to things future. Good enough. We knew that all along. Has to do with anything God Himself speaks through a person. Well and good. Can live with that. Trouble is, once a “prophet” stands before a modern congregation, discerners are placed on vibrate, or even shut off altogether. No one dares speak against a “word” from the prophet. Sometimes the teachings are flat out strange and even decried by other “prophets.” But speak not against “my anointed” says the Word, and today’s folks think that means the guy in the pulpit.
The “my anointed” passage (Psalm 105:15) refers to God’s people. Pew-folks. But even saying that makes me one of the bad guys.
And how about “religion”? Though James makes it perfectly clear that there is a good religion, or worship, the new guys are saying that all religion is bad. That if you hold on to old teachings you are religious and need to repent. Worse, you may quite well have a spirit of religion and need full-scale deliverance.
Of course, the Bible is silent on such a thing. And I was brought up to believe that where the Bible is silent I ought to shut my mouth too.
“Doctrine” is another word that gets kicked around. I’ve heard them say it, “Check your mind at the door.” “We don’t need doctrine today, we need God’s Spirit.” How do they know that? Must have read the teaching about the Spirit in the Bible. But teaching = doctrine. Every word that comes from these new pulpiteers is doctrine. Some of it is from the apostles, some not. That is, some is true, some is false. But any teaching is doctrine, by definition.
And oh do we need a good dose of apostolic doctrine.
But don’t say that word –apostolic- when you are making your order. ‘Cause it’s another one being redefined. I cringe when I hear people say there are no apostles today, then put their $2.00 in the plate to support “missionaries.” What Bible verse supports missionaries? Nada. Aint there! Missionaries = apostles. Ones sent to preach the Gospel, right? Same definition. So let’s agree that we do have apostles.
But we don’t have the “Twelve”. Or do we? Thank you Lord, yes we do. They –the Spirit in them- thought enough of the church to come, that they wrote down their doctrines –oops!- their teachings for us. Aren’t you glad? Can you imagine the chaos of voices today without a standard with which to compare?
Thankfully, the standard is in place. The original apostles win out over any “apostolic” voices of our day when there is a conflict. But how many are comparing? How many more just sit and take it all in when someone claims the office of apostle?
I believe in miracles, just for the record. Same Bible, same standard book, tells me God is unchanging. But the original apostles worked miracles galore, no questions asked, no mistakes, no waiting. Doesn’t quite seem to be that way today, though the stories are out there, and I refuse to come against whatever the Spirit may be doing or want to do.
Then there’s “legalism.” A brother wants to keep the speed limit. He’s a legalist. He likes I Corinthians 14 just as it is, thank you? Gifts in order. Discernment in place. Women in submission, and all the rest. He’s more than a legalist. He’s a Pharisee, bound and gagged.
For the record, keeping the law and the New Testament guidelines to please God is not forbidden. Keeping the law to be and stay saved is definitely forbidden. The one who practices/teaches the latter is a legalist. The former guy is holy, or on his way to being so. Not a thing wrong with it. The American church is notoriously unholy and needs repentance sooner than may be possible to avert the coming disasters.
And it will be the church, not the world, that will be the reason for national collapse. When God’s people humble themselves and pray… well, you know the rest.
“Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth” (Paul)? Yep, that’s the way it is. Speak what the apostles said, I mean those first century men, and you are the bad guy, the enemy, the Pharisee, the legalist, and above all, you have a spirit of religion which you must shed immediately…
Oh my. Pray for this brother. And watch your language.
18. Storming the Gates of Hell
How we admire those valiant believers who take on tasks that seem to us an invasion of Enemy territory itself. Here is a city or a neighborhood or even a nation, an isolated island, that has been dominated by forces of Satan’s army for time untold. A man or woman of God, on bended knee, crying out to be used in the military strategies of the Lord, is summoned to take a Gideon’s group and invade that awful place with Good News from heaven. Awesome.
But what I have just described is not “storming the gates of Hell,” and I would hope that this particular phrase will soon be phased out from common usage.
Why? Nowhere are those words, or such a concept, found in our Military Manual, the Holy Scriptures. Nowhere is such a mandate given by the Commander in Chief.
You say, What about Matthew 16? Where Peter is told that the church is coming and the very “gates of hell” will not “prevail” against it?
It is an odd assembling of words, for sure. People have puzzled over the idea of a gate rising up and doing battle against a saint. Well, that doesn’t work, they say, so it must be that saints are going to rush the very gates of the underworld, and those gates will not be able to keep us out.
Well…
Christians do indeed go, by order of the Chief, into hellish places, as described above. But never are they called to go into Hell itself for some mission. Hell is for now the place of the dead, though it is suggested that the eternal punishment has already begun, so it is also that place. But it is not Satan’s Kingdom. That entity is above ground. Indeed, Lucifer is known now as the prince and power of the air. The “Pit” seems to be at the other end of the road, where the defeated losers live, therefore a place not worth invading to begin with.
Only once did a person enter that domain, per Scripture, to come out again. Jesus, according to I Peter 3, went there in His Spirit while His body was in the tomb, and spoke a Gospel message to citizens of Noah’s day, held there for all these centuries by their rejection of God’s message. The Scripture is not clear about the outcome of that meeting so I will not make conjectures.
Suffice it to say here that Christians are not commanded by the Word or any message I have heard of since, to go to the place where judged and departed souls wait for their next phase of existence. They are commanded to do battle against the enemy that controls the cosmos, the world system. That is above ground.
So what did Jesus mean? A quick study of “gates of hell” or “gates of death” in Scripture leads one to the simple conclusion that all Jesus was talking about here is death itself. A person who goes to the “gates of hell” has died. In the natural it seems that death is the end of everything. Jesus says, death itself will not stop My church. Disciples, you will die. Even I will die. But my church will live on, because death will not prevail against what I am beginning here.
So, again, thank God for the soldier-minded among us. For we are all called to this battle. But no need to prepare for a subterranean adventure. Plenty to do on Terra Firma. And even though you and your whole battalion are lost in battle – it happens – the church will continue to live and prosper.
19. What Is Your Destiny?
“When you get older, people are going to take you to a place you do not want to go, where you will be put through an experience you do not desire at all.”
“As your life continues you will suffer greatly. People are by and large going to reject and hate you. You will be beaten for your faith. Brothers and sisters will want your authority and try to keep you from ministering. You will be hungry often, near death, shipwrecked. Your life will wind down in a prison.”
“After years of preaching you will be falsely accused, put in jail, and be executed by beheading.”
Destinies. Sound familiar? Yes, the lives of Peter, Paul, and John the Baptist, for example.
I assume we mean by the word destiny an appointed course which our lives must take.
Well, Jesus gave the destiny of the 11 remaining disciples, and to us in large measure, in John 16. “They’ll put you out of the synagogue. They’ll kill you.”
The destiny of every true believer is a true cross. Pain and suffering. There are ways around all that, but a lessening of reward seems to be the outcome for trying to circumvent true Christian destiny.
As I listen to messages and prophecies in our day, I have become painfully certain that the cross is not what is envisioned by destiny-seekers. One feels eerily uncomfortable listening to talk of fulfilling of dreams, seeking our destiny. In fact there is a vague, and sometimes downright obvious, resemblance to the kinds of things the world tells its own. Fleshly, carnal dreams that have me in the center, serving a God who hangs around on the periphery, always looking out for my goals and dreams.
“You will speak to thousands.”
“Your words will be heard around the world.”
“ You will go to the nations.”
Hey, good things happen to God’s kids, don’t get me wrong. But we’re talking destiny here. Ultimate arrival. Where is my life going?
Whatever happened to Heaven as a destiny? Meeting Jesus? Being re-united with believers of our past? Seeing the splendors of that city? Hearing “Well done.”?
What happened was, that the promoters of “Kingdom now” have become the promoters of “Destiny now” also. A painless destiny that brings all my childhood dreams to the fore and promotes me as the one the world awaited.
Others may wish to go that route, demanding God bring them into their “real” place, a place where they are honored and appreciated because of their wonderful gifts and efforts. Who wouldn’t be drawn to a goal of this nature?
But the Scripture is silent on such a destiny. Oh, the word is there, by the way. It’s hidden in that pesky verse about Calvinism. Well, that’s how some see it. You know, Romans 8? Foreknown and because of foreknown, also pre-destined? Oh we do have a destiny! It is to be conformed to Jesus in every way.
But we also have a ministry, a thing to do on the way to that destiny. And that ministry involves a cross. How many of God’s greats in the Book were told to “eat” the Word of God? You remember, they ate it and it was as sweet as honey! Mmmm, love that word! Mmmmm, love that preaching and teaching and sharing of that word.
Then what happened? It got into the digestive process and proved to be too much. Bitterness. Pain.
That’s the pattern. That’s the destiny of the true. You’ll speak to your millions. You’ll be known to the nations. But it won’t be what you thought. They will hate you if you tell the truth. They will kill you if they can. Silence you, at the least. No picnic here. The cross hurts. Talk about joy and peace, and even the world will love you. Talk about sin and death, and other hard truths about people and the church, and it’s “Bye-bye.”
That’s why it’s good to center on a destiny that is beyond the grave, and totally out of your power to do anything about. Jesus will sort it all out at the end, when we all stand before His judgment seat and give an account of what we did and did not do.
20. The Shaking Yet To Come
Once more I feel compelled to speak about the dominion thinking that has been among us for all too long. The folks who promote these things are zealous to be sure. A lot gets done when they come to town. I feel however that their belief system needs a little tweaking. Their sense of time and timing.
Hebrews 12:27 is a favorite verse of theirs, as an example. They rightly see what God sees in this passage, a shaking such as the world has never seen. In dominion thinking, God is even now shaking this and shaking that, and by the time He is done shaking, the only thing remaining will be the Kingdom, whose citizens will present to Jesus a flawless place to live upon His return at the end of the age.
We used to call this a-Millennial. In other words, the whole idea of 1,000 years tacked on to the end of this present age is merely symbolic and figurative. It is the here and now we must fix, and fix it we will, in time for His coming. To this end, things are going to get better and better and...
Whoa there, folks! It ain't necessarily so. You've overlooked two seriously important words in Hebrews, words quoted from the prophet Haggai, and thus even more important. The words are, "Once more."
Once more. Meaning, He did something like this before. Look back in the chapter. He's talking about the shaking at Sinai! The awful scene that transpired at the giving of the Ten Commandments! Exodus 19:18 declares that the mountain quaked. Moses was afraid. The people were terrified. This stuck in their memory!
But we've come to something even greater. And for these many centuries we have proclaimed it to Jew and Gentile alike. The crucified and risen Christ. A New Covenant. A Kingdom where Jesus will rule all. And from Jew and gentile alike there has been almost unanimous rejection.
So, one day, one awful day, God will shake again. The earth. The mountains. The heavens. You name it, it will shake. Now there have been a huge number of earthquakes since then, and yes it can be argued that they are more intense today. But God is not talking about the worsening of natural phenomena. He's talking about "once more" doing, but on a grander scale, what He did before.
And that once more will usher in the Kingdom of God in its fullness. II Peter 3 spells out so very clearly: "The day of the Lord (not the years leading up to the coming of the Lord) will come as a thief in the night (not as a series of e-mails over a period of a decade) in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements (of the earth) will melt with fervent heat (sounds like a shaking to me) and the works that are in it will be burned up...nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth."
Two very clear promises will happen in one day. The end of this present world and the beginning of the new one. This is not a process, this is a total one-day immediate shaking. Your 7.9 earthquake will seem like nothing in that day. Your tsunami will seem like a child playing in that day. And your kingdom-now philosophy will fade like the dew in the light of the King and His Kingdom ruling from a mountain in Jerusalem.
I dare Kingdom-now dominion people to read with uncluttered mind the 2nd chapter of Isaiah, and tell me that they still do not believe in a coming Kingdom that far outstrips their greatest fantasies for today.
Oh Lord, Your Kingdom COME, Your Will be done on EARTH as it is (now) in Heaven!
21. The Revealing of the Sons of God
What a wonderful thought is expressed by the beloved Paul in Romans 8. The creation is waiting for God’s people to be in charge. To set things in order.
I have heard often these days that this text refers to what is going on in the earth now. That there is a wonderful revival taking place in the world, and as it manifests itself there will arise the phenomenon of the fully engaged Christian man and woman. These new creations will change their neighborhoods and their cities and… the creation will be satisfied.
I know the heart of those who speak these things and I offer no criticism. There is a kernel of truth in “kingdom now” theology. Surely Jesus is among His people. He transforms them. The entire Roman Empire was transformed by the surfacing of the people of God. Why not believe for such things again, only this time the world?
Quite possible. Quite wonderful to anticipate. But Romans 8 clearly does not speak of such a happening. Allow me to follow Paul’s train of thought in the text. It is clearly a case of now and then. The then being after the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. To this can be added the agreement of John, Daniel, and Isaiah.
First Paul.
He says that now we are children of God. If children, we must be heirs. Then. Joint-heirs with Christ. Then. As Jesus said, the meek truly do inherit this earth. Then. Now, says Paul, we suffer as did Christ. But then, also like Christ, we will be glorified, as in the resurrection of our bodies. This present age, now, is a time of suffering. But later the glory shall be revealed in us. Think transfiguration. The creation is now waiting for that glorification of God’s people. The creation is cursed, now. The creation will be delivered, then. Delivered from bondage to the glorious liberty of children of God. Then. Birth pangs, now, groaning, as we wait for these bodies to be redeemed.
John agrees. I John 3:2.
We are sons of God, now. But when Jesus is revealed, we shall be like Him, then. Whoever has this hope (then) purifies himself (now).
And Daniel, Daniel 7:22 ff.
The Ancient of Days (Jesus) comes and takes the kingdom of this world from the antichrist. Thus is Jesus revealed. But immediately after this event, the saints, the children of God, come and take the kingdom. Thus they are revealed. Then.
And Isaiah (61, 65, 66)
“Those who formerly mourned in Zion [children of God] shall be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord.” He shall be glorified, revealed, in that hour. The people thus manifested will be called the posterity the Lord has blessed. Righteousness and praise will spring forth before the nations. Then.
Once more, John, in Revelation. (22:3, 21:7, 21:9 ff)
A city comes down out of heaven. Jesus is revealed. Then the bride is revealed. Overcomers inherit all things. The bride is filled with the glory of God.
These promises and descriptions are our hope. Kingdom now folks are adamant that we should not allow Biblical literalists to “steal” the promises of God and make them all apply to the future.
Fair enough. And Kingdom Now doctrines should not be allowed to rob us of our hope. The ultimate hope we all share is the return of Jesus and the resurrection from the dead. Though we have experienced a resurrection spiritually at present, and our sins are forgiven, and the Spirit does amazing things among and through us, the best – by far – is yet to come. Such promises can bring light and joy to a weary traveler. Let’s not lose sight of them in our rush to have it all now.
22. Whose Dominion Is It, Anyway?
Trends hit the Body from time to time and need to be discussed. The idea of “dominion” has been around quite awhile and has been discussed the entire time.
It's not all negative, you know. Dominion is a totally Scriptural idea. But because of translation issues, things have gotten a wee bit confused. Dominion has been intertwined with power, and authority, and even more, but sometimes improperly. Let's talk about the word itself.
“Dominion”, “government”, “rule”, “lording over”, these are all proper ways to translate the Greek words of the family “kurios.” Jesus was called Kurios, “Lord” all His days here. He is the Lord, after all. His is the dominion. His the power. His the authority. The question before us is, how much of that authority and rule is passed on to His followers?
A word first about power and authority. Picture the policeman. This is not very original, and I'm sure you've heard it many times, but it works. The policeman shows his authority by his badge and uniform. He shows his power by his weapons. Dominion, in this context, would be pretty hard for him to show, except that he represents the City or County magistrates and carries their ruler-ship.
The analogy breaks down – or rather holds up? – when the said policeman shows up at a Council meeting and tries to run the show. The real dominions present will make short work of him.
Those claiming the authority and power of Jesus have some pretty good legs to stand on. They can take authority over sickness, they can announce forgiveness of sin, they can cast out the devil's own servants, they can call for changes of nature and situation and... you name it. Pretty powerful folks, these believers.
It's when they start acting like they are running the show that Jesus Himself has to say, uh, excuse Me.
He warned His followers that they were in no way to exercise dominion (His very word) over the Gentiles or each other as the people of this world did and do. Verboden! Jude warns us not to despise dominions of any sort. Paul says that the powers that be are of God. Not for us to mess with. Paul also comments to the Corinthians that he in no way had dominion (again, his word!) over their faith.
So except where Jesus shows up in a “dominion” text, where it is all His, it is simply not owned by anyone else.
Dominion is closely related to, even synonymous with, the idea of “reigning.” Here we find another piece of the puzzle for would-be dominion theologians. Reigning for believers is all in the future.
Sorry. There is a move afoot to grab all Millennial passages and bring them into our day. This is robbery of the worst sort. If you've been one to try to steal Christian hope, please stop. Without hope, all we have is the moment.
Would you believe, the full reign of even Jesus is also out there in the future? Hebrews 2:8 indicates that not everything that needs to be conquered has been conquered, as it will be in the Millennial rule of Jesus on earth. Those who want the Kingdom now are way ahead of the King! Some day we shall see all enemies put under his feet (I Corinthians 15:25), but that day is after He comes in judgment and sets up the fullness of the Kingdom that we are to preach.
Romans 5:17, II Timothy 2:12, Revelation 5:10. We shall reign with Christ if we suffer with Him now. The reigning as kings has not begun.
For now, it is that other Jesus we see. The one who bore our sorrows. The crucified but risen Jesus is the one we must preach. Not crucified alone, and left on a cross. Not resurrected alone, as though the cross is of no value or significance now. Indeed, a cross-less Christianity is nothing more than being a nice guy who does cool things.
Paul said to that American-style church in Corinth: You reigned as kings. But we didn't. We're happy for you, but we'll keep our profile low.
As disciples grow, they go lower. They don't try to take over, they try to give away. They don't try to dominate (dominion), they become slaves.
Dominion theology and Book of Acts reality are totally different creatures. Exercise your authority and power, but let Jesus be King!
[Jesus] to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen!
23. A Word About Overcoming
On His way to the cross, just before His agonizing time in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus announced to His followers that He had already overcome the world. It was a statement meant to give them something happy to hang on to during the next awful hours of their - and His -life.
The words were given in the context of the persecution He had also just promised. The discourse begins with "Let not your heart be troubled," and ends with "Be of good cheer." In the 3 chapters that record this message, there is described a flood of difficulty that will come against the infant church, mingled with several promises of a coming Comforter, who will be no less than Jesus Himself!
Overcoming the terrors of persecution through the Holy Spirit seems to be the best way to interpret what Jesus said. This is how Jesus endured His life to the present, and even as He anticipates what is ahead in the next 72 hours, He continues to see nothing but victory. Trouble, yes, but triumph over all troubles, equally yes.
The notion today that believers are bullet-proof seems to ignore the real difficulties that Jesus and his followers all had. The question seems to be, then, to what extent are we promised the avoidance of defeat, and what does defeat really look like?
For Jesus, it was the ultimate in defeat followed by the ultimate in victory. Jesus suffers among His people now, but expects the end to be quite sweet.
The apostles? We know the most about Paul's life. Shipwreck is not the avoidance of trouble. But shipwreck did not mean drowning. It meant in fact the conversion of the population of Melita.
Beatings and imprisonment. Real pain there. Positive confession aside, that's real blood trickling down the backs of Paul and Silas. Is this the fulfillment of Paul's vision to come to Macedonia and help? Yep. That jailer may have even been the man in Paul's dream! The overcoming broke through as bloody Paul and Silas called down an earthquake followed by an altar call par excellence.
Pattern developing here. Victory is promised. But victory is not always getting what you want in prayer. The sickness might hang on longer than you were expecting. You have to stay at that awful job when you had these great "dreams" for your life. She died anyway, sir, inspite of all your attempts to keep it from happening.
But the promise is still yours. "In all these things we are more than conquerors. Who is he that overcomes but he that believes that Jesus is the Christ? This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith!"
Not our instant deliverance. Our faith. Not our bulletproof vest. Our faith.
Our faith doesn't look at that whip or that approaching tsunami, or that gun pointed at the head, or that crucifixion. Faith looks at the outcome and says, "I have overcome."
24. The Seven Mountain Doctrine
Doctrines are teachings. Teachings are doctrines. There is no difference, semantically. Those who decry all “doctrine” implying that doctrine quenches the Spirit, will brashly put forward their own doctrines, and expect the people of God to accept them.
I first ran across the seven-mountain teaching while helping to refine a translation of it into Korean for a North Korea ministry here in the States. I was taken back a bit at how confident the writers were that this was of God, that we were to accept it with no questions asked.
Something I cannot find in Scripture I will question, until I am satisfied that my questioning is meaningless or vain. I certainly do not want to be found having come against the Spirit of God by a hard heart that cannot hear truth. But neither do I want to be a watchman who was standing on the wall and allowed an enemy soldier to slip by me on into the camp.
Actually there is a seven-mountain prophecy in the book of Revelation. It is a picture of the kingdoms of this world and their future status. We can only hope and pray that the promoters of this new dogma are not in any way related to John’s vision. But there are some similarities.
Loren Cunningham of Youth With a Mission and Bill Bright of [the former] Campus Crusade for Christ were the originators of a list of seven spheres of influence which, it is affirmed, Christians must conquer if the world is to come to Christ. I say “the former” above because the Crusade has decided to drop “Christ” from its label. We can also hope and pray that this move is not related to the new strategy.
The seven areas of conquest are said to be the family, the church, education (worldwide), the media, arts and entertainment, economy/business, and government. This at least is Cunningham’s list. Bright’s was said to be quite similar, and upon discovery of this similarity both men, and Francis Schaeffer with them, decided that they had heard from God. For decades now, this theory has been circulating around the world.
In short, the idea is that we are to conquer by our influence, not by guns and such, and salt down the world in such a major way that when Jesus comes we will be able to present to Him a perfect world, filled with His grace, one that pleases Him.
Even elementarily educated believers know that this “dominion”-style theology is nowhere taught in God’s Word. The picture there is of a world gone absolutely mad, about to destroy itself when Jesus comes to save the very elect from being wiped out. In the Biblical teaching, salt and light and living are all indeed to be presented to a lost world, but most will reject it in favor of other gods and the pleasures of the flesh. God’s people, far from being kings of their various mountains, will be hated of all nations, as was Christ Himself.
Jesus was offered all these mountains of the world by Satan himself, and flatly turned them down. He certainly does not call His people to accept what He refused. With one fiery blast of judgment on His return, the Kingdoms of this world will become , with no help from me, the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.
The world does not have to be “Christian” for Jesus to come. It has to be helpless and hopeless. It’s getting quite close to that now. Our intercession may indeed cause the Lord to wait a while longer, but rest assured He is not holding back because His people are not CEO’s and Movie Stars and Presidents.
Of course God’s people are lifted up! Of course God has His way of infiltrating societies! But never does He set this goal before His people as a plan of action. Never. The unchanging plan is to go and preach the Gospel into every nation. Those who believe will be saved. Those who do not will be damned. I’m not running for Governor to make that happen. I don’t have to run the local bank. Wherever I am, I am to be faithful. If He lifts me up, He does.
God has shown us how He works through some of our favorite people.
Is it your sense that Joseph (Old Testament) asked his brothers to sell him as a slave into Egypt, because he had concocted a plan to rule the world from that ungodly place? No, but he did rule the world from that ungodly place. He also was in prison 13 years. He also suffered the agony of separation from all that was loved and known. He was a common slave, a vile servant accused of attempted rape!
But God! Remember when we used to say, But God! Now, the “God” part is in the back seat, and the youth of our day are told to give vent to the desires they have to rule and be famous and be successful and be important. This is flesh. Jesus calls to death on a cross. And resurrection when the death is certain. No flesh there! God raises His own in His time.
Do you picture Daniel as a man so given to power and authority in Babylon that he had himself castrated, also divided forever from his family, so that he could be second in command of the greatest Empire of all time, save Rome? No, but he was castrated. He was a servant of the Emperor, cut off from Israel his beloved, until the day he died. But who does not know Daniel among us?
Esther? Young Jewish girl who decides to be queen so she can influence Persia for God? Not. One of many captive Jews lined up to please the King, if possible, after he had his first wife deposed for disrespect.
And Nehemiah, you’ve got to look at Nehemiah! This man started out in powerful places, but when he first had a chance to go back and suffer hardship with the people of God, he split! Hardly a “mountain” man, Nehemiah. Why, all that influence you could have in Persia! Why come back to be a wall-building supervisor?
Because God’s men are committed to God’s people. The truly great among us have left all to follow Jesus. Career, income, power, position. They desire Jesus only. And they have Him.
Consider the great work of Jesus and Paul and other first century leaders, who came out from the “mountains” of their world and turned so many to righteousness, yea and even today are turning them. Emperors who became Christian in that day tried to step down from their power. Popes who believed in dominion theology tried to fill the vacuum that emperors left.
Things have not changed. Men who find Christ simply do not want power and riches any longer. Worldlings unsatisfied with Christ often fill their positions.
The Moravians, now, did take a secular position to have influence for Christ. You remember this story, I imagine. How they sold themselves into slavery so they could tell other slaves for Jesus? Not exactly mountain theology. More like theology of the pit. The valley. The dregs. We don’t know what happened to these brothers, but someday we shall. But some of those whose success stories we hear today, I say with sorrow, shall be told no more.
The seven-mountain prophecy can, I suppose, be taught in such a way that it is somewhat acceptable. Salt and light. Let your light shine. God will promote you, give you favor. But remember that persecution is promised as strongly as favor in the Word.
Many have turned this theory into an invitation to follow the flesh. In fact there are only two mountains that need to concern Christians: Calvary, from which we came, and Zion, to which we go. All else is a call to the carnal nature and will be exposed in great shame.
May God have mercy on those who are encouraging men and women who have just come out of this present evil world and were happy about it, to go back in and not only be a part of it, but be the god of it. The Gospel and the world do not mix. John still tells his people not to love the world, that all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh and eyes, and the pride of life. So clear. Where is a similarly clear call to holiness and separation among us today?
We know that Islam and Rome operate this way. Infiltrate and take over. Be the strong man who rules. But let us who are of the day keep our eyes fixed on Jesus’ life and see if that is what He laid down for us as an example.
No, far from “take over the world,” Jesus says, “Come out of her, my people!” Let’s do that.
25. How Then Should We Worship?
Every time I hear a preacher bashing "religion" these days, I have to go home and check to see if the book of James is still in the Bible. I have similar episodes when I see a woman mount the pulpit, but that's another issue, for which I must ask your pardon for now, and a hearing some other day.
I must now resort to the Greek. If ever there existed a Bible student who is not a Greek scholar it is I. (Notice I did not say, "It is me," which proves that at least I know English.)
It was the Greek language in which brother James addressed the church of this day. Therefore a translation of his words into English ought to resolve the dilemma before us.
"But James was not an apostle!" I hear someone say. True enough. This is not the apostle James, this is that James, who along with his brothers, and probably sisters too, denied the claims of their half-brother in the flesh, one called Jesus.
Not until after His resurrection did James see the light. But he was quick to grow. His letter is probably the first of the New Testament writings. You can believe that it was written under the close scrutiny of the apostles, who by the way, also appointed James to be the leader of the church in Jerusalem, spoiling forever Rome's claim to Petrine lordship over that or any church of the first century. But that too is an issue that has to wait...
So we have established James' authority and his language. Moving right along, we look at what he actually said about this "religion" matter. You can read along at the end of James chapter one for yourself. He said that a person who cannot control his tongue has a vain empty religion. He said that a person who cares for others and leads a holy life has a good religion.
So why are folks saying today that religion in and of itself is a bad thing?
I said I would talk Greek to you, so here it is. James' "religion" is threskeia. It is a ceremonial observance. That same word is used by Paul in Colossians 2:18, but is there translated "worshipping." So what is it, "religion" or "worshipping?" I believe that if you can step back in your mind long enough to think of an idea that embraces both words, you will have the full truth.
Deeper into the Greek. threskos is the adjective. "Religious." But Strong, from whom I glean all these facts, says that it means "ceremonious in worship," or "pious." We liberated believers do not like the sound of either of these ideas. Nevertheless James contends, and I will contend with him, that there is a good side of piety, religiosity, even ceremony. Hang on just a minute.
Both of these words come from the verb thre-o, which means "to wail or clamor." By implication, to frighten! And the word is translated in your Bible, "to trouble." It is used, for example, in the book of Acts, after sleepy Eutychus fell to his death during an especially long sermon of Paul. Paul immediately ran to him, ministered to him, then told the hushed and worried crowd, "Don't thre-o yourselves, his life is in him." Don't wail, clamor, frighten yourself.
One more enlightening view of this word family is in the related thriambeu-o. Are you still there? This is really going somewhere... This word depicts a noisy song sung in honor of the god of wine, Bacchus. It has come to mean "conquer" or "give victory" or "triumph."
So! Put all this together. We can assume, I believe, that first century worship was loud, clamorous, exciting, victorious. There was a ritualism attached to it, even as is attached to even the "freest" of services today. You come in, you expect there will be a "worship" service first. There are certain kinds of instruments, usually being used to play a certain number of songs. There are perhaps interruptions and differences here and there, but those who cry the loudest against ceremony have usually created their own! It is so different your first visit, but becomes quite predicable in time.
Against none of this activity does James speak! Clamor all you want. Make your noise! Have your weekly ceremonies. But go out from church and fill that same heart and mouth with words of anger or ridicule or foolishness, and all that worship is vain! Your life in Christ is seven days, not two hours, a week.
And when it comes right down to it, the worship the Lord seeks among His people is a life given not only to prayer and praise but to service and holiness. All of this together is what shows the heart to be what it is. Those who make noise but no fruit are vain worshipers whether they are at a Roman Mass or a Pentecostal convention.
Trouble with all that I just said is that some will read it and excuse themselves from the fullness of worship. That too would be a mistake. Though love and separation are teachings valued by the Lord, He also is not too happy to see a half-hearted meeting of the saints where the leader must use a sound system, music from this world, or constant begging to get people involved.
No, our religion, and that is a good word, my friend, must include the entire body, soul, strength, mind, and heart, 24/7. Through the Spirit's aid, this can be done!
26. Religion's Bad Rap
Every time I hear a preacher bashing "religion" these days, I have to go home and check to see if the book of James is still in the Bible. I have similar episodes when I see a woman mount the pulpit, but that's another issue, for which I must ask your pardon for now, and a hearing some other day.
I must now resort to the Greek. If ever there existed a Bible student who is not a Greek scholar it is I. (Notice I did not say, "It is me," which proves that at least I know English.)
It was the Greek language in which brother James addressed the church of this day. Therefore a translation of his words into English ought to resolve the dilemma before us.
"But James was not an apostle!" I hear someone say. True enough. This is not the apostle James, this is that James, who along with his brothers, and probably sisters too, denied the claims of their half-brother in the flesh, one called Jesus.
Not until after His resurrection did James see the light. But he was quick to grow. His letter is probably the first of the New Testament writings. You can believe that it was written under the close scrutiny of the apostles, who by the way, also appointed James to be the leader of the church in Jerusalem, spoiling forever Rome's claim to Petrine lordship over that or any church of the first century. But that too is an issue that has to wait...
So we have established James' authority and his language. Moving right along, we look at what he actually said about this "religion" matter. You can read along at the end of James chapter one for yourself. He said that a person who cannot control his tongue has a vain empty religion. He said that a person who cares for others and leads a holy life has a good religion.
So why are folks saying today that religion in and of itself is a bad thing?
I said I would talk Greek to you, so here it is. James' "religion" is threskeia. It is a ceremonial observance. That same word is used by Paul in Colossians 2:18, but is there translated "worshipping." So what is it, "religion" or "worshipping?" I believe that if you can step back in your mind long enough to think of an idea that embraces both words, you will have the full truth.
Deeper into the Greek. threskos is the adjective. "Religious." But Strong, from whom I glean all these facts, says that it means "ceremonious in worship," or "pious." We liberated believers do not like the sound of either of these ideas. Nevertheless James contends, and I will contend with him, that there is a good side of piety, religiosity, even ceremony. Hang on just a minute.
Both of these words come from the verb thre-o, which means "to wail or clamor." By implication, to frighten! And the word is translated in your Bible, "to trouble." It is used, for example, in the book of Acts, after sleepy Eutychus fell to his death during an especially long sermon of Paul. Paul immediately ran to him, ministered to him, then told the hushed and worried crowd, "Don't thre-o yourselves, his life is in him." Don't wail, clamor, frighten yourself.
One more enlightening view of this word family is in the related thriambeu-o. Are you still there? This is really going somewhere... This word depicts a noisy song sung in honor of the god of wine, Bacchus. It has come to mean "conquer" or "give victory" or "triumph."
So! Put all this together. We can assume, I believe, that first century worship was loud, clamorous, exciting, victorious. There was a ritualism attached to it, even as is attached to even the "freest" of services today. You come in, you expect there will be a "worship" service first. There are certain kinds of instruments, usually being used to play a certain number of songs. There are perhaps interruptions and differences here and there, but those who cry the loudest against ceremony have usually created their own! It is so different your first visit, but becomes quite predicable in time.
Against none of this activity does James speak! Clamor all you want. Make your noise! Have your weekly ceremonies. But go out from church and fill that same heart and mouth with words of anger or ridicule or foolishness, and all that worship is vain! Your life in Christ is seven days, not two hours, a week.
And when it comes right down to it, the worship the Lord seeks among His people is a life given not only to prayer and praise but to service and holiness. All of this together is what shows the heart to be what it is. Those who make noise but no fruit are vain worshipers whether they are at a Roman Mass or a Pentecostal convention.
Trouble with all that I just said is that some will read it and excuse themselves from the fullness of worship. That too would be a mistake. Though love and separation are teachings valued by the Lord, He also is not too happy to see a half-hearted meeting of the saints where the leader must use a sound system, music from this world, or constant begging to get people involved.
No, our religion, and that is a good word, my friend, must include the entire body, soul, strength, mind, and heart, 24/7. Through the Spirit's aid, this can be done!
