We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
1 John 5:18 ESV
1 John 5:18 ESV
I just wanted to answer you're open letter to Peter Wagner and Rick Joyner, Mr. Andrew Strom. I'm not associated to either person and their ministries, but I am troubled by the state of Christ's body. So here is my open letter response:
1 John 5:18 is my key verse here. Let me ask you, "Do you love Jesus. Who do you say that He is? If it is that he is God and the only way to God and that He is the truth"; then verse 18 is our rock.
I don't need to be afraid of following after a false prophet or false signs as long as I am keeping myself in the love of Jesus Christ. He doesn't give His children harmful gifts when we ask Him for good things. Do you think it's within His nature to abandon His children to the devil?
Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! -Matthew 7:9-11 ESV
and,
And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin." -Luke 17:1-2 ESV
God doesn't lead His children into sin, but rather abhors those who do. By keeping myself in the love of Christ I will avoid the snares of the devil, and so will you....
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. -James 1:13-14 ESV
We are warned about sinning against each other by resorting to attacking one another. This is sin! And you and I who degrade ourselves to acts of accusation put ourselves into the seat of the accuser of the brethren.
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. -Galatians 5:14-16 ESV
Therefore, it's imperative of us to avoid false accusations. Do you really want to be like Jesus? Then observe what is written of Him in Isaiah (vs. 11:1-5) and His own witness about Himself, that He doesn't make judgments based on what He sees or hears, but only righteous judgments; based on the inner motives of men's hearts.
"I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me." -John 5:30 ESV
"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." -John 7:24 ESV
Who knows the mind of a man, but the spirit of the man and the Spirit of God?! {Rom. 8:27; Rev. 2:23}
If you become the false witness and accuser, then you should know what the place of the false accuser is;
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. -Revelation 12:10 ESV
But,
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. -John 10:27-28 ESV
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. -John 15:9-12 ESV
-Selah
1 John 5:18 is my key verse here. Let me ask you, "Do you love Jesus. Who do you say that He is? If it is that he is God and the only way to God and that He is the truth"; then verse 18 is our rock.
I don't need to be afraid of following after a false prophet or false signs as long as I am keeping myself in the love of Jesus Christ. He doesn't give His children harmful gifts when we ask Him for good things. Do you think it's within His nature to abandon His children to the devil?
Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! -Matthew 7:9-11 ESV
and,
And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin." -Luke 17:1-2 ESV
God doesn't lead His children into sin, but rather abhors those who do. By keeping myself in the love of Christ I will avoid the snares of the devil, and so will you....
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. -James 1:13-14 ESV
We are warned about sinning against each other by resorting to attacking one another. This is sin! And you and I who degrade ourselves to acts of accusation put ourselves into the seat of the accuser of the brethren.
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. -Galatians 5:14-16 ESV
Therefore, it's imperative of us to avoid false accusations. Do you really want to be like Jesus? Then observe what is written of Him in Isaiah (vs. 11:1-5) and His own witness about Himself, that He doesn't make judgments based on what He sees or hears, but only righteous judgments; based on the inner motives of men's hearts.
"I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me." -John 5:30 ESV
"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." -John 7:24 ESV
Who knows the mind of a man, but the spirit of the man and the Spirit of God?! {Rom. 8:27; Rev. 2:23}
If you become the false witness and accuser, then you should know what the place of the false accuser is;
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. -Revelation 12:10 ESV
But,
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. -John 10:27-28 ESV
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. -John 15:9-12 ESV
-Selah
9 comments:
Good response. I just wished he and others would read it.
John Lunt
I did send this to Andrew Strom's ministry e-mail address, but I agree. He may read it, but I don't expect a response.
I agree that Strom's tone was probably not humble. Yet, he was right in his overall assessment of what he talked about. If you knew his background, then you'd understand how his standing up in this way is monumental. He didn't do the best job, but he has been willing to speak the truth even if he is lacking in love. May we stand up for truth even if we don't present it in the best manner.
Hey Mike!
I am often wondering how the Lord would have stand up for the Truth and warn others, too. I have a question that always comes to mind in regard to this subject:
Those Scribes and Pharisees in the NT, who do you think they represent now in this time? How do you feel Jesus addressed them? Also, although the names have changed through the years, there is a anti-Christ spirit working from the very beginning of man's creation, to steal from the Lord Jesus, what he paid such a price for, it morphs itself, and has various ways to entice and influence. There must be a root cause at one's heart that would allow such a influence to come and deceive them and in turn deceive others. Just some thoughts I have had of late. Thanks for your blog!! Roxanne
The Scriptures exhort us to speak the truth in love. They also tell us that God is love, so if we're speaking something without love, can it really be God?
Mike, I agree with you. When I search through the New Testament, I can only find one place that speaks of judging members of the church (1 Cor. 5:9 - 13). Every other place that speaks of judging warns us not to. The one that rings most clearly in my heart is Romans 14:4... "Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand for God is able to make him stand." Or have we forgotten that Jesus said He would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Jesus! We need You! Come and build Your church!
I have a question...What makes people think that naming names and standing up for truth in boldness does not in any way display love. I love my children and there are times I must be stern and appear sometimes harsh in tone. GOD loves those He disciplines,and if tey do not obey they will have to be rebuked. Also read Ezekiel 33 Andrew is a Watchman.
But that does not mean I do not love them. Andrew has been through and seen more false teachings then most have in a life time of 100 years, I too have been involved with those ministries in which he names and I will boldly say they are moving in a fire anointing alright, one that is going to nip them in the butt if they continue in their sin and do not REPENT!
Thank you Elizabeth for your post and concern. As you might have noticed, I posted this very shortly after Todd Bentley had fallen and little was known about the circumstances.
My heart still remains true to my desire that we never step out in judgment of another whom we don't have personal experience and knowledge of.
We have to be pure and sure in our judgment of other's motives and acts. Therefore, we should never speak out against another until we first examine our own motives and do it in a act of loving mercy and grace to see the fallen brother/sister restored in Godliness.
When we make a judgement about another person's beliefs or doctrines, we have to measure those by the word of God. I know people who love the Lord but somehow others get an idea, try to find a scripture to take out of convince themselves(usually it is way out of context), convinced my friend that God spoke to them about it. Then they get further and further away from the truth. Sometimes people will come to their senses but like Paul writes,"Search the scriptures" and Jesus said" Be carefull,in the last days because even the elect might be fooled.
Michael, am with what you say totally. In general, despite what could be seen as some excessive emotionalism, excitement, etc, similar to the black full gospel groups, Africa, etc, most of the groups he complains about have pretty good theology and love Jesus wholeheartedly. In general, they live for Christ and there are real salvations, healings, and the presence of the Holy Spirit at their gatherings. Something seems a little strange about Andrew Strom's pushy harsh one-sided approach to me...he does get some attention and sales from it, am sure.
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