Make It Real September 2010

Question: I feel pressure from my pastor and friends at church to agree with everything they are “into” in the prophetic conference circuit. Some of the teaching just doesn’t line up with the Bible. What am I to do? I love my church and pastor but I just do not believe all of the things happening are from the Holy Spirit. Do I have to leave my church?

Answer: I know of many people, including leaders, who love much of what is happening in the prophetic (revival/river movement) but would agree with you that not everything lines up with biblical doctrine. We have been influenced by the fear of rejection and wanting to please people. There are many doctrines being taught today by well meaning ministers that are not doctrinally sound and are coming from the spirit of error. This is happening not only in the prophetic stream of ministry, but in all streams of ministry. The key is to study to be approved by God (2 Timothy 2:14-23). Test all things, hold fast to the good. (1 Thes 5:21)

You should have the freedom in your place of worship to express your beliefs and concerns. The spirit of control and oppression has been used since the fall of man to stop people from speaking truth. The key is to speak truth in love- not in judgment. All of us can fall into error as we walk out our salvation, and those who are mature need to be obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit when we feel a need to bring up such sensitive issues before leadership. (James 5:19-20)

The covering doctrine (1 Cor 3), which has its modern day roots in Catholicism, is still strongly influential in the Body of Christ. It comes in many different names but it essentially is a teaching that puts leadership in a place of superiority and causes many to follow the dictates of leaders instead of hearing the Holy Spirit through godly five fold leaders.

God would not have you to be disruptive or judgmental with the problems that you have found with some of teaching. Seek the Lord to give you confirmation from His Word concerning your findings. Speak with your pastor concerning the findings. Listen to the pastor’s reasons for agreeing or disagreeing with you. If you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit is still moving in your church, then continue to pray and be a light. I thank the Lord for those at the church I oversee who love me enough to share their concerns with me. And I have humbled myself and repented for teaching or inviting speakers to our church who have taught biblically unsound doctrines. Keep in mind that people can be on target in some areas yet blind in others.

Ask God to teach you His ways as you spend time in His Word. Have the Lord reveal any areas in your life that leave an opening for the spirit of error. Selfish ambition, man pleasing, fear of rejection, trying to prove self-worth, contention, and performing to find man’s favor, are just some of the issues of the heart that can open one up to deception. Our only protection from deception is allowing the Holy Spirit to sanctify our hearts and cleanse us from our lusts (James Chapter 1 and 2).

We need to rise above intimidation, even subtle intimidation, and speak the truth in love. Our hearts should be desiring to see Jesus lifted up and not our own platforms. We need to love one another and see ourselves as rescuers and not judges. And always seek the Lord when these uncomfortable issues arise until you know the way of truth. Jesus is God who took on the likeness of man to redeem us from the kingdom of darkness. Satan always desires to take away from who Jesus is and what He did for us. Unless Jesus is lifted up the Holy Spirit is not the author of the work.

I recommend that everyone study the following biblical warnings concerning the day that we live in and pray for discernment:

• 1 Peter 4 -5
• 2 Peter 1-2
• James 3-4
• 1 Timothy 1:3-4
• 1 Timothy 3:14-4:16
• 1 Timothy 6: 20
• 2 Thes 3
• Rev. 2-3

We do not want to be afraid of going from glory to glory. We do not want to blaspheme the working of the Holy Spirit. We do not have to be afraid of falling into error. We need only to ask, seek and knock until the Lord gives us the answers in His Word. Let me conclude this most timely topic with the scripture 1Cor 4:1-6

Let a man think of us as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is sought among stewards that one be found faithful. But to me it is a small thing that I should be judged by you or by a man’s day. But neither do I judge myself. For I know nothing of myself, but I have not been justified by this; but He judging me is the Lord. Then do not judge anything before time, until the Lord comes, who will both shed light on the hidden things of darkness and will reveal the purposes of the hearts. And the praise will be to each one from God. And brothers, I transferred these things to myself and Apollos because of you, that in us you may learn not to think above what has been written that you not be puffed up one over the other.