I am grieved to even have to write this entry--and on my Project Gideon blog, nonetheless. But what has happened this week, at a so-called spiritual conference called "Strange Fire," and what has been methodically coordinated, is nothing short of the beginning of a widespread, destructive move of the enemy to attack the growing Charismatic/Pentecostal Movements globally.
In my spirit, I feel that this conference and this speech made by a well-known and -respected man who has a global ministry, books, and radio shows on NFR is an End Time attack of the enemy on the Global Church.
The Real Church of Jesus has made great strides in tearing down walls, uniting, connecting, breaking the centuries of barriers that have stood between us--with the express purpose of reaching out to others, bringing God's Hope to the world's populace.
This man's conference and speech was heard by 4,000 in attendance at the conference and countless others on the internet. This one speech, and every speaker who spoke after at this conference designed to undermine the efforts of the global Church of Jesus Christ--if not outright destroy the movements--has the potential of empowering the enemy.
The kind of speech used by this man was violent in nature. The words he used is, historically speaking, a first step in an effort to annihilate people for their beliefs. One step further, and your stringing up, shooting, imprisoning the "heretics." (He, in fact, uses these terms in his speech at the conference.)
I think back to Saul and the other Pharisees, the leaders of the Church when Jesus came, died, rose again. Those who were infuriated that their church wasn't popular, embraced. That people--everyday people--were embracing the Move of God that happened on Pentecost, and miracles and signs and wonders followed those who believed. "How dare they believe God would do something new? How dare they believe that the Church Jesus started would be allowed to GROW, to SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ and His saving power?"
Isn't that what's happening here?
It makes me wonder, then, if we are at the last and greatest time of the Church before something else happens: the Coming of Christ to get us.
In my frustration with the man's toxic ideology, in my struggle to understand how anyone who knows the Hope of Christ, His Love and Peace, could undermine fellow believers in such a way and still claim to know The Lord--I pause to remember what happened to the man named Saul. He was a man hell-bent on stopping the Church of Jesus Christ. But God stopped him.
In Acts 9, we read about his journey to "snuff out" the ever-increasingly popular Jesus Movement--filled with all sorts of Charismatics and Pentecostals. And God arrested him. Stopped him in his tracks. Fed him humble pie. And then used him to set the world on fire for Jesus Christ.
Do it again, Lord, with this man, John MacArthur. Please, do it again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayer for John MacArthur and every person he has damaged because of his toxic doctrine. Lord, help him--and, indeed, ALL OF US--to "know you and the Power of your Resurrection." Help him--and all of us--not to be a Modern-Day Pharisee. DEMONSTRATE your love to him, Lord. Arrest him, Lord, and show Him who you are. Whatever demons he is wrestling with--whatever this motivation stems from (Mother issues? Father issues? Grandparents? Wife or Wife's Family?), Lord, please SHOW HIM Who You are.
No comments:
Post a Comment