Monthly Archives: September 2017

KILLING KRYPTONITE – THE BAIT OF JOHN BEVERE

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 By Rick Becker  28 September 2017

 

John Bevere’s latest book Killing Kryptonite is due to be released on the 17th of October.  Messenger International sent out three free chapters which is enough for any discerning reader to realise that like his previous books, this one contains serious error.  As usual, Bevere touts his latest offering as essential reading for all believers. His marketing strategy will no doubt pay off, his claims of receiving direct revelation from God for the whole body of Christ will fool millions of biblically illiterate believers.

Bevere’s false doctrine includes a mix of: Word of Faith, prosperity gospel, dominion theology, latter rain, the aberrant teachings of the New Apostolic Reformation, heavy shepherding, covering heresy and works based Christianity.  While this review covers only the first three chapters, it is clear that Bevere has not repented of his false doctrines, and continues to deceive his followers.

The title Killing Kryptonite obviously comes from the story of comic book hero Superman.  Bevere draws on what he views as the “striking parallels between his story and our life of faith.”  Superman was not from this world, believers are not of this world. Superman had supernatural powers, believers are empowered supernaturally. Superman fought evil, believers fight evil.  Superman draws his strength from the sun, believers draw their strength from the son etc.
There is however one thing that can weaken Superman: Kryptonite.  This substance was able to neutralize Superman’s powers.  Similarly, for believers “there is a “kryptonite” that neutralizes our God-given “power and character.”

Bevere is adept at putting a positive spin on false doctrine and thereby seducing the spiritually malnourished or passionate but undiscerning reader into his snare.  Simply put, he knows how to bait.  In his book, ironically entitled: The Bait of Satan: Living Free From the Deadly Trap of Offense, Bevere is the one doing the baiting.  The book begins with the sentence: “The book you hold is quite possibly the most important confrontation with truth you’ll encounter in your lifetime.”  Surely this should apply exclusively to scripture?
In The Power To Change, Bevere makes this claim “approaching change from a completely new paradigm – one that WORKS”  Nothing prior to Bevere’s teaching actually worked?

As usual, Bevere has not been slack generating hype prior to the release of this book, and his claims are just as outrageous.  The bait for his new book is impressive.  Bevere said he wanted to quit writing Killing Kryptonite numerous times, but apparently the Holy Spirit said to him:  “son you must write this book” or He would have given it to someone else, he said, because the messages on this page are going to liberate my people and it’s going to restore the power of the kingdom, back into the church” (sic)
source – https://cpnshows.com/shows/loveleads

He elaborates further in his Introduction to the book: “Father, I’m not sure
I like this book. I want to quit writing it.”  Each time I sensed a stern “No” from the Holy Spirit. Finally, on the last occurrence, He assured me this message will give vital insights to propel building healthy individuals, families, and churches globally.  Its principles could change entire cities.”

Bevere has made sure he has covered all the bases – healthy individuals, families, churches globally, and even cities.  Which naive believer, after reading this would not want a copy of this book?  Pay careful attention to his claims:
“Son, you must write a book” – this means God has something important to say, something we have missed for 2000 years.  Volumes of great commentaries and books have been written by greats like Luther, Spurgeon, Lloyd-Jones, Tozer, and not one of them have claimed to receive such a direct revelation or instruction from God.  
“because the messages on this page ..” – the messages in scripture have failed, it’s the message in Killing Kryptonite that is going to liberate the church and restore the power of the kingdom.  Only John Bevere has been able to connect the dots in scripture, and present us with a revelation that will effect the church globally.
“He assured me this message will give vital insights..” – are these insights not available through diligent study of the word of God in context?  Is the body of Christ now dependent on one man to be obedient in bringing a message that will basically breathe new life and power to it?
“Its principles could change entire cities.” – pure dominion theology, post-millennial heresy.  Bevere, Bethel church, and other New Apostolic Reformation teachers deny the conditions of the world as foretold by Christ.  Take note of the claim: the principles in Killing Kryptonite, not scripture, could change cities.
It seems as if scripture is not sufficient or why else would God need this book written so badly, that if Bevere refused, God would have found someone else to write it?
This review could stop at this point; we have sufficient grounds to know that what we have here is a claim of a new revelation directly from the throne room of God.  If God has left us in the dark for the past 2000 years regarding these principles, and Bevere has been given this revelation, then it needs to be added to scripture, literally – 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation, Bevere.

In chapter one, Bevere writes: “Since we are the children of such an awesome God, simple logic would conclude we should experience an extraordinary life“ 
Salvation alone is extraordinary and supernatural, but that does not attract the masses who are looking for power that will help them reach their dreams and live a life of comfort.  The appeal of the New Apostolic Reformation is that we are going to surpass the works of Christ and rule and reign on the earth in this dispensation.  Super powers, prosperity, vitality and perfect health are all on the cards for those who buy into this doctrine, which is nothing less than the “American dream” coated with a spiritual veneer.
He then goes on to list what believers are promised in scripture such as God’s divine nature (scripture does teach we are “partakers of the divine nature, 2 Pet 1:3-4), unselfish character, unconditional love and forgiveness and a few others. He includes “supernatural power” in his list (ties in nicely with the Superman narrative)  If Bevere’s idea of how this supernatural power manifests is the same as the New Apostolic Reformation circles or what we see in charismania, then he is deceived.

Also on his list is yet another NAR favourite: “ingenuity, keen insight and creativity”  Scripture does not teach that believers have an advantage over unbelievers when it comes to new inventions, or making scientific discoveries, but the NAR do.  It is part of their seven mountain mandate to conquer and lead in all spheres of society.  

Bevere’s friend Bill Johnson, would be proud of his next sentence: “In short, we are promised the attributes found in heaven.  Recall, Jesus emphatically declares that His kingdom is within us; therefore, His will should be done on earth as it is in heaven“  Bevere does not expound on what he means by this, but those in the NAR usually argue that there is no sickness or poverty in heaven therefore we should experience the same on earth etc.  Bevere repeats much of what he wrote in his book Relentless, and it is just as convoluted.  He then goes on to lament the state of the visible church and asks some questions: “Do we see character, integrity, and morality that are dramatically different from the corruption of our nation?”
He is correct in that believers should be blameless and pure in this crooked and perverse generation, but then he asks: “Is there a distinction between believers and unbelievers in our health and well-being? Do we have an abundance of resources? Are we able to meet the needs of others and proclaim His gospel to every person globally?”
Here we have the health and wealth gospel making a predictable appearance. He immediately justifies his prosperity gospel by appealing to the law:
“Does all of this sound too high and lofty? Consider that under the old covenant, there was a time when silver was as common as stone and was considered worthless because there was such a surplus (see 1 Kings 10:21, 27)  On the contrary, now under the new covenant, I frequently encounter ministry leaders who struggle due to limited resources and pastors who desire to help their local communities but can’t due to a lack of manpower, funds, and other resources. In both cases, is this “on earth as it is in heaven”?  

Consider for a moment the ministries that Bevere associates with – Bethel, Hillsong etc and other ministries deemed successful such as Willowcreek, Potters House and Lakeside. These ministries have manpower and funds because they preach a gospel that tickles ears. Are they examples that Bevere would want us to follow? The Apostle Paul teaches the opposite, at times he suffered no lack, yet there were times when he did:
“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:12-13

Bevere is quick to add every prosperity gospel teacher’s disclaimer:
“God is a good Father. He wants to bless His children. But He doesn’t want possessions to possess us. It’s not money, but the “love of money” that is the root of all kinds of evil.”
The preceding verse is always left out by these prosperity teachers: “ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” 1 Tim 6:9

Back to the law again: “There was a time in ancient Israel when there was not one poor person in the entire nation. We read, “All of Judah and Israel lived in peace and safety. And from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, each family had its own home and garden” (1 Kings 4:25)…If we examine God’s people in the Old Testament, there were many generations that flourished in an astonishing way—strong economically, socially, and militarily. They had an abundance of resources, food, and wealth. When they experienced military attacks, they weren’t defeated, but on the contrary came out on
top. Other nations marveled at the quality of life they enjoyed. And keep in mind that this was under the old covenant, which is inferior to the new covenant!
Keep in mind, these were promises specifically given to Israel under the old covenant!   Bevere’s reasoning is that if things were so good under the old, how much better should they be under the new: “Jesus is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises (see Hebrews 8:6)”  
He is insinuating that believers should have an abundance of resources, food, wealth and an undefeated military.  If Bevere bothered to complete the chapter, he would have noticed that the better covenant is primarily spiritual in nature.  The old covenant was based on obedience to the law, the new covenant is based on grace.  Bevere makes no distinction between the law and the gospel.  If he wants the earthly benefits of the old covenant, he’d better start keeping the law.  If he wants to claim the blessings for obedience to the law, he must accept the curses for disobedience.
A few verses later in Hebrews 8, we are told how the new covenant is better:
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:10-12
No mention of super powers, guaranteed health and wealth, ruling cities or nations etc.  

Albert Barnes commentary on Hebrews 8:6b : “Which was established upon better promises – The promises in the first covenant pertained mainly to the present life. They were promises of length of days; of increase of numbers; of seed time and harvest; of national privileges, and of extraordinary peace, abundance, and prosperity. That there was also the promise of eternal life, it would be wrong to doubt; but this was not the main thing. In the new covenant, however, the promise of spiritual blessings becomes the principal thing. The mind is directed to heaven; the heart is cheered with the hopes of immortal life”

If Bevere is correct in his assumption that the new covenant promises health, wealth, vitality, abundance etc, then the Apostle Paul must have suffered from a severe kryptonite infection:  “Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.  Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;  on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.  And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.  Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?  If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.”  2 Corinthians 11:23-31

Scripture must be our blueprint for what we can expect in the last days.  It is clear what awaits us, and in fact the very first sign Jesus gave in Matthew 24 was the appearance of false teachers, not mass revival.  Furthermore we are told to expect false teachers within the visible church, who will fabricate stories and lead many to destruction through their smooth talking and doctrines of demons.  The love of many will grow cold and many will depart from the faith as a massive apostasy takes place.  The world will be in turmoil – natural disasters, wars, lawlessness etc.  Does this sound like a return to the days of Solomon that Bevere longs for?  Does this sound like the picture painted by those in the New Apostolic Reformation of a glorious earth that has been Christianised by a new breed of super apostles and prophets?

Bevere continues: “The members of the early church were referred to as, “These who have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6 NKJV). They too had no lack, for we read, “God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them” (Acts 4:33–34). They were so unique that often they had to convince military officers or community leaders that they were not gods and should not be worshipped. Citizens of this world viewed them as the supermen and superwomen of their generation. They eliminated sickness and disease from those who suffered. They shone as bright lights in the midst of a dark generation.”
A study on the apostolic age, purpose of the sign gifts, unique miracles at the hands of the apostles as well as their special authority would really benefit Bevere and other NAR teachers.  Furthermore, many believers did suffer lack, but their needs were met by other believers who went so far as to sell property to meet help those in need.  Those who suffered lack were not condemned for being non tithers, disobedient, sinful – victims of kryptonite in other words.  Their needs were met because money that was collected went directly to them.  Today the needy in the church are sometimes the last to benefit from the Sunday collection. Fancy buildings, equipment and the pastor’s salary (rarely disclosed) are top priority.  Millions are pumped into the evangelical industrial complex, and in return a plethora of false teachings are manufactured and soaked up by lazy and carnal followers.

These day’s many of today’s celebrity pastors seem humble by foregoing a salary.  This is possible because they make thousands from the sales of their ear tickling merchandise.  It is also in vogue to have a charity or social transformation agenda, and followers are expected to sow into this charity after they have first given to the church or celebrity teacher.

Believers should shine as bright lights in the midst of a dark generation, but not in the way Bevere envisions which boils down to pure dominion theology.  He does make the point that we should be morally pure, but then he also believes we should be viewed as supermen or women, be healthier, wealthier and transform cities, and even nations who have military superiority.

Once more, he reveals his ignorance of the differences between the old and new covenant by asking: “Why were some Old Testament believers, who were part of an “inferior” covenant, based on lesser promises, living in ways far above what we witness today?”   At this point he reveals what Kryptonite represents.  He quotes 1 Corinthians 11:28–32 which addresses the irreverence of the Corinthians during the Lord’s Supper, and the consequences – many believers were weak, sick, and had even died.
“..if exposed to kryptonite, Superman became sick and weak—even weaker than the average human being. If exposed to it over a long period of time, he could even die.
In essence, the apostle Paul is identifying the church’s kryptonite. It weakens us, keeping us from walking in the power of the divine nature.”  

Bevere does go on to explain that not all weakness, sickness and death are due to our disobedience or sin.  In his interview he also identified idolatry and stubbornness as being kryptonite (https://cpnshows.com/shows/loveleads)

“So now we need to ask, “Was the judgment of being weak, sick, and
dying prematurely assigned to each individual who was sinning, or was the
body of Christ in Corinth as a whole suffering these consequences due to
the behavior of some of its members?”
Bevere now intimates that although we each suffer the consequences of our personal sins, our personal sins do affect the body of Christ.  He recounts the sin of Achan in the book of Joshua, although Achan had sinned, God said “Israel has sinned” and as a result Bevere writes: “.. as an entire body they suffered.” “Have you privately questioned why so many believers in our churches today are weak, suffering from persistent sicknesses and diseases? These dear ones can’t seem to get healed of these ailments, and some are even dying prematurely. Why are there so many single moms in our fellowships on food stamps, struggling to make ends meet? Why are so many believers unemployed or living on shoestring budgets and dependent on the government? The list of struggles that can’t seem to be overcome due to our weakness is almost endless. In the days of Solomon, there wasn’t one person on welfare or unemployment. In the book of Acts, there was no lack and people were readily healed of ailments, diseases, and infirmities. Why aren’t we seeing this today? Could it be the practiced sin of some is affecting the lives of many others? Could we be seeing what Israel experienced with Ai?”
Bevere is correct in that secret or personal sin does affect others and can damage the cause of Christ, but to suggest, for example, that aunt Edith in the congregation has rheumatoid arthritis, her pension payment is late, and she and has lost her desire to pray because a deacon is stealing from the weekly offering is ludicrous.  Bevere, like other New Apostolic Reformation and charismatic teachers do not understand the difference between law and grace.  They are also looking for and working towards an unholy ecumenical unity and standard in the visible church.
Bevere fails to explain how many suffered in the old testament, not because of their sin, but because of their obedience: “Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” Hebrews 11:36-40

Its really a pity that Bevere continues to make the same errors contained in his previous books. This book is simply a repackaging of his false doctrines. Three chapters (the book has 28 chapters) are sufficient to realize that this book is based on bad hermeneutics.  Compared to some of the other teachers we warn about, Bevere is at least prepared to mention and confront sin and insist on righteous living.  However, because Bevere makes no distinction between law and grace, he drifts towards a works based Christianity.  He repeats the false doctrines found in his previous books – health and wealth gospel, dominion theology and a perverted “covering” teaching.  A 500 gram fillet steak with an ounce of arsenic is just as deadly as a greasy 100 gram hamburger patty containing 80% fat, soya, cereal and an ounce of arsenic.

This is what makes Bevere a far more dangerous teacher than the likes of Todd Bentley or Joel Osteen.  On the surface, Killing Kryptonite may seem a cut above the usual ear tickling books from the usual suspects, but dig deeper and you will find his solution to what he perceives as weakness in the church is flawed.  He makes no distinction between law and gospel.  He makes no distinction between the visible church and the body of Christ. His dominion theology, prosperity and health and wealth gospel are evident in the first three chapters.  In true New Apostolic reformation fashion he ignores scripture that paints a picture of a visible church that is compromised, deceived, and will heap up for themselves false teachers.  He justifies living the “American dream” as a reward for those who keep the law or follow his teachings.

Despite numerous testimonies in this book and others on how he has humbled himself, or learnt to deal with his personal idols such as golf, Bevere’s over inflated opinion of self shines through in his books.  If you are not familiar with John Bevere, we will close with some excerpts from two of his previous books in order for you to gain some insight.

Before reading some excerpts from Honor’s Reward, lets consider the apostle Paul’s attitude towards money.  While the New Testament does not teach tithing, it does teach giving – cheerfully, not under compulsion and according to our means.  It also teaches that those who preach the gospel are entitled to live by the gospel: “In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” 1 Corinthans 9:14
However, in one instance Paul was willing to forego his right to receive money in order to not be a stumbling block: “But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision.” 1 Corinthians 9:15
The gospel, not financial reward was Paul’s priority: “Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 9:12  The great apostle who contributed so much to the gospel and whose letters are scripture, worked at times as a tentmaker among the people he taught (Acts 18:3)  He was willing to sacrifice his own needs in order to preach the gospel. Now consider the words of John Bevere:

I’ve gone to places where I’ve wondered why they asked me to come.  They put is in run down hotels, or outside – entrance hotels; they have no bottled water or snacks in the room, and no room service available. I’m greeted in the pastor’s office not with warmth and gratefulness for coming, but more with an attitude of: I’m expecting this out of you.  I’ve been treated by a few with the attitude of, What we are doing here is important and you are privileged to speak here.  When I’m introduced the people sit and stare at me with a disinterested look.  You can almost hear their thoughts: We’ve heard them all, what do you have that is any different.  As I speak I feel as if I’m on trial.

I come out of these meetings feeling worn out. I’ve spiritually plowed through the resistance the entire time, rather than being drawn from hungry hearts. Then the pastor will hand me an offering check so small that if his church received this amount every week they could not survive. I’m happy to report this doesn’t happen frequently.

I recall one specific incident: I was asked to speak at a conference with another minister for an entire week. The pastor shared that they had taken in over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the meetings. I was very happy for them. However, when I left they handed me a six-hundred-dollar check for our ministry. Barely a tip, and not a good one either; just 10 percent would have been twenty-five thousand. So it was a little more than two-tenths of a percent (that’s 0.2 percent).

I’ve learned it doesn’t affect our ministry, because God always gets us what we need through some other avenue. Every time in the past when churches have tipped us in this manner (I guess I really can’t describe that as a tip, because it is far below tipping standards) we get a huge gift in the mail the same week from an individual or we’ll go to the next church and they’ll give us an enormous offering. I love it, because it is as if God is saying to us, “I know.”

I’ve seen the faithfulness of God to supply for us, and I’ve never lost and sleep over it. My grief is for those who gave the crumbs; they’ve missed out on an opportunity to receive a great reward by honoring the one Jesus sent them.

On the flip side I’ve gone to meetings where from the moment I was picked up at the airport until the time I was dropped off again, I was met with excitement and treated with extreme kindness and genuine hospitality.

I arrive in my hotel room and am welcomed with a large basket of fruit, drinks, and snacks that I could feed on for a week. The church checked with our office for what types of foods I like to snack on. I’ve even arrived to find presents awaiting me in my hotel room, such as a candle, nice pen, shirt, or cologne. They put me in the nicest hotels in the area and make sure I have room service and other amenities that make living on the road more like home. Not only do they do this for me, but for my traveling assistants as well.

When I step in the pulpits I’m greeted with the people standing and giving a loud applause. They are thankful to God for sending them one of His messengers, and are excitedly anticipating hearing the Word of God. They listen to the Word attentively; no one moves or talks during the service, because they don’t want to miss one point. They welcome the presence of God during ministry time, and finally rush our resource tables to glean more from the books and curriculums.

These churches will talk with our office or me months and even years later and make comments like, “We turned the corner when you came,” or “Our staff and church has never been the same. It was as if we went up to another level.” I sometimes laugh inside, because maybe just the week prior I went to a church that treated us as common travelers. I ministered on the same subject and came with the same purpose, but the results were very small, and no comments were made after I left. It again shows it has nothing to do with me, but how I’m received.

To the contrary, it shows that it has everything to do with John Bevere.

“Time and time again I’ve witnessed that those who are generous in financially honoring their spiritual leaders are those who are blessed materially, and have enough to do every good work that comes before them. But it goes further.  What I’ve also observed is that they walk in an overflow of God’s presence.  Why should this surprise us? – it’s God’s promise?  Understanding this truth answered my question of why I couldn’t sense a strong presence of God in meetings where honor was withheld – where the pastor was struggling, or where I’m treated like a common traveler.  The people were not generous.  However once they became liberal and continued to do so, the presence of God was so much stronger in their church…whenever the people of God richly gave, miracles, freedoms, salvations, God’s presence and prosperity would abound.” – Honor’s Reward: How to Attract God’s Favor and Blessing – John Bevere

The above sounds like the expectations of a celebrity, not a minister of the gospel who should be willing to endure any circumstance in order to preach the gospel.  Where does the New Testament teach that if a congregation “tips” the minister well, salvations, miracles, prosperity, and the presence of God will abound?  This is rank heresy from Bevere, and brings into question his motives for preaching.

Another book by Bevere – Under Cover, promotes a pyramid model or hierarchical leadership structure in the church, the very thing Jesus and Peter warned about.  It’s an abusive pastor’s dream reference book, as Bevere basically equates submitting to your pastor with submitting to God.  A far more appropriate title would have been “The Untouchables Manual For Ultimate Manipulation Of Sheep.”  Based on faulty exegesis of Romans 13 which applies to civil authority not church authority, Bevere exalts church authority to a level condemned in scripture itself.  Bevere believes that if we oppose God’s delegated authority, we oppose God Himself.  The consequences are severe: “Not only does it place us under the judgment of God, but it grants legal access to demonic powers. If we want to remain obedient to God and ,we have but one choice when it comes to delegated authority – submission and obedience.” p88  . And it gets worse: “Our provision as well as protection could be blocked or even cut off as we disconnect ourselves from the Source of true life”

In a conversation with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit said to Bevere: ” John, if I intended for every believer to get all his information, wisdom, and direction only from prayer and communion with Me, then I’d never have instituted authority in the church. I placed authorities in the church with the full intent that My children could not get all they needed just from their prayer life. They would have to learn to recognise and hear My voice through their leaders as well.” p147
God did place leaders in the church, not to dominate people but to instruct them through rightly dividing the word of truth, and setting an example through servanthood.  Furthermore, we are commanded to test all things, the Bereans were commended for comparing Paul’s teaching with scripture (Acts 17:11)   Bevere makes no distinction between leadership under the old covenant with that of the new.  His frequent use of old testament authority examples are out of context and comes to this shocking conclusion: “..when God places His authority on a person, no matter his private or personal behaviour, we may still receive if we look beyond it and honour him as sent from God” p116
This is in clear contradiction of scripture: “appoint elders in every town as I directed you—  if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.  For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.  He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” Titus 1:5-9

According to Bevere’s teaching, if your pastor is a drunkard, abuses people in his congregation, teaches false doctrine, your job is to submit: “To resist delegated authority is to resist God’s authority. We should not take upon ourselves the pressure to discern beforehand whether leaders are right or not. Nor should we judge after the fact. This is not our burden, but God’s. He alone knows and can change hearts as He so desires.” p147

In conclusion, a little leaven leavens the whole lump. John Bevere claims to have conversations with the Holy Spirit, yet mangles God’s word to such an extent that the same Holy Spirit must be grieved.  Bevere is having conversations with himself, and manufacturing teachings that will ultimately place you back under the law.  Bevere does not rightly divide the truth, is unable to teach sound doctrine, and by his own admission refuses to rebuke those who contradict scripture. John Bevere needs to be marked and avoided, he teaches false doctrine, and clearly violates 1 Peter 5: 2-3:
“shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;  not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”

CAPTIVATED THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND EMPTY DECEIT – PART 2

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We continue with examples of what mesmerizes those who have been deceived by teachers who are not qualified to teach. The biblically illiterate soak up the false doctrines promulgated by these smooth talkers who travel the globe peddling their false doctrines.  Due to the the insidious nature of these examples they are rarely viewed as an attack on scripture, but that is precisely what they are.

It is biblical to warn the body of false teachers and false teachings within the visible church. Many quote this scripture in order to instill fear into their followers, and prevent them from asking legitimate questions regarding doctrine:

What our blog is doing, is exposing false teachings and those who teach them by marking and avoiding them as instructed by scripture.  What Psalm 105:15 really means is that we should not physically harm a prophet, as the text clearly explains. In any case the prophets are no more, but their words recorded in scripture still speak to us today.

We know that Bethel church pays scant regard to scripture, and that is what leads them to look for omens (forbidden in scripture).  Kris Vallotton, the leader of the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry reveals some of the ways God wants to speak to us:  “Another way creation speaks to us is by God causing nature to do things that are actually prophetic acts. One year, every time Bethel church would meet to pray, a roadrunner would show up outside the glass door with a lizard in its mouth! This went on for months until we realized that the Lord was calling us to go out to the roads, the highways, and the byways and compel the lost to come in! One day the roadrunner managed to find his way inside the church. In a desperate attempt to get out of the building, he hit a window and died. The Lord showed us through this event that if we did not reach out to the lost that our church would die.”  If Kris & co simply studied and obeyed scripture, they would come to the same conclusion without having to look to omens to lead them.

At least he admits it is possible that God at times uses scripture, although it is baffling as to why God would use his own word out of context: “The Lord can speak to us in our daily reading of the Bible. He can also highlight a verse or story that speaks to us about our circumstance. Sometimes, it may even seem as if God is taking a Scripture out of context.“

Faulty watches may also be a way God apparently speaks to us: “Spiritual happenings are another way God speaks to us. These are supernatural incidents that correlate with natural events. Some time ago, every time I entered a worship service, I noticed that my watch gained an hour. After purchasing three different watches, all of which gained an hour during worship, I finally asked the Lord what this could mean. He said, “It’s later than you think.”

 

Source – http://krisvallotton.com/8-ways-god-wants-to-speak-to-you/ April 17 2017

The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) teaches that believers must disciple literal nations prior to Christs return.  NAR teachers believe Matthew 28:19 refers to literal nations: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..”  What this verse actually means is that the gospel is universal.  Salvation is for all tribes, tongues, nations, classes of people.  Keep in mind, the disciples initially thought it was for the Jews alone. In fact, earlier in Matthew 10, Jesus instructed them to avoid the Gentiles: “These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” vs 5-6.  Now the restriction is lifted, and Jesus commissions them to take the gospel to all nations.  This took a while for the disciples to process and it took a vision to persuade Peter that the gospel was indeed for all.  Peter spoke after receiving his vision: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,  but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”  Acts 10:34-35

Paul reminded the Ephesians of this fact: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” Eph 2:13-13

The penny has not dropped with Kris Vallotton:

Resistance against the false doctrine of these NAR leaders is usually futile.  If the foundation is wrong, the whole house comes tumbling down.  One reason false teachers cannot receive biblical correction is that their whole ministry will collapse.  They would have to withdraw all their books and courses (a main source of their income)  They would have to step down from ministry, repent of teaching error, and study the word of God in context (no more income)  This would not only be a humbling experience, but also derive them of any income based on ministry.  Pride and mammon have a solid grip on these charlatans.  Someone tries to point out to Kris what this verse means:

More people tried to point out his error, but to no avail.

This is an excerpt from his book “Basic Training for the Supernatural Ways of Royalty” clearly indicating his belief in discipling nations:  “The difference between a church that is discipling people and a church that is discipling nations really comes down to vision.  There is something about the bigger vision of discipling nations that draws out our royal potential, not only by redirecting our focus from getting to Heaven to getting Heaven here” pg 174

And here is evidence of his heretical dominion theology, a core element of NAR teaching: “The fact that the church has been restored to man’s original position of dominion on earth requires us to learn and carry out the responsibilities that came with our authority.  What is the purpose of our dominion?  We are called to fulfill the original commission given to Adam and Eve, but the task is different because we must not just subdue the earth but restore it from centuries of destruction it has suffered under the devil’s tyranny.  The church is called to destroy the works of the devil, as Jesus modeled, to make disciples of all of the nations and to teach the world to obey the commands of Christ” pg 180

Kris writes: “We are called to disciple all the nations of the world. Discipling nations means submerging them in God–not religion–and “teaching them all I commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). Teaching nations how to think is the transformational catalyst to changing cultures. But as long as Christians aren’t valued in society, they will have no influence in the world.” – “History Makers” Kris Vallotton.com

compare:

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.” – Jesus. (Matthew 10:22)

 Regardless of your eschatology, it is clear that we are living in the last days.  What we are witnessing is exactly what scripture predicted, and it’s not an end time NAR type revival but: wars, lawlessness, perilous times, false teachers, apostasy, natural disasters, iniquity will increase, people will be lovers of pleasure etc.  While we admire the passion of Lou Engle, passion outside of biblical principles is pointless. Nowhere does scripture teach that God will renew the covenant, and which covenant is he referring to?  Lou’s dream of a Christian utopia on earth prior to Christ’s return flies in the face of scripture, but fits in perfectly with the dominion theology of the New Apostolic Reformation.

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Smart phone false prophet Shawn Bolz is another New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) teacher who believes Christ will return to a world that has been discipled, instead of a world deserving God’s wrath.

.In order to keep your brand going on social media, one liners have become the latest rage.  Celebrity teachers have to update their twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages on a regular basis. The result is usually an oxymoron, false dichotomy, pure heresy, or narcissism.  Here Shawn places the cart before the horse:

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Below we have another attempt at commanding hurricanes to change direction that failed.  How Johnny knew the cause was witchcraft from Africa, is anyone’s guess.  But what could we expect from a prophet that hears God speaking through license plates (see part 1)

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Jennifer Eivaz associate Pastor and prophet from Harvest Christian Center in Turlock, warns us to stick to the word of God, and we agree;  just a pity she does not heed her own warning.

Here’s a heresy – God speaking through eggs after He has given his full revelation to us through scripture:

Altitude sickness medication might be necessary for prayer warriors:

and in her meetings, you may just find one of these:

The early church managed to make disciples without receiving messages through egg yolks, dead birds, glory clouds, feathers, gold dust, fake jewels and gemstones.  This generation is an adulterous one – always looking for a sign.

Speaking of signs, Seth Dahl is the childrens pastor at Bethel church.  He had an encounter with the angel of finance, and once Jesus appeared in a vision asking Seth to forgive him (Jesus) for some nasty things a fellow believer had said.  Pray for the children at Bethel, who from a tender age are being trained in the false doctrines of the New Apostolic Reformation.  Signs, experiences, encounters, impartations, activations, and manifestations take preference over the word of God, setting the children up for an experiential based Christianity.  This in turn makes them easy targets for the Antichrist who will make the leg stretching “miracles” of Todd White and the current new breed of “revivalists” look lame: “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders” 2 Thessalonians 2:9.  Because they refuse to love the truth, they will be deceived by a lie.

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Struggling in your warfare against the powers of darkness? The answer might be a Shofar.  Bill Yount uses the Shofar or ram’s horn in his meetings breaking the powers of darkness over regions, churches and house-holds.  Bill is currently an “Advisor at Large for Aglow International. Bill’s calling is to encourage the Body of Christ to move forward into God’s Destiny as they are sent into the Harvest field.”

According to Bill: “There has been a renewal of interest and use of the Shofar.  The church is experiencing new things as the Holy Spirit prompts us to sound the Shofar.”  As far as experiencing new things are concerned, Bill has raised the standard with this prophecy.  If your current source of transport is unreliable, hang on, something far better is on the way:

From the article: “With the increase of international disasters beginning to take place around the world, there will be urgent missions where individuals will need to get to countries swiftly. These missions will not be dependent upon the future unstable conditions of the airline transportation systems.”
Surely with all this activity in the skies accidents are bound to happen?  Apparently not, because there will be heavenly air traffic control: “Angels will help control air and ground traffic transportation for the missions of God’s people.”

 source: https://www.charismamag.com/blogs/prophetic-insight/33853-prophecy-spiritual-chariot-wheels-being-ordered-for-the-last-days-method-of-transportation

Road runners, egg yolks, faulty watches, and even hurricanes are vehicles for messages from God.  Johnny Enlow, Lance Wallnau, the Copelands, and other false teachers failed dismally in their attempts to rebuke the hurricane and send it back out to sea.  In hindsight, that may have been a good thing if Bill is correct, more from Bill Yount:

“This morning while witnessing a water baptism at our church, I saw another one take place. I sensed the Lord saying, “I have used the hurricanes to baptize the states of Texas and Florida and to cleanse their land. Their cries have come up before Me. They will rise from their waters with resurrection life.”

“As power outages are worked on, many will discover the power of My light turning their houses into homes and their cities into sanctuaries of My presence. I have seen their precious alabaster boxes broken open by nature’s rage, as a sweet smelling fragrance is released throughout this nation. These two states will become pillars in My kingdom as many consider and wonder why they are still here. Many survivors will become revivers as My river now runs through their cities and states. The windows of heaven have opened over them.”

Source – https://www.charismamag.com/blogs/prophetic-insight/33910-prophecy-hurricanes-baptize-texas-and-florida-with-resurrection-life

Feeling troubled? Never mind.  Paula White, the word of faith heretic and prosperity teacher, has you covered:

Homework – find a scripture instructing a believer to “plead or pray the blood” of Jesus over anything or anyone.

Paula’s on a roll, is she God to be able to declare things over your life?

This is word of faith heresy:

More shifts….

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Being on the NY Times best seller list does not guarantee sound doctrine.  Lisa and husband John Bevere (read part one for more on him) lead their own ministry called Messenger International.  Birds of a feather flock together, and the Bevere’s are sought after conference speakers, appearing at  churches such as Hillsong and Bethel church – churches to avoid.   Her book Without Rival contains a host of errors, just one of them is that she believes Jesus was not divine during his incarnation (a false Christlogoy), which means he was not God, and died in vain: “Jesus became vulnerable on our behalf when he stripped himself of his divine nature to become like us so we could become like him.”

That is not what scripture teaches, Jesus was both God and man: “concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead..” Romans 1:3-4

In her book, she also promotes automatic writing.  Who needs scripture when you can receive direct revelation: “Before we go any further, pick up a pen, close your eyes, and ask your Creator to whisper his unique designations over you. Don’t be afraid that you are making up words of love and value. These words are really how he sees you. Be still a moment and know. I challenge you to write down three words or phrases that he whispers over you.”

More encouragement from Lisa Bevere:

And then the God mode:

And remember: 

Ok then…

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If your carnal nature has not been puffed up sufficiently, here’s the clincher.  This from Christine Caine, founder of Propel Women.  Their mission is to celebrate every woman’s passion, purpose, and potential.

Christine, influenced by word of faith and prosperity teacher Brian Houston perhaps?

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There you have it.  You can follow these narcissistic and unbiblical teachings and those who teach them, or you can choose to believe scripture.

“Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”

C.H. Spurgeon

THE LESSER MENTIONED THIEF

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By Rick Becker  7 September 2017

 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” John 10:10.  We are all familiar with this phrase, usually quoted when referring to Satan.  However, when we examine the context, we see that Jesus is in fact referring to false teachers.

Satan is certainly a liar who is hell bent on destroying God’s sheep by any means, and one way his intentions are carried out is through false teachers.  If we look at the context of this verse, we see a contrast between Jesus – the good shepherd, and the false shepherds of Israel – the Pharisees.  The previous chapter recounts the healing of the man born blind, and how despite this miracle by Jesus, the Pharisees excommunicated the blind man and condemned Jesus – the good shepherd.  Jesus promptly rebukes the Pharisees (John 9:40-41) and Chapter 10 continues in the same vein, with the object of Jesus’ condemnation being the religious leaders of Israel.  Jesus refers to them as “that man” vs 1, “a stranger” vs 5, “all who came before me” vs 8, “a hired hand” vs 12, clearly all references to the religious leaders.

In verse one, we are told: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber” John 10:1.  Jesus is using a parable to contrast a true shepherd, who cares for the flock, as opposed to a hireling, who is ultimately concerned with some sort of selfish gain.  Today we have hirelings in the church: these false shepherds do not fulfil the biblical criteria to minister in the church.  If you have listened to our sermon reviews, you would have noticed that the teachers we reviewed used scripture out of context.  Scripture is clear, one of the qualifications is that those who teach must be able to rightly divide the word of truth:  “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.“  2 Timothy 2:15

These hirelings have not come through the door which is Christ, but as Jude warned have “crept in unnoticed.”  The threat to the spiritual welfare of the church is internal because this is where false teachers operate – within the fold.  You will find these hirelings on stage at a plethora of conferences hosted annually by churches or movements such as Hillsong, Bethel, The Call, IHOP, Willow Creek GLS and others. Some of their common errors include the prosperity gospel, word of faith heresy, and dominion theology as espoused by those in the New Apostolic Reformation.

They have disguised themselves as “apostles of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:13).  These false apostles are described as being savage wolves.  Paul warned the Ephesian elders:  “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them… ”  Acts 20:29-30

False teachers come to steal, kill and destroy.  They do this through their teachings and behaviour:  “There will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.  Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping” (2 Peter 2:1–3).

How exactly do false teachers “steal kill and destroy?”  The passage above reveals some of the ways:

Their false doctrine which is destructive – false teachings present either a distorted view of man or a distorted view of God.  Last weeks blog post revealed the extent to which false teachers have distorted the biblical view of mankind.  It is impossible to mature in the the faith, or at times even be in the faith unless these two views are aligned with scripture.  A distorted view of God is not a foundation to build upon – Os Guiness explains:  “Sometimes when I listen to people who say they have lost their faith, I am far less surprised than they expect.  If their view of God is what they say, then it is only surprising that they did not reject it much earlier.  Other people have a concept of God so fundamentally false that it would be better for them to doubt than to remain devout. The more devout they are, the uglier their faith will become since it is based on a lie. Doubt in such a case is not only highly understandable, it is even a mark of spiritual and intellectual sensitivity to error, for their picture is not of God but an idol. ”
― Os Guinness, God in the Dark.

Their conduct maligns Christianity – scandal after scandal has plagued popular leaders of mega churches (due to their depraved conduct) bringing the name of Christ into disrepute.  Extra marital affairs, plagiarism, covering up a family members pedophilia, stealing church funds, sensual productions on church stages and other indiscretions are regularly witnessed. To make matters worse, there is little accountability, and the perpetrators are usually “restored” to a ministry position they were never qualified for in the first place, after a few months.

Their exploitation of people through their lies.  A good shepherd will protect his sheep at all costs.  False teachers exploit the flock through various manipulative means, justified through their twisting of scripture.  The weak, vulnerable, hurting and naive are preyed upon and abused.  Furthermore, a hireling’s primary concern is the wages he/she will receive at the end of the day.  This brings us to three observations concerning false teachers who come to steal, kill and destroy:

1. They exploit their followers through stealing their money:

  Their ultimate concern is self gratification, monetary reward being one of their motives:  “..they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach” Titus 1:11 This means that they want your money as “they have hearts trained in greed” 2 Peter 3:14.  Let’s not lay all the blame on them, because in order to enrich themselves, they appeal to the greed of their followers. Teaching on tithing or the “principle of sowing”  therefore dominates many of their messages.

New Testament believers are never commanded to tithe, but to give in this manner:  “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9: 6-8

The irony is that tithing did not work for prosperity teachers;  what made them rich are their fabricated stories which tickle ears.

The quote above is from Robert Morris, who is doing the very thing he accuses Satan of – stealing your money.  Morris is possibly one of the worst manipulators when it comes to fleecing the flock.  He teaches that if we don’t tithe, we are under a curse, and open the door to demons. Failure to tithe can bring divorce and other calamity’s according to this wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The apostle Paul did not mince his words when teaching on how we should deal with those who teach false doctrine and are motivated by greed:  “For there are many who are insubordinate,empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.  They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”  This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,” Titus 1: 1 – 13

Don’t be fooled by all the good these teachers do, and you can be certain that they will let you know that they are doing good!  Most of these celebrity teachers and megachurches make sure that they do some charitable work.  Some might point to these works as evidence of good fruit, however,  building Orphanages, christian universities, fighting human trafficking etc can never justify a false gospel.  “You will know them by their fruits” also refers to sound doctrine.  Those who teach what they ought not to, are displaying bad fruits.

“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound  words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,  and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” 1 Timothy 6:3-6.

2.  They tell you what you want to hear, not what you need to hear:

False teachers give you what you want to hear, and in doing so rob you of the truth, and of Christ himself.  What does our carnal nature want to hear about? Self, naturally.  Our destiny, our purpose, our legacy.

Indeed, our day of “being without intelligence” is over, that’s why it’s impossible to believe this quote;  which would be more plausible if it came from the mouth of a gypsy in a caravan with a glass ball.  This is how we should preach:

“preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”  2 Timothy 4: 2-4

When last have you heard a sermon by one of these mega church leaders condemning sin, exposing false doctrine, warning of the judgement to come, rebuking, reproving, and contending for the faith?  These are subjects they conveniently ignore as they are too busy catering for the passions of those on the wide road that leads to destruction. The cost of following Christ has been exchanged for the comforts of a relationship with God in which you determine the conditions and rewards – a partnership.

This is not a new scenario; God condemned Israel for seeking out prophets who told them what they wanted to hear: “For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”  Isaiah 30: 9-11. Centuries later, this verse is still applicable to the likes of T D Jakes, Brian Houston, Joel Osteen, Shawn Bolz, Patricia King and Kris Vallotton to name but a few.

What these teachers will offer, is the opposite of self denial and picking up your cross.  Self denial has been replaced with gratification of self:  “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” 2 Timothy 3: 1-4

3 They cause division in the body:

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.  For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”  Romans 16:17-18

We need to dispel a common misconception regarding this verse. This verse is NOT saying that warning people of smooth talkers and exposing their error is divisive.  This verse IS saying that those who cause cause divisions and obstacles are the smooth talkers who have veered off from the doctrine they had been taught.  These hirelings need to be marked (named) and avoided (a healthy division) as they take advantage of their naive followers.  Their common errors include teachings that place us back under the law (Galatians 2), grace as an excuse to continue in sin (Romans 6), and false philosophy (Colossians 2).  Interestingly, a portion of the following verses describes those caught up in the New Apostolic Reformation:  “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, (intruding into those things which he has not seen), vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,  and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.” Colossians 2: 18-19.

Not necessarily worship, but a fascination of angels and the false notion that we should discern their presence or instruct them is what some teach.  Discerning believers would know that Bethel propagates cleverly devised myths and fabricated stories.  There are no boundaries when it comes to Bill Johnson & co.  Their culture of “taking risks” really means that they are prepared to entertain any encounter or manifestation regardless of the source.  These teachers obsessed with the supernatural and manifestations are the ones causing division because they are the ones disconnected from the head.  Bill Johnson is so disconnected from scripture that he utilizes philosophy, mysticism and the new age in his teachings. He makes up his own theology, and his followers love to have it so:

Imagine if this quote was doing the rounds in the early church.  One of the real apostles would have confronted Bill Johnson, rebuked him, and disqualified him from teaching with immediate effect.  Is it divisive to distance oneself from a “pastor” who has trampled scripture into the ground and incorporates mysticism and new age into his teachings?  Is it divisive to point out that smoke and glitter do not constitute a “glory cloud?  Is it divisive to warn those at Bethel that their leaders covet the mantle of deceased false prophet William Branham?  You get the point!

The book of Jude exhorts us to contend for the faith, and then goes on to describe false teachers who have crept into the church.  They are described as shepherds who feed themselves, loud- mouthed boasters who rely on their dreams.  Jude then states that “It is these who cause divisions.”  

It is those who depart from sound doctrine that are causing division: “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.“ Acts 20: 29 -30

The dividers are those who twist or ignore scripture.  These are some of the words scripture uses to describe their teachings and methods: myths, cleverly invented stories, fables, relying on dreams, destructive heresies, distort the truth,  empty talkers.  Paul, in his first Epistle to Timothy, reveals the consequences of following false doctrine: “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.” 1 Timothy 6: 20 -21

Paul lamented the ease with which false apostles were accepted in Corinth: “For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.“ 2 Corinthians 11:4

Sadly, today is no different, let us heed the words of Charles Spurgeon:

“He who does not hate the false does not love the true; and he to whom it is all the same whether it be God’s word or man’s, is himself unrenewed at heart.  Oh, if some of you were like your fathers you would not have tolerated in this age the wagon loads of trash under which the gospel has been of late buried by ministers of your own choosing.  You would have hurled out of your pulpits the men who are enemies to the fundamental doctrines of your churches, and yet are crafty enough to become your pastors and undermine the faith of a fickle and superficial generation.”