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Discerning
Spirits and Making Judgments
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Spirit of
Truth or
Spirit of
Error?....'in your church'
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“And do not be conformed to this world
but be ‘transformed’ by the renewing of your mind, so that
you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God” ..
ref/Romans 12:2. |
Though it is still (surprisingly) possible to find a
spiritually healthy and biblically relevant church in the
world today, they are only a remnant. It is obvious that
leaders in many of today’s churches are conforming more and
more to the set expectations of people in society. It is not
only their actions that are not unlike those of people in
secular society, but their conforming to secular society has
also seriously affected the ‘Doctrines’ taught in mainstream
churches and other churches in these times.
A lot of the time in the churches today, it is a case of
‘Doctrines of Demons’ more so than Demons. However, it is
very convenient to blame the devil and his demons rather
than deal with the Adamic-heart, human flesh and pride isn’t
it … this is wilful error/sin.
click
The great prophet Jesus set an example with his teaching and
actions. One key example shown in his teachings was that ‘he
was not conformed to the world’ and was not worried about
what people in society thought of his teaching, for his
words are spiritual and are spiritually beneficial and
practically helpful for all people in all societies today ..
ref/Acts 3:23….
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From my experience of attending certain churches in the
world including in the cities of Frankfurt, Germany, Osaka
and Sakai cities in Japan and in a large size church in
Brisbane, Australia, I have found that ministers in these
churches delivered … very little teaching based on Christ’s
New Testament sayings ….. this is typical of the spirit of
error.
Leaders in these churches did use the Holy Bible during
sermons, but there was very little teaching about
‘discipline, righteous judgment and of discipleship’
as
followers of Jesus. These three were major components of the
‘sayings of Jesus’ in the New Testament.
It is well known that there are worldly Christians, and
there are ‘Spiritual, disciplined Christians …disciples.’
Some carnal Christians become spiritual later in their
Christian walks if they learn and become committed to
seriously following the sayings of the great prophet Jesus
and the teachings of the early apostles sent by him.
On the other hand, some spiritual Christians are dedicated
to doing the will of God and are diligent students of the
Holy Bible but they later stop desiring to do God’s will and
stop associating with spiritual believers in Christ, and
they become Worldly Professing Christians. Major causes of
their straying include inadequate biblical and spiritual
teaching from their church leaders or material and sensual
influences, distractions and unGodly enticements within
their church structure and from within their own hearts,
carnal friends or backslidden associates.
It is inevitable that a typical church will consist of
younger and elder members of whom some are spiritually
disciplined Christians and some carnal Christians, though
some carnal church members are able to grow spiritually and
progress in the revelation- knowledge of Jesus’ words. They
are called children or babes because they are at an early
stage in their spiritual walks as Christians and are not yet
able to be mature spiritual people.
THE NUMBER ONE … existing problem in some churches which I
formerly attended was that music was being prioritized and
glorified above biblical teaching-The Word during church
services. Music has its place in a church service but it is
not meant to be the sole purpose for people to go to church
or want to go to church. Would this not be the leading of a
spirit of error?
ANOTHER PROBLEM THE SECOND… was that fund raising in the
form of various secular like activities was a Big Theme in
some of these churches, and these activities rarely involved
offering spiritual help to people not attending that church.
It is biblical and acceptable for church members to donate
to their local church, but it is not biblically acceptable
for church leaders to charge set prices for those in the
congregation to participate in activities run by that
church. And for Christians to participate in church-led
secular activities at a set price is not a case of following
the example of the great prophet Jesus or of the early
apostles. There is a spirit of error operating here…
beware!. |
It is not the job of church leaders to organize and
advertise secular activities for church members. It is
Marketing and is making the church into a Commercial
Enterprise. Yet they profess to believe in the trinity and
that the Holy Spirit is God Almighty and that they are led
by the Holy Spirit.
But are they being led by the Holy Spirit when they simply
imitate people in secular society? Is the example that they
set pleasing to Jesus?.......... ref/2 Corinthians 5:15 ..
selah.
They say they believe that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit
in His ministry. But are they following his example in their
own ministries/church or are they being led by a spirit of
error and a spirit of error leading that ministry/church.
THE THIRD … and the most significant problem that I have
noticed in the time that I attended these churches was the
serious lack of Spiritual and Highly Relevant New Testament
Teaching given to church members. Instead of majoring on
‘Revealing Important Truths’ within Jesus’ sayings, the
church leader’s methods were more about Conforming to
Society and Conforming to the typical ways of the modern
mainstream (Worldly) churches…. This is a spirit of error
without question. Jesus is no doubt outside knocking as per
the Church at Laodecia.
It is not uncommon to have a combination of carnal and
spiritual Christians in a church, but all members of
Christ’s church should be aiming to become more spiritual
and more informed believers in Christ. However, if the theme
of a church sermon is in some way encouraging Materialism,
Prosperity and Popularity, then it is obviously aimed at
pleasing Worldly People in the congregation, and it is not
going to help them spiritually or save their souls … this is
a spirit of error and needs to be rectified through
repentance …………….. ref/1 Timothy 4:16, Galatians 1:10.
It will not help Christians to walk on the straight and
narrow road of holy and biblical living, and it certainly
does not appear to be even remotely related to following any
teaching of the great prophet Jesus. So which spirit is
leading these people? Is it the Holy Spirit, or is it the
spirit of error?.... ref/Acts 20:20.
People require spiritual discernment. This form of
discernment does not arise from walking a wide road of
conformity to a modern sinful society. The sayings of Jesus
Christ are spiritual, and Christians need spiritual guidance
from a church leader who is spiritual, honest and who really
knows the Will of Christ and wants to do his will. The words
of Christ work effectively in those who believe him. His
words give straight and righteous spiritual direction to
honest ministers, and these Words –Oracles feed, guide land
satisfy the local churches which they lead.
Are we being led by the Holy Spirit or are we instead
conforming to the expectations of those we are familiar with
at our local church and within society at large? Are we
doing the will of Christ Jesus, or are we simply being
controlled by various levels of human authority existing
within mainstream or independent churches? Are you a
professing church leader being led by church members but not
actually being led by the Holy Spirit?...
click
The prophet Haggai said, “Consider your Ways.”… sooner or
later we all come to this consideration, place … openly or
secretly, with our conclusion either for Jesus or against
Jesus but there can be no partiality if one is to be saved
from sin, self, satan, the wrath to come and hell fire. This
is the spirit of truth speaking. |
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Yahweh
Victorious!
“I will sing unto the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
Horse and rider thrown into the sea!
The Lord my God.. my strength my song,
He has become my victory/salvation.
My Lord is God, and I will praise Him;
My Father is God, and I will exalt Him.
The Lord is a man of war;
Yahweh is His name.
ref: Exodus 15:1-3. |
| The words written here are a reference from the ‘Song of
Moses’ in the Holy Bible. It is written that Moses and the
people of Israel sang Moses’ song after Yahweh defeated
Pharaoh’s army, the Egyptians at the Red Sea. This is an
inspiring song indeed, because it illustrates an important
writing in the Old Testament about Yahweh delivering his
chosen people from the hand of their enemies. God has not
changed ,he is the same today. |
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The prophet Moses had great faith in the Lord Yahweh,
and he set a courageous example of leadership as he led the
Jews who were with him when they escaped from Egypt. Moses’
faith was in the Power and Good will of the Lord Yahweh, and
Moses was strengthened and encouraged through trusting in
him. It is an impossibility to please God without faith …
ref/Hebrews 11:6.
The Apostle Paul also taught the church to be brave and to
be strong, but he not only told them but also set an example
of strength, resilience and bravery by his actions.
According to Old Testament writings, the early Jews were
enslaved in Egypt under an oppressive ruler, and they feared
those who ruled over them. However, God had mercy on them,
and they were provided with two men, Moses and Aaron to lead
them out of their miserable situation and into a Promised
Land. But the freedom and peace that would come with
following Yahweh could only be ultimately experienced by
those who ‘persevered with believing in him’.
Disobeying Yahweh and rejecting him proved to be the
downfall of many who were led by him out of Egypt according
to Scripture………….‘The Lord is a Man of War.’ ref: Exodus
15:3.
Yes; make no mistake about this. The Lord Jesus came to the
earth to bring division, and He has been highly successful
in dividing His followers from pretender unto Himself. Are
you his follower or his opponent? Even Jesus’ faithful
followers have numerous enemies today and Lord Jesus has
taught that they will hate His followers because they
actually hated Him first ..
click
Nevertheless, take courage because the Lord is certainly
wiser than his enemies, and they will not ultimately prevail
against Him, nor will they wipe out all of his true
followers, which are His Church …. ref: Revelation 17:14,
Matthew 16:15-18………click
It is easy work for the Lord to do miracles, including
dividing the seas and leading his people through paths that
they would dare not trek without him. Even in these times,
he is able to convert his opponents to serve him and to
befriend his chosen people. And He gives rest to those who
are troubled by their ungodly opponents …… ref: 2
Thessalonians 1:3-10. |
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You will make your own judgment about what you believe.
You will decide if you wish to follow the example of Christ
Jesus or whether you will oppose his sayings in the New
Testament or whether you will neither follow his example nor
speak against it. God does not force people to follow him .
People make their own choices and their own judgments and we
shall all reap the consequences thereof. This is love as we
know it through truth/Christ ……..click
BRO: T. LOFTUS,
JTCM - MISSION, STRATHPINE, QLD … AUSTRALIA.
WWW.FIREANDHAMMER.COM
February 2012 |
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