Plagues, Frogs and Carnivals
Joseph Herrin (05-26-08)
Dear Saints in Christ,
Surely the Lord has ordered my steps in bringing this issue of what is being touted as “revival” in Lakeland, Florida and at Morningstar Ministries to my mind. Person after person has written to me concerning this, until I discerned it was the Spirit who wanted to draw my attention to it.
I can tell you from the Spirit of Christ, what is transpiring is of GREAT importance in this hour. There is TERRIBLE danger for all who would be caught up in this work, for it is a work of unclean spirits. Yet its very existence is according to the will of God the Father, for He is using it to bring a marked division between those who are pure in their devotion to Christ, and those whose hearts are divided.
What is the mark of one whose heart is pure in their devotion to Christ. The apostle Paul wrote:
II Corinthians 11:2-4
For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.
In the previous post titled “Another Gospel,” I spoke of the matter of there being a false gospel promulgated in this hour. This false gospel offers forgiveness of sin without an accompanying turning away from sin. It lifts up the cross of Christ while rejecting the cross appointed to every disciple of Christ. It is a gospel that leaves men worldly, and sensual, and in pursuit of all the things of the world that they formerly lusted after.
Because a multitude of Christians have embraced this false gospel, preferring the lies of ease and comfort and pleasure over the truth of suffering and the cross, God has given them over to delusion that they might believe a lie.
II Thessalonians 2:9-12
The one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
Let me be as plain about this as I can be. This false revival of Todd Bentley is an act of judgment from God. It is intended to deliver all those who have not loved truth over to the darkness of deception. You may ask, “How did we not love truth?” In that you despised the message of the disciple’s cross, in that you were unwilling to suffer for Christ, in that you would not lay down your idols and the love of the world, you have not loved truth. In that you chose a message of prosperity that appealed to the flesh, you have not loved truth.
AND FOR THIS CAUSE, GOD IS EVEN NOW DELIVERING HIS PEOPLE OVER TO DARKNESS AND DECEPTION. HE HAS REMOVED THEIR ABILITY TO DISCERN TRUTH AND ERROR. BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOVED LIES, HE HAS GIVEN THEM OVER TO THE FATHER OF LIES.
I tremble as I think of what is occurring in this hour, for indeed the judgments of God are terrible to behold. I can understand why Noah planted a vineyard and became drunk after the flood. He had witnessed a side of God that many Christians deny even exists today. Noah had seen the judgment and wrath of God, and knowing his own weakness and failings, he trembled at the holiness of One who has all power and authority.
The Spirit has testified to me that the plagues of God are now being loosed upon a Babylonian church. For years the Spirit has been crying out the following:
Revelation 18:4-5
"Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities...”
For years the Spirit has been calling the people of God out of Babylon, yet many have not wanted to leave. Though Babylon is a land of confusion and mixture, a land of idols, the people of God have grown comfortable there. They love the prosperity and the success of Babylon, and have been loathe to depart. Now the plagues are being unleashed, and the people of God still in Babylon will know all their evil.
A recent devotion by Os Hillman began with these insightful words:
The goal of the Christian life is death, not success.
This is why Christ told all who would be His disciples to count the cost first. In order to enter into resurrection life, one must pass through death to the sinful flesh. Following Christ will cost you EVERYTHING.
If I am correct in discerning what the Spirit is declaring, that God is now sending plagues upon Babylon, the mother of harlots (I am assured of this - witness the recent tornado in Macon, Georgia where I live. Macon was laid out by her Masonic founders after the pattern of ancient Babylon), then what can we discern in this regard?
During the plagues of Egypt, God made a separation, a distinction, between His people and the Egyptians. The plagues that fell upon Egypt were not known in Goshen, where the people of God dwelt. The Spirit testifies that in this hour He is once more making a distinction. His people who are in bed with the world will suffer all of the plagues He is sending. Those who have separated themselves will be spared.
Frogs in the Baker’s Field
About the time that the revival of Todd Bentley was hitting its stride, a news item was brought to my attention. It spoke of a city in California being overrun with frogs. Frogs had been proliferating in the cities retention ponds, and the environment was perfect for their multiplication. Frogs were coming out in the thousands and taking to the streets of Bakersfield.
(See link: http://www.newsnet5.com/video/16273891/index.html?rss=nn5&psp=video )
About the same time I was sent a prophetic word by Hollie Moody, and the following Scripture was cited, which was quickened by the Spirit.
Revelation 16:12-14
And the sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs...
The Spirit is testifying that Yahweh is sending forth a plague upon Babylon, the mother of harlots. This plague is a plague of frogs, a release of many unclean spirits. Those who have not heeded the call to come out of Babylon will find these unclean spirits entering their homes, and into every area of their lives.
Exodus 8:2-4
“Behold, I will smite your whole territory with frogs. And the Nile will swarm with frogs, which will come up and go into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants and on your people, and into your ovens and into your kneading bowls. So the frogs will come up on you and your people and all your servants."
What does this symbolize when it says the frogs will come “into your ovens and into your kneading bowls”? What does it mean when these frogs are seen in a city named Bakersfield? The testimony is the same. The frogs are unclean spirits and they will enter into that which Babylon is preparing as food to be eaten. In the New Testament the symbolism of “food sacrificed to idols” is synonymous with the phrase “doctrines of demons.” Read every word of the following passage closely, for it is written not to the world, but to idolatrous churches.
Revelation 2:20-24
“But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray, so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent; and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will cast her upon a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence; and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.”
God has given a Babylonian church time to repent. He has given His people time to come out of her. He has not wanted His people to participate in her sins, sins which include acts of immorality and eating things sacrificed to idols (impure doctrines like the prosperity gospel offered up to the idol of mammon and covetousness). A remnant have come out, but many have remained in Babylon, participating in her sins, and now they are partaking of her plagues.
What does it mean when God says, “I will cast her upon a bed of sickness..., into great tribulation..., and I will kill her children with pestilence”? These things are figures of speech, for Revelation is a book of symbolic language. The people of God will be given over to that which will make them spiritually sick. Frogs will enter into their kneading bowls and ovens and will defile all their food. The people of God will eat things which do not profit them. They will consume greater and more wicked deceptions until the children of the harlot begin to experience spiritual death. Darkness will descend upon them, and the light of the Spirit of Christ will be extinguished in their midst. Was not one of the plagues of Egypt a plague of darkness? All of the plagues will be experienced by those who have refused to depart from Babylon.
When Joseph interpreted the dream of the baker and the cupbearer, once more God made a distinction between two men, for they stood for two kinds of people. The baker’s dream was interpreted as a message of forthcoming death. The cupbearer’s dream foretold his restoration before Pharaoh, and a resumption of his duties. What made the difference?
The cupbearer dreamed that he was crushing grapes and the juice was running out and filling a cup which he presented to Pharaoh. This signifies those whose lives are crushed in order for the oil of anointing to come forth. This dream signifies those who embrace the cross, and who will be brought to stand before Yahweh in this hour to enter into service to Him.
The baker dreamed of baskets of bread and baked goods on his head, and the birds of the sky came and ate the bread out of the baskets. This is one more symbol of food sacrificed to idols, for a common theme throughout scripture is the unclean and fallen hosts of heaven being depicted as birds. This man was hanged. And note that both of these dreams were fulfilled after three days.
It has been three days since Christ, and He is returning to inspect His people (see The Sign of Bootes - http://www.heart4god.ws/id655.htm). Those appointed to death will go to death. Those appointed to life will go to life.
Revelation 13:10
If any one leads into captivity, he goes into captivity. If any one shall kill with the sword, he must with the sword be killed.
(Darby Bible)
Have you been leading others to freedom through the cross, or into captivity by proclaiming a false and deceptive gospel? Have you been using the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to bring life, or to bring death? The answer will determine whether you are to be given over to captivity and death. Multitudes are being swept up in this false revival, and they are being led captive to lying spirits, whose end will be spiritual darkness and death.
Revelation 22:11
"Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy."
The Carnival Revival
I mentioned in a previous blog that the revival of Todd Bentley has a carnival atmosphere. The word carnival means “flesh rising.” It is all hype and excitement. There is no let-up in the action. Bob Jones, the prophet associated with Morningstar Ministries, even praised it as being like a three-ring circus. I will quote the previous blog:
BOB JONES: “So what’s going on? 25 years ago I brought a prophesy. The prophesy then was that the greatest showing on earth was going to begin. I would live to see it. It would be a 3 ring circus.”
Sadly, he is right. What is going on is a three ring circus, but the circus atmosphere is not from the HOLY Spirit, but from unclean sprits.
Following are links to two recent carnival disasters in the news. You will note much of prophetic significance in these events. The first one occurred near "Angels Camp" and when the ride collapsed many children (spiritually immature) were injured. Specifically, their feet were injured (their walk was damaged) and they became entangled in the rides chains (bondage to deceiving spirits).
The second event occurred at a Catholic Church that was holding a festival. The parishioners were setting up "carnival type rides" when a gunman approached and began shooting people. Three people were injured before the gunman was tackled. He mocked those who were trying to tackle him even as he was being subdued. Sadly, in a prophetic foreshadowing of this carnival atmosphere revival that is going on, the Catholic church said they were going to re-open the festival on Sunday as they felt it would help their people to get over their trauma and grief. This is a picture of looking to "thrills" instead of "relationship" with Christ to meet man's spiritual and physical needs. The gunman used a .22 caliber rifle, 22 being the number of judgment on the man of flesh. The event occurred near Los Angeles, which of course means "the Angels."
http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-carnivalax,0,2864878.story?track=rss
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080517/ap_on_re_us/church_shootings
Todd Bentley has a very impure focus upon angelic activity in his ministry. This has opened him up to the influence of deceiving and unclean spirits. Those who go along for the ride will not escape without injury.
The Spirit is speaking. I hope there are some who are listening.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Another Gospel
Another Gospel (Revised)
Joseph Herrin (5-25-08)
Six years ago I write an article that bore the same name as this one. I believe it is time to bring it out and dust it off, updating it to reveal a message of truth that is lacking among those flocking to what is being called “revival” in Lakeland, Florida, at Morningstar Ministries, and elsewhere.
Six years ago, the Spirit led me to consider a very important question. The Spirit did so by leading me to examine some new books that were on display at the local library. The first of these books was on the topic of witchcraft. This library was located in a prosperous, fast growing, and progressive community in Middle Georgia. Many young people frequent this library, and it is reported that there is much interest in witchcraft at some of the local high schools, the largest of which has the image of a demon as their school mascot.
I picked up this new book on witchcraft and looked through the index and then I flipped to the middle of the book, which was written by a young female witch. There were photos in the center, and in some of the photos this young woman appeared completely nude as she practiced different aspects of her rituals and ceremonies. As I considered this book the thought arose, “How can Christianity compete with this?”
This book presents witchcraft in a way that is powerfully alluring, promising spirituality while also satisfying the strongest passions and desires of the sinful flesh. It promotes a path to spirituality that does not require suffering, and denial of lusts. Instead, lusts can be satisfied and one can attain to a promise of spirituality at the same time. With such appeal, many young men and women are getting sucked into the occult, new age teachings, and witchcraft. Witchcraft appeals to people on various levels. It attracts them with sexuality and eroticism. It attracts them with power and the promise of enhanced personal and occult abilities. It attracts them with its mystery and its spirituality.
I thought of what witchcraft offers and how it is so very appealing to the young people of this generation. I considered all of the young people in Middle Georgia who would find it very appealing, knowing that many more would certainly be enticed into this counterfeit for true spiritual life found only in the Son of God.
I then considered Biblical Christianity (not what is passed off as Christianity in most churches today) and how it offers none of the same things to appeal to the flesh or the carnal nature of man. In fact Christianity calls the disciple to come and die to all the desires of the soul. It speaks of putting the flesh to death, and there is much written of the call to suffer with Christ that we might later reign with Him. The glory and reward of Christianity is to be received at a later time, for Paul speaks in this way:
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us.
And again, we have Peter’s words:
I Peter 5:10
After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Those who would be disciples of Christ must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Him. The disciple must not seek to protect their life and its desires, or fulfill their soulish longings, but rather they must die to the desires of the soul that they might live. This does not seem, to offer much attraction. The hope of the Christian has for the last 2,000 years been set off in the distance. This hope is to rule and reign with Christ after the resurrection from the dead.
As I mentioned, the question arose in my mind, “How can Christianity compete with what was presented in this book on witchcraft?” The book this young witch wrote says nothing of denying self. It speaks of gratification now. Witchcraft offers its followers power now, and it entices with sexuality and mystery.
Many in the church have unconsciously asked the same question. They have sought to make Christianity as alluring to the flesh and soul of man as Satan has made his offerings. For those men and women who love mammon, the church has given them the prosperity doctrine. This doctrine is focused upon satisfying the lusts of the flesh and the desires of the soul, while promising the saints spiritual life in Christ. Is it any wonder that this corrupted gospel has been so widely embraced among Christian churches? It satisfies the desires of the natural man and promises spiritual life without requiring any to count the cost, to embrace suffering, or to take up a cross.
There is another manifestation among the church that also has arisen from the desire to make Christianity more appealing to carnal men and women. It is a “judge not” gospel where a message of spiritual life is promised that allows one to retain all the scent and flavor of a sinful and fallen world. This gospel is growing at a great pace, threatening even to overtake the numbers of those who have embraced the prosperity gospel. This “judge not” gospel proclaims that Christians can come to Christ and be forgiven, and that they need not change. They can be accepted just as they are, and they can remain just as they are. It is salvation without transformation.
This “judge not” gospel finds itself comfortable with all of the ways of a fallen world. Every act of rebellion is accepted, whether it being young people smoking cigars and cigarettes, or tattooing their bodies. It is a gospel that says it is to be viewed as normal, and not censured in any way, for men and women, boys and girls, to adorn their bodies with body piercing, whether it be tongue or nose, or ear, or eyebrow, or navel, or nipple. Nothing is taboo, for this gospel is not about conformity to Christ, or righteousness and holiness. Its main tenet is “judge not lest you be judged.” Its highest precept is toleration, even when sin, rebellion, and sinful lusts are what are in view.
This “judge not” gospel rapidly adopts all of the trends of the world. It follows the world’s lead in music, whether acid rock (or stranger variations), or hip hop, or rap. Concerts in these churches have all the flavor of the most cutting edge and current trends in the world. The “judge not” gospel embraces all manner of worldly fashion, even punk styles and the most bizarre gothic fashions. The message is, “You can be whoever you want to be, and pursue whatever passions are in your heart, and Jesus will love you and accept you.”
Please note, I am not suggesting that the true gospel message excludes any from coming to Christ, no matter their former manner of living. The true gospel, however, does not leave people as they were. It brings them into a state of conformity to Christ. It takes fleshly and sensual men and women, wed to the ways of a fallen world, and it washes them, it cleanses them, until they no longer resemble that which they formerly were.
Ephesians 2:1-5
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ...
The true gospel of Christ does not leave men and women bound to the lusts and desires of the flesh. The true gospel of Christ leads all to conformity to the One who was Himself a perfect representation of the Father in heaven. The true gospel is one where separation from the world and its ways is an absolute requirement.
Ephesians 5:3-11
But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them...
“Trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” This is the focus of the true gospel. The false gospel is focused upon what is pleasing to man. That which is false does not require transformation. It embraces worldliness. It leaves men and women in all their filthiness and covetousness and lusts and self-focused living. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” Yet many are deceived. They are willingly deceived, for they despise the cross appointed to all who would be disciples of Christ, and they love the world with all of its sensual appeal.
We see that the church has found a way to compete with witchcraft, and other Satanic offerings. It has modeled itself after the same pattern that Satan uses. After I looked at this book on witchcraft, the Spirit drew my attention to a book focused on the life of Jay Bakker, the son of Jim and Tammy Bakker. As I flipped through the pages it was evident that much of the contents focused on a youth ministry that Jay is involved in. There were pictures of the people who participated in it, as well as pictures of their activities. It appeared to be a high octane type of group that offers non-stop activity of the type that would appeal to many different segments of youth. Its approach is to offer to youth the things that would entice them and keep them interested.
In one picture that was subtitled something to the effect, “Jay and two of his friends,” he was standing between two very strange and bizarre looking characters that looked like something one would normally only encounter on Halloween night. One of the young men had tattoos all over his body and he was described as being a tattoo artist. The other young man had an appearance that I will describe as ultra-gothic. He was wearing black leather and spikes and his face had a ghoulish appearance. My immediate reaction upon seeing the picture was that I was looking at something demonic. There was nothing in their appearance that would tell anyone that these people had anything to do with Yahshua the Messiah.
Jay has himself gotten heavily into tattoos. I went out to the website of the ministry in Atlanta, Georgia that he is involved with. It listed the various staff members and provided biographical information on each one. Their favorite books, music and hobbies were listed. Over and over I read of staff members who were into cigars, tattoos, Stephen King novels, gothic fashions, vampires, and extreme forms of rock music. The motivating doctrine of the group is acceptance of all people without judgment. An antagonism toward any righteous standard was evident, and a mocking of any religious form that would judge a particular behavior to be unacceptable in the eyes of God.
Pictured below are some tattoos on the arms of Jay Bakker. Notice especially the skull head with the dagger thrust through it that declares “religion destroys.”
Note on the wrist of Jay’s left arm is the word “Outcast” and there is a demonic form on his arm above the word. Satan himself stylizes himself as an outcast from heaven. He is the original rebel, who wants all to sympathize with his rebellious attitude. He pictures himself in the Phoenix Bird who is cast down to the earth and consumed in fire, but which rises from the ashes of destruction. Yes, Satan is an outcast, and in the “judge not” gospel he has fashioned a message to appeal to men and women who also see themselves as rebels, and outcasts, who are unwilling to submit to the rule of another, even if that other is the holy and omnipotent God who created them.
Consider now that there is a church that God calls Babylon in the book of Revelation. It is a church that protects the flesh, as she is pictured as riding upon the beast (a symbol of the beast nature of fallen man). This church has presented to the world another gospel not proclaimed by Christ or His apostles. It is a gospel that appeals to the flesh. The Babylonian church takes everything the world has and it creates a “Christianized” version of it. The world has its music with its soulish appeal, and the church has mimicked the same. The world has its fiction, mystery, and romance novels, and the church has the same. The world has its T-shirts with sensual, provocative, or profane sayings and pictures, and the church has the same.
Recently I have noticed Christian girls wearing T-shirts that have the message emblazoned across their breasts “R- Rated”, or “X-Rated.” On the back of the shirt would be some scripture, along with some pithy saying, that would explain the message on the front and make it “Christian.” However, knowing some of the young ladies wearing these shirts, I know they are out to make more than a Christian statement and to lead people to Christ. The terms R-rated and X-Rated immediately stir thoughts of adult content and have explicit sexual connotations. When another person is confronted with such a message across the bosom of a young lady an instant sexual association is made.
Does Jesus Christ, Yahshua the Messiah, need the young girls of the church to use themselves as sexual billboards to entice people to read some message about Him? Yet, this really reveals the mindset of the church as it tries to compete with the world and its allure. Like the witch who appeared so enticing in her nudity, the church has adopted sensual methods to attract members into her embrace. They present a gospel that is devoid of the cross. It is a gospel that says, “Come and live and be fulfilled” instead of “Come and die.” It is a gospel that makes the following words of Christ meaningless:
Luke 14:25-35
25 Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them,
26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
28 "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
29 "Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,
30 saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
31 "Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
32 "Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
33 "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all he possesses.
34 "Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?
35 "It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
It seems strange that every time Yahshua saw a crowd gathering He would say something to get rid of the majority whose hearts did not truly desire Truth and Light, yet the church today seeks to attract and retain these same ones by whatever compromise or allure is necessary. Yahshua was content to receive only those whom the Father had given to Him (John 17:12), but the church seeks to widen its embrace to include many false brethren and many who desire the things of the world and all that is in it, forgetting that love of the world is enmity with the Father.
Yahshua cautioned all those who would follow Him to count the cost before they committed. Today the church avoids all talk of a cost being associated with following Christ. There is a great cost, however, and many who would like to be called followers of Christ really don’t have the desire to “give up all they possess,” to hate their own life. They are salt without savor. The church is seeking out these bland, tasteless followers, for although they may not please God, they provide all that the church desires, pews that are filled, offering plates that have lots of money, and participants for its activities.
Todd Bentley, as the progenitor of the current “revival” typifies those in the “judge not” gospel movement. He has rejected the cross which alone can produce a true anointing, releasing the Spirit within as the flesh is crushed, and he has embraced the methods and pursuits of the world. This conformity to the world is revealed in his tattoos and jewelry. It must be noted that tattoos have long been associated with rebellion. A rebellious son or daughter would go out and get themselves tattooed or pierced as a sign of their independence from their parents.
The pictures below reveal the numerous tattoos on the body of Todd Bentley.
Among the various tattoos on Todd Bentley’s body are an Oni demon arising out of a flower, which is located on his neck. A serpent haired warrior on his leg. A Jesus death head on his arm with a subliminal monkey head found in the beard of Christ, and many other images that are occult in origin. All of these tattoos have been acquired in recent years as he has been actively involved in ministry.
What will the people find who flock to Todd Bentley and the “revival” sites that have sprung up around him? They will not find the true gospel preached. They will not hear that a true release of the Spirit comes only as the flesh is crucified. They will hear that they can experience some feeling, like fire, they can manifest actions such as jerking and laughter, and they need not worry about hearing a message of suffering for Christ. In fact, there is very little doctrine at all being shared, just a bunch of babble about an angels and an anointing resting upon Todd.
The Spirit has answered my question regarding how the church can compete with the offerings of Satan. The answer is that the church doesn’t have to compete. There is only One Way, One Truth, and One Life, and it is Jesus Christ, Yahshua the Messiah. Those who love Truth will overcome all obstacles from within and without to follow hard after the Son of God. They need no enticement of the flesh, no allure to the soul of man. Such ones may be few and far between, but they will follow Christ, despising the shame, taking up their cross, and by their lives they will glorify the One who has given all for them.
It is Satan that must use the allure of immediate gratification of the flesh and soul to woo people to that which is false. If the church uses the same methods then the church is itself walking in unbelief and it knows not the true gospel of Christ. If the church must entice people into its fold with entertainment and a self-centered gospel then it knows not the mind of the Savior that it so fervently calls Lord, for Christ never enticed anyone. Christ said His sheep know His voice and they will not follow another.
It is a Babylonian church system that attempts to use the methods of man to build the kingdom of God. It was Nebuchadnezzar, the great king of Babylon, that surveyed his realm and declared, “Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty” (Daniel 4:30)? In the same way a Babylonian church builds kingdoms to rule over men, and then the men who have done the building boast over what they have constructed.
It matters not to Babylon whether there is one true disciple of Christ among all those who fill the pews and coffers of the church. It matters not whether the people have had their ears tickled, telling them exactly what they want to hear, to get them there. It matters not that the youth are merely being entertained and that they are having all of their worldly desires met by the programs of the church. It matters not if there is lacking a single member who has truly been delivered from the world, the flesh, or their own soulish desires. If people are gathering, activity is going on, the church is making money, buildings are being constructed, and the church is paying large salaries to its ministers then it is viewed as being successful.
Revelation 3:17
Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing..."
Yahshua did not come simply to forgive men their sins and to assure them of a trip to heaven when they die. He came to make disciples of Himself. He came that man might be formed in His own image and that the intent of man’s original creation might be fulfilled. The scriptures state that the elect are being “conformed to the image of Christ.” This same Christ never satisfied His flesh. He did not turn the stones to bread when He was hungry, instead He waited upon the will of the Father. He never did anything of His own initiative. He never even spoke a word of His own initiative. When it came time to be handed over to sinners to be crucified for the sins of man He declared, “Nevertheless, not My will, but Thy will be done.”
Is this the same image that the church is forming among those who fill the pews week after week? Are the youth also dying to their own fleshly and soulish desires? Can they state that they never speak a word of their own initiative, but they speak only what the Heavenly Father commands them to speak? Is the body of Christ being brought to a place of maturity that is like unto the fulness of the stature of Christ who is the Head of the body?
In truth, there are two bodies present today. One is the Babylonian church from which God is calling His people out. There is also the true Ekklesia, the called out ones, who are being formed and fashioned after the image of Christ. One body uses the allure and methods of the world to attract and retain its members. The other body is going through continual refining, purging, and purification from all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.
How can the true church compete with the world and false religion? She will not do it by becoming like the world, for this only creates myriads of worldly followers who have not been delivered from that which they truly need deliverance from, their own lusts and desires. The world needs to see a body of Overcomers who have been conformed to the image of Christ and who love not their lives. What is needful is for the Elect and the Overcomers to take up their crosses and follow wherever the Spirit leads. There is a glorious hope set before these ones for after they have suffered for a little while, in due time they will be exalted. May you be encouraged by these words.
Postscript: For those who find themselves already tattooed and pierced, etc., this teaching is not intended to condemn or to shame. It is intended to instruct. Christ receives us just as we are, but He does not leave us this way. Whereas it is expected that people called out of the world to Christ should appear identical to the world at the time of their calling, they should not ever consider it appropriate to continue to live as the world, chasing the same carnal pursuits.
I Corinthians 6:19-20
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
If you have tattoos, no longer flaunt them. If your body is pierced, take out the piercings. If you have collected ungodly music, throw it out. If you have impure movies, discard them. If you have been living in sin, leave off your sinning. Christ has forgiven all. Do not despise His grace by continuing in sin.
John 8:11
Yahshua said, "Neither do I condemn you; go your way. From now on sin no more."
Joseph Herrin (5-25-08)
Six years ago I write an article that bore the same name as this one. I believe it is time to bring it out and dust it off, updating it to reveal a message of truth that is lacking among those flocking to what is being called “revival” in Lakeland, Florida, at Morningstar Ministries, and elsewhere.
Six years ago, the Spirit led me to consider a very important question. The Spirit did so by leading me to examine some new books that were on display at the local library. The first of these books was on the topic of witchcraft. This library was located in a prosperous, fast growing, and progressive community in Middle Georgia. Many young people frequent this library, and it is reported that there is much interest in witchcraft at some of the local high schools, the largest of which has the image of a demon as their school mascot.
I picked up this new book on witchcraft and looked through the index and then I flipped to the middle of the book, which was written by a young female witch. There were photos in the center, and in some of the photos this young woman appeared completely nude as she practiced different aspects of her rituals and ceremonies. As I considered this book the thought arose, “How can Christianity compete with this?”
This book presents witchcraft in a way that is powerfully alluring, promising spirituality while also satisfying the strongest passions and desires of the sinful flesh. It promotes a path to spirituality that does not require suffering, and denial of lusts. Instead, lusts can be satisfied and one can attain to a promise of spirituality at the same time. With such appeal, many young men and women are getting sucked into the occult, new age teachings, and witchcraft. Witchcraft appeals to people on various levels. It attracts them with sexuality and eroticism. It attracts them with power and the promise of enhanced personal and occult abilities. It attracts them with its mystery and its spirituality.
I thought of what witchcraft offers and how it is so very appealing to the young people of this generation. I considered all of the young people in Middle Georgia who would find it very appealing, knowing that many more would certainly be enticed into this counterfeit for true spiritual life found only in the Son of God.
I then considered Biblical Christianity (not what is passed off as Christianity in most churches today) and how it offers none of the same things to appeal to the flesh or the carnal nature of man. In fact Christianity calls the disciple to come and die to all the desires of the soul. It speaks of putting the flesh to death, and there is much written of the call to suffer with Christ that we might later reign with Him. The glory and reward of Christianity is to be received at a later time, for Paul speaks in this way:
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us.
And again, we have Peter’s words:
I Peter 5:10
After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Those who would be disciples of Christ must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Him. The disciple must not seek to protect their life and its desires, or fulfill their soulish longings, but rather they must die to the desires of the soul that they might live. This does not seem, to offer much attraction. The hope of the Christian has for the last 2,000 years been set off in the distance. This hope is to rule and reign with Christ after the resurrection from the dead.
As I mentioned, the question arose in my mind, “How can Christianity compete with what was presented in this book on witchcraft?” The book this young witch wrote says nothing of denying self. It speaks of gratification now. Witchcraft offers its followers power now, and it entices with sexuality and mystery.
Many in the church have unconsciously asked the same question. They have sought to make Christianity as alluring to the flesh and soul of man as Satan has made his offerings. For those men and women who love mammon, the church has given them the prosperity doctrine. This doctrine is focused upon satisfying the lusts of the flesh and the desires of the soul, while promising the saints spiritual life in Christ. Is it any wonder that this corrupted gospel has been so widely embraced among Christian churches? It satisfies the desires of the natural man and promises spiritual life without requiring any to count the cost, to embrace suffering, or to take up a cross.
There is another manifestation among the church that also has arisen from the desire to make Christianity more appealing to carnal men and women. It is a “judge not” gospel where a message of spiritual life is promised that allows one to retain all the scent and flavor of a sinful and fallen world. This gospel is growing at a great pace, threatening even to overtake the numbers of those who have embraced the prosperity gospel. This “judge not” gospel proclaims that Christians can come to Christ and be forgiven, and that they need not change. They can be accepted just as they are, and they can remain just as they are. It is salvation without transformation.
This “judge not” gospel finds itself comfortable with all of the ways of a fallen world. Every act of rebellion is accepted, whether it being young people smoking cigars and cigarettes, or tattooing their bodies. It is a gospel that says it is to be viewed as normal, and not censured in any way, for men and women, boys and girls, to adorn their bodies with body piercing, whether it be tongue or nose, or ear, or eyebrow, or navel, or nipple. Nothing is taboo, for this gospel is not about conformity to Christ, or righteousness and holiness. Its main tenet is “judge not lest you be judged.” Its highest precept is toleration, even when sin, rebellion, and sinful lusts are what are in view.
This “judge not” gospel rapidly adopts all of the trends of the world. It follows the world’s lead in music, whether acid rock (or stranger variations), or hip hop, or rap. Concerts in these churches have all the flavor of the most cutting edge and current trends in the world. The “judge not” gospel embraces all manner of worldly fashion, even punk styles and the most bizarre gothic fashions. The message is, “You can be whoever you want to be, and pursue whatever passions are in your heart, and Jesus will love you and accept you.”
Please note, I am not suggesting that the true gospel message excludes any from coming to Christ, no matter their former manner of living. The true gospel, however, does not leave people as they were. It brings them into a state of conformity to Christ. It takes fleshly and sensual men and women, wed to the ways of a fallen world, and it washes them, it cleanses them, until they no longer resemble that which they formerly were.
Ephesians 2:1-5
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ...
The true gospel of Christ does not leave men and women bound to the lusts and desires of the flesh. The true gospel of Christ leads all to conformity to the One who was Himself a perfect representation of the Father in heaven. The true gospel is one where separation from the world and its ways is an absolute requirement.
Ephesians 5:3-11
But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them...
“Trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” This is the focus of the true gospel. The false gospel is focused upon what is pleasing to man. That which is false does not require transformation. It embraces worldliness. It leaves men and women in all their filthiness and covetousness and lusts and self-focused living. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” Yet many are deceived. They are willingly deceived, for they despise the cross appointed to all who would be disciples of Christ, and they love the world with all of its sensual appeal.
We see that the church has found a way to compete with witchcraft, and other Satanic offerings. It has modeled itself after the same pattern that Satan uses. After I looked at this book on witchcraft, the Spirit drew my attention to a book focused on the life of Jay Bakker, the son of Jim and Tammy Bakker. As I flipped through the pages it was evident that much of the contents focused on a youth ministry that Jay is involved in. There were pictures of the people who participated in it, as well as pictures of their activities. It appeared to be a high octane type of group that offers non-stop activity of the type that would appeal to many different segments of youth. Its approach is to offer to youth the things that would entice them and keep them interested.
In one picture that was subtitled something to the effect, “Jay and two of his friends,” he was standing between two very strange and bizarre looking characters that looked like something one would normally only encounter on Halloween night. One of the young men had tattoos all over his body and he was described as being a tattoo artist. The other young man had an appearance that I will describe as ultra-gothic. He was wearing black leather and spikes and his face had a ghoulish appearance. My immediate reaction upon seeing the picture was that I was looking at something demonic. There was nothing in their appearance that would tell anyone that these people had anything to do with Yahshua the Messiah.
Jay has himself gotten heavily into tattoos. I went out to the website of the ministry in Atlanta, Georgia that he is involved with. It listed the various staff members and provided biographical information on each one. Their favorite books, music and hobbies were listed. Over and over I read of staff members who were into cigars, tattoos, Stephen King novels, gothic fashions, vampires, and extreme forms of rock music. The motivating doctrine of the group is acceptance of all people without judgment. An antagonism toward any righteous standard was evident, and a mocking of any religious form that would judge a particular behavior to be unacceptable in the eyes of God.
Pictured below are some tattoos on the arms of Jay Bakker. Notice especially the skull head with the dagger thrust through it that declares “religion destroys.”
Note on the wrist of Jay’s left arm is the word “Outcast” and there is a demonic form on his arm above the word. Satan himself stylizes himself as an outcast from heaven. He is the original rebel, who wants all to sympathize with his rebellious attitude. He pictures himself in the Phoenix Bird who is cast down to the earth and consumed in fire, but which rises from the ashes of destruction. Yes, Satan is an outcast, and in the “judge not” gospel he has fashioned a message to appeal to men and women who also see themselves as rebels, and outcasts, who are unwilling to submit to the rule of another, even if that other is the holy and omnipotent God who created them.Consider now that there is a church that God calls Babylon in the book of Revelation. It is a church that protects the flesh, as she is pictured as riding upon the beast (a symbol of the beast nature of fallen man). This church has presented to the world another gospel not proclaimed by Christ or His apostles. It is a gospel that appeals to the flesh. The Babylonian church takes everything the world has and it creates a “Christianized” version of it. The world has its music with its soulish appeal, and the church has mimicked the same. The world has its fiction, mystery, and romance novels, and the church has the same. The world has its T-shirts with sensual, provocative, or profane sayings and pictures, and the church has the same.
Recently I have noticed Christian girls wearing T-shirts that have the message emblazoned across their breasts “R- Rated”, or “X-Rated.” On the back of the shirt would be some scripture, along with some pithy saying, that would explain the message on the front and make it “Christian.” However, knowing some of the young ladies wearing these shirts, I know they are out to make more than a Christian statement and to lead people to Christ. The terms R-rated and X-Rated immediately stir thoughts of adult content and have explicit sexual connotations. When another person is confronted with such a message across the bosom of a young lady an instant sexual association is made.
Does Jesus Christ, Yahshua the Messiah, need the young girls of the church to use themselves as sexual billboards to entice people to read some message about Him? Yet, this really reveals the mindset of the church as it tries to compete with the world and its allure. Like the witch who appeared so enticing in her nudity, the church has adopted sensual methods to attract members into her embrace. They present a gospel that is devoid of the cross. It is a gospel that says, “Come and live and be fulfilled” instead of “Come and die.” It is a gospel that makes the following words of Christ meaningless:
Luke 14:25-35
25 Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them,
26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
28 "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
29 "Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,
30 saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
31 "Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
32 "Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
33 "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all he possesses.
34 "Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?
35 "It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
It seems strange that every time Yahshua saw a crowd gathering He would say something to get rid of the majority whose hearts did not truly desire Truth and Light, yet the church today seeks to attract and retain these same ones by whatever compromise or allure is necessary. Yahshua was content to receive only those whom the Father had given to Him (John 17:12), but the church seeks to widen its embrace to include many false brethren and many who desire the things of the world and all that is in it, forgetting that love of the world is enmity with the Father.
Yahshua cautioned all those who would follow Him to count the cost before they committed. Today the church avoids all talk of a cost being associated with following Christ. There is a great cost, however, and many who would like to be called followers of Christ really don’t have the desire to “give up all they possess,” to hate their own life. They are salt without savor. The church is seeking out these bland, tasteless followers, for although they may not please God, they provide all that the church desires, pews that are filled, offering plates that have lots of money, and participants for its activities.
Todd Bentley, as the progenitor of the current “revival” typifies those in the “judge not” gospel movement. He has rejected the cross which alone can produce a true anointing, releasing the Spirit within as the flesh is crushed, and he has embraced the methods and pursuits of the world. This conformity to the world is revealed in his tattoos and jewelry. It must be noted that tattoos have long been associated with rebellion. A rebellious son or daughter would go out and get themselves tattooed or pierced as a sign of their independence from their parents.
The pictures below reveal the numerous tattoos on the body of Todd Bentley.
Among the various tattoos on Todd Bentley’s body are an Oni demon arising out of a flower, which is located on his neck. A serpent haired warrior on his leg. A Jesus death head on his arm with a subliminal monkey head found in the beard of Christ, and many other images that are occult in origin. All of these tattoos have been acquired in recent years as he has been actively involved in ministry.
What will the people find who flock to Todd Bentley and the “revival” sites that have sprung up around him? They will not find the true gospel preached. They will not hear that a true release of the Spirit comes only as the flesh is crucified. They will hear that they can experience some feeling, like fire, they can manifest actions such as jerking and laughter, and they need not worry about hearing a message of suffering for Christ. In fact, there is very little doctrine at all being shared, just a bunch of babble about an angels and an anointing resting upon Todd.
The Spirit has answered my question regarding how the church can compete with the offerings of Satan. The answer is that the church doesn’t have to compete. There is only One Way, One Truth, and One Life, and it is Jesus Christ, Yahshua the Messiah. Those who love Truth will overcome all obstacles from within and without to follow hard after the Son of God. They need no enticement of the flesh, no allure to the soul of man. Such ones may be few and far between, but they will follow Christ, despising the shame, taking up their cross, and by their lives they will glorify the One who has given all for them.
It is Satan that must use the allure of immediate gratification of the flesh and soul to woo people to that which is false. If the church uses the same methods then the church is itself walking in unbelief and it knows not the true gospel of Christ. If the church must entice people into its fold with entertainment and a self-centered gospel then it knows not the mind of the Savior that it so fervently calls Lord, for Christ never enticed anyone. Christ said His sheep know His voice and they will not follow another.
It is a Babylonian church system that attempts to use the methods of man to build the kingdom of God. It was Nebuchadnezzar, the great king of Babylon, that surveyed his realm and declared, “Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty” (Daniel 4:30)? In the same way a Babylonian church builds kingdoms to rule over men, and then the men who have done the building boast over what they have constructed.
It matters not to Babylon whether there is one true disciple of Christ among all those who fill the pews and coffers of the church. It matters not whether the people have had their ears tickled, telling them exactly what they want to hear, to get them there. It matters not that the youth are merely being entertained and that they are having all of their worldly desires met by the programs of the church. It matters not if there is lacking a single member who has truly been delivered from the world, the flesh, or their own soulish desires. If people are gathering, activity is going on, the church is making money, buildings are being constructed, and the church is paying large salaries to its ministers then it is viewed as being successful.
Revelation 3:17
Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing..."
Yahshua did not come simply to forgive men their sins and to assure them of a trip to heaven when they die. He came to make disciples of Himself. He came that man might be formed in His own image and that the intent of man’s original creation might be fulfilled. The scriptures state that the elect are being “conformed to the image of Christ.” This same Christ never satisfied His flesh. He did not turn the stones to bread when He was hungry, instead He waited upon the will of the Father. He never did anything of His own initiative. He never even spoke a word of His own initiative. When it came time to be handed over to sinners to be crucified for the sins of man He declared, “Nevertheless, not My will, but Thy will be done.”
Is this the same image that the church is forming among those who fill the pews week after week? Are the youth also dying to their own fleshly and soulish desires? Can they state that they never speak a word of their own initiative, but they speak only what the Heavenly Father commands them to speak? Is the body of Christ being brought to a place of maturity that is like unto the fulness of the stature of Christ who is the Head of the body?
In truth, there are two bodies present today. One is the Babylonian church from which God is calling His people out. There is also the true Ekklesia, the called out ones, who are being formed and fashioned after the image of Christ. One body uses the allure and methods of the world to attract and retain its members. The other body is going through continual refining, purging, and purification from all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.
How can the true church compete with the world and false religion? She will not do it by becoming like the world, for this only creates myriads of worldly followers who have not been delivered from that which they truly need deliverance from, their own lusts and desires. The world needs to see a body of Overcomers who have been conformed to the image of Christ and who love not their lives. What is needful is for the Elect and the Overcomers to take up their crosses and follow wherever the Spirit leads. There is a glorious hope set before these ones for after they have suffered for a little while, in due time they will be exalted. May you be encouraged by these words.
Postscript: For those who find themselves already tattooed and pierced, etc., this teaching is not intended to condemn or to shame. It is intended to instruct. Christ receives us just as we are, but He does not leave us this way. Whereas it is expected that people called out of the world to Christ should appear identical to the world at the time of their calling, they should not ever consider it appropriate to continue to live as the world, chasing the same carnal pursuits.
I Corinthians 6:19-20
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
If you have tattoos, no longer flaunt them. If your body is pierced, take out the piercings. If you have collected ungodly music, throw it out. If you have impure movies, discard them. If you have been living in sin, leave off your sinning. Christ has forgiven all. Do not despise His grace by continuing in sin.
John 8:11
Yahshua said, "Neither do I condemn you; go your way. From now on sin no more."
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Getting Through Gethsemane
Getting Through Gethsemane
Joseph Herrin (05-24-08)
Philippians 1:29
For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake...
The Apostle Paul
The foundation of all mental illness is the avoidance of legitimate suffering.
Carl Jung
I have observed no greater suffering than that of a person brought to view the cross appointed to them by God, yet not fully resolved to embrace it.
Joseph Herrin
My friend Randy Simmons gave me permission to share anything regarding his life and experiences that I felt might be of benefit to others. I wish to relate to you his recent experiences along with the insight the Spirit has brought to me. What is revealed in these words will surely have bearing upon many lives in coming days, for the Spirit testifies that a large number of saints must soon go through a period of necessary suffering. For those who must do so, the way to minimize this suffering will be revealed. For those chosen to serve as guides to those so appointed to suffer, insight will be given into those reactions to be expected.
I have shared some regarding Randy’s struggles in previous blog posts. Randy has spent a long time in Gethsemane. Gethsemane means “olive press” and it is the place where the Son of God went on the night He was arrested. While praying in Gethsemane, He wrestled with accepting the cross of suffering appointed to Him. It was in Gethsemane that His soul was grieved to the point of death.
Matthew 26:38-39
Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me." And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt."
I believe Gethsemane is a greater trial than Calvary, for the death is actually transacted in the soul before it is experienced in the body. If there is no acceptance of death in the soul, then the child of God will not surrender their body to whatever cross is before them. However, once the surrender comes, then grace is released from the Father, and strength given to endure that cross before us. Luke provides the following insight to this event.
Luke 22:41-43
And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, "Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done." Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.
Notice the order of events. The cross to be borne comes into view. The decision to embrace the cross is faced. The flesh recoils at the cross, but the spirit man desires to not fall short of performing the will of God, and a great wrestling ensues. Once the surrender is made, strength is imparted. After declaring, “Not my will, but Thy will be done,” divine grace is released to the individual. Yahshua willingly passed through this experience to show His elect the way.
Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.
Our High Priest experienced the crushing force of the olive press to show us the way that we too must pass. He faced the agony of surrendering to the cross, for all those who come after Him must also make a similar surrender. His wrestling was intense, and so too is ours. Yet He overcame, passing successfully through Gethsemane, and He has sent forth His Spirit into our hearts that we might also find the will and the power to pass successfully this experience of agony.
For those wondering whether the current events in Lakeland, Florida are truly revival, and whether this man Todd Bentley has been empowered to pass on an anointing to others, let this understanding settle the matter. The anointing of God only comes as a man or woman surrenders their flesh to be crushed. If the flesh is not brought to the cross and crucified, there is no release of the Holy Spirit within their members. If the flesh remains unbroken, it is as the alabaster jar filled with fragrant nard that Mary used to anoint the Savior before His burial. The aroma of the perfume is completely sealed off as long as the jar remains intact. It is only when the outer shell is broken that the aroma of beauty can fill the house and be discerned clearly by all.
We must be broken in order to for an anointing to be released. That which is currently being touted as revival is merely sensation. It is the craving for a feeling, or an experience, that does not require the death of the flesh. Satan will gladly offer mankind a cheap counterfeit for the anointing of God, but his is a deceitful anointing. It neither makes the man or woman more Christ-like, nor does it truly release the power of the Holy Spirit in their life. This counterfeit anointing is embraced as a beautiful aroma, but, because it did not come through Gethsemane and the cross, it dissipates quickly leaving behind the stench of rotting flesh left too long unburied.
Observing my friend Randy, one can understand why multitudes would prefer a counterfeit to the true cost of the anointing of God. His has been a most terrible trial to pass through. What has made Randy’s trial so terribly agonizing is that he has gone so long without surrendering to the cross. Like a majority of those introduced to Christianity in this hour, he was told about Christ’s death on the cross to provide atonement for the sin of mankind, but he was not told about the personal cost of being a disciple of Christ. Most of the church has been presented a butchered version of the gospel of Christ. This version declares man’s sins forgiven, but it leaves mankind unchanged, still in bondage to sin.
Christ did not come to merely forgive mankind their sins, He came to set the captives free. He provided a way for all men and women to walk in victory over sin and death. He was the pattern Son, and we are to follow in His steps. He surrendered His body to the cross, and so too must all of His disciples.
Galatians 5:24
Now those who belong to Christ Yahshua have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Luke 14:26-28
"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
Omitted from the gospel message today is the great sacrifice required of all those who would be a disciple of Christ. Omitted is the knowledge that all who follow Christ must take up a cross. Because this has been omitted, few understand that there is a cross for them to bear. Those who do come to this knowledge often struggle long to accept that it is so. Few are those who actually see the cross appointed to them and accept it.
The natural order of discipleship is for the cost to be considered from the moment one comes to Christ and begins to express interest in being His disciple. Consider the following words of Yahshua to those who expressed such an interest.
Luke 14:28-35
“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying,' This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and take counsel whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks terms of peace. So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not forsake all that he has. Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Multitudes have been deceived! They have been told by unfaithful messengers that simply by means of their confession of Christ, they have become His disciples. Nothing could be further from the truth. Disciples must be like their Master. They must become as He is in spirit and image, in words and in deeds. Yahshua came in the form of a bond-servant to do the will of the Father. He never sought His own will. He did nothing of His own initiative. He ever lived to do the will of the Father, and so too must all His disciples. When the Father presented to Christ a cup of suffering to drink, He accepted it, though it cost Him His life, and we too must hate our own lives in order to be His disciples.
Yahshua commanded those who expressed interest in being His disciples to count the cost first. The messengers of the gospel today have removed the offense of the disciple’s cross. They have sought to make entry into the Kingdom easy for all, and offensive to none. This is something Christ never did. He never sought to lower to cost of admittance into the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:23-28
And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open up to us!' then He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know where you are from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets'; and He will say,' I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.'”
Yahshua never sought to widen the door of admittance. The entry is very narrow, and very few find it, for a cross is appointed to all who would enter. Many will say on that day, “But Lord, we went to church and we confessed Your name. We had fellowship with others who said they were Your followers, and we sang songs about You and ate in Your presence.” And He will say, “If you did not enter by way of the cross, then you are not My disciple. I do not know you. Did I not say, and is it not recorded in My word, ‘Whoever does not carry his own cross cannot be My disciple’?”
This is the terrible truth that the church has neglected to preach, but it will be made known in this last hour. What will be the reaction of those who hear? Multitudes will be brought to Gethsemane and shown the cross appointed to them. A great number will fall away. A remnant will remain and wrestle with great grief in their soul. Of these, some will pass through quickly, resolving to pay the cost, seeing that it must be borne. Yet others will agonize long, halted between two opinions. These will be afraid to fall away and be rejected, but terrified of going forward to embrace the cross.
Christ revealed that all must pass this way, even as He did. This is perhaps the most intense suffering of a person’s life, the great agony of the soul coming to a complete surrender of all it possesses. The soul of a person must surrender all; it must concede to bear all the suffering God determines, with no turning back. Mercifully, this suffering of the Lord was brief. A few short hours and it was over. It was so intense that Christ sweat drops of blood in His wrestling, but there was no need to prolong the trial. How long can a man or woman remain in this place of agony before the mental strain begins to take a toll?
I have watched some stay too long in this place. Carl Jung was truly insightful when he declared that the foundation of all mental illness was due to the avoidance of legitimate suffering. It is appointed to men to suffer in this age. These are the first things all must pass through, but even as they are bitter, they are brief. Our lives are as the grass of the field that grows up in a day and is scorched by the Sun and withers away. The apostle Paul had the right view of these things when he declared the following:
II Corinthians 4:17
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison...
The mass of those in the church today have despised all suffering. There is an absence of the message of legitimate suffering in the doctrines of the church. A church that accepts only pleasure and ease and blessing and comfort has grown mentally ill. When suffering does come, these “blessing only” believers begin manifesting symptoms of mental aberration. They will go to any and all lengths to deliver themselves. Absent is the faith to suffer, or to trust Yahweh with the outcome of the trial. The only thought is to deliver themselves at all cost, looking to whatever provision the world holds out to them. Should there be no escape offered, many become hysterical, or depressed, or violently angry, or they manifest their mental distress in some other fashion.
What did Christ manifest when He saw the cross? Did He express Himself in these unseemly ways? No! Having accepted the cross, we read that He went willingly as a sheep to the slaughter.
I Peter 2:21-23
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously...
In a recent writing I shared how the Lord spoke to Randy through a spiritual parable. Yahweh has shown repeatedly that my van is a symbol of the ministry appointed to me, which is a ministry of flesh cutting. It is a ministry of the cross, of preparing the body for burial that they might enter into resurrection life. It has been my appointed lot at times to share with various children of God that they must bear a cross. At times the reaction has been unpleasant, even violent.
Yahweh has symbolized this ministry through the picture of mowing grass, for He has said “All flesh is as grass.” Randy had finished mowing the large part of his grandfather’s yard with a riding mower and was heading back to the shed to put the mower up. The hardest part of the mowing lay ahead, which is cutting around the small lake with a push mower, but Randy had no intention of performing this difficult part. He was through with mowing, at least for that day.
As he was heading to the shed, the mower kicked up a rock and sent it directly into the middle of the rear window on my van, shattering the window. Randy came in and told me what had happened. I went out and inspected the window with him, and he said, “I know this symbolizes something, and it is probably not good.” I affirmed that he was right. Shortly thereafter the Spirit revealed the understanding to me.
Randy had been struggling for months with continuing in the process of flesh cutting the Lord had him in. He was constantly speaking about quitting, of doing something else, of not finishing the course. He spoke of one thing after another that he might do, other than what God had instructed him to do, for the path chosen by God was very grievous to him.
The Lord showed me that Randy would turn away from the ministry of flesh cutting, even as he said he was through with cutting grass, and he would throw rocks at me and the ministry of the cross. This was fulfilled the next day. Randy began expressing great complaint against God and against me. He became heated in his speech, even using obscenities, and he told me there was no way he was going to continue this course.
Part of Randy’s outburst was due to the Lord telling Him that he must pay to replace the window. When he heard the cost, and checked his money, he found it would take nearly his last dollar. This precipitated some complaint on his behalf, and I told him I was not of a mind to accept his money for his heart was not right. He then became very boisterous, saying I did not know what was in his heart, and demanding that I accept the money, for God said he had to give it to me. I realized that God had truly laid this command on Randy, but though he was willing to perform it, he was also filled with complaint that God would bring him to such poverty.
During this period, Yahweh had led Randy to not work, and his money had dwindled down to nothing. Randy feared being in a situation where he was without money, and dependent upon another, even if that other person was God. Having money was a safety outlet for Randy. If things became intolerable for him then he could always use his money as a means of support while he sought something else to do. This halting between opinions was causing Randy much spiritually. He had no joy, no peace, no confidence in the path before him.
I shared with Randy that God was bringing him to a crisis of decision, for he had been halted too long in this Gethsemane place, and it was taking its toll on him. It was an act of mercy on God’s behalf to bring a greater pressure upon him to make him choose whether he was going to surrender completely to all that God chose for him, or whether he would remain uncommitted. Randy was forever saying that he could not decide that day, or commit to all God might ask of him.
I began to pray in earnest that Yahweh would bring Randy to a crisis of decision where he would have to choose, and be delivered out of the agony of Gethsemane. To remain longer would result in mental distress, even breakdown. A day or so later Randy went out and got the small push mower to finish the most difficult part of the grass cutting. I was encouraged by this, for I could see what it symbolized. Yet after mowing just a short distance Randy returned and said in anger "I am not killing myself trying to cut the grass with that thing." Randy had tried to convince his grandfather to purchase a weedeater, to make this difficult task easier, but his grandfather had purchased a small lawnmower, leading to much complaint from Randy. Again the parable was easy to see. Randy was always complaining that God had not helped him enough to do those things he was called to do. His elderly grandfather served as a type of God in this matter, for Randy wanted the cutting of the grass (flesh) to be made easier, but God said it was necessarily difficult. I was very disappointed when Randy declared he was not going to kill himself mowing grass, for this is the ministry of the cross. It is intended to put us to death.
Randy continued to waver, and be uncommitted until the Lord told me that I should move out from his grandfather’s house. I came to see that if I stayed with Randy in this condition, that he would view his wavering as acceptable, when it was not. How can two walk together unless they be agreed? I prayed for the Lord to affirm His direction for me to move, and He did so.
Having packed all my belongings into my van, I headed to town when Randy called me on the cell phone. He said a strange thing had just happened, and he wished to know my thoughts as to what was signified in these events. He said he had just finished a work out at the gym when the power went out. He went to the locker room, where only emergency lights were working. The row his locker on was completely dark, so he asked anyone of they had a light so he could open his locker. A man allowed Randy to borrow his cell phone which had a light on it. With this Randy got his locker open, and as he did his own cell phone rang. He answered it and found that it was his ex-wife.
Randy has been separated from his wife, even as I have borne the same trial. Yet God has given to both of us a promise of restoration. The promises of God are predicated upon our obedience, however. We are told in Scripture that it is “by faith and patience” that we “inherit the promises.” We must follow God obediently as we await the promise.
Randy’s wife has only called him a couple of times, and in recent days she has had nothing to do with him. Her calling was unexpected. She called to tell Randy she was moving to Arizona (Bullhead City - Yes, there is a desert experience for those who are stubborn before God).
The last thing he told me on the phone was that he was still halted between decisions and could make no definite commitment that day. He said he had not told God he was going backward, but he could not commit to going forward. It seemed strange that Randy would make this declaration, for it seemed out of character with the rest of his conversation. However, I saw how all these things fit together.
As Randy told me these things I pulled up to the gym. He did not know yet that I had moved out from his grandfather’s, but I could see that Yahweh had orchestrated all of these events to occur at that precise moment. I told Randy what I saw in these events. I told him that the promises of God were contingent upon his obedience, and his embracing the cross. The Lord was revealing to Randy that the promise of restoration with his wife, the promise of joining me in ministry, the promise of having the light of God to guide him in days of darkness ahead, were all contingent upon what he decided. God was bringing him to a crisis of decision where he would choose.
Over the course of the next couple days, Randy remained in this halted condition. We met on the 22nd, for Randy was very agitated this day, and he told me he had been having a difficult time. I reaffirmed to him again what the Lord was doing in bringing him to this crisis where he would be forced to make a choice. Randy once more gave vent to complaints and justifications and murmuring. I was distressed that he seemed no closer to a resolution than before.
Today, Randy and I were both at the gym at the same time. Toward the end of his work out I heard Randy call out for a man next to him to help him. Randy said he had hurt his back and needed help getting up. Several of us went over to help him and were able to get him on his back on the floor. Randy said something in his back had popped, and he was in obvious pain and could barely move. I discerned that he had pinched his sciatic nerve, a condition I have suffered in the past, and which the Lord has used to speak to me prophetically.
The first time this occurred I was in Payne City (it was literally Pain City), and I was myself wrestling with a cross appointed to me. My wrestling was severe, but like Jacob I knew I had to continue to wrestle until I received the blessing of God. The Jews teach that when the angel wrestling with Jacob touched him in the socket of the hip that he touched Jacob’s sciatic nerve, and from that day forward Jacob leaned on his staff, the power of his flesh being broken, the staff symbolizing his leaning upon God.
Before this accident occurred, Randy had told me that he was still wrestling with God, and he knew he was wrong for all of his complaints. He said the only thing he could see to do was to continue to do each thing God asked him to do. I could see a renewed commitment to follow God, and not shrink back, though he still grumbled some, and sought to justify his previous complaints.
I was actually encouraged when Randy pinched his sciatic nerve, for I sensed the Spirit testifying that Randy was in that same place I had been in some eight years earlier when I was in Payne City and my sciatic nerve had been so troublesome that I had to get a cane to lean on, and I had to sleep sitting up in a recliner. Randy also seemed to understand the significance, and I believe it actually encouraged him. He said he could handle physical suffering much better than emotional and mental suffering. Though I know his wrestling at this time includes both, even as mine did previously.
I wish I could express to you the great agony I have observed in Randy over the course of the past few years. His pain has been primarily of a mental kind, and it has arisen as he has halted overly long in this Gethsemane experience. We would do ourselves a kindness by quickly giving ourselves over to the death of the cross. How terrible are the distresses of the soul for those who stay too long tossed here and there by doubt, fear, and unbelief.
I can also say to those who would serve as wilderness guides in coming days, that such torments are to be expected from those believers who come to view the cross appointed to them. We must not take their anger and careless words personally, for they are the distresses of a troubled mind. I realize the great agony of my own Gethsemane experiences, and this understanding makes me want to be patient with others, hoping continuously that they might choose the way of the cross.
I would ask those who have read this far to remember Randy in prayer. His wrestling is not over, and even after he passes through Gethsemane, there is still a cross to bear. Please pray that he would find courage and faith to entrust himself completely to the Father’s hands. Please pray that Yahweh would still his wavering heart, causing him to walk with great steadiness the path appointed to him. And pray for me, for I too am always aware of the weakness of my flesh. God has truly chosen the weak and foolish things of this world in order that all boasting might be in Him. Are you not thankful that He has so chosen?
May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.
Joseph Herrin (05-24-08)
Philippians 1:29
For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake...
The Apostle Paul
The foundation of all mental illness is the avoidance of legitimate suffering.
Carl Jung
I have observed no greater suffering than that of a person brought to view the cross appointed to them by God, yet not fully resolved to embrace it.
Joseph Herrin
My friend Randy Simmons gave me permission to share anything regarding his life and experiences that I felt might be of benefit to others. I wish to relate to you his recent experiences along with the insight the Spirit has brought to me. What is revealed in these words will surely have bearing upon many lives in coming days, for the Spirit testifies that a large number of saints must soon go through a period of necessary suffering. For those who must do so, the way to minimize this suffering will be revealed. For those chosen to serve as guides to those so appointed to suffer, insight will be given into those reactions to be expected.
I have shared some regarding Randy’s struggles in previous blog posts. Randy has spent a long time in Gethsemane. Gethsemane means “olive press” and it is the place where the Son of God went on the night He was arrested. While praying in Gethsemane, He wrestled with accepting the cross of suffering appointed to Him. It was in Gethsemane that His soul was grieved to the point of death.
Matthew 26:38-39
Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me." And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt."
I believe Gethsemane is a greater trial than Calvary, for the death is actually transacted in the soul before it is experienced in the body. If there is no acceptance of death in the soul, then the child of God will not surrender their body to whatever cross is before them. However, once the surrender comes, then grace is released from the Father, and strength given to endure that cross before us. Luke provides the following insight to this event.
Luke 22:41-43
And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, "Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done." Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.
Notice the order of events. The cross to be borne comes into view. The decision to embrace the cross is faced. The flesh recoils at the cross, but the spirit man desires to not fall short of performing the will of God, and a great wrestling ensues. Once the surrender is made, strength is imparted. After declaring, “Not my will, but Thy will be done,” divine grace is released to the individual. Yahshua willingly passed through this experience to show His elect the way.
Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.
Our High Priest experienced the crushing force of the olive press to show us the way that we too must pass. He faced the agony of surrendering to the cross, for all those who come after Him must also make a similar surrender. His wrestling was intense, and so too is ours. Yet He overcame, passing successfully through Gethsemane, and He has sent forth His Spirit into our hearts that we might also find the will and the power to pass successfully this experience of agony.
For those wondering whether the current events in Lakeland, Florida are truly revival, and whether this man Todd Bentley has been empowered to pass on an anointing to others, let this understanding settle the matter. The anointing of God only comes as a man or woman surrenders their flesh to be crushed. If the flesh is not brought to the cross and crucified, there is no release of the Holy Spirit within their members. If the flesh remains unbroken, it is as the alabaster jar filled with fragrant nard that Mary used to anoint the Savior before His burial. The aroma of the perfume is completely sealed off as long as the jar remains intact. It is only when the outer shell is broken that the aroma of beauty can fill the house and be discerned clearly by all.
We must be broken in order to for an anointing to be released. That which is currently being touted as revival is merely sensation. It is the craving for a feeling, or an experience, that does not require the death of the flesh. Satan will gladly offer mankind a cheap counterfeit for the anointing of God, but his is a deceitful anointing. It neither makes the man or woman more Christ-like, nor does it truly release the power of the Holy Spirit in their life. This counterfeit anointing is embraced as a beautiful aroma, but, because it did not come through Gethsemane and the cross, it dissipates quickly leaving behind the stench of rotting flesh left too long unburied.
Observing my friend Randy, one can understand why multitudes would prefer a counterfeit to the true cost of the anointing of God. His has been a most terrible trial to pass through. What has made Randy’s trial so terribly agonizing is that he has gone so long without surrendering to the cross. Like a majority of those introduced to Christianity in this hour, he was told about Christ’s death on the cross to provide atonement for the sin of mankind, but he was not told about the personal cost of being a disciple of Christ. Most of the church has been presented a butchered version of the gospel of Christ. This version declares man’s sins forgiven, but it leaves mankind unchanged, still in bondage to sin.
Christ did not come to merely forgive mankind their sins, He came to set the captives free. He provided a way for all men and women to walk in victory over sin and death. He was the pattern Son, and we are to follow in His steps. He surrendered His body to the cross, and so too must all of His disciples.
Galatians 5:24
Now those who belong to Christ Yahshua have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Luke 14:26-28
"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
Omitted from the gospel message today is the great sacrifice required of all those who would be a disciple of Christ. Omitted is the knowledge that all who follow Christ must take up a cross. Because this has been omitted, few understand that there is a cross for them to bear. Those who do come to this knowledge often struggle long to accept that it is so. Few are those who actually see the cross appointed to them and accept it.
The natural order of discipleship is for the cost to be considered from the moment one comes to Christ and begins to express interest in being His disciple. Consider the following words of Yahshua to those who expressed such an interest.
Luke 14:28-35
“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying,' This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and take counsel whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks terms of peace. So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not forsake all that he has. Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Multitudes have been deceived! They have been told by unfaithful messengers that simply by means of their confession of Christ, they have become His disciples. Nothing could be further from the truth. Disciples must be like their Master. They must become as He is in spirit and image, in words and in deeds. Yahshua came in the form of a bond-servant to do the will of the Father. He never sought His own will. He did nothing of His own initiative. He ever lived to do the will of the Father, and so too must all His disciples. When the Father presented to Christ a cup of suffering to drink, He accepted it, though it cost Him His life, and we too must hate our own lives in order to be His disciples.
Yahshua commanded those who expressed interest in being His disciples to count the cost first. The messengers of the gospel today have removed the offense of the disciple’s cross. They have sought to make entry into the Kingdom easy for all, and offensive to none. This is something Christ never did. He never sought to lower to cost of admittance into the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:23-28
And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open up to us!' then He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know where you are from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets'; and He will say,' I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.'”
Yahshua never sought to widen the door of admittance. The entry is very narrow, and very few find it, for a cross is appointed to all who would enter. Many will say on that day, “But Lord, we went to church and we confessed Your name. We had fellowship with others who said they were Your followers, and we sang songs about You and ate in Your presence.” And He will say, “If you did not enter by way of the cross, then you are not My disciple. I do not know you. Did I not say, and is it not recorded in My word, ‘Whoever does not carry his own cross cannot be My disciple’?”
This is the terrible truth that the church has neglected to preach, but it will be made known in this last hour. What will be the reaction of those who hear? Multitudes will be brought to Gethsemane and shown the cross appointed to them. A great number will fall away. A remnant will remain and wrestle with great grief in their soul. Of these, some will pass through quickly, resolving to pay the cost, seeing that it must be borne. Yet others will agonize long, halted between two opinions. These will be afraid to fall away and be rejected, but terrified of going forward to embrace the cross.
Christ revealed that all must pass this way, even as He did. This is perhaps the most intense suffering of a person’s life, the great agony of the soul coming to a complete surrender of all it possesses. The soul of a person must surrender all; it must concede to bear all the suffering God determines, with no turning back. Mercifully, this suffering of the Lord was brief. A few short hours and it was over. It was so intense that Christ sweat drops of blood in His wrestling, but there was no need to prolong the trial. How long can a man or woman remain in this place of agony before the mental strain begins to take a toll?
I have watched some stay too long in this place. Carl Jung was truly insightful when he declared that the foundation of all mental illness was due to the avoidance of legitimate suffering. It is appointed to men to suffer in this age. These are the first things all must pass through, but even as they are bitter, they are brief. Our lives are as the grass of the field that grows up in a day and is scorched by the Sun and withers away. The apostle Paul had the right view of these things when he declared the following:
II Corinthians 4:17
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison...
The mass of those in the church today have despised all suffering. There is an absence of the message of legitimate suffering in the doctrines of the church. A church that accepts only pleasure and ease and blessing and comfort has grown mentally ill. When suffering does come, these “blessing only” believers begin manifesting symptoms of mental aberration. They will go to any and all lengths to deliver themselves. Absent is the faith to suffer, or to trust Yahweh with the outcome of the trial. The only thought is to deliver themselves at all cost, looking to whatever provision the world holds out to them. Should there be no escape offered, many become hysterical, or depressed, or violently angry, or they manifest their mental distress in some other fashion.
What did Christ manifest when He saw the cross? Did He express Himself in these unseemly ways? No! Having accepted the cross, we read that He went willingly as a sheep to the slaughter.
I Peter 2:21-23
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously...
In a recent writing I shared how the Lord spoke to Randy through a spiritual parable. Yahweh has shown repeatedly that my van is a symbol of the ministry appointed to me, which is a ministry of flesh cutting. It is a ministry of the cross, of preparing the body for burial that they might enter into resurrection life. It has been my appointed lot at times to share with various children of God that they must bear a cross. At times the reaction has been unpleasant, even violent.
Yahweh has symbolized this ministry through the picture of mowing grass, for He has said “All flesh is as grass.” Randy had finished mowing the large part of his grandfather’s yard with a riding mower and was heading back to the shed to put the mower up. The hardest part of the mowing lay ahead, which is cutting around the small lake with a push mower, but Randy had no intention of performing this difficult part. He was through with mowing, at least for that day.
As he was heading to the shed, the mower kicked up a rock and sent it directly into the middle of the rear window on my van, shattering the window. Randy came in and told me what had happened. I went out and inspected the window with him, and he said, “I know this symbolizes something, and it is probably not good.” I affirmed that he was right. Shortly thereafter the Spirit revealed the understanding to me.
Randy had been struggling for months with continuing in the process of flesh cutting the Lord had him in. He was constantly speaking about quitting, of doing something else, of not finishing the course. He spoke of one thing after another that he might do, other than what God had instructed him to do, for the path chosen by God was very grievous to him.
The Lord showed me that Randy would turn away from the ministry of flesh cutting, even as he said he was through with cutting grass, and he would throw rocks at me and the ministry of the cross. This was fulfilled the next day. Randy began expressing great complaint against God and against me. He became heated in his speech, even using obscenities, and he told me there was no way he was going to continue this course.
Part of Randy’s outburst was due to the Lord telling Him that he must pay to replace the window. When he heard the cost, and checked his money, he found it would take nearly his last dollar. This precipitated some complaint on his behalf, and I told him I was not of a mind to accept his money for his heart was not right. He then became very boisterous, saying I did not know what was in his heart, and demanding that I accept the money, for God said he had to give it to me. I realized that God had truly laid this command on Randy, but though he was willing to perform it, he was also filled with complaint that God would bring him to such poverty.
During this period, Yahweh had led Randy to not work, and his money had dwindled down to nothing. Randy feared being in a situation where he was without money, and dependent upon another, even if that other person was God. Having money was a safety outlet for Randy. If things became intolerable for him then he could always use his money as a means of support while he sought something else to do. This halting between opinions was causing Randy much spiritually. He had no joy, no peace, no confidence in the path before him.
I shared with Randy that God was bringing him to a crisis of decision, for he had been halted too long in this Gethsemane place, and it was taking its toll on him. It was an act of mercy on God’s behalf to bring a greater pressure upon him to make him choose whether he was going to surrender completely to all that God chose for him, or whether he would remain uncommitted. Randy was forever saying that he could not decide that day, or commit to all God might ask of him.
I began to pray in earnest that Yahweh would bring Randy to a crisis of decision where he would have to choose, and be delivered out of the agony of Gethsemane. To remain longer would result in mental distress, even breakdown. A day or so later Randy went out and got the small push mower to finish the most difficult part of the grass cutting. I was encouraged by this, for I could see what it symbolized. Yet after mowing just a short distance Randy returned and said in anger "I am not killing myself trying to cut the grass with that thing." Randy had tried to convince his grandfather to purchase a weedeater, to make this difficult task easier, but his grandfather had purchased a small lawnmower, leading to much complaint from Randy. Again the parable was easy to see. Randy was always complaining that God had not helped him enough to do those things he was called to do. His elderly grandfather served as a type of God in this matter, for Randy wanted the cutting of the grass (flesh) to be made easier, but God said it was necessarily difficult. I was very disappointed when Randy declared he was not going to kill himself mowing grass, for this is the ministry of the cross. It is intended to put us to death.
Randy continued to waver, and be uncommitted until the Lord told me that I should move out from his grandfather’s house. I came to see that if I stayed with Randy in this condition, that he would view his wavering as acceptable, when it was not. How can two walk together unless they be agreed? I prayed for the Lord to affirm His direction for me to move, and He did so.
Having packed all my belongings into my van, I headed to town when Randy called me on the cell phone. He said a strange thing had just happened, and he wished to know my thoughts as to what was signified in these events. He said he had just finished a work out at the gym when the power went out. He went to the locker room, where only emergency lights were working. The row his locker on was completely dark, so he asked anyone of they had a light so he could open his locker. A man allowed Randy to borrow his cell phone which had a light on it. With this Randy got his locker open, and as he did his own cell phone rang. He answered it and found that it was his ex-wife.
Randy has been separated from his wife, even as I have borne the same trial. Yet God has given to both of us a promise of restoration. The promises of God are predicated upon our obedience, however. We are told in Scripture that it is “by faith and patience” that we “inherit the promises.” We must follow God obediently as we await the promise.
Randy’s wife has only called him a couple of times, and in recent days she has had nothing to do with him. Her calling was unexpected. She called to tell Randy she was moving to Arizona (Bullhead City - Yes, there is a desert experience for those who are stubborn before God).
The last thing he told me on the phone was that he was still halted between decisions and could make no definite commitment that day. He said he had not told God he was going backward, but he could not commit to going forward. It seemed strange that Randy would make this declaration, for it seemed out of character with the rest of his conversation. However, I saw how all these things fit together.
As Randy told me these things I pulled up to the gym. He did not know yet that I had moved out from his grandfather’s, but I could see that Yahweh had orchestrated all of these events to occur at that precise moment. I told Randy what I saw in these events. I told him that the promises of God were contingent upon his obedience, and his embracing the cross. The Lord was revealing to Randy that the promise of restoration with his wife, the promise of joining me in ministry, the promise of having the light of God to guide him in days of darkness ahead, were all contingent upon what he decided. God was bringing him to a crisis of decision where he would choose.
Over the course of the next couple days, Randy remained in this halted condition. We met on the 22nd, for Randy was very agitated this day, and he told me he had been having a difficult time. I reaffirmed to him again what the Lord was doing in bringing him to this crisis where he would be forced to make a choice. Randy once more gave vent to complaints and justifications and murmuring. I was distressed that he seemed no closer to a resolution than before.
Today, Randy and I were both at the gym at the same time. Toward the end of his work out I heard Randy call out for a man next to him to help him. Randy said he had hurt his back and needed help getting up. Several of us went over to help him and were able to get him on his back on the floor. Randy said something in his back had popped, and he was in obvious pain and could barely move. I discerned that he had pinched his sciatic nerve, a condition I have suffered in the past, and which the Lord has used to speak to me prophetically.
The first time this occurred I was in Payne City (it was literally Pain City), and I was myself wrestling with a cross appointed to me. My wrestling was severe, but like Jacob I knew I had to continue to wrestle until I received the blessing of God. The Jews teach that when the angel wrestling with Jacob touched him in the socket of the hip that he touched Jacob’s sciatic nerve, and from that day forward Jacob leaned on his staff, the power of his flesh being broken, the staff symbolizing his leaning upon God.
Before this accident occurred, Randy had told me that he was still wrestling with God, and he knew he was wrong for all of his complaints. He said the only thing he could see to do was to continue to do each thing God asked him to do. I could see a renewed commitment to follow God, and not shrink back, though he still grumbled some, and sought to justify his previous complaints.
I was actually encouraged when Randy pinched his sciatic nerve, for I sensed the Spirit testifying that Randy was in that same place I had been in some eight years earlier when I was in Payne City and my sciatic nerve had been so troublesome that I had to get a cane to lean on, and I had to sleep sitting up in a recliner. Randy also seemed to understand the significance, and I believe it actually encouraged him. He said he could handle physical suffering much better than emotional and mental suffering. Though I know his wrestling at this time includes both, even as mine did previously.
I wish I could express to you the great agony I have observed in Randy over the course of the past few years. His pain has been primarily of a mental kind, and it has arisen as he has halted overly long in this Gethsemane experience. We would do ourselves a kindness by quickly giving ourselves over to the death of the cross. How terrible are the distresses of the soul for those who stay too long tossed here and there by doubt, fear, and unbelief.
I can also say to those who would serve as wilderness guides in coming days, that such torments are to be expected from those believers who come to view the cross appointed to them. We must not take their anger and careless words personally, for they are the distresses of a troubled mind. I realize the great agony of my own Gethsemane experiences, and this understanding makes me want to be patient with others, hoping continuously that they might choose the way of the cross.
I would ask those who have read this far to remember Randy in prayer. His wrestling is not over, and even after he passes through Gethsemane, there is still a cross to bear. Please pray that he would find courage and faith to entrust himself completely to the Father’s hands. Please pray that Yahweh would still his wavering heart, causing him to walk with great steadiness the path appointed to him. And pray for me, for I too am always aware of the weakness of my flesh. God has truly chosen the weak and foolish things of this world in order that all boasting might be in Him. Are you not thankful that He has so chosen?
May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Coming Bust - Are You Ready?
The Coming Bust - Are You Ready?
Joseph Herrin (05-20-08)
The Spirit of Christ has many ways to impart understanding, and He has been imparting much of late. Without a doubt, this is in order to prepare the saints for those things which are to come.
Two days ago the Lord ordered my steps in such a way that I took notice. He began to indicate that I was to move out from where I was staying. I had graciously been invited to stay in the home of Randy Simmons’ grandfather, and I had been there for about two weeks. The place was beautiful, situated on 28 acres with a small lake, and I had my own room to stay in. However, it was a bit outside of Macon where I was having to travel to a couple times a day to get on the Internet, go to the gym, etc.. My gas bill was pretty high, and other factors led me to consider a change of location.
I did not want to step out of the Father’s will, and I did not trust the judgment of my own heart, for I knew there were soulish reasons that would make me want to be in town. I therefore laid the matter before the Father and asked Him to confirm His will. That evening I was led to pick up a book I had been reading on the early life of Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission. As I read, the Spirit brought much confirmation of his direction.
In a particularly relevant passage, it was related how young Hudson Taylor had been residing in a very comfortable situation. He was working for a Doctor in England, whose house was in a very affluent section of town. This lasted for a while, until the Doctor had need of the room Hudson was in for a family member. Hudson was given a stipend to rent a room, and he considered deeply where he was to go.
Having received direction from the Lord he settled on a room for rent in one of the poorest sections of town, an area called Drainside. He leased a room from a Christian woman whose husband was a sailor, and she needed the money to support herself and her children, which Hudson was glad to be able to assist in. His furnishings were the most rudimentary, and his entire situation was one of considerable privation. His mother was very concerned that his situation was too much of a hardship, but Hudson was assured of the Lord’s leading.
He understood later that the Lord had led him to this place to acclimate him to the rigors of future missionary service in China. In China there would be none of the pleasant comforts of England, and as a missionary on a very limited income frugality would be essential. Much detail was provided in the book on the diet of Hudson Taylor at the time, and it was indeed very basic, having all of the unnecessary luxuries removed, and only that which would support life at the barest expense chosen.
As I read this, and as circumstances played out around me, I knew the Lord was indicating that I was to move the next day. I began considering where I should go, and I thought too of renting a small room somewhere in town for my own “prophet’s chamber.” My mind cast upon many options, but I had no peace about any of them. At last my mind came to consider simply staying in my van/camper. I didn’t truly need a room, as I had been getting up early and after having my devotion time I would head to town, usually before Randy and his grandfather were up. Some days I would not return until late. I also did not need shower, or bath facilities, as I was going to the gym daily and I was using their very adequate facilities to cut down on washing towels, and simply because of the great convenience of washing right after working out.
In the end, the Spirit confirmed my way, and I moved out the next day and spent the night parked at America’s favorite campground, the Wal-Mart parking lot, of which there are several to choose from in Macon. I also considered streamlining my food intake. I had found some of the cups of noodle soup to be quite good, and I had eaten a number of them while spending a month camping. These are the kind that come in a styrofoam cup and you simply add water and heat them up. I went into Wal-Mart and purchased a single burner element that attaches to the top of a Coleman propane cylinder. I figured I could simply dump the soup into my do everything pyrex bowl and heat it over the flame. These soups are available for about 35 cents each, and one of them makes a sufficient meal for me, along with some crackers.
I considered that the Lord was preparing me both for a traveling ministry, as well as for the coming economic collapse of America that the Spirit has signified in many ways is coming. I slept wonderfully in my van last night, and I remembered how the Father had led to a similar circumstance some four years earlier, with the difference being that I had only a Ford Tempo as a vehicle and two dogs with me. Having a 19' camper/van with a bed in the rear was the lap of luxury compared to my former circumstance, and I cannot tell you how happy and full of thanksgiving I was for this provision. I was truly filled with much joy over the freedom I had to go wherever the Lord directed me, and to find myself provided for in such an adequate fashion.
This morning, after checking my e-mail, I noticed a news headline that read “Mom forced to live in car with dogs.” This grabbed my attention, and I immediately thought, “I have been there before.” I clicked on the link which took me to the CNN website. The article spoke volumes to me.
The location of the story was Santa Barbara, California where the average house price is a million dollars. The economy has taken such a tumble, the many middle class Californians have found themselves having their homes foreclosed on, rendering many of them homeless. These are not your typical homeless people who are satisfied with such a life. These are people whose lives have been turned upside down, and they have found themselves in such a situation as they never imagined.
The article focused on one 67 year old woman whose job in the loan industry was lost. She lost her home and spent her savings and then found herself homeless. She now works at a job paying $8.00 and hour, and she is sleeping in her SUV with her two golden retrievers. This woman had a remarkable attitude. Absent was the bitterness that is manifest by many people who start blaming others and spewing vitriole. Some further amazing things were revealed in the article.
This problem is so widespread in Santa Barbara, that the city made an arrangement with a local charity to open up twelve parking lots in the city for people to park at to sleep. These parking lots are overseen by New Beginnings Counseling Center, an organization aimed at helping the homeless. They screen people who apply to park to keep out trouble makers, and they have one parking lot that is designated for women only and it is gated.
The previous day I had read a financial article that declared that if you wanted to see what was coming to America to look and see what is happening in California, for California leads the nation. The Spirit bears witness that this trend of homelessness is merely the tip of the iceberg, and it will reach much greater proportions in coming days. The CNN article is very insightful, and I encourage all to read it. I will provide a link. There is also a video that goes along with it.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/05/19/homeless.mom/index.html?iref=newssearch
People, I feel very safe (knowing my advice is in harmony with the witness of the Spirit) to say that it is a time for all Christians to begin streamlining their living. If you will consider how little the Lord has led me to live on, and how few material possessions I have, you can imagine how bloated the lifestyles of most Americans are. In a day when people lose their homes, they will have no place to put their furniture, their televisions, their stereos, their various games and entertainments and many decorative items. Much of this will be cast away as worthless. There will be no one to buy them in that day, and if they are sold they will go for a fraction of what they could be sold for today.
I would counsel all Christians to begin to inquire of the Spirit of Christ today, asking Him what they should give up, what they can do without, and how they should VASTLY simplify their lives. In this hour I believe many saints could yet sell their luxury items and have money to be placed on paying off debt (this should be a real priority) and to use to help the poor and needy in this hour.
If you knew that a day was coming sometime in the next year when multitudes would be cast into poverty and would lose their homes and forfeit most of their possessions, would it not be prudent to cut your losses now while things could be disposed of in an orderly fashion?
I would also advise people to consider what they should do with their money if they are out of debt and find themselves with a surplus. Rather than laying aside a stockpile for troublesome days, ask the Lord what He would have you to do. I would recommend listening to the audio message “Compassion’s Silver Lining.” This message, delivered at the Macon Rescue Mission, speaks of the many promises of God to those who open their hearts to the cry of the poor. Yahweh promises that He will repay all that they give, for He will not be a debtor to any man. Yet those who close their ears to the cry of the poor, Yahweh declares to them that He will not hear them in the day of their calamity.
http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/id14.htm
One of the best investments a person can make to be prepared for days of trouble, is to be generous in giving to the poor and needy. This is a preparation of faith, rather than one directed by fear and worldly wisdom. The wisdom of God says to give what you have away to those in need, and God will certainly repay you in your time of need. What would you rather have your trust in; some earthly stockpile or emergency store of goods, or the omnipotent God of all creation? I know where I have chosen to cast my lot.
In concluding this, I would like to state the following. A man’s life does not consist of an abundance of goods. True life, joy, and peace are attributes of God. These things are found as we are in fellowship with the source of all life, joy and peace. A man who has found God to be his treasure can be happier living in a car, experiencing true contentment and joy and peace, than a man living in a mansion who does not walk with God. There is a richness of life to be found in poverty.
Luke 6:20-25
And turning His gaze on His disciples, He began to say, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh... But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.”
The following verse is one you will not hear proclaimed in the houses of prosperity today. Even many outside of these churches have not received this command as a literal and practical word. They think it was hyperbole, or something that is a relic of days gone by. I assure you that these words of Christ will have the most profound bearing upon days ahead.
Luke 12:33
"Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys.”
In days ahead men and women everywhere will find that their purses have worn out, their treasures have failed them. But one group will find that their purses have no end to what is coming out of them. It is those who have opened their hearts and their purses to those in need. May you be numbered among them.
Joseph Herrin (05-20-08)
The Spirit of Christ has many ways to impart understanding, and He has been imparting much of late. Without a doubt, this is in order to prepare the saints for those things which are to come.
Two days ago the Lord ordered my steps in such a way that I took notice. He began to indicate that I was to move out from where I was staying. I had graciously been invited to stay in the home of Randy Simmons’ grandfather, and I had been there for about two weeks. The place was beautiful, situated on 28 acres with a small lake, and I had my own room to stay in. However, it was a bit outside of Macon where I was having to travel to a couple times a day to get on the Internet, go to the gym, etc.. My gas bill was pretty high, and other factors led me to consider a change of location.
I did not want to step out of the Father’s will, and I did not trust the judgment of my own heart, for I knew there were soulish reasons that would make me want to be in town. I therefore laid the matter before the Father and asked Him to confirm His will. That evening I was led to pick up a book I had been reading on the early life of Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission. As I read, the Spirit brought much confirmation of his direction.
In a particularly relevant passage, it was related how young Hudson Taylor had been residing in a very comfortable situation. He was working for a Doctor in England, whose house was in a very affluent section of town. This lasted for a while, until the Doctor had need of the room Hudson was in for a family member. Hudson was given a stipend to rent a room, and he considered deeply where he was to go.
Having received direction from the Lord he settled on a room for rent in one of the poorest sections of town, an area called Drainside. He leased a room from a Christian woman whose husband was a sailor, and she needed the money to support herself and her children, which Hudson was glad to be able to assist in. His furnishings were the most rudimentary, and his entire situation was one of considerable privation. His mother was very concerned that his situation was too much of a hardship, but Hudson was assured of the Lord’s leading.
He understood later that the Lord had led him to this place to acclimate him to the rigors of future missionary service in China. In China there would be none of the pleasant comforts of England, and as a missionary on a very limited income frugality would be essential. Much detail was provided in the book on the diet of Hudson Taylor at the time, and it was indeed very basic, having all of the unnecessary luxuries removed, and only that which would support life at the barest expense chosen.
As I read this, and as circumstances played out around me, I knew the Lord was indicating that I was to move the next day. I began considering where I should go, and I thought too of renting a small room somewhere in town for my own “prophet’s chamber.” My mind cast upon many options, but I had no peace about any of them. At last my mind came to consider simply staying in my van/camper. I didn’t truly need a room, as I had been getting up early and after having my devotion time I would head to town, usually before Randy and his grandfather were up. Some days I would not return until late. I also did not need shower, or bath facilities, as I was going to the gym daily and I was using their very adequate facilities to cut down on washing towels, and simply because of the great convenience of washing right after working out.
In the end, the Spirit confirmed my way, and I moved out the next day and spent the night parked at America’s favorite campground, the Wal-Mart parking lot, of which there are several to choose from in Macon. I also considered streamlining my food intake. I had found some of the cups of noodle soup to be quite good, and I had eaten a number of them while spending a month camping. These are the kind that come in a styrofoam cup and you simply add water and heat them up. I went into Wal-Mart and purchased a single burner element that attaches to the top of a Coleman propane cylinder. I figured I could simply dump the soup into my do everything pyrex bowl and heat it over the flame. These soups are available for about 35 cents each, and one of them makes a sufficient meal for me, along with some crackers.
I considered that the Lord was preparing me both for a traveling ministry, as well as for the coming economic collapse of America that the Spirit has signified in many ways is coming. I slept wonderfully in my van last night, and I remembered how the Father had led to a similar circumstance some four years earlier, with the difference being that I had only a Ford Tempo as a vehicle and two dogs with me. Having a 19' camper/van with a bed in the rear was the lap of luxury compared to my former circumstance, and I cannot tell you how happy and full of thanksgiving I was for this provision. I was truly filled with much joy over the freedom I had to go wherever the Lord directed me, and to find myself provided for in such an adequate fashion.
This morning, after checking my e-mail, I noticed a news headline that read “Mom forced to live in car with dogs.” This grabbed my attention, and I immediately thought, “I have been there before.” I clicked on the link which took me to the CNN website. The article spoke volumes to me.
The location of the story was Santa Barbara, California where the average house price is a million dollars. The economy has taken such a tumble, the many middle class Californians have found themselves having their homes foreclosed on, rendering many of them homeless. These are not your typical homeless people who are satisfied with such a life. These are people whose lives have been turned upside down, and they have found themselves in such a situation as they never imagined.
The article focused on one 67 year old woman whose job in the loan industry was lost. She lost her home and spent her savings and then found herself homeless. She now works at a job paying $8.00 and hour, and she is sleeping in her SUV with her two golden retrievers. This woman had a remarkable attitude. Absent was the bitterness that is manifest by many people who start blaming others and spewing vitriole. Some further amazing things were revealed in the article.
This problem is so widespread in Santa Barbara, that the city made an arrangement with a local charity to open up twelve parking lots in the city for people to park at to sleep. These parking lots are overseen by New Beginnings Counseling Center, an organization aimed at helping the homeless. They screen people who apply to park to keep out trouble makers, and they have one parking lot that is designated for women only and it is gated.
The previous day I had read a financial article that declared that if you wanted to see what was coming to America to look and see what is happening in California, for California leads the nation. The Spirit bears witness that this trend of homelessness is merely the tip of the iceberg, and it will reach much greater proportions in coming days. The CNN article is very insightful, and I encourage all to read it. I will provide a link. There is also a video that goes along with it.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/05/19/homeless.mom/index.html?iref=newssearch
People, I feel very safe (knowing my advice is in harmony with the witness of the Spirit) to say that it is a time for all Christians to begin streamlining their living. If you will consider how little the Lord has led me to live on, and how few material possessions I have, you can imagine how bloated the lifestyles of most Americans are. In a day when people lose their homes, they will have no place to put their furniture, their televisions, their stereos, their various games and entertainments and many decorative items. Much of this will be cast away as worthless. There will be no one to buy them in that day, and if they are sold they will go for a fraction of what they could be sold for today.
I would counsel all Christians to begin to inquire of the Spirit of Christ today, asking Him what they should give up, what they can do without, and how they should VASTLY simplify their lives. In this hour I believe many saints could yet sell their luxury items and have money to be placed on paying off debt (this should be a real priority) and to use to help the poor and needy in this hour.
If you knew that a day was coming sometime in the next year when multitudes would be cast into poverty and would lose their homes and forfeit most of their possessions, would it not be prudent to cut your losses now while things could be disposed of in an orderly fashion?
I would also advise people to consider what they should do with their money if they are out of debt and find themselves with a surplus. Rather than laying aside a stockpile for troublesome days, ask the Lord what He would have you to do. I would recommend listening to the audio message “Compassion’s Silver Lining.” This message, delivered at the Macon Rescue Mission, speaks of the many promises of God to those who open their hearts to the cry of the poor. Yahweh promises that He will repay all that they give, for He will not be a debtor to any man. Yet those who close their ears to the cry of the poor, Yahweh declares to them that He will not hear them in the day of their calamity.
http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/id14.htm
One of the best investments a person can make to be prepared for days of trouble, is to be generous in giving to the poor and needy. This is a preparation of faith, rather than one directed by fear and worldly wisdom. The wisdom of God says to give what you have away to those in need, and God will certainly repay you in your time of need. What would you rather have your trust in; some earthly stockpile or emergency store of goods, or the omnipotent God of all creation? I know where I have chosen to cast my lot.
In concluding this, I would like to state the following. A man’s life does not consist of an abundance of goods. True life, joy, and peace are attributes of God. These things are found as we are in fellowship with the source of all life, joy and peace. A man who has found God to be his treasure can be happier living in a car, experiencing true contentment and joy and peace, than a man living in a mansion who does not walk with God. There is a richness of life to be found in poverty.
Luke 6:20-25
And turning His gaze on His disciples, He began to say, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh... But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.”
The following verse is one you will not hear proclaimed in the houses of prosperity today. Even many outside of these churches have not received this command as a literal and practical word. They think it was hyperbole, or something that is a relic of days gone by. I assure you that these words of Christ will have the most profound bearing upon days ahead.
Luke 12:33
"Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys.”
In days ahead men and women everywhere will find that their purses have worn out, their treasures have failed them. But one group will find that their purses have no end to what is coming out of them. It is those who have opened their hearts and their purses to those in need. May you be numbered among them.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Many Witnesses
Many Witnesses
Following is a list of prophetic words. The first was written by me as I viewed the significance of two different carnival tragedies that relate to the current ‘revival’ in Lakeland, Florida, at Morningstar Ministries, and the other places to which it has spread. The others were sent to me, some written by people who receive this mailing, and some by others. If you have time, I invite you to read them all, and listen to the audio file at the bottom. The impact of the Spirit is powerful upon much that is declared here.
Responding to a brother named David Weber, I wrote the following:
I found it interesting that there have been two prominent disasters this past week regarding carnival rides. As I shared before the word Carnival means "flesh rising." Bob Jones, a prophet associated with Rick Joyner and Morningstar, offered what he viewed as a positive prophetic word over this present "revival" comparing it to a three ring circus.
BOB JONES: “So what’s going on? 25 years ago I brought a prophesy. The prophesy then was that the greatest showing on earth was going to begin. I would live to see it. It would be a 3 ring circus.”
Sadly, he is right. What is going on is a three ring circus, but the circus atmosphere is not from the HOLY Spirit, but from unclean sprits.
Following are links to the two carnival disasters. You will note much of prophetic significance in these events. The first one occurred near "Angels Camp" and when the ride collapsed many children (spiritually immature) were injured. Specifically, their feet were injured (their walk was damaged) and they became entangled in the rides chains (bondage to deceiving spirits).
The second event occurred at a Catholic Church that was holding a festival. The parishioners were setting up "carnival type rides" when a gunman approached and began shooting people. Three people were injured before the gunman was tackled. He mocked those who were trying to tackle him even as he was being subdued. Sadly, in a prophetic foreshadowing of this carnival atmosphere revival that is going on, the Catholic church said they were going to re-open the festival on Sunday as they felt it would help their people to get over their trauma and grief. This is a picture of looking to "thrills" instead of "relationship" with Christ to meet man's spiritual and physical needs. The gunman used a .22 caliber rifle, 22 being the number of judgment on the man of flesh. The vent occurred near Los Angeles, which of course means "the Angels."
http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-carnivalax,0,2864878.story?track=rss
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080517/ap_on_re_us/church_shootings
The Spirit is speaking. I hope there are some who are listening.
Joseph Herrin
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THIS PAST WEEK WHILE I WAS READING VARIOUS NEWS REPORTS THE HOLY SPIRIT CONFIRMED TO ME THAT OUR NATION IS HEADED TOWARD A SCENARIO WORSE THAN THAT OF THE DEPRESSION OF THE 30'S. THE STANDARD OF LIVING WE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO NOW WILL BE CHANGED FOREVER..... NEVER TO BE RETURNED TO. IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE WE ACT QUICKLY TO PREPARE OUR HOUSEHOLDS. ANY PREPARTION (FINANCIAL OR PHYSICAL) MUST NOT BE DONE OUT OF FEAR BUT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
ALSO, OUR CONFIDENCE/TRUST MUST NOT BE IN WHAT WE'VE READIED BUT IN OUR KING YAHSHUA WHO OWNS A CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS! THE "BANK OF HEAVEN" WILL ALWAYS HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MEET OUR EVERY NEED IN THE DAYS AHEAD. PRAISE YAHWEH THAT HE HAS CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS AND GIVEN US HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT.
SH
OKLAHOMA
---------------------
Hello,
Thank you for sending the post titled Be Wise As Serpents. I couldn't agree with you more. I too have been receiving many dreams and warnings from the Lord regarding a financial crisis. One of the repeating dreams is about empty store shelves and military personnel actually roaming the stores to keep order. Also, about 5 years ago, I was kind of obsessed with trying to lose about 10 pounds. Then one day as clear as can be, I heard a voice say to me, "Stop worrying over this diet! Soon, there will be a day when there won't be enough food in this country". I firmly believe that voice was the Holy Spirit.
I've tried to warn a few other Christians about these dreams but most either think I'm off my rocker or they think I'm full of fear and try to clam me. Neither, of course, is true. I have complete confidence in the Lord's protection over His people. But, like you, I think we need to know of the danger so we can be wise as serpents. It is my prayer that others will see the truth and turn to Jesus!
God bless,
Sarah B.
---------------------
Brother Joseph,
You are a blessing to me. As I said I am not (in my understanding ) a prophet, yet I do get Words from time to time. Last night after I was studying and before I went to sleep, the following message came to me. As a prophet, I ask you to look over it and let me know if it is from God. I fear my flesh. I have a friend who prophesizes out of her flesh and does not even know it. I do not want to do that. Anyhow would you look at this?
‘The time is coming; it is near, when I will call my people out of their hidden places; out of the caves and clefts, out of the wilderness and desert. A might army I am gathering. Warriors of every description, I am calling. The old will receive strength again; the young will gain might and wisdom. Listen, hear the sound of the shofar.
Come gather to me. Receive what I am about to impart. A new day is coming’ is now here. The weak will fall by the wayside and be trampled to death. The babies will have not one to feed them. Strengthen yourselves now. The time is coming when my bread will be hidden in your garment. It will be doled out carefully only to those hunger and thirst for me. It will not be scattered about as in past days and treated as common fare. My bread is precious to those who have it; but ludicrous to those who know me not. My bread gives strength to those that I call; but curdles the stomach of those who know me not.
Strengthen yourselves now. Grow fat on my Word. Hide it in your heart. Only my Word will carry you through what is to come. It is the Sword of my Spirit. It is the Light for your path. Immerse yourself. Feed hungrily. Arm yourself for the Day of the Lord is at hand.
Hold fast, for I am coming soon. The days have been counted out. Each one is being marked off the calendar. It is the season of my retribution--flood, famine, war destruction.
I have been mocked by my enemies while my people have stood in silence. If my people do not stand for me, why should I stand for them. They look the other way when My Name is profaned; they do not hear when my character is defamed. When adversity strikes, the grasp their rabbits foot, four leafed clover ,their crystals, their amulets; they look to the stars and to mediums, to sorcer and sorceress, witch and warlock; they call on angels and demons. They never call for me. I am just a fairy story to them—a tale told on mothers lap.
Do not doubt that I am coming. Those who ridiculed, those who doubted, those who stood idly by, those who condemned me will all see me. I will not hide my face forever. Those who stand strong; holding onto me and my word will triumph with me. The others will feel my wrath and judgment. I am coming. Are you sealed by my Spirit? Are you one with me? Take my mark, my shame and humiliation. Only then will you rule and reign with me.”
This morning I was in the Word and prayer. I was taken to Isaiah and Job.
Isaiah 3:10 “Tell the righteous it will be with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their works”
Isaiah 4”12 “In that the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel.”
Isaiah:5-6 “Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and those who assemble there, a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and a shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
Oh, how I long for Christ. I used to say “Lord, wait a little while; there are so many lost; now my heart just says come quickly Lord Jesus. I will share the Lord with anyone who will listen. Most do not want to hear. They shut the door on the word of The Lord, on hope of salvation. So now AI just pray “ Lord, your will be done, in all this earth, your kingdom come. Come quickly Lord Jesus.”
My spirit yearns for Him more than my body yearns for food and water. There is much that I desire’ but nothing more than Him.
Job 29:25:-27 “I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand on the earth. Though my skin be destroyed, yet in my flesh, I will see God. I, myself, will see him with my own eyes--I and not another. How my heart yearns within me.
I have known for a long time that a time of devastation is coming; a time when the weeds will be plucked from God’s garden; a time when those who claim to be His will be tested unto and sometimes through death. This will be worldwide. Truly, unless we are willing to give up this life for Him, we will never see Him.
He says “The furnace is stoked. The fire is hot. I am ready for my people. The dross, the chaff, the weeds and thorns will all burn away. All that is left is a pure and Holy people, completely dedicated to me. They will seek no other. They will know me. They are mine. They are bought and sealed through eternity. They sing ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ all the day. They rest in my arms and peace is theirs—peace and joy and love enfolds them. They are mine. I love them with everlasting love—they have been through the fire and are purified.”
If this is right on you have my permission to share it, otherwise let me know where I am out of whack. I appreciate your help. Truly, I desire only to do God’s will and not my own
Sister Barbara
-------------------------
Joseph,
I just received your blog by email about the "revival" and the ungodly works of the flesh of the spirit that has taken over that particular ministry as well as others. Very insightful indeed.
Let me share with you something that happened this weekend...
This weekend as I sipped on a mug of earl grey tea and settled in for some serious learning from The Lord, I knew in my spirit that it would not be pleasant. He would get a hold of me with an example meant to teach and refine. I was absorbing the many pages of majesty from a book The Lord lead me to pick up at the local bookstore. "The Art of Being a Lion."
I settled into a chapter of pure and savage destruction. The Lord gently reminded me, "Cover your head." I was used to this as The Lord had taught me one of the things he wanted for me to understand as a woman was contained in 1 Corinthians 11:5-13.
As I looked past the carnage of new male introduction into a pride of females, I started to cry, as my heart broke, as the text described the female lionesses allowing this new male to tear apart and kill their cubs! For you see...They were not his!
I cried out, " Oh Lord this is not a picture of you! You are The Lion of Judah, but not like this!"
The Lord spoke," AREN'T I EXACTLY LIKE THIS?"
"No, I insisted, You are loving and kind and only show judgement to wickedness! Those cubs are not wicked, they're innocent!"
ARE THE FRUITS OF YOUR FLESH INNOCENT? The Lord probed.
That is when I realized, as The Lord painted the picture of what He was about, that my heart could not embrace the savage destruction the male lion was capable of. The Lord spoke again. " WHEN YOU EMBRACE ME INTO YOUR LIFE, AND YOUR HEART SUBMITS TO ME, THE FIRST THING I WILL DO IS CLEAN HOUSE! THAT WHICH IS NOT MINE, ALL THE FRUITS OF YOUR FLESH, WILL BE UTTERLY DESTROYED BEFORE YOUR FACE. I WILL CREATE NEW FRUIT IN YOU THAT WILL BE PLEASING TO ME. YOU IN TURN WILL BE MINE, A NEW CREATION CALLED BY MY NAME."
A male lion will patrol an area to see if this group pride is where he wants to settle in. He first battles the dominant male who is currently present. We all know who that male is that The Lord competes with! Then the New Male destroys the fruit the old male has produced. At the age of 37, I allowed this Lion of Judah into my PRIDE :) and He tore me up while I watched and the savage destruction and the tears were well worth it!
Thank you Joseph for all your hard work and the journey you continue to share and teach with!
Kelly in Dallas
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PEARL HARBOR
James Kehrli (http://cryfromthewall.com/index.html)
In December of 1984, about a week after I purchased an old 1940 Cadillac sedan, I was driving around thinking about times gone by, particularly the time before and during World War II. Suddenly I heard the Lord say to me, very softly, "It's 1940 and Pearl Harbor is coming up for the Church.” I thought about betrayal, warfare, death and awakening! I prayed to the Lord about it and He began to reveal to me more about Pearl Harbor. He reminded me of a scene from the film Tora Tora Tora in which one of the Japanese military leaders remarked, after their attack on Pearl Harbor, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." I thought about the Church finally waking up to her true condition. I thought about the terrible price our country paid, in the 1940's to wake up to the realities of the world political situation. The price was human life, suffering, and destruction. But we did wake up. I thought about December 8, 1941 when we declared war against the Axis powers. Before that time we were sending arms, supplies and money to our allies, but we were not sending men to help fight. We watched China, the Pacific Islands, France and much of Europe fall to Germany, Italy, and Japan, but we were not personally affected so we did not enter the warfare. It took a catastrophic event to wake us up.
I prayed about and meditated on what I had heard until May of 1985, when I again heard from God during a baptismal service in our Church. The person to be baptized was an older lady who was quite concerned, even a little frightened, about being fully immersed. But she, after fifty years of disobedience and rebellion against God, desired to be baptized for the first time. Right before I was going to enter the water with her, a message in tongues came forth from my wife. The Lord gave me the interpretation by means of the following vision. This vision describes a future time of great hardship and great blessing for the Body of Christ.
He showed me a deep harbor with blue-green water that was clear and calm. There was a Person in the water. This Person was not swimming or standing, but just floating in an upright position. He was motionless, like a sailing ship listing in a windless sea. Many Japanese Zero aircraft came in from the east and proceeded to dive-bomb and strafe the body in the water and the body began to slowly sink. Eventually the body was entirely under the water. As he went down, I could see that there were many little people on this Body. As this Body sank deeper into the water, many of these small people jumped off just before they were about to enter the water. There were thousands of people jumping off and swimming away from this slow but steadily sinking Body. Some of these people jumped onto beds, which the Lord made clear to me were beds of adultery, and floated away off to the left. Others jumped onto whiskey bottles and paddled away; still others jumped on books, while others swam off on their own strength. All of the people were floating, swimming or paddling in the same direction. I looked over in that direction, which was to my left, and I saw an extremely beautiful, gigantic woman, with skin and clothing of a deep reddish purple hue standing solidly on the harbor floor. She stretched out her arms toward the sinking Body and got the attention of many as she very sweetly, seductively, and sincerely called out, "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you WHAT YOU WANT!
The people who were jumping off were in a panic, like rats leaving a sinking ship. Some scurried to higher ground on the Body, going from the shoulders to the ears and finally jumping off the top of the head right before it went under. It was clear that THEY DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE THIS BODY, but it was equally clear that they were not going down under the water with it either. The Body now was completely under the water, sinking steadily toward the bottom. Some of the little people hung on as it sank, but after a few seconds of holding their breath, they gave up, swam for the top, gulped a mouth full of air, and swam off toward the woman.
The apparently lifeless Body sank deeper and deeper into the clear blue-green water. As it sank I could see at the bottom of the harbor a beautiful, large, perfect pearl - obviously of great value. It was supernaturally large and beautiful, lustrous, pure and round. As I watched, I could see the Body change shape from that of a single being, with little people desperately hanging on it, to many little individual people swimming deep enough to get to this beautiful Pearl. As they went deeper, many chose to quit and swim to the surface for air and life and then go over to the beautiful woman. All who quit diving eventually swam over to the beautiful woman.
Finally, I saw a number of these small people swim to the Pearl and touch it, and embrace it. But to do this, everyone who dove down reached a point when they realized that their own natural ability to hold their breath and dive deeper would not be enough. Those who dove down and touched this Pearl all came to understand that they would have to expend all of their natural strength before they touched and embraced the Pearl of Great Price. This did not keep them from diving down though, because the closer they got to the Pearl, the
more of His beauty they saw. I saw many touch and embrace the Pearl and then immediately shoot straight up. As each of these little people shot up from the floor of the Harbor, each had the Pearl. As this group of individuals rose higher and higher, they all became one Body again. By the time these Pearl-laden people reached the surface they burst forth from the waters as one Body, the Body of Christ. These people were manifestly His own possession and they in turn possessed the Pearl of Great Price, Jesus Christ Himself.
As the Lord was showing me this beautiful picture, He spoke to me and said, "Even as Jesus came out of the waters of baptism, so My Body will come out of Pearl Harbor with a new and powerful anointing of My Holy Spirit, and a new and deadly power to fight the enemy.” He said that there indeed would come upon the Church of Jesus Christ a Pearl Harbor experience like the United States experienced on December 7, 1941. He said that when the Body of Christ begins to sink under the water, because of a soon-coming, devastating attack of the enemy, MANY will choose to desert our Lord Jesus Christ because they do not esteem the Pearl of Great Price (Jesus Himself) worth the price - death to their own selfish desires. They will not make the selfless effort of love to dive deeply enough to embrace Him because they do not love Him more than their own lives. Many will choose not to identify with what they assume is a defeated individual or group. They look upon themselves as winners and will not identify with a Jesus that is apparently being defeated. They will choose to identify with the beautiful woman of the harbor who gives them what they want. As the vision revealed, many who leapt off the sinking Body because the woman of the harbor promised them success. Because of this they went to her. Many others did not feel that it was necessary to pay such a high price to apprehend Jesus, and they felt that the beautiful woman would give them Jesus on their own terms.
As the Body of Christ came out of the waters of death, the Lord said that His Body was now fully alive and would now fight the enemy with purpose and real anointing. Also His Body would now use only supernatural weaponry. He spoke so clearly to me about the weapons. He said, "Even as the United States entered the Second World War using conventional weapons to fight the enemy, and ended the war with the atomic bomb, a weapon beyond their comprehension; so My people will begin this spiritual war with conventional weapons in the Spirit, but by the end of this war to end all wars, they will be using atomic bombs of the Spirit.” The Lord made it clear that we will come out of the water equipped with God-given anointing to REALLY heal the sick,
work miracles, and deliver those in demonic bondage. He also made it clear that before the warfare ends, we will be moving in a dimension of spiritual warfare that is unimaginable to us now. We will do greater works than Jesus did and we will see the demon hordes routed like never before.
After this message in tongues and interpretation was given, my attention turned back to the woman who was to be baptized. Then the Lord said that the Pearl Harbor experience for His Church would be similar to this woman's baptism. I closely watched this baptism to see what the Lord meant. The woman was very nervous and quite afraid of going under the water. I assured her that she would be all right. After several moments of prayer and a short teaching on what baptism represented, she was plunged underneath the water. She came out of the water with her hands lifted up, praising God. I had not told anyone what the Lord told me about this woman's baptism, because I did not know exactly what was going to happen. When she recovered her composure, she began to testify about what had just happened to her. She said that she was extremely fearful at first, but that when she got under the water a Beautiful Peace swept through her, and all her fear was gone. This beautiful peace became joy as she came out of the water and she praised God for His great comfort, love and mercy.
I believe that God was showing us that we need not fear what He will put us through. His purpose is to bring us peace, joy, cleansing and power. He was also showing us that His Church will go through a baptism. It is a baptism of the Body of Christ. It is a death and a resurrection. We must trust Him to bring us out of this watery tomb of death and into the glorious resurrection power of His Son. We must understand that a harbor is a place of SAFETY and REFUGE. God's people who are involved in these events will need to be safe and protected. The Harbor of the Pearl of Great Price is the only harbor that will provide refuge and safety, and ALL who believe will be more than willing to pay the price of dying to their own desires.
Pearl Harbor is the death and resurrection of the Body of Christ, being prepared to do His work in His way, with His heart. It is the final separation of David from Saul - the David Church being purified and separated from the Saul Church. It is the final AWAKENING blast of the trumpet of God to rouse His people for battle. It is the judgment that begins with the house of the Lord. It is the refining fire that separates the gold from the dross. It will be preceded by the Lord dealing with His true people to both survive and desire this final preparation for battle. It is the promise of unmatched power and purity: power over sin, power over the enemy, power to live a much more virtuous life, and power to glorify our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Even now, God is dealing with those in the David Church even as God dealt with David. Whenever David would start to fall asleep to God's purity and purpose, the Lord would abruptly DEAL with David to AWAKEN him. God did not waste this kind of effort on Saul because Saul CHOSE to be asleep to God and His desires.
Pearl Harbor is a warning of betrayal and disaster. The Church in the past has gone through many Pearl Harbors of betrayal and disaster. Jesus was betrayed and killed and rose again. English Puritans experienced Pearl Harbor in the early 17th century and survived because they could not obey the law that the Church of England tried to force them to obey. They fled England and eventually sailed to the New World, where they laid the spiritual foundation for what eventually became one of the greatest revivals in the history of the world. John Bunyan, wrote Pilgrim's Progress at the bottom of the harbor as he was betrayed by his own country and thrown in jail for not attending the services of the Church of England and for preaching in a way that did not conform to this church’s liturgy. Had he given in and done that which they asked, he could have been a free man. But for conscience sake he chose not to do so. Because of this uncompromising obedience to the Scriptures and to God Himself, he was able to rise to the highest place in the history of Christian literature. Today he still blesses us with the fruit of that resurrection power.
To those who are not awake and prepared, Pearl Harbor will come suddenly and tragically, as a thief in the night, and they will be swept away to Great Deception. To those who are more open to the will of God than they are to pleasing religious men, it will be an expected ordeal, a call to arms, and a prelude to great victory. The initial stages will be the harbinger of the greatest move of God in history: the greatest Revival and the greatest manifestation of Christian Unity that the world has ever known.
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This compilation of things said by Carter Conlon needs to be heard. Please click on the following link and listen to the audio file, if you can.
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! Audio Compilation - Carter Conlon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hQ-mqrpwso
David Weber
Following is a list of prophetic words. The first was written by me as I viewed the significance of two different carnival tragedies that relate to the current ‘revival’ in Lakeland, Florida, at Morningstar Ministries, and the other places to which it has spread. The others were sent to me, some written by people who receive this mailing, and some by others. If you have time, I invite you to read them all, and listen to the audio file at the bottom. The impact of the Spirit is powerful upon much that is declared here.
Responding to a brother named David Weber, I wrote the following:
I found it interesting that there have been two prominent disasters this past week regarding carnival rides. As I shared before the word Carnival means "flesh rising." Bob Jones, a prophet associated with Rick Joyner and Morningstar, offered what he viewed as a positive prophetic word over this present "revival" comparing it to a three ring circus.
BOB JONES: “So what’s going on? 25 years ago I brought a prophesy. The prophesy then was that the greatest showing on earth was going to begin. I would live to see it. It would be a 3 ring circus.”
Sadly, he is right. What is going on is a three ring circus, but the circus atmosphere is not from the HOLY Spirit, but from unclean sprits.
Following are links to the two carnival disasters. You will note much of prophetic significance in these events. The first one occurred near "Angels Camp" and when the ride collapsed many children (spiritually immature) were injured. Specifically, their feet were injured (their walk was damaged) and they became entangled in the rides chains (bondage to deceiving spirits).
The second event occurred at a Catholic Church that was holding a festival. The parishioners were setting up "carnival type rides" when a gunman approached and began shooting people. Three people were injured before the gunman was tackled. He mocked those who were trying to tackle him even as he was being subdued. Sadly, in a prophetic foreshadowing of this carnival atmosphere revival that is going on, the Catholic church said they were going to re-open the festival on Sunday as they felt it would help their people to get over their trauma and grief. This is a picture of looking to "thrills" instead of "relationship" with Christ to meet man's spiritual and physical needs. The gunman used a .22 caliber rifle, 22 being the number of judgment on the man of flesh. The vent occurred near Los Angeles, which of course means "the Angels."
http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-carnivalax,0,2864878.story?track=rss
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080517/ap_on_re_us/church_shootings
The Spirit is speaking. I hope there are some who are listening.
Joseph Herrin
----------------------
THIS PAST WEEK WHILE I WAS READING VARIOUS NEWS REPORTS THE HOLY SPIRIT CONFIRMED TO ME THAT OUR NATION IS HEADED TOWARD A SCENARIO WORSE THAN THAT OF THE DEPRESSION OF THE 30'S. THE STANDARD OF LIVING WE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO NOW WILL BE CHANGED FOREVER..... NEVER TO BE RETURNED TO. IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE WE ACT QUICKLY TO PREPARE OUR HOUSEHOLDS. ANY PREPARTION (FINANCIAL OR PHYSICAL) MUST NOT BE DONE OUT OF FEAR BUT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
ALSO, OUR CONFIDENCE/TRUST MUST NOT BE IN WHAT WE'VE READIED BUT IN OUR KING YAHSHUA WHO OWNS A CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS! THE "BANK OF HEAVEN" WILL ALWAYS HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MEET OUR EVERY NEED IN THE DAYS AHEAD. PRAISE YAHWEH THAT HE HAS CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS AND GIVEN US HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT.
SH
OKLAHOMA
---------------------
Hello,
Thank you for sending the post titled Be Wise As Serpents. I couldn't agree with you more. I too have been receiving many dreams and warnings from the Lord regarding a financial crisis. One of the repeating dreams is about empty store shelves and military personnel actually roaming the stores to keep order. Also, about 5 years ago, I was kind of obsessed with trying to lose about 10 pounds. Then one day as clear as can be, I heard a voice say to me, "Stop worrying over this diet! Soon, there will be a day when there won't be enough food in this country". I firmly believe that voice was the Holy Spirit.
I've tried to warn a few other Christians about these dreams but most either think I'm off my rocker or they think I'm full of fear and try to clam me. Neither, of course, is true. I have complete confidence in the Lord's protection over His people. But, like you, I think we need to know of the danger so we can be wise as serpents. It is my prayer that others will see the truth and turn to Jesus!
God bless,
Sarah B.
---------------------
Brother Joseph,
You are a blessing to me. As I said I am not (in my understanding ) a prophet, yet I do get Words from time to time. Last night after I was studying and before I went to sleep, the following message came to me. As a prophet, I ask you to look over it and let me know if it is from God. I fear my flesh. I have a friend who prophesizes out of her flesh and does not even know it. I do not want to do that. Anyhow would you look at this?
‘The time is coming; it is near, when I will call my people out of their hidden places; out of the caves and clefts, out of the wilderness and desert. A might army I am gathering. Warriors of every description, I am calling. The old will receive strength again; the young will gain might and wisdom. Listen, hear the sound of the shofar.
Come gather to me. Receive what I am about to impart. A new day is coming’ is now here. The weak will fall by the wayside and be trampled to death. The babies will have not one to feed them. Strengthen yourselves now. The time is coming when my bread will be hidden in your garment. It will be doled out carefully only to those hunger and thirst for me. It will not be scattered about as in past days and treated as common fare. My bread is precious to those who have it; but ludicrous to those who know me not. My bread gives strength to those that I call; but curdles the stomach of those who know me not.
Strengthen yourselves now. Grow fat on my Word. Hide it in your heart. Only my Word will carry you through what is to come. It is the Sword of my Spirit. It is the Light for your path. Immerse yourself. Feed hungrily. Arm yourself for the Day of the Lord is at hand.
Hold fast, for I am coming soon. The days have been counted out. Each one is being marked off the calendar. It is the season of my retribution--flood, famine, war destruction.
I have been mocked by my enemies while my people have stood in silence. If my people do not stand for me, why should I stand for them. They look the other way when My Name is profaned; they do not hear when my character is defamed. When adversity strikes, the grasp their rabbits foot, four leafed clover ,their crystals, their amulets; they look to the stars and to mediums, to sorcer and sorceress, witch and warlock; they call on angels and demons. They never call for me. I am just a fairy story to them—a tale told on mothers lap.
Do not doubt that I am coming. Those who ridiculed, those who doubted, those who stood idly by, those who condemned me will all see me. I will not hide my face forever. Those who stand strong; holding onto me and my word will triumph with me. The others will feel my wrath and judgment. I am coming. Are you sealed by my Spirit? Are you one with me? Take my mark, my shame and humiliation. Only then will you rule and reign with me.”
This morning I was in the Word and prayer. I was taken to Isaiah and Job.
Isaiah 3:10 “Tell the righteous it will be with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their works”
Isaiah 4”12 “In that the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel.”
Isaiah:5-6 “Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and those who assemble there, a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and a shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
Oh, how I long for Christ. I used to say “Lord, wait a little while; there are so many lost; now my heart just says come quickly Lord Jesus. I will share the Lord with anyone who will listen. Most do not want to hear. They shut the door on the word of The Lord, on hope of salvation. So now AI just pray “ Lord, your will be done, in all this earth, your kingdom come. Come quickly Lord Jesus.”
My spirit yearns for Him more than my body yearns for food and water. There is much that I desire’ but nothing more than Him.
Job 29:25:-27 “I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand on the earth. Though my skin be destroyed, yet in my flesh, I will see God. I, myself, will see him with my own eyes--I and not another. How my heart yearns within me.
I have known for a long time that a time of devastation is coming; a time when the weeds will be plucked from God’s garden; a time when those who claim to be His will be tested unto and sometimes through death. This will be worldwide. Truly, unless we are willing to give up this life for Him, we will never see Him.
He says “The furnace is stoked. The fire is hot. I am ready for my people. The dross, the chaff, the weeds and thorns will all burn away. All that is left is a pure and Holy people, completely dedicated to me. They will seek no other. They will know me. They are mine. They are bought and sealed through eternity. They sing ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ all the day. They rest in my arms and peace is theirs—peace and joy and love enfolds them. They are mine. I love them with everlasting love—they have been through the fire and are purified.”
If this is right on you have my permission to share it, otherwise let me know where I am out of whack. I appreciate your help. Truly, I desire only to do God’s will and not my own
Sister Barbara
-------------------------
Joseph,
I just received your blog by email about the "revival" and the ungodly works of the flesh of the spirit that has taken over that particular ministry as well as others. Very insightful indeed.
Let me share with you something that happened this weekend...
This weekend as I sipped on a mug of earl grey tea and settled in for some serious learning from The Lord, I knew in my spirit that it would not be pleasant. He would get a hold of me with an example meant to teach and refine. I was absorbing the many pages of majesty from a book The Lord lead me to pick up at the local bookstore. "The Art of Being a Lion."
I settled into a chapter of pure and savage destruction. The Lord gently reminded me, "Cover your head." I was used to this as The Lord had taught me one of the things he wanted for me to understand as a woman was contained in 1 Corinthians 11:5-13.
As I looked past the carnage of new male introduction into a pride of females, I started to cry, as my heart broke, as the text described the female lionesses allowing this new male to tear apart and kill their cubs! For you see...They were not his!
I cried out, " Oh Lord this is not a picture of you! You are The Lion of Judah, but not like this!"
The Lord spoke," AREN'T I EXACTLY LIKE THIS?"
"No, I insisted, You are loving and kind and only show judgement to wickedness! Those cubs are not wicked, they're innocent!"
ARE THE FRUITS OF YOUR FLESH INNOCENT? The Lord probed.
That is when I realized, as The Lord painted the picture of what He was about, that my heart could not embrace the savage destruction the male lion was capable of. The Lord spoke again. " WHEN YOU EMBRACE ME INTO YOUR LIFE, AND YOUR HEART SUBMITS TO ME, THE FIRST THING I WILL DO IS CLEAN HOUSE! THAT WHICH IS NOT MINE, ALL THE FRUITS OF YOUR FLESH, WILL BE UTTERLY DESTROYED BEFORE YOUR FACE. I WILL CREATE NEW FRUIT IN YOU THAT WILL BE PLEASING TO ME. YOU IN TURN WILL BE MINE, A NEW CREATION CALLED BY MY NAME."
A male lion will patrol an area to see if this group pride is where he wants to settle in. He first battles the dominant male who is currently present. We all know who that male is that The Lord competes with! Then the New Male destroys the fruit the old male has produced. At the age of 37, I allowed this Lion of Judah into my PRIDE :) and He tore me up while I watched and the savage destruction and the tears were well worth it!
Thank you Joseph for all your hard work and the journey you continue to share and teach with!
Kelly in Dallas
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PEARL HARBOR
James Kehrli (http://cryfromthewall.com/index.html)
In December of 1984, about a week after I purchased an old 1940 Cadillac sedan, I was driving around thinking about times gone by, particularly the time before and during World War II. Suddenly I heard the Lord say to me, very softly, "It's 1940 and Pearl Harbor is coming up for the Church.” I thought about betrayal, warfare, death and awakening! I prayed to the Lord about it and He began to reveal to me more about Pearl Harbor. He reminded me of a scene from the film Tora Tora Tora in which one of the Japanese military leaders remarked, after their attack on Pearl Harbor, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." I thought about the Church finally waking up to her true condition. I thought about the terrible price our country paid, in the 1940's to wake up to the realities of the world political situation. The price was human life, suffering, and destruction. But we did wake up. I thought about December 8, 1941 when we declared war against the Axis powers. Before that time we were sending arms, supplies and money to our allies, but we were not sending men to help fight. We watched China, the Pacific Islands, France and much of Europe fall to Germany, Italy, and Japan, but we were not personally affected so we did not enter the warfare. It took a catastrophic event to wake us up.
I prayed about and meditated on what I had heard until May of 1985, when I again heard from God during a baptismal service in our Church. The person to be baptized was an older lady who was quite concerned, even a little frightened, about being fully immersed. But she, after fifty years of disobedience and rebellion against God, desired to be baptized for the first time. Right before I was going to enter the water with her, a message in tongues came forth from my wife. The Lord gave me the interpretation by means of the following vision. This vision describes a future time of great hardship and great blessing for the Body of Christ.
He showed me a deep harbor with blue-green water that was clear and calm. There was a Person in the water. This Person was not swimming or standing, but just floating in an upright position. He was motionless, like a sailing ship listing in a windless sea. Many Japanese Zero aircraft came in from the east and proceeded to dive-bomb and strafe the body in the water and the body began to slowly sink. Eventually the body was entirely under the water. As he went down, I could see that there were many little people on this Body. As this Body sank deeper into the water, many of these small people jumped off just before they were about to enter the water. There were thousands of people jumping off and swimming away from this slow but steadily sinking Body. Some of these people jumped onto beds, which the Lord made clear to me were beds of adultery, and floated away off to the left. Others jumped onto whiskey bottles and paddled away; still others jumped on books, while others swam off on their own strength. All of the people were floating, swimming or paddling in the same direction. I looked over in that direction, which was to my left, and I saw an extremely beautiful, gigantic woman, with skin and clothing of a deep reddish purple hue standing solidly on the harbor floor. She stretched out her arms toward the sinking Body and got the attention of many as she very sweetly, seductively, and sincerely called out, "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you WHAT YOU WANT!
The people who were jumping off were in a panic, like rats leaving a sinking ship. Some scurried to higher ground on the Body, going from the shoulders to the ears and finally jumping off the top of the head right before it went under. It was clear that THEY DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE THIS BODY, but it was equally clear that they were not going down under the water with it either. The Body now was completely under the water, sinking steadily toward the bottom. Some of the little people hung on as it sank, but after a few seconds of holding their breath, they gave up, swam for the top, gulped a mouth full of air, and swam off toward the woman.
The apparently lifeless Body sank deeper and deeper into the clear blue-green water. As it sank I could see at the bottom of the harbor a beautiful, large, perfect pearl - obviously of great value. It was supernaturally large and beautiful, lustrous, pure and round. As I watched, I could see the Body change shape from that of a single being, with little people desperately hanging on it, to many little individual people swimming deep enough to get to this beautiful Pearl. As they went deeper, many chose to quit and swim to the surface for air and life and then go over to the beautiful woman. All who quit diving eventually swam over to the beautiful woman.
Finally, I saw a number of these small people swim to the Pearl and touch it, and embrace it. But to do this, everyone who dove down reached a point when they realized that their own natural ability to hold their breath and dive deeper would not be enough. Those who dove down and touched this Pearl all came to understand that they would have to expend all of their natural strength before they touched and embraced the Pearl of Great Price. This did not keep them from diving down though, because the closer they got to the Pearl, the
more of His beauty they saw. I saw many touch and embrace the Pearl and then immediately shoot straight up. As each of these little people shot up from the floor of the Harbor, each had the Pearl. As this group of individuals rose higher and higher, they all became one Body again. By the time these Pearl-laden people reached the surface they burst forth from the waters as one Body, the Body of Christ. These people were manifestly His own possession and they in turn possessed the Pearl of Great Price, Jesus Christ Himself.
As the Lord was showing me this beautiful picture, He spoke to me and said, "Even as Jesus came out of the waters of baptism, so My Body will come out of Pearl Harbor with a new and powerful anointing of My Holy Spirit, and a new and deadly power to fight the enemy.” He said that there indeed would come upon the Church of Jesus Christ a Pearl Harbor experience like the United States experienced on December 7, 1941. He said that when the Body of Christ begins to sink under the water, because of a soon-coming, devastating attack of the enemy, MANY will choose to desert our Lord Jesus Christ because they do not esteem the Pearl of Great Price (Jesus Himself) worth the price - death to their own selfish desires. They will not make the selfless effort of love to dive deeply enough to embrace Him because they do not love Him more than their own lives. Many will choose not to identify with what they assume is a defeated individual or group. They look upon themselves as winners and will not identify with a Jesus that is apparently being defeated. They will choose to identify with the beautiful woman of the harbor who gives them what they want. As the vision revealed, many who leapt off the sinking Body because the woman of the harbor promised them success. Because of this they went to her. Many others did not feel that it was necessary to pay such a high price to apprehend Jesus, and they felt that the beautiful woman would give them Jesus on their own terms.
As the Body of Christ came out of the waters of death, the Lord said that His Body was now fully alive and would now fight the enemy with purpose and real anointing. Also His Body would now use only supernatural weaponry. He spoke so clearly to me about the weapons. He said, "Even as the United States entered the Second World War using conventional weapons to fight the enemy, and ended the war with the atomic bomb, a weapon beyond their comprehension; so My people will begin this spiritual war with conventional weapons in the Spirit, but by the end of this war to end all wars, they will be using atomic bombs of the Spirit.” The Lord made it clear that we will come out of the water equipped with God-given anointing to REALLY heal the sick,
work miracles, and deliver those in demonic bondage. He also made it clear that before the warfare ends, we will be moving in a dimension of spiritual warfare that is unimaginable to us now. We will do greater works than Jesus did and we will see the demon hordes routed like never before.
After this message in tongues and interpretation was given, my attention turned back to the woman who was to be baptized. Then the Lord said that the Pearl Harbor experience for His Church would be similar to this woman's baptism. I closely watched this baptism to see what the Lord meant. The woman was very nervous and quite afraid of going under the water. I assured her that she would be all right. After several moments of prayer and a short teaching on what baptism represented, she was plunged underneath the water. She came out of the water with her hands lifted up, praising God. I had not told anyone what the Lord told me about this woman's baptism, because I did not know exactly what was going to happen. When she recovered her composure, she began to testify about what had just happened to her. She said that she was extremely fearful at first, but that when she got under the water a Beautiful Peace swept through her, and all her fear was gone. This beautiful peace became joy as she came out of the water and she praised God for His great comfort, love and mercy.
I believe that God was showing us that we need not fear what He will put us through. His purpose is to bring us peace, joy, cleansing and power. He was also showing us that His Church will go through a baptism. It is a baptism of the Body of Christ. It is a death and a resurrection. We must trust Him to bring us out of this watery tomb of death and into the glorious resurrection power of His Son. We must understand that a harbor is a place of SAFETY and REFUGE. God's people who are involved in these events will need to be safe and protected. The Harbor of the Pearl of Great Price is the only harbor that will provide refuge and safety, and ALL who believe will be more than willing to pay the price of dying to their own desires.
Pearl Harbor is the death and resurrection of the Body of Christ, being prepared to do His work in His way, with His heart. It is the final separation of David from Saul - the David Church being purified and separated from the Saul Church. It is the final AWAKENING blast of the trumpet of God to rouse His people for battle. It is the judgment that begins with the house of the Lord. It is the refining fire that separates the gold from the dross. It will be preceded by the Lord dealing with His true people to both survive and desire this final preparation for battle. It is the promise of unmatched power and purity: power over sin, power over the enemy, power to live a much more virtuous life, and power to glorify our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Even now, God is dealing with those in the David Church even as God dealt with David. Whenever David would start to fall asleep to God's purity and purpose, the Lord would abruptly DEAL with David to AWAKEN him. God did not waste this kind of effort on Saul because Saul CHOSE to be asleep to God and His desires.
Pearl Harbor is a warning of betrayal and disaster. The Church in the past has gone through many Pearl Harbors of betrayal and disaster. Jesus was betrayed and killed and rose again. English Puritans experienced Pearl Harbor in the early 17th century and survived because they could not obey the law that the Church of England tried to force them to obey. They fled England and eventually sailed to the New World, where they laid the spiritual foundation for what eventually became one of the greatest revivals in the history of the world. John Bunyan, wrote Pilgrim's Progress at the bottom of the harbor as he was betrayed by his own country and thrown in jail for not attending the services of the Church of England and for preaching in a way that did not conform to this church’s liturgy. Had he given in and done that which they asked, he could have been a free man. But for conscience sake he chose not to do so. Because of this uncompromising obedience to the Scriptures and to God Himself, he was able to rise to the highest place in the history of Christian literature. Today he still blesses us with the fruit of that resurrection power.
To those who are not awake and prepared, Pearl Harbor will come suddenly and tragically, as a thief in the night, and they will be swept away to Great Deception. To those who are more open to the will of God than they are to pleasing religious men, it will be an expected ordeal, a call to arms, and a prelude to great victory. The initial stages will be the harbinger of the greatest move of God in history: the greatest Revival and the greatest manifestation of Christian Unity that the world has ever known.
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This compilation of things said by Carter Conlon needs to be heard. Please click on the following link and listen to the audio file, if you can.
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! Audio Compilation - Carter Conlon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hQ-mqrpwso
David Weber
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