Double Jeopardy - Deception and Bondage of the Bride of Christ - Part 3

Joseph Herrin (05-15-2014)

Having come to discern the duplicity, and the deception, that is present at Morningstar Ministries, the very name of the organization now strikes me as bearing some significance. It is fairly well known among Christians that the term Morning Star is used in various translations of the Bible as both a reference to Satan and to Christ. I am led to question which morning star that Morningstar Ministries is following. Yahweh was indicating to me those many years ago through the Movie Double Jeopardy that all was not as pure and righteous with Morningstar Ministries as appeared on the surface. I had no inkling at that time, however, how dark and evil things truly were.

Isaiah 14:12
How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!
NIV

Revelation 22:16
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
KJV

Though there is some debate over whether the original Hebrew manuscripts are properly translated as “morning star” in Isaiah 14:12, there is some justification for angels being referred to by this term. This expression is also used in the book of Job.

Job 38:4, 7
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?... When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

It does not strike me as inappropriate that Satan should be referred to by the term “morning star,” for he was a shining one, an angel of light, before his fall. Satan was not evil when Yahweh first created him. The description of Satan before his fall bears some resemblance to that of the firstborn Son of God.

Ezekiel 28:12, 15
“You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty... You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you.”

Christ is described as “Wisdom” in the Bible. He is likewise blameless, being the spotless, Lamb of God. We observe a great divide, however, when we bear witness to the truth that Satan fell from the perfection of his original creation while Yahshua, the Son of God, has ever remained faithful. As Christians, we should all aspire to be as Yahshua. We should desire to walk in faithfulness and holiness, ever living to do the will of the Father. Sadly, this is frequently not what occurs. Many Christians begin well, but like Satan they corrupt their ways. In the Bible we are told that pride and conceit were major contributors to Satan’s fall.

Ezekiel 28:17
“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor.”

I Timothy 3:6-7
[An overseer must not be] a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

Pride has been the downfall of many men and women. Pride renders a Christian susceptible to the deception of the enemy. Those who are proud do not readily accept correction, or consider the objections and warnings of others. A sense of spiritual superiority causes them to disdain the thoughts of those whom they view as being less spiritual, less intelligent, or of a lesser rank. I have found it interesting that Rick Joyner not only was aware of this danger from an early point in his ministry, but he wrote about it in what is perhaps his most popular book, The Final Quest.

Following is an excerpt from this book. It describes Christians as warriors in a battle against the forces of hell. Rick Joyner is writing as a participant in this battle, a perspective that he states came to him through a series of prophetic experiences.

The Deadly Trap

I then looked out over the carnage below and the slowly retreating demonic army. Behind me, more of the glorious warriors were constantly taking their places on the mountain. I knew that we were now strong enough to attack and destroy what was left of the enemy horde. “Not yet,” said Wisdom. “Look over there.”

I looked in the direction he was pointing, but had to shield my eyes from the glory emanating from my own armor to see anything. Then I caught a glimpse of some movement in a small valley. I could not make out what I was seeing because the glory shining from my armor made it difficult to see into the darkness. I asked Wisdom if there was something that I could cover my armor with so I could see. He then gave me a very plain mantle to put on.

“What is this?” I inquired, a little insulted by its drabness.

“Humility,” said Wisdom. “You will not be able to see very well without it.”

Reluctantly I put it on, and immediately I saw many things that I could not see before. I looked toward the valley and the movement I had seen. To my astonishment, there was an entire division of the enemy horde that was waiting to ambush anyone who ventured from the mountain.

“What army is that?” I asked, “and how did they escape the battle intact?”

“That is Pride,” explained Wisdom. “It is the hardest enemy to see after you have been in the glory. Those who refuse to put on this cloak will suffer much at the hands of that most devious enemy.”

As I looked back at the mountain, I saw many of the glorious warriors crossing the plain to attack the remnant of the enemy horde. None of them were wearing the cloaks of humility, and they had not seen the enemy that was ready to attack them from their rear. I started to run out to stop them, but Wisdom restrained me.

“You cannot stop this,” he said. “Only the soldiers who wear this cloak will recognize your authority...”

The Power of Pride

I was pondering how I was learning as much by descending the mountain as I had by climbing it, when the noise from the battlefield drew my attention. By now, thousands of the mighty warriors had crossed the plain to attack the remnant of the enemy horde.

The enemy was fleeing in all directions, except for one division - Pride. Completely undetected, it had marched right up to the rear of the advancing warriors and was about to release a hail of arrows. I then noticed that the mighty warriors had no armor on their backsides. They were totally exposed and vulnerable to what was about to hit them.

Wisdom remarked, “You have taught that there is no armor for the backside, which means you are vulnerable if you run from the enemy. However, you never saw how advancing in pride also makes you vulnerable.”

I could only nod in acknowledgment, for it was too late to do anything. It was almost unbearable to watch, but Wisdom said that I must. I knew the kingdom of God was about to suffer a major defeat. Though I had felt sorrow before, I had never felt this kind of sorrow.

To my amazement, when the arrows of Pride struck the warriors they did not even notice. However, the enemy kept shooting. The warriors were bleeding and getting weaker fast, but they would not acknowledge it. Soon they were too weak to hold up their shields and swords; they cast them down, declaring that they no longer needed them. They started taking off their armor, saying it was not needed anymore either.

Then another enemy division appeared and moved up swiftly. It was called Strong Delusion. Its members released a hail of arrows and they all seemed to hit their marks. It only took a few of the demons of Delusion, who were all small and seemingly weak, to lead away this once great army of glorious warriors. They were taken to various prison camps, each named after a different doctrine of demons. I was astonished at how this great company of the righteous had been so easily defeated, and they still did not even know what had hit them.

I blurted out: “How could those who were so strong, who have been all the way to the top of the mountain, who have seen the Lord as they have, be so vulnerable?”

“Pride is always the hardest enemy to see, and it always sneaks up behind you,” Wisdom lamented. “In some ways, those who have been to the greatest heights are in the greatest danger of falling. You must always remember in this life that you can fall at any time from any level.”

“Take heed when you think you stand, lest you fall,” I replied. “How awesome such Scriptures are to me now!”

“When you think you are the least vulnerable to falling is in fact when you are the most vulnerable. Most men fall immediately after a great victory,” Wisdom lamented.

“How can we keep from being attacked like this?” I asked.

“Stay close to me, inquire of the Lord before making major decisions, and keep that mantle on. Then the enemy will not be able to easily blindside you as he did them.”

I looked at the mantle. It looked plain and insignificant. I felt that it made me look more like a homeless person that a warrior. Wisdom responded as if I had been speaking out loud.

“The Lord is closer to the homeless than to kings. You only have true strength to the degree that you walk in the grace of God, and ‘He gives grace to the humble.’ No evil weapon can penetrate this mantle because nothing can overpower His grace. As long as you wear this mantle, you are safe from this kind of attack.”
[Rick Joyner, The Final Quest]

I believe I am correct in stating that what is recorded as a warning to Rick Joyner in these words that he penned nearly twenty years ago, is the very trap of Satan that Rick Joyner, other members of Morningstar, and numerous personalities of renown from the prophetic movement have fallen prey to. Strong Delusion has taken hold of these individuals and their ministries. They did not resist, or fight back. Their pride blinded them to their peril. To this hour they do not recognize that they have been taken captive by the adversary to do his will.

Yahweh often gives people warnings ahead of time of some peril or temptation that they will face. He has frequently done this with me. Our Father in heaven does not want His sons and daughters to fail. I can recount numerous times when the Father made known that I would face some specific trial, and He revealed to me what response was required of me to obtain His favor and approval. We do well when we heed these warnings. Indeed, these tests become opportunities for triumphing over the flesh, the world, and the spiritual forces of darkness. If we do not heed the warnings, however, we may fall catastrophically and become ensnared by the enemy, held captive to do his will.

Whatever one thinks about the validity of the prophetic experiences Rick Joyner describes in the book The Final Quest, there are Scriptural principles of the kingdom of God to be found in this writing. Yahweh does want His people to be clothed with humility. Pride does lead to destruction. It was the conceit of Satan that led to his downfall, and we must be ever vigilant lest we follow in his steps.

A profound revelation is set forth in the dialog between Rick Joyner and Wisdom. Rick Joyner is thinking to himself that the lowly appearance of the cloak of humility makes him appear “plain and insignificant.” The word “plain” denotes something that is common, lacking in any exceptional quality, ordinary. Similarly, the word “insignificant” communicates the idea of something having little, or no, importance or value. When Rick Joyner considered how he looked, his mind was drawn to think of a homeless person.

Having lived and worked at a homeless shelter for several years, and having friends who continue to labor among the homeless population, I can understand very well the lack of honor that is accorded to the homeless. When the Father first led me to the Macon Rescue Mission in 2004 I had been living out of my car and a small tent for the previous five months. I knew that Yahweh had many things to teach me there. One of the first lessons came to me as a rather rude shock.

While waiting in the entry lobby to speak to someone about staying at the Mission, I needed to use the bathroom. There was a men’s restroom that one could enter from the public lobby. The door was open so I went inside and made use of the facility. When I came out, an employee of the mission stopped me, and abruptly told me that the restrooms up front were ONLY for staff members and guests of the Mission. He told me sharply that there were bathrooms back in the men’s dormitory for the homeless to use, and I was to make sure I used them from now on. At once I was made to feel as if I was despised, and in some degree contemptible. Despite the fact that there was a large sign outside the front of the Mission that said “JESUS CARES,” I found that many who serve the homeless actually view them with contempt.

I was to spend the next three years and three months at this mission, and I found that the businessmen and women, and members of the community who supported the mission frequently treated the homeless with contempt. The homeless truly appeared insignificant in their sight, having little importance or value. Supporting the mission was for many individuals in the community a way to appear benevolent. It fed the pride of many to entertain the thought that they were stooping to help those who were less honorable, or of lesser value, than themselves. In my time at the mission, I found that it was the rare individual who actually cared for the homeless and perceived them to be valuable.

Much can be discerned about the character of a minister or ministry by observing who they esteem, who they associate themselves with, and who they count as their friends and associates. Wisdom told Rick Joyner that “The Lord is closer to the homeless than to kings.” Who are the ones that occupy the seats of honor at a ministry? Is it those who have recognition and renown in this world? Or is it the humble, and those who are of no reputation? I have found Rick Joyner’s association with the Knights of Malta to be a very telling aspect of where his life has gone.

The photo above shows Rick Joyner and General Jerry Boykin, a leader of Morningstar’s Oak Initiative, in their Knights of Malta regalia. Much has been written and said about the evil origins and associations of the Knights of Malta, which are traceable back to the Knights Hospitaller. Many have linked them to the Knights Templars, to Freemasonry, and to Roman Catholicism. Such charges are worthy of investigation and deserving of a patient and humble answer from Rick Joyner and the other members of Morningstar Ministries that have joined this order. A patient and humble answer is not to be found, however. Instead, Rick Joyner’s defense of his membership in this elite society has been prideful, insulting, and an example of deception and distortion of the truth.

Looking at Rick Joyner in the garb of the Knights of Malta, one must ask whether there is any resemblance to the cloak of humility that he wrote about in The Final Quest. If God is closer to the homeless than to kings, then why is Rick Joyner seeking to join a fraternity of the elite of this world?

Queen Elizabeth Wearing the Maltese Cross of the Order of Saint John

You will not find the humble and lowly of the earth being invited to join the Knights of Malta. This is an elite organization of kings, queens, government and military leaders, well known religious leaders, etc.. It is doubtful that you will find a poor person, among their membership. It is globe-trotting movers and shakers that are invited to join the ranks of the Knights of Malta.

Rick Joyner  - Front Row, Second from Right

More troubling still is the associations of the organization that Rick Joyner has united himself with. The Knights of Malta was originally formed as an order sanctioned by the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church nearly 900 years ago. Perhaps this explains Rick Joyner’s embrace of popery. In 2005, Rick Joyner posted a Special Bulletin about the death of Pope John Paul II. The article is titled A True Saint. Following are some extracts from that Special Bulletin.

The passing of Pope John Paul II is a major event because we have all lost one of the most remarkable leaders of our time. I am not a papist and do not believe that any man on earth should be called “the head of the church,” which is the rightful place of Christ alone. However, I do not doubt that John Paul II was a man of God that all Christians should be thankful for and should rightly mourn. It was not his title, but his character that caused him to transcend the Roman Catholic Church and become a leader who blessed and advanced the whole church, and indeed the cause of Christianity itself. He was one of the greatest leaders of our time, and will be sorely missed...

Pope John Paul loved the Holy Spirit, and in an article which we printed in our Morning Star Journal (Volume 10, Number 4) he encouraged all Catholics to seek the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It was during his tenure that more than 100 million Catholics became Charismatics and were born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit. Pope John Paul II clung to the cross and tried to pray without ceasing...

I loved and admired Pope John Paul II. He was one of the greatest men of God of our time.

If you feel the same way, consider honoring him by reaching across some barriers the way that he did. Send condolences to the Catholic Churches in your area for the loss of their shepherd, while expressing appreciation for all that he did for the whole church, and indeed the world.
[Source: http://www.morningstarministries.org/resources/special-bulletins/2005/true-saint]

A recent article in The Telegraph written in the days leading up to Pope John Paul II being declared a saint that the faithful of the Roman Catholic Church can pray to, reported that an organization representing 18,000 individuals who were raped and sexually abused by priests during the reign of this Pope were protesting his being honored as a saint.

Pope John Paul II was 'no saint but a man who covered up sin'

Pope John Paul II should not be made a saint this weekend because of his abject failure to bring to justice sexually abusive priests and the bishops who covered up their crimes, victims of clerical sex abuse said today.

The late Polish pontiff could have prevented "thousands" of children from being raped by pedophile priests but instead chose to ignore the scandal in the interests of protecting the image of the Catholic Church, victims from three continents said on the eve of his canonization...

There is irrefutable documentary evidence to show that John Paul II refused to take action that would have protected children during his 27-year papacy...

 David D’Bonnabel, 53, from Austria, another victim of priestly sex abuse, said: “It rubs salt into an open wound to promote someone who enabled and protected sexual predators. The injuries last a life time.”

In Austria, the Church has paid token compensation to 1,800 victims of sex abuse in return for their silence, and not a single priest has been defrocked or removed, he said.

Nicky Davis, 50, from Australia, another member of SNAP and a former victim, said: “All of us here were abused because John Paul II chose not to act in the way that the Vatican claims he acted. We don’t believe it’s saintly behaviour to allow sex abuse to continue for a 27-year reign. He could have used his enormous power to save children but instead he decided to save the reputation of the Church.”
[Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/the-pope/10787986/Pope-John-Paul-II-was-no-saint-but-a-man-who-covered-up-sin.html]

The actions of the Pope are strikingly reminiscent of Rick Joyner’s own actions in embracing sexual predators and grossly immoral men such as Bob Jones, Jim Bakker, and Todd Bentley. None of these men fully owned up to their actions, nor were they held accountable for them. Does Yahweh share Rick Joyner’s assessment of the Pope? This is a man who has sought to embrace leaders of every world religion.

Pope John Paul II Kissing the Koran

Pope Receiving the Buddhist Dalai Lama

Pope Greeting a Voodoo High Priest from Benin

Is this truly one of the greatest men of God of our time, or is Rick Joyner yielding himself to be a mouthpiece for Satan? The Bible states:

II Corinthians 6:14-18
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you."
I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

I am quite certain that “Do not touch what is unclean” includes kissing the Koran and embracing the leaders of idolatrous and Satanic religions. Look again at the picture of Rick Joyner in his Knights of Malta apparel.

The man just to the left of him (third man from right) is Nicholas F. S. Papanicolaou. On the Morningstar website you will find a prominent link to The Oak Initiative. This is described as “a grassroots movement to Unite, Mobilize, Equip, and Activate Christians to be the salt and light they are called to be by engaging in the great issues of our time from a sound biblical worldview.” The headquarters of The Oak Initiative is on the Morningstar campus in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Rick Joyner and General Jerry Boykin are both leaders of this organization. Both of these men are members of the Knights of Malta. On the leadership page for The Oak Initiative there is a listing for Nicholas Papanicolaou, who is a board member.

Nicholas was born in 1949 in Athens, Greece.

He was educated at Williston Academy, Easthampton, MA where he graduated cum laude in 1967. He then earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics at Harvard University from where he graduated with advanced placement in 1970, and a Master's degree in Business Administration from Columbia University in 1972.

He was vice president of the Onassis Organization (one of the 13 families of the Illuminati bloodline) in New York in 1973-1975, and then joined his family business interests in shipping and other investments. In 1983 he became controlling shareholder and co-Chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda in the United Kingdom, maker of the famous Aston Martin and Lagonda motor cars. Under his watch, the factory was re-opened and the company was returned to profitability. It was subsequently being sold to Ford Motor Company.

Nicholas is president of Lion Finance SA, a family investment vehicle.

He is also a co-Founder and co-Chairman of the World Public Forum "Dialogue of Civilizations." The WPF brings together each year on the island of Rhodes, Greece some 700 important officials and representatives from more than sixty countries for four days of open and frank deliberations on cross-religious and cross-cultural issues.

Representatives include Heads of State, Prime Ministers, top religious leaders from all the major faiths, and university professors and academicians. Past attendees have included the Presidents or Prime Ministers of Austria, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Iran, Algeria, the Palestine Authority, India, Bangladesh, Russia, Yemen and government Ministers from Israel, France, Greece, China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and others.

He has served as president of the Athens Polo Club, and is a member of the American Bureau of Shipping.
[Source: http://www.theoakinitiative.org/nicholas-papanicolaou]

What are the religious views of Mr. Papanicolaou? Rick Joyner is certainly aware of them, for it is mentioned in the description above that this man is“Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of the World Public Forum "Dialogue of Civilizations." In the following video. Mr. Papanicolaou describes in his own words what this organization’s aims are. At the 51 second mark he speaks of the goals of the forum. He speaks of its religious diversity and the quest to find “common ground” among different religions. These meetings are held on the island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean, the former headquarters of the Knights of Malta.

http://youtu.be/aubIJyQUjPo?t=51s



What Rick Joyner should fully disclose is that Nicholas Papanicolaou is the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitallers of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem Knights of Malta Ecumenical Order. This is the same order that Rick Joyner received an investiture into. Rick Joyner has sworn allegiance to this order, and Mr. Papanicolaou is his Master. What does Rick Joyner have to say about all of this. On the Morningstar website he has posted a response to the concerns people have expressed regarding his membership. Following are some excerpts.

Rick Joyner - “Why I Joined the Knights of Malta”
http://www.morningstarministries.org/about/questions-and-answers/knights-malta-rick-joyner

I was also shown that there would be a controversy around the OSJ (Order of Saint John) that would follow me, but that this too was a blessing from the Lord that would help to keep paranoid people away from us...

Q. Is The OSJ connected to the Masons?

No. Neither are there any secret vows or rituals in the OSJ. The OSJ is a true Christian order, and the vows for knighthood are commitments to be servants of Christ and no other god, as well as to Christian truth and principles...

Some have also concluded that [Freemasonry and the Knights of Malta] are related because the head of each is called a Grand Master. These are simply titles that were left over from the Middle Ages, and such guilt by random association is a symptom of paranoia which may be an even greater danger in the future than any wayward order. Should Christians give up their title as priests to the Lord because there are satanic priests? We don't throw away our real money because someone finds a counterfeit, neither should we give up our vocabulary just because the enemy decides to use it.

Let me interject something here. Rick Joyner is manifesting the character traits and habits of one who is a deceiver. He begins by vilifying those who would criticize, or call into question, his actions in aligning himself with this organization. He continues to insult and demonize those who challenge his actions throughout this post. Doing so has a chilling effect upon the quest to arrive at the truth of this matter. Rather than responding in a patient and humble manner, his attitude is haughty, and antagonistic. People are at once warned that if they press too hard on this issue they will be rejected as being paranoid, or worse. This is NOT the manner in which a minister of God is to answer the sincere objections of fellow believers.

II Timothy 2:24-25
And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth...

Secondly, Rick Joyner employs false logic and deceitful arguments in defense of his actions. This is revealed in his statement that the Order of Saint John “is a true Christian order.” Brothers and sisters, there is no such thing as a true Christian order. You will not find Christ or His apostles instituting Christian orders. They are a fabrication of the Roman Catholic Church.

Additionally, in giving a defense of the Knights of Malta having a leader known as a Grand Master, Rick Joyner gives a deceitful argument about the church giving up “their vocabulary” simply because the enemy chooses to use it. The title of “Grand Master” is NOT part of the Christian’s vocabulary. In fact, the very opposite is true.

Matthew 23:9-12
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
KJV

Not only has Rick Joyner adopted another as his master, but this man is declared to be his Grand Master. This expression infers that there is no higher master. Rick Joyner continues with the following words.

Q. Am I trying to start an elite group of Christians?

Absolutely. I will not apologize for the fact that I am on a quest to find Christians who will rise above the lukewarm and fearful to be true knights of the cross, true nobility in the earth that will not compromise the biblical standards for morality, integrity, and commitment to sound biblical truth. I do believe that this is what the Lord intends for all of His people to be, but the fact is such are becoming increasingly rare.

Will this be an "exclusive" club? Absolutely not. It will always be wide open to all who aspire to live for the Lord and not themselves, who are committed to fight the good fight of faith with all of the passion and zeal that our King deserves.

Q. Do I think that we need orders in Christianity?

Ideally no. I think that simply being a member of the body of Christ is the greatest honor that we can ever have on this earth. However, because of the present and historic weaknesses of the church in general, they have served a great purpose in creating spiritual advances, and will again do so for at least the near future.

Just as Count Zinzendorf, the true father of modern missions, created the Order of the Mustard Seed, which touched and inspired men like John Wesley to release a spiritual fire in the earth that created the First Great Awakening in America and Europe, I think that the church is in desperate need of groups who will join together to press beyond the state of modern Christianity as it is generally found in most of the world. Call these "elitist" groups if you want, but we need them to call all Christians to higher standards of faith and life. I make no apologies for my plans to start one (which I will explain later), and to assist the OSJ to accomplish its mandate. Such a thing will only be offensive to the lukewarm and the fearful, which in the midst of our present distress, I do not believe we have the time to care about offending.

I will break in here once again as these words of Rick Joyner’s demand an answer. Pride is quite evident in these words. Rick Joyner continues to denigrate those who have sincere and legitimate objections to Christians, and church leaders in particular, joining elitist organizations whose goals are suspect and where loyalty and obedience is demanded of them. Although Rick Joyner has said there are no “secret vows” that he had to take, he did have to speak a vow and it was spoken in a closed meeting. Rick Joyner has now described those who object to his actions as “paranoid,” “lukewarm,” and “fearful.” These reproaches are unjustified, and they will not stand before the court of heaven.

That the Knights of Malta is, and will continue to be, an “exclusive club” is a certainty. Rick Joyner has misspoken by saying that all who aspire to live for the Lord will be welcome. If you do not share the ecumenical views of this organization; if you call into question the beliefs and actions of its members, you will surely find that you are not welcome.

One must also ask, “What ‘spiritual advances’ have been created by this organization, and on what basis has Mr. Joyner concluded that the church ‘needs’ such organizations to call all Christians to higher standards of faith and life?” Is this not the role of the church? Is this not why Christ has appointed ministers to the body? Shall we replace those roles and responsibilities instituted by Christ and His apostles with patterns that derive from inferior sources? In the next post I will have much more to speak about Count Zinzendorf and the legacy he has left to Morningstar and the prophetic movement. Rick Joyner continues with the following words.

For several years I have considered starting a special fellowship for those who will rise up to become true Christian knights of the Spirit. A year ago I was given a clear mandate from the Lord to do this, which He also showed me was given many years ago but I had not understood it as such. It is to be a fellowship of those who would walk in a manner worthy of their calling, never retreating before the enemies of the cross, or compromising their principles or integrity, intent on one mission - following the King, fighting His battles, and standing resolutely for His truth.

As a part of this program we are also called to start a similar fellowship for children and youth. I appreciate programs like Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, but the church is in need of something that greatly surpasses these programs in preparing the coming generation for their purpose. What we are now starting is a program that takes children from eight years old and plants sound doctrine deep in their hearts, while raising them up to be true knights of the Spirit who will live their entire lives as such. If they are alone in a foreign land, they will conduct themselves as such - always ready to defend the truth, the poor, and the oppressed, representing our King in a manner worthy of His soldiers.

Recently I was given a little book of sermons by John G. Lake, one of the great Christian leaders of modern times. Lake not only had one of the most effective ministries in history, he seemed to be one of those rare souls who walked in a manner worthy of his calling to the end, never falling to the pride or other worldly seductions that trip up so many. He wrote shortly before he died in 1935:

"I am getting ready in my soul, not to preach the old message with the old fire, but the new message with the new fire - not only to ask men to be good and go to heaven when they die, but to be God-like in character, nature, substance, and being. God is priming our souls. He is going to send forth the living waters and call by experience the new order of Knights of the Morning Star into being and action." (Spiritual Hunger and Other Sermons by John G. Lake, page 18. Published by Christ For The Nations, Inc.)

When I saw this I did take it as a prophecy whose time had come. I am looking for those who will devote themselves to true spiritual chivalry and nobility who will not only speak the truth, but will live it...

I do appreciate people's questions about it, though I do confess to not wanting to waste time with those who I feel are in the grip of invalid spiritual fears and paranoia. I do not expect everyone to agree with us, and do believe that just as almost all of Europe considered the OSJ "archaic relics from the past" until they rose up and saved Europe, we do not expect to be understood or appreciated by much of the church today.
[End Excerpt]

This last statement is especially troubling. Notice how Rick Joyner has adopted an “us” and “them” mentality here. “We do not expect to be understood or appreciated by much of the church today.”
The church has now become the adversary of the elite members of the Knights of Malta and the inner circle of those at Morningstar. It is one thing to point out problems among the body of Christ and call men and women to repentance as a member of this same body. It is altogether different to align oneself with another organization that has a head that is someone other than Christ, and which speaks vows of loyalty to seek the glory of a manmade order rather than to God.

The Vow that Rick Joyner took, along with all other members of the Knights of Malta, is posted on the official website of the order. Among the words in the vow are the following.

I promise to be faithful and loyal to Christ and to be guided by the ideals of the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem: to do everything in my power to contribute to its Glory, Protection, Prosperity, Support and Utility: to combat everything prejudicial to its well-being...
[Source: http://theknightshospitallers.org/vows]

A great problem with this vow is that it goes beyond the first nine words. To be faithful and loyal to Christ AND to swear allegiance to another order, is contradictory to the principles of Yahweh’s kingdom. Rick Joyner has pledged to seek “its” glory. The word “its” reveals that Christ is NOT the subject being referred to. The vow requires men and women of the order to seek “its” glory and prosperity and “to combat everything prejudicial to its well-being.” To embrace such a vow, a man or woman has to embrace a prejudice in favor of this order. Everything that is critical of the order must be opposed, even if there is validity to the criticism. Rick Joyner has adopted this attitude of prejudice in favor of the order, a prejudice that is manifested in his reproaches and insults toward those who oppose it.

Sadly, the very thing that Rick Joyner wrote about in The Final Quest has befallen him. He took off the plain and insignificant garment of humility and became blinded by pride. He did not see the enemy coming up behind him, nor does he realize even now that he has been taken captive by Strong Delusion to do the will of Satan.
To be continued...


Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws    

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com    

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063