The convenience of dated prophecy…

Prophets.

Watchmen.

Death and destruction.

Doom and gloom.

True or false

Repentance or pride.

http://onesimusfiles.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/the-convenience-of-dated-prophecy/


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Sad time.

How should we feel when a ministry that has played an important role in our life takes a wrong turn?

I am going through that kind of experience now, seeing a ministry that has had significant influence in my life and the lives of many others I know rapidly going downhill. I see there are several inter-related reasons, including:

1) a casual approach to prophecy and prophetic gifts,

2) a lack of discernment (or lack of care) regarding the sources of ideas being shared.

3) a refusal to be accountable,

4) a refusal to admit error when clear evidence is given.

On one hand the ministry has built a following and a reputation through its exposure of dangerous trends seducing the church – on the other hand it recommends resources (such as articles, which individually may be good in themselves) from people involved with those dangerous trends, without warning about the fact that other resources from the same source should be viewed with caution.

Sadly the ministry in question has been going backwards for some time and without humble repentance will head in one of two directions. Either the Lord in His mercy will shut it down completely, or it will push forward regardless and the Lord will take His hand away all together, allowing it to sink further into error.

I have now removed links to that ministry from this blog sidebar.

Repent, While There is Still Time by Rick Frueh

excerpt:

… the outward signs and manifestations of a religion that says it is Christian but reveals everything to the contrary, are all around us. In fact, if you cannot see the open disfigurement of the faith once delivered to the saints you are deceived as well. And these are not minor disagreements that are more fringe than core. These modern displays tear at the very fabric of what Jesus came to do and what the church is ordained to do and be. Again I say that the situation is so horrifying and treacherous, that in good conscience most of the evangelical religious expressions can no longer be called Christian.

Full article here
http://judahslion.blogspot.com/2012/01/repent-while-there-is-still-time-i-can.html#links



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Rain or Repentance?

Eastern Australia has recently suffered a ten year drought.

4 ½ years ago I moved from Sydney to a country town 4 hours to the west. In church there was regular prayer for rain. Living in the country where farmer’s livelihoods are dependant on suitable climatic conditions it is very easy to empathise with that desire for rain. Without the rain their crops will fail, they get no income. Many have given up. Many have been forced from repossessed farms, driven into debt by years without a saleable crop.

One high profile Christian minister led nationwide prayer meetings to seek the Lord for rain. When the rain did come after one of his meetings, credit was taken for the breaking of the drought through prayer.

It is the natural thing to pray for the nation’s situation to be resolved through reliable rainfall. But while that is the “natural thing” was it the RIGHT thing to do?

Would the drought being broken bring people closer to God? Or would restored comfort mean increased complacency?

Over the last year the drought finally came to an end. Dams that had fallen to frighteningly low levels were filling. A few months ago a local dam was below 4% capacity. In recent weeks it rose to almost 60%.
Farmers were confident of their best crops ever.

Until two weeks ago!

In less than two weeks there have been record rainfalls. Major dams can’t cope and are now spilling excessive water into rivers. Flooding is extensive. The combination of rain and floods has destroyed much of the “best crop ever”.

Why? Is this the answer to prayer against drought?

While considering this situation a clear phrase came to my mind:

Rain without repentance.

In prayer should we be put earthly comfort first or should we take a more eternal viewpoint? What does this nation (and others) really need?

Rain or repentance?


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James 5:17-18 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
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Photo from here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/08/3087667.htm?site=westernplains§ion=news&date=(none)

SECURE FOUNDATIONS

At work we have an Occupational Health and Safety noticeboard where information about workplace safety can be posted. Occasionally there will be photos of actual cases of incredible carelessness (even stupidity) that put people’s lives at risk.

An example would be someone standing on a ladder balanced on a chair that they have placed on a table – all in the attempt to reach a height beyond the capability of the ladder.

This thoughtless approach and attitude brings to mind the way some people approach their relationship with Jesus.

The ladder in the above example lacks stability. It is not placed on the required foundation, and it is a danger to anyone who climbs it.

There are foundations to the Christian life. They are specifically mentioned together in Hebrews 6 and separately elsewhere. They provide the basics of Christian faith, a secure anchor point. Yet how often do arguments arise about their necessity?

Some people seem intent on seeing how few of the foundational things they need? Is baptism really necessary? What about repentance? Surely it’s enough to merely believe?

These people make me think of the man on that ladder: seeing how little contact he can have with a solid foundation without falling. Some even try to test things further, rocking the ladder to one side until it is balancing on one leg only.