The Word of God has been “Marked Down!”

thewordofgodforever's Blog

I love mark-downs because they’re cheap! My mom loved bargains too. She would wait until Christmas Eve day, catch the bus, ride downtown and buy all of our gifts in one day at the fabulous marked-down prices.

The Word of God is far from cheap — it is the most valuable book ever written. The Psalmist wrote “For you have magnified your word above all your name!” Ps 138:2

Today there are “movements,” particularly within the Charismatic/Pentecostal realm, which are “marking down” the Word of God.  They are placing “man’s writings, experiences, prophecies, visions, angelic visitations and manifestations above God’s word.  Many believe they are “God-Chasers” when in reality they are often “itching ear” chasers.  There is grave danger in this pursuit.  As to the pastors/teachers/leaders that are directing believers into these movements . . . there’s is a more severe judgement. 

Paul underscored the value of God’s word in the New…

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The Gospel in action ! pt 2

when we talk of the Gospel –   we definitely need to clarify  what we mean by that…!     ( also review our true Jesus-False Jesus page)

Gospel means the good news..    & in particular the good news of Jesus…     so in a sense we can see how the confusion has run away with itself in the church..    now  being genuinely healed & delivered is of course good news   & if genuine healing has formed part of any of our experiences Im not here to undermine that at all – please hear me correctly   BUT   the better news, than healing   is salvation   & salvation from what?

well the separation between God the father & us because of our sin  —  this is the issue – the problem of sin that separates –   so what to do about  it?

mark 16 v 15-18  http:///www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+16%3A15-18&version=A

Believe In Jesus for salvation,   but  NOT because of what he CAN DO FOR US  but what he has already done…   his precious sacrifice at the cross dealt with the whole problem of separation through sin once & for all…

Once we see this – this way we understand that it is ALL about him & nothing to do with our wants & desires for more of an “experience” or a special touch…  sure those things are nice  but truly – what are they when they stroke our egos & overinflated senses of self entitlement  but do nothing to truly reveal to our hearts as to  why Jesus Came & the significance of his sacrifice for us?

the problem is, that when this is misrepresented to  ” the man on the street”  & he/she receives some sort of “power encounter” which makes them feel good..  with no other point of reference,  people are literally bought & sold into an understanding of  the experiential – Power trip…  we cannot blame them  – when they truly believe that this is what Christianity is..  this is after all, pretty much all they know.

now, the above passage talks about going & preaching the gospel  – to everyone everywhere.    well the word preach implies at least some sort of communicative discussion about what Jesus has come to do on the cross  & then signs & wonders follow   – this is the biblical order…     its  not signs & wonders first as an opener, sweetener,  or hook for attention..  its the GOSPEL preached first…

the scripture makes a distinction here & so should we.   – that lead us to the opposite conclusion that    signs & wonders in activation ARE NOT the demonstration of the Gospel…    when you think about it actually     –   signs & wonders on their own are in fact A DIFFERENT GOSPEL…

my friends I so want to show you clearly & up front how this is being twisted in the river movement,  please, please review these things in the words of Jesus himself….    when Jesus spoke these words in Mark 16   he had of course not yet gone to the cross – but knew absolutely that he would..   notice he DOES not say –  something like “promote me through providing healings”   which would have made more sense to the disciples  as at that point – their experience having been with him would have lead to that assumption straight off  –  no;   notice he first says that  “you must BELIEVE”    & believe what exactly?   that HE is the Christ –  sent to bring reconciliation of man to God…   in some senses harder for those disciples in the days before the event than for us today…    but believe this we must – Do you?  & if we believe these truths in our inmost being, we know that this is what we must share with others waaaaay ahead of physical needs & feel good factors.   having a few supernatural experiences proves nothing except that the person either receiving it or administering it is engaging with a very powerful spiritual force..

believing by FAITH..   is ultimate conviction by the Holy Spirit that  Jesus is who he says he is & that all honour , blessing & glory belongs to him..

where are you at?

 

The Gospel In action??

Many in the River movement are promoting what they believe the Gospel to be:   & in essence & for the sake of clarity I’m going to write about what that seems to be, as this forms the basis for the belief that the giving of random personal prophetic words to all & any,  Treasure hunting & the absolute tenacity in which signs wonders &  miracles are pushed & sought after… some sort of credibility..   This is the culture of the “supernatural” in which they live for & in & crave..  & this is the backdrop of the “Gospel in action”

belief 1)   demonstrating signs & wonders on the street to a “non Christian”  where they become touched or healed in some way –  demonstrates the Gospel in action…

question then;   what is the “Gospel”  being demonstrated…?       receiving a healing or an encounter  is NOT  the same as Receiving the Gospel of Christ crucified & making an appropriate response to it..

belief 2)  people who receive a touch  (of blessing) or encounter & maybe demonstrate some physical manifestation..   & then are receptive to other supernatural powerful wonders have now turned to follow Jesus  – (because they have seen & experienced the benefit)  this means they are a follower of Jesus & thus saved & or considered  “a Christian”

–   ohh  so so wrong…  these people have made a response  to a powerful, maybe emotional encounter,  they have not made a response out of a conviction of sin & that Jesus is their saviour from that sin through  his accomplished work on the cross… —  in fact they may have no Knowledge of these things —  they are not truly saved in the sense that the Bible presents “salvation” to  us…     remember that muslims feel that Jesus is a good example & teacher –   & to a degree – “follow” him out of respect  – the difference we need to always remember,  is the cross & a persons understanding of it & response to it…

belief 3)  loving people in supernatural ways is enough to convince & convict them in to turning to Jesus.. & this is enough to qualify as “repentance in action”    –  as repentance means  to “turn” towards  Jesus

nope sorry guys- because following him in repentance is about the heart conviction & not about  the physical body or experiences that cant be explained .

belief 4)  this must be “of God” because people are being healed  & we can justify this because we are making a reasonable evaluation that this “stuff works”   besides  – we are loving them right —  so how can it be wrong…?

friends;  this is a new age mindset…  hook line & sinker…    whatever works & whatever feels good must be right  – right?      but the bible teaches that false signs & wonders will occur & that we must examine & weigh & test things… the sheer overwhelmingness of speed that these practices occur & with persons unknowledgable about the scriptures – generally on the street…  stopping to weigh & test  is not practical even if people on the receiving end knew that they should or even how they should…

please lets be clear about what the Gospel actually is – as taught in the word  – we have a page here on the blog   ” true & false Jesus”  that you can check it out..  please review how exactly these practices line up with what the bible actually teaches – rather than the implications of what is being worked out at street level…

I have more thoughts which I will add to later…