SO YOU THINK PSYCHIC POWER IS FUN AND GAMES?

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:08:16 +0100

"For unclean spirits crying with a loud voice came out of many who were possessed and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished (bewitched) the people of Samaria ..." Acts 8:7-9.

Years ago, I received an urgent call from a young Church of Christ pastor in Tennessee who wanted time with me. He was in great distress. We met at the Nashville airport and went to his home where he shared his crisis: "The only power in my ministry was argument and debate," he explained, "There was no manifestation of God's presence like the early church experienced. I became so despaired with my spiritual deadness that I turned to other sources. And I made wrong choices--I went into Eastern Mysticism." I listened as he continued. "I found real power--but power that soon became dark and frightening. The problem was that having invited it into my life, I could not make it leave. It began to dominate, control, and in a merciless way, forced its' will upon me." His story was familiar. The "spirit-guide" that had invaded his life, harassed his sleep, affected his family relationships, and succeeded in separating him from those he loved. In time, it destroyed his ministry. As we talked, depression clung to him in a merciless way.

When he finished, I explained that he had "touched the unclean thing," Isaiah 52:11, which God forbad. The good news was that his repentance and the power of Christ could free him. I reminded him that there is no power of darkness that can successfully stand against the authority of Jesus. Philippians 2:9.

He sat on the end of a sofa, I stood beside him, and as I laid-hands on him in the Name of Jesus, he began growling, curled into a tight ball, and rolled head-first onto the floor. I knelt beside him, kept my hands on him, and commanded the spirits of witchcraft and Eastern Mysticism to go. As I did, he started wrenching, gasping for air, and experiencing tremendous pain in his spine. A few minutes later, he was free. The darkness, pain, and oppression, that had hovered over him were gone. I then prayed for him to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

As he sprawled on the floor beside me, I thought of a Sunday School teacher who had studied parapsychology, palmistry, automatic handwriting, and other occult teachings. At the time of her deliverance, she had such severe back pain that she was several days recovering. There were others who came to mind. Looking back over years of this kind of ministry, I realized that many had undergone painful spasms in their vertebrae during deliverance from psychic-spirits. When I shared that with the young pastor on the floor, he answered, "Oh, I can explain that!" What he told was shocking. "I was instructed to invite a serpent-like spirit to enter my body and coil at the base of my spine. As I progressed in psychic-power, it rose up, wrapping itself around my back-bone." We sat silently for a moment. He then explained, "When you cast it out, it wrenched my back."

I had no difficulty believing his explanation. When Paul cast out the "spirit of divination" in the young woman at Phillippi, Acts 16:16-18, the Greek text says she had a "python." This serpent kills by strangulation, wrapping around the victim. It is not coincidental that Jesus used serpents as symbols of demonic power. He said, "I give you power to tread on serpents ..." Luke 10:19. Mark 16:18.

Not long after that a young Assemblies of God pastor came to me at a Conference in Florida and asked if I would minister deliverance to him. I agreed and we went to a private room. This gentleman was a well-groomed college graduate with a successful ministry and family life. "My ancestors have practiced Druid worship and psychic-powers for generations," he explained, "And I experience torment from its presence. I am not participating in any way with witchcraft but I feel that darkness constantly hovering over me. It torments me." He paused. "I explained the problem to my Presbyters and asked them to minister deliverance to me but they refused. Our doctrine denies that Christians can have demons in their bodies or minds." I reminded him that none of us have yet been through the Resurrection, our mortal has not yet "put on immortality," nor our corruptible "put on incorruption." I Corinthians 15:53,54. Demons can go anywhere sin and disease can go. If Christians are immune to demons they are also immune to sin and sickness. Like it or not, we are still vulnerable to powers of darkness and must fight as Jesus taught.* Spiritual warfare is a constant, on-going battle. Ephesians 6:10-18.

In the next few minutes, astonishing things happened. Demons began speaking out of him in guttural, dog-like growls, contorting his body, changing his appearance into something ugly and grotesque. Mark 1:26; 9:26. Four major spirits were identified. One of those was the spirit of "idiocy." When we challenged it in the Name of Jesus, the man's eyes suddenly crossed, his hands became spastic, his tongue thickened, turned sideways in his mouth, and be began slobbering with senseless jabberings. In a split-second, he became a full-blown idiot.

The good news is that he was totally delivered; the mental pain was gone forever. But please be aware of this frightening truth: Had this young pastor not received deliverance, the spirits hiding in him would ultimately have destroyed his sanity, ruined his family and ministry, and had him locked away in an asylum. Could that happen to a born-again pastor? Yes. Absolutely.

Soon after my return to Florida in 1978 I received a frantic call late one night from an Episcopal priest. A teenage boy in his congregation was undergoing a horrific demonic attack. The youth was out of his mind and having to be forcibly restrained by three men. Unknown to his parents their son had been reading sorcery books and participating in witchcraft rituals. When I arrived, the yard was filled with police cars and fire trucks. Paramedics wanted to straight-jacket the boy, sedate him with drugs and take him to the hospital. The mother refused and was guarding the door to the boy’s room. Hear this: After ministering to him in the power of the Holy Spirit the youth walked out of the room completely normal and free. The Boynton Beach police officers who were present returned to their station and in a written report told that they had witnessed a “successful exorcism”. The National Enquirer and other tabloids discovered the story and published it nationwide. Christian publications kept a deathly silence. Why the difference? Most of the current church does not want to acknowledge that Jesus’ power to cast out demons is still here. As a consequence, many Christians have been wrongly locked away in psychiatric wards because their pastors failed to exercise the power Jesus gave them. Oddly, many Christians believe that God removed the power of the Holy Spirit from the church but let the devil and demons remain here in full possession of their’s.

I have a reason for quoting the specific Scripture at the introduction of this article. It mentions Simon the Sorcerer, demons, and victims in Samaria who were lame and paralyzed. Hear this carefully: Though the townspeople held Simon in high regard, he was actually the source of much of their ills. Without realizing it, those who sought his sorcery received far more than psychic-predictions. They became infected with crippling spirits that brought muscular deadness and twisted limbs. Simon's presence acted like a magnet that attracted these spirits to himself and then projected them upon the people. Jesus had earlier identified this same "spirit of infirmity" in the woman with the crooked spine. Luke 13:11. While spirits of infirmity cause a variety of ailments, it is significant that leprosy, blindness, deafness, and other diseases common to the day, were not mentioned in regard to Samaria. Hear me carefully on this point: Simon's variety of witchcraft was uniquely accompanied by demonic-problems related to the muscular and skeleton system. Why is that so? The young Church of Christ pastor gave the explanation. Read it again.

In 1933, my family moved into a two-story house in Miami, Florida, and a neighbor came immediately to warn my mother. "You will always regret having lived in this house," she said. When mother asked why, the woman explained, "Everyone who has lived here has had horrible tragedies. I know you want to stay--but I warn you to leave before disaster strikes." At the time, I was three years old, my brother Van was five, and our oldest brother, Jimmy, was temporarily with our grandmother. Unfortunately, we stayed.

In a short time, strange noises were heard, a phantom-like image appeared in the house, and then tragedy hit. My father was stricken with total paralysis. Soon after his illness, I fell head-first from the second floor and was completely paralyzed on the left side of my body. My brother Van escaped for a few years but then suffered a leg injury that has harassed him all his life. Daddy partially recovered but lived the rest of his life as a cripple. Though I finally regained use of my arm and leg, I have been handicapped by a paralyzed eye-lid more than sixty years. Today, I am convinced that our house had been used as a site of witchcraft, and, like Samaria, was under a curse that brought lameness and paralysis. We had moved onto demonic territory and did nothing to protect ourselves. My parents were committed Christians but their church taught them absolutely nothing about spiritual warfare.

That day with the young pastor on the floor beside me, I suddenly could see the parallel of demonic work in Samaria, my own family history of paralysis and spinal problems in others. I also realized the reality of "territorial" curses and demons who work through them. At a recent group-ministry in Atlanta more than a dozen people were healed of spinal injury and pain. While I am aware that much illness is not spirit-related, I have no doubt that some of these people had a "Simon the Sorcerer" standing in the shadows of their past.

A final observation: Though Simon believed the gospel and was baptized, he was still not delivered from all the witchcraft-influences of his former life. Acts 8:13-24. That fact was not immediately apparent; even the Apostles did not recognize it. In some cases, that failure is true of people today. Demons never leave voluntarily; they must be cast out. Many believers assume that because they have been born-again, their minds and bodies are also clean. That is not necessarily so. Christians who battle addiction, depression, compulsive anger, religious pride, etc, are proof of what I say. If these people "backslide" we criticize them for their failure; frequently, it is the church that failed to provide them with the full benefits of the Cross. Jesus never suggested that the church cast out demons; He commanded it. My recommendation for everyone who has had the slightest contact with ouija boards, palmistry, psychics, or occult family-ancestry, is to receive deliverance ministry. If you have medical or emotional problems that cannot be diagnosed, be aware, you could be dealing with a demon. Where do you go for help? Go to your pastor! If he refuses, show him the Scripture's teaching on the subject. Mark 16:17. Insist, that as a believing servant of God, he is obligated to minister deliverance to you. You need cleansing and he needs to learn. Do it. If he resists, find someone who will. Don't repeat Simon's failure. Life depends on it.

Here Are Testimonies From People Who Benefited From Deliverance Ministry

Dear Pastor Carrin, The first time I came to your meeting in the Spring of '96 I weighed 86 pounds, suffered from bulimia and anorexia, and vomited as much as 30 times a day. I want to tell you what happened to me the three nights I came. The first night I shook so violently as you preached that I could hardly sit there. The next night I left early and went home with fierce thoughts of suicide. Thank God, I returned to the service again. The third night when I met you at the door I tried to speak but my body froze like a pretzel. I could not talk. You took me to a private room with several other women, put your arms around my head and prayed. When you did that, I felt something like hot oil pour down my head and body. One of the women gave me a ‘word of knowledge’ about my suicidal anger the night before. That final, wonderful night I was delivered. After you left I went to the rest room and looked at myself in the mirror. For the first time I did not see myself as big and ugly. I not only looked normal--I was normal. I want you to know that I have been free ever since!”

“Dear Brother Charles, I grew up in a home filled with alcohol, hatred and abuse. I cannot remember ever feeling loved or wanted. I attempted suicide twice as a teenager. I have had two failed marriages and have lived forty-three years without one ounce of self-confidence or self-respect. My mother told me God didn't want someone like me ... The night you said for those wanting deliverance to line up at the front my feet got up and took me ... As I stood there, while you spoke, my insides began to tremble. But it was a very strange and different feeling. It was like it wasn't my insides that were trembling but something inside my insides that was trembling. The more you talked the worse the thing in me shook ... it felt like a tornado ... very, very angry. I could barely could hear you say, "In the Name of Jesus I command you to go!" That tornado lifted up out of the middle of myself and ripped out of my body with hatred, anger, and despite beyond belief. As it left, I passed out. Brother Charles, let me tell you, by the grace of God, I woke up as God's little girl who is loved! This thing is so overwhelming to me. Each day I love Jesus more than the day before ..."

“Dear Charles, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free! Thank you for being my ‘Ananias.’ I have received my miracle! For 34 years I have been in bondage to a curse of homosexuality and rejection placed on me by my Dad. I had begun to contemplate suicide because I could not handle it any longer. I prayed one last time for God to send me the person that could help me get a ‘break through’ --- and the rest is history. No one could imagine the pain and suffering I've endured in my life but thank God it has been ‘Swallowed up in Victory.’ Charles, the church is so ignorant in this area. The homosexual behavior may be a choice but not the curse. I was five years old when my Dad threatened to castrate me and make me into a girl. I endured this abuse all during my childhood. I had forgiven my Dad years ago but I never could break the curse until now. I not only experienced deliverance but also an inner healing. I now can begin the ministry God has intended for me. I could go on for days! To me my miracle is as great as the lame man walking or the blind seeing ... You are free to use my experience to help others ..."

“Dear Pastor, I first came across you when I was living in Nashville, Tennessee. A friend of mine recorded one of your sermons entitled ‘An Eleven Days Journey That Took 40 Years,’ Deuteronomy 1:2. That was probably one of the best sermons I ever heard. Later, you laid hands on me and my 20 years of substance abuse came to a close. In truth, it was the power of the Holy Spirit that did the healing. You were the instrument of His work. I thank God and I thank you.”

"Dear Pastor Carrin, My children and I visited my mom during the holidays three years ago and one Sunday while attending Grace Fellowship you had an altar call for healing. At that time my son Matthew who was nine years old was having terrible migraine headaches. They were so severe he would have to go to bed. Matt went forward that day, you anointed him with oil and prayed over him. Pastor Carrin, the other day it dawned on me, he has not had a headache for three years! The Lord used you that day and I wanted to bless you and let you know! I thank you again for being such a willing vessel. The Lord bless you ..."

“Dear Charles, I am a medical doctor and was healed of pain and weakness in both hands that has bothered me for seven to eight years --- sometimes hurting all day and night. During your group deliverance, I felt tremendous pressure rise up through my chest that just disappeared with a big sigh ..."

“Dear Brother Carrin, I want to thank you for what you have meant to my life. I brought my daughter to you (she was 17 at the time) and you prayed for her. It was the beginning of a restored life for her. As a child, she was labeled as ‘learning disabled’ and was afflicted with epilepsy, migraines, and numerous other things. She has not had one seizure, nor one migraine since you prayed for her. It is truly a miracle. I believe we are close to complete restoration! The Lord is good ... I love you. The day you prayed for her I saw Jesus with His arms around my daughter. I will never ever forget. Thank you!”

* Proof texts of Christians vulnerability to demons: Luke 9:55. II Corinthians 11:4. Matthew 16:23. Galatians 3:1.

SENIOR-AMERICANS YOU HAVE BEEN BETRAYED!

You senior citizens not only contributed to Social Security but your employers did also. It totaled 15% of your income before taxes If you averaged only $30K over your working life, that's close to $220,500. If you calculate the future value of $4,500 per year (yours and your employer's contribution) at a simple 5% (less than what the government pays on the money that it borrows), after 49 years of working you'd have $892,919.98. If you took out only 3% per year, you'd receive $26,787.60 per year and it would last better than 30 years (until you're 95 if you retire at age 65) and that's with no interest paid on that final amount on deposit! If you bought an annuity and it paid 4% per year, you'd have a lifetime income of $2,976.40 per month.

The tricksters in Washington have pulled off a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madhoff ever had. Social Security is an entitlement? Never! You paid cash for your social security insurance! Just because the cheats in D.C. borrowed the money doesn't make your benefits some kind of congressional charity or handout.

Congressmen have given themselves free healthcare, outrageous retirement packages, 67 paid holidays, three weeks paid vacation, unlimited paid sick days, now that's welfare, and they have the nerve to call our social security retirement entitlements? How dare they! The government is broke because the politicians robbed it and now can't help our own seniors, veterans, orphans, homeless. We have provided aid to scores of other nations such as Pakistan–home of bin Laden–that hates us but eagerly accepts our lavish gifts–literally, billions of dollars. Our retired seniors living on a fixed income receive no aid nor do they get any breaks. As an added insult, our government calls Social Security and Medicare an entitlement--even though most of us have been paying for it all our working lives. Now when it's time for us to collect from our own investment the government is running out of our money. Why did the congressional bandits steal from it in the first place? Why can’t the government give its seniors the same support it gives to foreign countries? The American public has been tragically betrayed! This would not have happened if the church in America still wielded the influence and power it had in earlier years. — Copied

WHAT ABOUT THE MAYAN DATE, DECEMBER 21, 2012?

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:08:40 +0100

The ancient Mayan Calendar, begun 2300 years ago, carved in circular stone, and by which the Priests accurately predicted eclipses of the sun, moon, and other solar events, was divided into five sections. It is interesting that this occult calendar runs out of days on December 21, 2012 and supposedly indicates the end of the world. Obviously, anyone’s predicting that day cannot be true. Jesus said "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is." Mark 13:32-34. While the Mayan date does not foretell the Second Coming of Christ it may foretell Satan’s plan for the earth. Paul calls the devil the "god of this world", II Corinthians 4:4, and Satan capably fulfills that role. In all circumstances, Jesus’ instruction is for us to "take heed, watch, and pray". Wise servants will obey Him.

I mention that the Mayan calendar was divided into five sections for a specific reason. This number "5" is very significant in Scripture both positively and negatively. After studying the facts below I suggest that you "pray and obey", knowing that your final reaction must be to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and to lean not on your own understanding ." Proverbs 3:5. Jesus again tells us to "be ready". Matthew 24:44.

The number five "pattern" existing in the Kingdom of God and in its opposition by the kingdom of this world is too accurately fixed for us to ignore its' implication. Even so, I do not wish to mysticize the number "5" or to exaggerate its significance. Rather, I desire only to point out the reality of the model's existence in Scripture and that its' occurrence is totally beyond the realm of chance. Most important of all, I wish to aid the Church in her spiritual-warfare by disclosing as many of the devil’s battle principles as possible. It is important that you recognize the Bible’s pattern of the # 5.

First: The Five-Fold Ministry:

"When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men…And He Himself gave some to be

(1) Apostles, some

(2) Prophets, some

(3) Evangelists, and some

(4) Pastors and

(5) Teachers.

"For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11,12,13

"Equipping, Edifying, Unifying."

Secondly: the Devil’s Five-Fold Opposition

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the—

(1) devil. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against

(2) Principalities, against

(3) Powers, against the

(4) Rulers of the Darkness of this age, against

(5) Spiritual Hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:11,12

It cannot be coincidental that the Five-Fold Ministry of the New Testament is paralleled by a five-fold Satanic opposition. Nor is it by chance that the same five-fold pattern existed between ancient Israel and her enemies. This similarity of warfare in the Old and New Testaments mandates the Church's learning from the success and failure of God's ancient people. The Apostle Paul said,"For whatever things were written before (the Old Testament) were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4. The Church has no greater need than patience, comfort, and hope, in her conflict with powers of darkness.

To me, the following scriptural facts about the five-fold pattern are astonishing:

1. Abraham fought 5 Kings in the Valley of Siddim. Genesis 14:19.

2. Moses' warred with the 5 Kings of Midian. Numbers 31:8.

3. Israel battled the 5 Kings of the Amalakites. Exodus 17:9. (Genesis 14:7,8. 5 Kings

4. Joshua killed the 5 Kings of the Amorites. Joshua 10:16-26.

5. Israel was vexed by the 5 Lords of the Philistines. Joshua 13:3.

6. Israel was threatened by the 5 capital cities of Philistia: Ashdod, Gath, Ekron, Ashkelon, Gaza. I Samuel 6.

7. David chose 5 stones for his battle with Goliath and his 4 brothers. I Samuel 17:40.

8. Joseph had 5 of his brothers stand prophetically before Pharaoh, King of Egypt. Genesis 47:2.

9. Jesus gave five signs of miraculous power to the Church. He said, "These signs will follow those who believe; In My name

A. They will cast out demons;

B. They will speak with new tongues;

C. They will take up serpents;

D. If they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them;

E. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." Mark 16:17,18.

10. God Gave Israel A 5-Priest Foundation: Aaron and his 4 sons. Exodus 28:1. Leviticus 8.

A modern example of this five-fold mystery is Islam--the greatest earthly foe which Israel and the Church have ever faced. The Moslem religion stands upon 5 pillars, makes 5 daily proclamations, requires 5 daily prayers to Mecca, and claims 5 prophets: Adam,. Noah, Abraham, Jesus, Mohammed.

What Is The Significance Of The 5 Pillars of Islam?

1. Prayer to Mecca. 5 times daily.

2. 5 daily proclamations from the Mosque: "There is no God but Allah. Mohammed is his prophet."

3. The Fast of Ramadan.

4. Pilgrimage to Mecca.

5. Alms.

The Pentagram, or demonic star, which is used universally in various forms of Satanism, has 5 points. The Mayan calendar is 5-sided. The call of the Five-Fold Ministry is to blunt all of them.

Jesus Christ: Apostle and High Priest

As Apostle, Jesus is the voice of God downward to the people. As High Priest, He is the voice of the people upward to God. Apostolically, Jesus speaks to the Church through Scripture and the Holy Spirit. As High Priest, at the Throne of Heaven, He speaks to the Father in behalf of the Church. Jesus is both origin and termination of these offices; each springs from Him, each concludes in Him. He is Alpha and Omega--the beginning and the end. All parts of the 5-Fold Ministry given to the Church are personal extensions of Jesus in those five areas. Though re-expressed in mankind, they remain inseparably attached to Himself.

Examine these Scriptures:

1. Apostle: Hebrews 3:1: "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus."

2. Prophet: Acts 3:22: "For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren, Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you'."

3. Evangelist: Luke 4:16:22: "…He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read ... The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me to Preach the gospel to the poor ..."

4. Pastor: "I am the good shepherd (pastor). The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

5. Teacher: John 3:1,2: “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, 'Rabbi, we know that You are a Teacher come from God ...'"

Are There Apostles Today?

As I understand Scripture, Apostleship falls into two categories: First, there are the "Twelve Apostles of the Lamb" whose names are written in the foundation of the Holy City. Revelation 21:14. This number is fixed, inalterable, and will never be exceeded. The qualification for these men was that each had been a "witness of Jesus' Resurrection." Acts 1:22.

Secondly, in the Greek Scripture where the word "apostolos" appears more frequently than in English translations, it means "sent-ones," "delegates," "ambassadors," or "messengers." Let me give Scriptural examples: "If anyone inquires about Titus ... or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers (apostolos) of the churches ..." II Corinthians 8:23. "Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus ... but your messenger (apostolos). Philippians 2:25. Barnabas is also called an apostle: "But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes ..." Acts 14:14. These men are not equal with the "Apostles of the Lamb" but in a lessor way are legitimate bearers of this title.

In Paul's First Thessalonian Letter he begins with the names, "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy," and then proceeds to use the personal pronouns "We," "Our," "Us," some twenty times. Count them. In chapter two, verse six, he says: "Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as "Apostles of Christ." Notice the letter "S." The word Apostles is plural. Not singular. 2:6. What is Paul saying? He is acknowledging that Silvanus and Timothy were Apostles with him. Were they his equal? No. Their ministry never achieved what his did. Even so, Scripture acknowledges them as "sent ones" in a valid sense. To deny their Apostleship would be a flagrant denial of Bible fact.

In Acts, chapter one, Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. That restored the number Twelve--but we later find that King Herod killed the Apostle James, Acts 12:1,2, and another James, "the Lord's brother," was added to the Twelve. Paul makes specific reference to seeing this Apostle during his visit to Jerusalem. Galatians 1:19. It was this new "James" who presided over the Council of Jerusalem. Acts 15:13. Approximately 25 Apostles are identified in the New Testament.

To me, the most significant proof that the Five-Fold Ministry of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers, is still with us, is verified by the Ephesian Letter: The original Apostles were given before the Resurrection and were witnesses of it. Jesus gave other Apostles after the Resurrection. Paul explains, "When Jesus ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men ... And He Himself gave some to be apostles..." Ephesians 4:8,11. Study this judiciously: "When He ascended on high (after the Resurrection) ...He Himself gave some to be apostles." These came later than the original Twelve.

In the Book of the Revelation, Jesus commended the church at Ephesus because it "tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars." Ephesians 2:2. Why would the church have tested anyone if there were only the Twelve? On the contrary, believers had to examine those claiming Apostleship because the gift was still present and functioning. The church in our day must heed this same admonition: Every one claiming ministry in the Body of Christ, whether Apostle or Pastor must be put to the test of Scripture. Beware those who are prideful, arrogant, self-serving, controlling. "Follow after that which is good." Remember, "There are many false prophets gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1.

What proof do we seek in those recognized as Apostles? Paul answers that question. Of himself, he said to the Corinthians, "The signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds…I myself was not burdensome to you." II Corinthians 12;12,13. Observe that Paul identifies two character traits, "Perseverance," (patience) and his not being "burdensome" to the saints. Paul was not a money-monger. Modern preachers need to take heed.

Secondly, Paul lists "signs, wonders, and mighty deeds." In varying degrees, these qualities must be present in those claiming Apostleship today.

Let me also answer another question: In what capacity were the Apostles of the Lamb infallible? Peter tells us that "Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." II Peter 1:20,21. As the Holy Spirit articulated through them, they wrote correctly. He dictated; they transcribed. He inspired; they recorded. Jesus had earlier promised them, "The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." John 14:26. The writing of Scripture was not trusted to men's fallible memory but to the perfect revelation of God. Of Himself, Jesus declared, "My doctrine is not mine but His who sent Me." John 7:16.

The Bible teaches Apostolic infallibility only in regard to the writing of Scripture. There is no such claim for the Apostle's private lives, personal faith, indestructible health, etc. It is important that we understand this. Without this knowledge, we will needlessly try to force Scripture into positions that are unrealistic and wrong. The Apostles and Prophets were men "of like passions as we are." James 5:17. Not only were they subject to fail but frequently did so. Paul rebuked Peter to his face because of his inconsistencies regarding the Jews. Galatians 2:11. Trophimus was left at Miletus sick. 2 Timothy 4:20. Paul and Barnabas' quarrel ended their joint ministry. Acts 15:36-41. Timothy endured "often infirmities." 1 Timothy 5:23. At one point Paul "despaired even of life." II Corinthians 1:8. Was it his personal faith that triumphed in crisis? No, the weakness of his faith brought despair. Instead, God's grace was his sole rescuer.

In view of this should we assume that Paul, Peter, Timothy, Barnabas, and the others, were free of failure, sin, and disease? Not at all. Rather, we are to rejoice that God used these men in spite of their weakness. Identically, our failures do not keep us from sharing in Paul's testimony: "The Lord delivered me out of them all!" 2 Timothy 3:11. Simply stated, we must realize that these men were not angelic beings, living in glorified bodies, immune to frustration and failure.

Are there Apostles today? Yes. These are "sent ones." They did not volunteer for ministry but were called. Like Paul, many struggled with that Divine Summons. Some fought it. But "God's hand was stretched out and who shall turn it back?" Are these men infallible? Not at all! But they are aflame with holy love for Christ and His Bride. Do they promote or glorify themselves as "Apostles"? No. They are concerned with truth–not titles. They seek God–not gold. Purity not praise. Pray for these men! Support them! From "false apostles", turn away.

Jesus is the source of light for the Five-Fold Ministry. This illumination of both Old and New Testaments under His authority is probably the significance of the 10 lamps, 5 on each wall in Solomon's Temple: "Solomon had all the furnishings made for the house of the Lord…the lampstands of pure gold, five on the right side and five on the left, in the inner sanctuary." 1 Kings 7:48,49. Besides the Aaronic Priesthood, Jesus has been made "High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 6:20. It is this Priesthood--though not part of the Aaronic Five-Fold ministry--which enthrones Him forever as Intercessor. The five-fold Ministry of Christ will ultimately vanquish the devil’s five-fold opposition. That includes the Mayan Calendar and all its pagan prophecies. Do I believe something will happen on the date of December 21, 2012? Yes. What? I do not know. But I do know that Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen! Matthew 28:20.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might…Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breast-plate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…" Ephesians 6:13-18

All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall, Bring forth the Royal Diadem, And crown Him Lord of all!

QUOTES WORTH REMEMBERING

Serve with the heart of a King; Rule with the heart of a servant." Bill Johnson

Without the Holy Spirit’s anointing fact remains information; With the Holy Spirits anointing the same facts become inflammation.

"In Essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love". Augustine, 354-430 AD. Quoted by Count Zinzindorf to instruct his congregation.

A man’s real worth is revealed by what he does when he has nothing to do.

First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you; then they fight you; Then – you win. Gandhi

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.

THE CHURCH ENCOUNTERS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD-- BY THE HOLY SPIRIT’S RADICAL MANIFESTATIONS

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 13:21:21 +0100

“Inasmuch as these people refused the waters of Shiloah that flow softly ... Now therefore, behold the Lord brings up over them the waters of the River (Euphrates), strong and mighty ... He will go up over all his channels and go over all his banks. He will pass through Judah, He will overflow and pass over, He will reach up to the neck; And the stretching out of his wings will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel.” Isaiah 8:6.

In recent years I have witnessed an intensifying of the Holy Spirit’s “signs and wonders” in radical manifestations. These evidences are sometimes phenomenal; many are absolutely impossible to do by human effort. I have seen men with broken-back injuries bend forward, knees straight, knuckles on the floor, then stand erect again totally healed. The spine of one scoliosis victim--with x-rays to prove her healing--twisted until her neck turned completely around. Others appeared to drop dead as if shot by a gun. Some vibrated as if they had been electrocuted. During hands-on ministry bodies may bend backward into positions that are physically impossible. Bizarre-looking as these “signs” are, the spiritual and physical effects are always positive. Illnesses are healed, minds are calmed, addictions are driven out, joy and hope are restored. People who are “under the power of the Spirit” frequently have visions of Glory. At the same time, there seems to be no more appropriate word to describe the physical manifestations than the word radical. Please understand, when these things happen they are no more under my control than they are in the people experiencing them. The New Testament does not give us a list of the "signs and wonders" that occurred in the first century. It merely tells us that they happened.

At a meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, a man fell to the floor under the power of God, stiff as an ironing board, feet together, hands at his side, and vibrated as if propelled feet-first, bumping down the aisle and across the front of the building. Human beings cannot fake such experiences. Another elderly man shook so violently each time I approached him that he was repeatedly thrown from his chair. In that same meeting, a woman who had suffered from clinical depression for most of her life was filled with the Holy Spirit and riotously laughed her way back to normalcy. Admittedly, to all of us these manifestations are unconventional--and to the uninformed they are frightening. Nor am I speaking of hype and soulish emotion. I detest human imitations of the Holy Spirit’s presence.

The effects of the Spirit’s work are twofold: To believers experiencing them, they are causes of great rejoicing. They build faith, establish elevated relationship with God, and open the heart to greater miracles. To unbelievers--and many Christians alike--they are objects of scorn, mockery, and denial. When God encountered a similar rejection of His works by ancient Israel--which Isaiah described as the people’s rejecting “the waters of Shiloah that flow softly”--God countered by saying that He would flood them “up to the neck with the strong and mighty river.” Simply said, God warned that He would send more intense signs upon them. “The stretching out” of His wings would “fill the breadth” of Immanuel’s land. What is Immanuel’s land? Prophetically, it is the Church! Immanuel is a specific reference to Jesus. In a parallel way, God is saying to those who reject the current works of His Spirit that they will soon be flooded with demonstrations so massive as to stagger their minds. And these manifestations--compared in size to the Euphrates--will go the full length of the Church’s domain.

At a Word, Spirit, Power Conference in Toronto with R.T. Kendall, Jack Taylor, and me, literally hundreds of people crashed to the floor under the power of God. Some were piled on top of each other.

Wonderfully, many of these later told me of incredible changes the Holy Spirit brought about. I have listened intently to such testimonies but still remained puzzled as to God’s motives. During a WSP Conference in Houston, Texas, I had a word in which the Lord explained the reason behind these unique exhibitions. I understood Him to say:

"The extent of the Holy Spirit’s radical manifestation is going to parallel the extent of the church’s radical unbelief."
When I heard that I was shocked. If I am correct, God was saying that His demonstrations are going to get more extreme than anything we have yet seen. In effect, the church’s radical unbelief merely challenges Him to become more drastic. The more that modern Christians fight and deny the Spirit’s visible demonstration, the more determined He becomes to do them.

Had someone told me 50 years ago that I would live to see the extreme manifestations presently being done by the Holy Spirit I would not have believed him. At that early period, there was no room in my theology or my expectation for the “signs, wonders, mighty deeds” currently taking place. To me, events in the Book of Acts were pages from a closed history. Under no circumstance would the church experience a repeat of such phenomenal events. For the first twenty-seven years of ministry I would have told you point-blank that all such miraculous manifestations were ended. I remember boasting that “I would not believe a miracle even if I saw one.” God alone knows the rivers of deep repentance I have since swam through because of that ugly attitude.

The theological school in which I grew up was correct in many ways. But like most other denominations, we preached the sovereignty of God as a doctrine while we denied its reality in the life of the church. Under no circumstances did our understanding of sovereignty allow God to actually do something to which we were not already accustomed. Such an idea bordered on heresy. Sovereignty, as a “doctrine?” Yes! Sovereignty as a demonstration? No! Absolutely not. Let me repeat that point: In our case, as with many other Christians, the proof of something being a work of God was whether or not we had already seen it in the past. Anything new was obviously wrong and could not be God. That attitude in the late 1700's and early 1800's paralyzed my denomination’s growth and sealed its fate. Today, that historic body of churches which I loved and served devotedly has been reduced to being the guardian of lonely pioneer cemeteries. I say that with genuine grief, not rancor. Some will object to that statement but it is true. During my half-century of preaching I saw nearly 3,000 of these churches perish. Sixty years ago I desperately tried to warn them. One of my final denominational sermons was preached in a beautiful, 300 year-old historic church building whose cemetery contained the grave of a signer of the Declaration of Independence. George Washington’s chaplain, John Gano, preached there. Numerous Revolutionary War soldiers are buried in the yard. Today, the building is a museum.

A century ago, Charles Spurgeon shouted his warning, “Death and condemnation to a church that is not yearning after the Spirit, crying and groaning until the Spirit has wrought mightily in her midst. He is here! He has never gone back since He descended at Pentecost ... Brethren, if we do not have the Spirit of God, it were better to shut the churches, nail up the doors, put on a black cross and say, ‘God have mercy on us!’ If you ministers have not the Spirit of God, you better not preach and you people had better stay at home. I think I speak not too strong when I say that a church without the Spirit of God is rather a curse than a blessing. This is the solemn word: ‘The Holy Spirit or nothing ... and worse than nothing!’”

Healings occurred in Spurgeon’s ministry but in some cases church historians deleted those facts to avoid having their own theology and inadequacy challenged. That type of “editing” church history is commonplace. For example, in my youth I knew only the doctrine of Jonathan Edwards’ preaching in Colonial America but nothing about the Spirit’s visible manifestations in the people. I was equally uninformed about physical evidences in the Cane Ridge, Kentucky, revival, Evan Roberts and the Welsh Revival, Azusa Street in California, Tommy Hicks crusades in Argentina, Duncan Campbell in Scotland, and others. To me, such truths were alien, unknown territory. Nor would I have been alone in that ignorance. Had you polled numerous other preachers in that era, you would have met the same response. We might have disagreed on many points of theology but we would have been in near-unanimous consent in rejecting the visible “demonstration of the Holy Spirit.” I Corinthians 2:4,5.

My rebelliousness ended abruptly in 1977. That year, without warning, God sovereignly thrust me into a totally new ministry. Sovereignty ceased being a principle I preached and became a power I experienced. And with that power came “signs, wonders, and mighty deeds” that still shock me to this day. When I see a sophisticated, elegantly dressed matron slammed to the floor by the power of God in a suddenness that literally tosses her wig into the air, I know something bigger than female pride has come on the scene. When that same woman later stands to her feet with the glory of God on her face, praising Him with excited joy and no thought of embarrassment or shame, I know God’s sovereignty has been displayed beyond all our man-made doctrines. Sometimes uncontrollable laughter breaks out when the Holy Spirit moves upon a congregation. Occasionally the people experiencing this burst of rapture have lived much of their lives under oppression and persecution. Such laughter is both physically and emotionally healing. Someone may argue, “God does not make people laugh in church!” My response is, “Don’t dare Him! If He is sovereign He can do whatever He likes.” For centuries, every Christian denomination expected you to cry in church. Grief and sadness were the emotions God approved. But laughter? Never! If you got happy God got angry. How blind can we Christians get?! Jesus said, “Enter the joy of your Lord!” When Philip preached in Samaria there was “great joy in that city.” Acts 8:8. The Greek text says it was mega joy. Identically, the lame man experienced this joy when he rushed into the Temple “walking, leaping, and praising God.” Acts 3:8. In most modern congregations such rejoicing would be unwelcome and the man would be quickly removed. Religion stifles. Spirituality stimulates.

I have encountered that ugly attitude. People became seriously offended when laughter broke out in the service. In some cases, those angered refused to attend further meetings. But I also knew this: The same critic had sat in church and laughed at the preacher’s jokes. What is that double-standard telling us? It says that laughter in church is acceptable if it is in response to human comedy. Laughter in church is not acceptable if it comes as a gift from God. Heaven help us!

Such "signs and wonders" are not new to the church. In 1741, the Dean of Yale University, the Rev. Samuel Johnson, became alarmed at the effect George Whitefield’s preaching was having on the students at the University. Whitefield, who was contemporary with John and Charles Wesley and a personal friend of Benjamin Franklin, experienced “miraculous signs” attending his ministry. The Dean wrote a friend in England about these strange physical manifestations affecting those who heard Whitefield preach. Not only the students, he lamented, but whole congregations were being seized with some kind of bizarre power. Dean Johnson, in criticizing Mr. Whitefield and other revivalists, described their preaching as “hideous outcries,” but failed to mention that a wave of God-fearing morality, intense prayer, and love for Jesus, was also gripping the campus. His letter said:

“But this new enthusiasm, in consequence of Whitefield’s preaching through the country and his disciples’, has got great footing in the college (Yale) ... Many of the scholars have been possessed of it, and two of this year’s candidates were denied their degrees for their disorderly and restless endeavors to propagate it ... We have now prevailing among us the most odd and unaccountable enthusiasm than perhaps observed in any age or nation. For not only are the minds of many people at once struck with prodigious distresses upon their hearing the hideous outcries of our itinerant preachers, but even their bodies are frequently in a moment affected with the strangest convulsions and involuntary agitations and cramps, which also have sometimes happened to those who came as mere spectators”.

“I want God’s next new thing. If a man is praying for an old fashioned revival, in all probability when God’s visitation comes he will not be conscious of it. Men remembering the marvelous movement under Charles Finney might have prayed for an old-fashioned revival such as that which accompanied his preaching. It is more likely that when God raised up Dwight C. Moody such men would be out of sympathy with all his methods for a long while, for the two movements were quite different. God fulfills Himself in many ways. We ought to be so living that when God begins His great triumphant march we shall fall in with the first battalion and have part in the first victories.”

As an example of his concern for Yale students, Johnson knew that Samuel Buell, another of their graduates, preached in Jonathan Edwards church in Northampton, Massachusetts. The same peculiar manifestations had occurred. The “anointing” on George Whitefield was passing to other Yale evangelists. Fortunately, Edwards described Buell’s preaching in a letter to a friend, the Reverend Thomas Prince of Boston. He said: “There were some instances of persons lying in a sort of trance, remaining for perhaps a whole twenty-four hours motionless, and with their senses locked up but in the meantime under strong imaginations, as though they went to Heaven, and had there a vision of glorious and delightful objects.

In the early 1900's G. Campbell Morgan became pastor of Westminster Chapel in London and witnessed the historic Welsh Revival. While he was a strong doctrinal advocate for the sovereignty of God, Dr. Morgan also hungered for the power of God. Read prayerfully--and carefully--what he said:

Dr. Morgan is saying that he wants to accept the “softly flowing waters of Shiloah” so that God will not have to prove Himself by the violence of a Euphrates flood. To that, I add a thundering amen! But I am also convinced that the “Euphrates flood” is coming upon the modern church. God is going to be as radical in His signs and wonders as the church is radical in its unbelief. When that happens, and it will, congregations from the smallest county church to the mega-TV Cathedrals will be suddenly invaded by the unstoppable, sweeping, steeple-shaking, river-surge of the Holy Spirit. We have seen nothing yet of the Spirit’s frightening power. Will it be embarrassing? Yes! Sovereign? Yes! Humbling to church pride? Yes! But it is coming! It may not be just a man in the congregation thrown from his chair but a preacher hurled from his pulpit. As in Elijah’s day, people will fall on their faces shouting, “the Lord He is God! The Lord He is God!” After this, and the repentance that follows, I am persuaded that churches world-wide will again be flooded. This time, with open arms they will eagerly be filled with the glorious joy and presence of God. The modern, sophisticated church will have returned to the beauty and miraculous power of her New Testament pattern. “Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!”

WHAT IS YOUR "SECURITY" LEVEL?

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 13:58:10 +0100

A young Dutch woman, Mejori, came to my office years ago and told a story of great courage and great heartbreak. What happened that day has a profound message for you. Listen carefully as her experience touches your own need. Courage involved Mejori's work; she was a secret Christian missionary to Moslem women in one of the Arab republics. Such a role is dangerous beyond our comprehension. For her protection I will not say where she is working. Nor is Mejori her real name.

Heartbreak involved her family; her parents and an older brother lived through the Nazi occupation of Holland in the Second World War and were left mentally damaged. All suffered severe depression with the brother requiring periodic institutional care. Mejori was born after the war and was spared the trauma the others endured. Because of her normalcy and the family's melancholia, a gap existed between them. Through discipline and self-effort, Mejori had become a well educated, committed believer who devoted her life to Christian missions.

"Pastor," She began, "My problem is this: When I leave the U.S. and return to my work in the Middle East, my parents expect me to stop in Europe to see them." She began to cry, "And I want to see them! I need to see them! But the depression in their home is so overwhelming that I can't fight it. I get depressed too. It takes me weeks --- sometimes months --- to recover. After I get back to my post I can't function. All I can think about is the misery my parents are in." She stopped long enough to regain her composure. "Being with them is the most difficult thing I have to do--but if I don't stop in Holland they think I'm rejecting them and get more depressed." She began sobbing, "I don't know what to do! Please help me."

I hope you will listen carefully to what I shared with this young woman. The family's circumstance was complex but God's remedy for Mejori was not. I took her hand and made her look at me, "Mejori," I said, "It is not God's will that your parents control your sense of security. Under no circumstances does He want your confidence dominated by people around you--even though they are people you love. He is the only One worthy of such trust." She listened. "God wants you to cherish your family, visit them, minister to them, but He never wants them to subdue you in the way you have allowed."

Mejori's situation is common. Husbands and wives frequently find themselves unable to help their partner because both are spiritually dependent on the other for support. When one crashes, the other crashes. If one is up, both are up. If one quarrels, both quarrel. The name given to such relationships is “co-dependency”. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to this tragedy in their dating experience. Their sense of happiness depends totally on how the other reacts. Apart from their date's reassurance, they are usually powerless to maintain a consistent level of security. Lives trapped in this emotional roller-coaster are on a wild, erratic ride. Such people absolutely must recognize the danger they are in and stop it. Hear me: It can be stopped.

In Mejori's case, I illustrated God's remedy for her by pointing to a spot near the ceiling. "Today," I said, "You are going to tell the Lord that you nail your security in Him, so high on the wall, that no matter how hard your parents try, they cannot knock it down." She listened intently. "You are not merely hanging it beyond their reach," I said, "you are nailing to the wall so securely that it can never be moved." Again, I made her look at me, "Your security must be anchored into Christ so tightly that it cannot be changed."

I gave Mejori several minutes to prepare herself for the "act of commitment", then led her in prayer in which she dedicated her security to God alone. It was that simple. Quietly, she prayed, making that decision a life-long promise. “Lord,” she said, “You are the only one I trust with my soul-security and sense of well-being. Never again will I allow others to be in charge of my mental safety. You have given me the power to “tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.” Luke 10:19. A few minutes later she left the office and headed for Holland.

A month passed before I heard from her again. The letter was exciting. After spending two weeks with her parents, she was back in her secret mission field. The letter had taken another two weeks to arrive. She said,"Pastor, I want you to know that I had the most wonderful visit with my family that I have ever had. The first day I arrived the depression was so bad that I did not think I could stand it. But I remembered what I had promised the Lord and determined that I would not give in. On the second day something wonderful happened: I saw my family coming up to where I was. That encouraged me! Would you believe, on the third day I heard my mother laugh for the first time in years. It was thrilling to see her smile again ... I am so grateful to God! We had the most wonderful visit we have ever had .. Thank you, Love, Mejori."

By standing secure in the Lord, Mejori had been able to minister security to her family. Thankfully, she saw immediate results. What she did is true of all forms of ministry: Goor or bad, right or wrong, depression or exhilaration, we minister whatever is in us. Insecure people will automatically minister insecurity to those around them. Secure people will minister security. Believers empowered with the Holy Spirit impart that blessing. Whatever "anointing" is on the head will run down upon the rest of the body. If anger, jealousy, rebellion, suspicion, etc., is on the leader (be it home or church) it will infect those around it. The only safeguard is to make a deliberate effort to stop it. Mejori's decision not only ended the power of her family's negative depression in herself but benefitted them as well.

In my travels, I meet many Christians (some are pastors and church leaders) who need deliverance from destructive behavioral patterns. Oftentimes, these mannerisms of pride, anger, egotism, insecurity, arrogance, etc, can be traced back to childhood trauma. In many instances, the injury was not caused by deliberate abuse by the parents but carelessness and neglect. In such cases, the devil never misses an opportunity to expand and intensify the problem. The best example I can give of God's recovery program from such problems is found in the Old Testament. Judges 6:28. It is twofold.

One: The pagan altar must be demolished, torn down, its' remains scattered. Two: The Altar of God must be rebuilt securely on the site of the old.

By "pagan", I mean anything that usurps our confidence in the Lord and places it back in the hands of men. The rebuilding of the Altar of God is accomplished by re-filling our lives with the power of the Holy Spirit; that involves worship, fellowship with other believers, study of the Word, etc.

My question to you is this: Is your sense of security nailed to God's wall? Is it beyond the reach of those who would pull you down? Is your life controlled by the Holy Spirit or by annoying controversies? If you are experiencing insecurity, get your hammer and go to work! Nail your security into God's wall. That is where it belongs. Mejori's testimony can become yours. Charles Carrin

A TESTIMONY FROM A CHURCH OF CHRIST ELDER

Charles, our first meeting took place in March of 1994 at the Holiday Inn Medical Center in Midtown Memphis. You came in town to lead a three-day Conference on the Holy Spirit. I had never been to a meeting like that in my life. I listened to your message Wednesday night, running it through my “church of Christ / seminary degree / book, chapter and verse” mental filters. I found nothing “suspect” in your message; on the contrary, it was quite faith-building. When you were through, you pointed to my wife and me and said: “That couple right there ...” I surmised you wanted to pray for us, which was fine with me, so we went to you.

In front of some two hundred people, you first gently prayed for my wife, then moved onto me. I don’t remember your touching me, but I do remember that the next thing I was laying flat on my back on the floor of the Holiday Inn ballroom looking up at the fluorescent lights in the ceiling . I was thinking: “What in the world just happened — What am I doing on the floor?,” and “I don’t believe in this stuff.” (Meaning: I didn’t believe in tangible demonstrations of the power of God…since they ceased with the death of the last original apostle according to my cessationist theology.)Well, I got up in a few minutes and determined that I would return the next night intending to pepper you with questions about the incident. When I arrived that next night, you saw me down a hallway and said: “Brother, would you help with the ministry tonight?,” and then you disappeared into a side room. I asked the fellow hosting the Conference what you meant and he told me that meant you would like for me to help break people’s falls if the Spirit so moved on them. Needless to say, I felt quite out of place as I assisted breaking the falls of dozens of people who responded to your message that night! I wasn’t able to catch up with you that night, so, I returned the third night, with a robust list of questions, determined to corner you and to get some answers. Well, around 10 pm as I thought things were winding down, I saw you across the ballroom and headed your way. You saw me coming towards you and with a great big smile on your face you lifted your hands in my direction from about 20 feet away and the next thing I knew I was down on my face, on the carpet, in the ballroom at the Holiday Inn.

No sooner had I hit the floor than a flood of belly-laughter began pouring out of me from the depths of my being. I lay there for about 45 minutes in non-stop laughter, in a pool of slobber (from all the laughter), carpet fuzz between my teeth, experiencing being “filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8) I experienced first hand Psalm 126:2 “Our mouths were filled with laughter…” That evening opened a glorious new dimension for me in my walk with our Lord. The blinders were taken off and I came to learn about the Kingdom of “power” that Jesus came to bring, experiencing new life and power in my personal life and in my ministry to others. I cherish the personal friendship you and I have developed through the years, your influence in my life, and the example you set for me in your unquenchable desire for more of Him. Love you! Shane O’Conner, Memphis, Tennessee On that memorable night 17 years ago Shane experienced the baptism-in-the-Spirit and became one of my devoted “sons in ministry”. We have maintained a constant fellowship since then. CC

THE MYSTERY OF HANDS-ON MINISTRY

At the end of a sermon I frequently identify specific people in the audience and call them out for hands-on ministry. Sometimes the Holy Spirit gives such an instruction before the message--or it may happen in the middle. Somehow I “know” which one is to be first receiving ministry. Whenever the order comes, I try to be obedient and minister to the party promptly. But it hasn’t always been that way. The first time I received such direction was at a Conference in Indianapolis. All the while I spoke, it was as if the Holy Spirit were saying about a young woman in the congregation, “This one! This one! Now!” Whatever my reasons were, I allowed fear to stop me. She left without receiving ministry. God never let me forget my defiance--nor did He let me forget her need. Even today, I vividly recall her face in the congregation.

Later, at Belmont Church, Nashville, in a most surprising way, God gave me a second chance. I was alone in the building one afternoon, walking up an aisle praying, when the Holy Spirit stopped me, pointed out a specific seat and said, “She will be here.” The message was precise. That night, however, the woman was not present. Nor did she attend the next service. To my amazement (and disappointment) the meeting closed, I went home, without ever ministering to this special person. Each time, someone else had been in her seat but the “sign” was not on them. The whole experience was puzzling.

A year later I returned to Belmont, was concluding the sermon, when I looked across the congregation and to my absolute joy she was there! It was a little white haired lady. I didn’t know who she was but the “sign” was on her. Distinctly, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “This is the one.” I was amazed. He not only had told me about her, where she would be sitting, but had known it a year in advance. I quickly left the pulpit, walked back to her row as I kept preaching, called her out, and laid hands on her. She instantly dropped under the blessing of God. That experience was a turning-point in my ministry. But He had made me wait a whole year to learn my lesson. In it, I discovered how to better hear the Holy Spirit and avoid “religious” routines in ministering. More than ever, I realized God’s method is always fresh, alive, vibrant. He never follows religious tradition. Our methods frequently become methodical and stiff. That stiffness usually turns into performance. Performance converts spirituality into religion.

After that, my hands-on ministry opened in an amazing way. Let me explain: Once, in Amarati, Turkey, at Derek Prince’s “Balkan Conference,” I was standing at the rear of the building with other members of the Ministry Team. Representatives from 27 different nations had been called forward for prayer but I was unable to see the pulpit or the people crowded around it. Suddenly, I had a “word” that there was a young man to the right of the pulpit (whom I could not see) but on whom I was to lay-hands. The room was packed but I made my way to the front.

Pushing through, I saw him. Immediately I knew which one God had intended. Later, I learned he was a converted Moslem, ministering in a dangerous situation, and in urgent need of God’s full provision of New Testament authority. His ministry required what Paul identified as an “imparting of spiritual gifts.” Romans 1:11. When I laid hands on him it was as if he had been struck by lightening. In all my years of ministry, I don’t think I have ever seen anyone more impacted by the power of God. Half an hour later he was still on the floor, unconscious, vibrating in the Glory of the Holy Spirit. Finally, we carried him from the platform area and laid him down in the rear of the auditorium. Without realizing it, we had placed him in the walkway where Moslem waiters passed from kitchen to dinning room. This was significant. The man was still unconscious, jerking as if electrified. Many of the waiters stopped, watched him in amazement, then continued on their way. But they were deeply affected. They knew they were seeing a genuine manifestation of the power of God. Several of them returned afterward, asking questions, and wanting to know more about Jesus. Some were saved.

The question arises, “But why is ‘hands-on’ ministry so powerful? What does it mean?” First of all, there is absolutely no power in the human hand. None. Nor is “laying hands” a formality. Power is released from the “Temple of the Holy Spirit” which is inside the human body. The hand has value only because it is an extension of the Temple. Of the 27 times the New Testament talks about “laying-on-hands” it devotes only four references to the ordination of pastors and deacons. Much of the modern church however, has relegated hands-on ministry totally to that subject alone. Someone says, “I am laying-on-hands and nothing happens. What do I do?” Keep doing it! You and I are not responsible for the results. We are responsible only to obey. At some point when you lay hands on another person the Holy Spirit will move in power. Our duty is to trust Jesus who said, “These signs will follow those who believe. They will lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” Amen and amen!

C.C.

I DON’T WANT TO SCARE YOU —SO PLEASE READ TO THE END!

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:07:40 +0100

Originally published in March 2011...

Q & A:
     Pastor Charles, In view of the worldwide economic and political crisis please comment on what you foresee coming to the church in America? B.J.

     CC: In answering the question let me begin with these observations:
        - In the past ten years some 37,000 American churches closed their doors.
        - Churches in the U.S. lose about 2,765,000 members each year as “drop-outs”.
        - For various reasons, 18,000 pastors leave the ministry annually.
        - Only 2.2% of churches in the United States are growing by conversion-increase.
        - At the same time the church is losing ground, the Muslim population in North America increased by 91%. That was a growth from 1.8 million to 3.5 million.
        - In one year--2005–nearly 96,000 people from Islamic countries became permanent residents in the United State.
     Hear this carefully: In 1970 there were 100,000 Muslims in the United States. Today there are 9 million. Within 30 years there will be 50 million. You do the math. You predict the future.
     In Europe, statistical studies show that the 52 million Muslims there will double within 20 years to 104 million. France already has more mosques in the south than churches and that nation is predicted to become an Islamic country within 35 years. Germany will capitulate sooner than France. Are these new residents friendly to their adopted country? Last fall, immigrant Muslim youths torched tens of thousands of cars in cities across France. They created more havoc and fires than has been seen in France since World War II. During New Year's Eve, immigrants set fires to another 425 cars in cities around France. Earlier, they bombed crowded subways killing many innocent victims.
     This past year I met a Christian brother who lives in a totally-dominated Muslim country. His congregation meets secretly in an insulated, sound-proof room so their worship cannot be heard. When Christians are chopped-down in the streets of his country there is no one to plead for them or challenge their murder. Do I believe the Anti-Christ will rise out of Islam? Absolutely. There is no question in my mind about it.
     With America’s economic crisis, the church’s decline, and the Muslem invasion, I foresee very dark days on our horizon–politically–economically–religiously. Even so, I am happily excited for the future! I believe the American church’s greatest days are yet ahead. Frenzied, wild-fire Revival will hit the streets of the U.S. in spite of Islam, bank-failure, and political crisis. Millions will be saved. The Nation will shake with a Holy Spirit-empowered gospel. But before those days can come, the church must be cleansed of silly religious attitudes and restored to the pattern of the first century. The modern Church only vaguely resembles her pattern in the Book of Acts. In the process of correction much of what we have redesigned as “church” will be shaken and changed. Sheep will be separated from goats, wheat from tares, and true believers from impostors.
     Millions of Christians today naively presume that they–and their church–still maintain the historic principles of their ancestors. Not so. In many cases, only the name remains unchanged. The chimney is still there but the fire is gone. Almost imperceptibly, religious movements that begin in glory slide back into coldness and spiritual death. These urgently need restoration. In the past, when someone appeared on the scene with new anointing, holy energy, and tried to change that condition, church people got very disturbed. They protested loudly, fired the pastor, arranged "block" votes to protect their deadness and keep the congregation in darkness. In the days before us such opposition will not matter to God. When He says, "I am taking back My church!," believers will do well to step out of His way. Their only option is to get trampled in the road of Christian history. The Holy Spirit never causes church disasters–that happens when members resist His will and abortively demand their own way. That action always brings bedlam. I anticipate a pattern here identical to the Church in China. In the Communist purge of believers in the 1950's the Christian population was reduced from millions to less than 50,000. These escaped by going “underground”. Today, in spite of fiery persecution it is estimated that Chinese believers now number more than 100,000,000. Incredible! But, persecution has always been Christianity’s best friend.

      Here is what I predict will happen: The Holy Spirit is going to bring believers back to a “Jesus-identity”–as opposed to their present Baptist-identity, Pentecostal -identity, Lutheran-identity, Catholic-identity, etc, etc. These powerful denominational-identities have evolved over the centuries to the point that the true nature of the church has been long forgotten. I speak rhetorically but John Wesley, John Calvin, John Knox, would come out of their graves screaming if they could see how apostasy has gutted the once powerful Christian movements they began. Seeing that abuse of the church, God has no other choice but to force us into radical change! There will be a “dismantling” of thousands of congregations across America. It is only a matter of time. We have not voluntarily submitted to that part of the will of God. So, He is going to force it upon us. With some that change will come as church finances collapse, mortgages default, banks reclaim church property and close their doors. When this happens there will be a scriptural rearranging of church structure.
     By God’s own demand, the church in America will enter an era where denominational strength will vanish like feathers in the fire. Difficult as it is to believe, at a recent Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, the anticipated growth-statistic indicated that the SBC will be gone in just five generations. Unthinkable! Will the Convention change its ways, receive the Baptism in the Spirit which Jesus promised, and allow their churches to explode in growth again? The outlook is not bright. In recent years the Church of England permanently closed more than 600 churches. Many were historic, beautiful buildings that were converted into Mosques. But! Cheer up! At the same time, thousands of new house-churches sprang-up all across Great Britain. Most of these preach and minister in the power of God. The church is not dying–it is simply under-going needed change.

What Else Will Happen?

I predict you will soon be hearing of pastors receiving an inescapable command from the Lord to pack-up and move. Famous ministers in huge churches, at God’s instruction, will walk out of their pulpits, abandon their flocks, and leave congregations screaming for help. Chaotic? Yes! Frightening? Yes! Disastrous? Yes but–only to that part of the church God wants changed. Our base of allegiance must be re-directed from the church to God Himself. Believers will be forced to identify themselves with Jesus and His Kingdom–and then with each other. We will have no other reliable guide but the Holy Spirit. Hear me! We must re-establish a viable, living relationship with the Holy Spirit that operates in full power without reliance on the traditional church. I realize this point needs careful explanation: We will always need the church! Yes! But the contemporary church does not meet the need. This is what I mean when I say that we must re-connect to a “Jesus-identity”.

Hear me carefully: I love the contemporary church! I love Episcopalians, Methodists, Mennonites–by whatever name they are called. God loves them! And I realize I need to be changed as much as those of which I write. I want to be transformed to the pattern of the first century. Above all else, I want to be identified with Jesus and His Kingdom. In the gospels Jesus spoke the word “church” only three times but He spoke of the “Kingdom” more than 130 times. His focus was on the Kingdom. He loved the church, gave Himself for the church, so must we! But if we try to survive with only a “church” relationship we will experience shipwreck. We must be personally identified with Christ by a living, active relationship with the Holy Spirit and the Kingdom of God. What will happen if American Christians are forced to hide like moles in the ground? As in China, believers will end up in secret house churches where denominationalism will become a hollow memory of the past. The Holy Spirit will find a fresh welcome in these places and He will visit them with “signs and wonders”. I can imagine someone now saying, “Pastor, you are scaring me!” I understand. That is why I encourage you to read to the end. Don’t stop here.

Interestingly, the best Scriptural example I can give of change coming to the American Church is found in the Old Testament’s Book of Samuel, Chapter 3:1.

"Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, 'Here I am!' So he ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.' And he said, 'I did not call; lie down again ... Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel answered, Speak, Lord, for your servant hears." I Samuel 3.

Eli represented the old order of religion in Israel. That order was God-ordained, genuine, but by Eli's day was surviving wholly on the revelation of its past; it had no fresh word from Heaven, no life-giving inspiration, and had replaced "its first love" with doctrine, formalism, and ritual. Like America’s liberal churches, Eli’s priestly sons were committing sexual sin and encouraging evil in the people they served. Seeing that, God said, "It is time to shut this down and begin a new era." That night, before the lamp of God “went out” and spoke loudly to the boy: "Samuel! Get up! I am making changes!"

Samuel represents God's provision of new life to Israel. As with renewal in today's church, that life was radically different from the one Israel had known in the past. It was in the past. It was Samuel fell into the same slumbering condition as Eli, God prophetic. That new era was confrontational, challenging, confusing. Because of it, Israel's days of uninspired, liturgical worship were ended. Times like that are always painful. People who are spiritually asleep resist such changes--and the insidious thing about sleep--natural or spiritual--is that a person doesn’t know he is asleep until he wakes up.

The spiritual change that God introduced through the boy Samuel has a parallel in the New Testament day in Acts, chapter 2. On the day of Pentecost when Jerusalem was crowded with “devout Jews from every nation under heaven,” (these were the best Jews God had) but these pious men were challenged by what they saw. Pentecost had three strange effects on them: They were “confused, amazed, and perplexed.” To them, these people were drunk–overcome with “new wine.” Their behavior was strange, totally unlike any previous God-encounter the Jews had known before.

Similarly with Eli and Samuel, like it or not, God was making changes. Note that God did not speak to Eli. He had done that earlier and had been refused. Identically, there are denominational boards, church leaders, and pastors today, to whom God has spoken, been refused, and to whom He will not speak again. As with Eli, He is finished with them. Instead, He may speak to the church janitor, a deacon, or Sunday School teacher, fill that one with the Holy Spirit, excite him with visions and dreams, and use him in power-ministry. Acts 2:17. In the past, such men have been forced out of their church, begun a new congregation, and in time exploded in power. Nearly 20 years ago, of the 500 fastest growing churches in America, 450 were not mainline denominational churches. Why? You already know the answer.

Samuel's first reaction to the Voice was to run to Eli for an explanation. In effect, he was asking the "old order" to explain the mystery of God's "new order." That was a mistake. The old order cannot explain what it does not understand. Eli's response was, "I heard no voice. Go back to bed." This is exactly what is happening in the modern church. In many cases, the old church says to its children who have been caught-up in renewal, "You are disturbing my rest. Go back to sleep! Be quiet, remain in the dark, like the rest of us." As an obedient son, Samuel tried to submit to his elder. But the Voice called again. And once more, Samuel returned to Eli. And again, the old man's instruction was, "Go back to sleep!"

The problem is this: When you have heard the Voice of God, you cannot "go back to sleep." That was especially true with Samuel. God's word to him was radical and frightening. It spoke of coming judgment on the house of Eli; "his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them." Correspondingly, some major denominations accept homosexuality in their clergy. Those who disagree are ridiculed as being "unenlightened." When God's message to Samuel had finished, the boy "lay down until morning and opened the doors of the house of the Lord." Scripture indicates that he did not go back to sleep. At daybreak, Eli said to him, "What is the word that the Lord spoke to you. Please do not hide it from me ..." Vs. 17.

Boldly, Samuel told the old man everything--even though it foretold the deaths of Eli, his sons, and his daughter-in-law. 4:11-22. Eli humbled himself and said of the prophecy, "It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him." Vs. 18. Unlike Hezekiah, who, in a similar circumstance "turned his face to the wall and prayed," Eli made no such petition. Faith was gone, fatalism had taken over. But the issue in many churches and denominations is not about people "making themselves vile." Usually, the resistance to God's voice centers upon pet doctrines, religious hobbies, and iron-hard determination to protect denominational-identity.

Hear me carefully: Whether the issue is morality or misappropriation of Scripture, God has not given us the choice to deviate from His Word. Eli's spiritual-eyes may have dimmed with age--but his most pressing concern was to be left undisturbed and to rest in familiar surroundings of the past. Like modern Christians, he wanted things "as they used to be." That deception caused him to ignore God's warning about his sons and Israel's need for spiritual renewal. 3:13. He made the same mistake which numerous others have made: Pride would not allow him to admit his reign was inferior to other High Priests. He assumed that Israel's spiritual life had always been as it was with him. There is no more perfect illustration of church degeneration than with John Wesley. Wesley was a young "Samuel," had the anointing of God upon him, preached in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit, and saw thousands miraculously transformed and saved. Tragically, today, his denominational successors do not even know his language--much less the flaming glory of his ministry.

Arthur Burt, a 98 year-old Welshman who still preaches around the globe--and knew Smith Wigglesworth --received a prophecy in 1934. The prophecy forecasts world-wide Revival and I am happy to share it with you. I believe we will see this powerful move of God come to pass soon after the church’s cleansing and its re-identification with Christ. Speaking under the leading of the Holy Spirit, Arthur said: “It shall come as a breath ... and the breath shall bring the wind ... and the wind shall bring the rain and there shall be floods and floods and floods ... and torrents and torrents and torrents. Souls shall be saved like falling leaves from mighty oaks swept by a hurricane ... and there shall be no ebb.” I add, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus"!

Finally, I return to the question above, “In view of the worldwide economic and political crisis” what do I see coming to the church in America? Hear this: There is good news in Zion. Weep not! In spite of Eli's declining health and drowsy eyes, Samuel is alive and well. He has refused the old man's order to "go back to sleep." Music and dancing come from his part of the Tabernacle. The saints in his care are happy– experiencing the “demonstration of the Spirit and power." I Corinthians 2:1-5. If you don't know where Samuel is, find him! Love him. Support him. Be blessed by him. And pray for others like him, young and old, who are hearing God's voice in the night, whose response is, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening!" These courageous ones, regardless of age, will fan embers in the Church’s cold hearth and hearth and bring roaring fire back to the Body of Christ. Be one of them! Get out of bed! Get ready for the power to seize you! Get ready to run through the camp of Israel with God’s prophetic word! Remember the words of Jesus: "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; mens hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near!" Luke 21:25-29. Hallelujah! “Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus”! Let’s celebrate! Our destiny is not tied to the fate of the world!
CC

FAITH–ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM WHO BELIEVES

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:07:33 +0100

Originally published in February 2011...

It is significant that in the Old Testament the word “faith” appears only two times, Deuteronomy 32:20, “children in whom is no faith,” and Habakkuk 2:4, “the just shall live by his faith”. (NKJ) These represent the two extremes regarding faith. Beyond that, the Old Testament is strangely silent about spiritual-faith. Even so, the New Testament book of Hebrews, chapter 11, speaks of faith 26 times in acknowledging the faithfulness of Old Testament saints. For the most part, the Old Testament saints connected to God by means of rituals and religious rites. They did physical things to achieve spiritual ends. Observance of the Law gained their acceptance with God. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus radically changed that, ushering in a totally new day and new approach to God. Hear me carefully on this point:

Old Testament ritualistic-obedience brought God down to people on earth. New Testament transcendent-faith takes people up to God in Heaven. God came down to meet Moses on Mt. Sinai; the Apostle John was summoned to “come up here”.

Physical actions on the earth cannot transport anyone to Heaven. In contrast, immaterial, non-physical, spiritual faith escapes earth’s gravity and takes the believer out of its grasp. I use the word “gravity” in a spiritual sense. The ministry of Jesus was radical in that it drew an absolute line of separation between the Old Testament’s demand for doing religious things and the New Testament’s demand for transcendent-faith. Once we understand this principle we can understand the Apostle Paul’s relentless warfare against religious behavior substituting for spiritual truth. He shouted angrily at the Galatian church, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” 3:1-4.

Please know that the “hearing of faith” is vastly different from learning a Catechism, Confession, or Articles of Faith. Academic knowledge of faith is important but it is easy to possess an intellectual understanding of faith and totally miss the spiritual “hearing of faith”. What is the test that separates the two? True, authentic, spiritual faith always manifests itself in miraculous, supernatural ways. Why are Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, other denominations, turning diametrically against God’s Word on the issue of homosexuality and abandoning their own moral history? Their “faith” has become wholly intellectual, earth-connected, and has no union with Heaven’s spiritual dimension. Instead of seeing the spiritual identity of sin and its damning effects, they are blinded to a ground-level view of Bible teaching.

In one of the New Testament’s strongest defenses for the gospel’s inalterable faith, the Apostle Jude wrote, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-5: The “once for all”, translation in our English Bibles comes from a one-word expression in Greek. It is “hapax” and in spite of its brief size carries significant authority. It, and its’ probable source, “hapas”, mean, “one, or a single time, conclusively, absolutely all, every one ...”

If you read the Apostle Jude’s statement again, it is impossible to defend the idea that the original gospel and the power it contained were later altered or modified. The Greek language does not allow such an idea. The “faith which was delivered once for all” means that in a conclusive, inalterable, unchangeable, way the faith of the Apostolic era was delivered for “all time” and there will never be another. The gospel of the Kingdom is immutable. This agrees perfectly with Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 28:18 that believers to “the end of the age” be taught to “observe all things that I have commended you.” Then, as if to emphasize the inexorability of the gospel’s time-span, He said, “Lo, I with you always, even to the end of the age.” Observe the expression “all things”. What did He mean by that expression? Scripture does not leave us to wonder. Matthew 10:7-9 makes it very plain: “As you go, preach, saying,'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons . Freely you have received, freely give.”

How can humans accomplish these deeds of healing the sick, casting out demons, etc? Many sincere, Christians immediately cry out, “I don’t believe I can do that!” And of course, they can’t because Jesus said, “These signs will follow those who believe.” He never expected miracles to be done by anyone who was not divinely connected to Him. But He did say of believers, “In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." Mark 16:17-18. Jesus never implied that unbelievers could do His same works. But He emphatically declared that true believers not only could do them but would. The Book of Acts gives us a working model of a conscientious, godly pastor–Apollos–who preached a powerless gospel. Like many of us today, he was faithful, loved God, served the congregation, but was totally bereft of power. While away from his church at Ephesus, Paul came and found this little congregation of 12 male disciples with wives and children. In spite of Apollos’ having excellent credentials for ministry, Paul immediately recognized powerlessness in his flock. Both Paul and Apollos were men of God, both equally loved the Lord, and each possessed vast knowledge of Scripture. Even so, a major discrepancy existed between their ministries. Paul had power; Apollos did not. Paul preached the gospel of the Kingdom; Apollos obviously knew nothing about it.

In light of the Apostle Jude’s exhortation to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints”, we see how Apollos had accepted a partial gospel and experienced partial results. Apollos’ and Paul’s ministries are a parallel of pastors and churches today. I emphasize the fact that Apollos was ignorant because he had never been taught–not because he had knowingly rejected the truth. That innocence is absent in many pastors today who have knowingly rejected any truth that is not endorsed by their denominations.

Modern Christians Have Accepted An Alien Concept Of Faith

The dictionary’s definition of faith is tragically insufficient and where this concept has been accepted it has stripped Christianity of one of its most fundamental powers. Today’s wrong usage–rampant even among believers--identifies faith solely as religious persuasion, moral conviction, doctrinal belief, ethical concept, organized creed, systematic theology, etc., etc, but offers no comment about faith being a spiritual force. Where spiritual-force is not present, there is no faith. Faith–as a living entity–must be manifested in power–not words only. Documents of faith are beneficial to the mind but powerless to heal the body. Faith is one of the divine provisions implied in Hebrews 6:4-6 that speaks of those who have been “... enlightened, have tasted the heavenly gift, have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come ...” The expression, “powers of the age to come” refers to forces, magnetisms, energies, life-qualities, etc., which are not characteristic of our present existence but will be characteristic in the future-realm of Heaven and eternity. In other words, they are “powers” already with God in His dimension but reserved for our future. Wonderfully, the Scripture reveals that some individuals experience those powers now. You and I can be among them. Cessation Theology claims that God removed the miraculous gifts and power of the Holy Spirit from the early church but has allowed Satan to keep his until now. How unfair

Years ago I met a saintly old man whom I immediately recognized was trustworthy in his love for God and his Christian testimony. As we talked privately, he told about an illness that not only put him in the hospital but caused his death. Of that event, he half-whispered to me, “I realized I was dead when I discovered that I could swing my legs down through the mattress.” Though the statement was shocking there was nothing unbelievable about him or his description of his death-encounter. Over the years I have met numerous others–just as believable as he--who had such death-bed or out-of-body experiences. What happened in his case was that death momentarily separated him from his body; while his physical-part lay motionless on the bed, his spiritual-part was totally free and independent of it. There is a “natural body” and there is a “spiritual body.” I Corinthians 15:44. It was the spiritual aspect of his being that was unhindered by the material substance of the bed and enabled him to swing his legs through it. We have a parallel of this the day of the Resurrection when Jesus appeared in the closed room where the disciples were meeting. Without effect on Himself or the wall, He simply passed through the material substance of the building in the same way the old man’s spiritual legs swung through the hospital mattress. John 20:22.

I mention this old brother’s experience because without an understanding of his (and our) dual spiritual/physical nature we will never grasp the reality of true faith. Hear me: “Faith is not native to our planet but is projected into our cosmos from the Great-Other-Realm. Therefore, the faith at work in you is not an attitude or mental effort on your part. Nor is it merely your religious concept or ideology. Faith is a living, trans-earthly power. It is native to the other realm and is only a visitor in our’s. Faith came to you because of your spiritually having heard ‘the word of God’, Romans 10:17, and God Himself having then dealt to you ‘a measure of faith,’ Romans 12:3. More happened than your physical-ears hearing the gospel. Nor was the resulting-faith mere psychological cause- and-effect. Scripture makes it very plain that faith is a spiritual life-force extended to you.”

Perhaps you have seen someone receive laying-on- of-hands and immediately crash to the floor under the power of God. That manifestation happened because the Holy Spirit moved visibly from the person ministering to the person receiving. In that wonderful moment the Holy Spirit was applying some benefit of the Cross. In Galatians 3:5, Paul deals with this all-important subject when he asked the question: “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” KJV. The answer to Paul’s question is obvious: It is the hearing of faith, not works of the law, that endowed some in the Galatian Church for the ministry of miracles and spiritual- impartation. Modern theologians are fearful of this text but the old King James translators gave the Greek-intent accurately. Read it again.

How can one hear faith? Faith is alive and has a voice. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice.” John 10:27. In my opinion, it is impossible to separate the voice of faith from the voice of Jesus. Of that voice, Jesus explained, “I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.” John 12:49. Whether in the Church of Galatia or the Church today, “signs and wonders” occur during the laying-on-of-hands because our bodies are Temples of the Holy Spirit. The hand is an extension of that Temple and faith becomes the vehicle accompanying the release of power.

The Holy Spirit frequently overwhelms the person and they drop to the floor. His impact sometimes comes like an electric-shock and is usually irresistible. In the same way the Holy Spirit’s power passes through a living-body bringing healing, the power of faith passes through a living-mind. In many ways, the comparisons are identical. Faith, therefore, is not an exercise of your physical-brain any more than it was the old man’s physical legs that swung down through the mattress. We are spiritual beings, in contact with a Spiritual God, who communicates to us through the spiritual dimension. Jesus illustrated this dual spirit-physic dimension when He invited Peter to join Him on the water. Matthew 14:29. We Christians have missed the awesomeness of that invitation by assuming it was merely to display miraculous-power. Not at all.

In reality, Jesus was saying to Peter, “I have come into your physical--earthly--material–realm, bringing power from the ‘age to come’ with me. It has raised the dead, opened blind eyes, performed miracles. Now, Peter, I want you to come into My realm. Join Me on the water and you can step into My dimension ...” I repeat: This was not merely an invitation for Peter to get out of the boat and walk on the sea. Not at all. It was an invitation for him to exit his own physical realm of earth, sky, rocks, and air, and join Jesus in the immaterial, ethereal, non-earthly, “other” dimension. Had Peter so done, in that moment he would have “swung his legs down through the mattress.” That is what Jesus wanted him to discover. Please hear me: When Peter sank into the sea, he missed much more than a momentary miracle. Instead of experiencing the Glory of Heaven “opening on his eyes, and his ears with sounds angelic ringing,” he fell back into the dullness and dreariness of earth. Peter’s failure typifies the modern Church: Most Christians don’t expect out-of-body transports into the Other Dimension, we don’t expect “faith” to be anything more than sweet religious-presumption, we don’t expect Scripture to have revelatory power. That is true because we preachers have denominationalized the Bible’s message and, in consequence, have reduced Kingdom- truth to a lovely–but faithless--philosophy. My late friend Derek Prince used to say, “Any pastor who is not providing ‘signs and wonders’ for his flock should apologize to them for his failure”.

As an aide to helping myself get a more comprehensive understanding of faith I have joined it with another Greek word–peiro. Peiro means “to pierce through” and originates from the word peran meaning “other side”, “beyond,” “farther,” “over,” “across.” In Greek, the word for faith is pistis. The combination of the two words allowed me to visualize faith’s purpose in penetrating our physical realm. This penetration is absolutely necessary if there is to be miraculous healing, spiritual gifting, deliverance from demonic bondage, out-of-body transports, etc. “Peiros-Faith” is a force that comes to our dimension from the other realm, like sunlight passing through a window, goes through cooperative believers here. Then, like an X-ray it penetrates and effects change in the circumstance it touches. True faith has the potential to interact both with our physical dimension of time and space while it maintains a complete, uninterrupted union with the Eternal Dimension where it originates. In other words, faith is a symphonizing of these separate dimensions. Faith cannot merely lie on the surface of its intended target but must pierce the subject needing change. Both a sending and receiving are involved.

As I understand it, this interaction of “peiros” faith—that is “faith” from the “other side–the beyond–the farther–the over–the across”--like the conception of ovum and sperm--is a coming-together of the Holy Spirit’s power and the material substance of our realm. These two realms became visible minutes before Stephen was stoned to death when something happened that totally astonished his attackers. Scripture tells us that suddenly,“All who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.” Acts 6:15. What caused this sudden change of the man’s physical appearance? His natural body momentarily began fading away and another–a more beautiful one–became apparent. Stephen was already in the transition of death and the “inner person” of his spirit momentarily became visible. In effect, he was already in the state of “swinging his legs down through the mattress”.

Jesus demonstrated this potential to the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration, when “He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun and His clothes became as white as the light.” Matthew 17:2. In my 60+ years of preaching, only twice have I seen a person in this dual-state of “holy radiance”. But I have seen it. One was an elderly, farm-woman in a congregation of 700 whose face–during worship–shone so brightly that every one within five feet around her blurred-out. The other was a godly minister, Virgil Agan, who, while preaching, had a “halo” of light appear around him. Both of those events occurred in the 1950's. It was this kind of Glory that appeared on Stephen when he was dying–nor was it stones that killed him. As Jesus gave up His Spirit from the cross, so Stephen gave up his.

There is a distinct, identifiable moment for many believers in which the “door of faith” is opened. Scripture explains: “Now when they had come to Antioch and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” Acts 14:27. This opening can be both corporate as with the gentiles or singular as with an individual today. Another example: “Jesus said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you ... And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” Luke 24:44-45. Does this kind of opening happen today? The answer is “yes” Ask the Holy Spirit to open the “door of faith”.

THE “GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT” ARE MORE SIGNIFICANT–THAN YOU THINK

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:07:24 +0100

Originally published in January 2011...

Years ago on a flight out of West Palm Beach, Florida, we had just become airborne over the ocean when a boy sitting next to the window grabbed my arm. "Look out there!," he spoke, "Look!" What I saw was one of the most magnificent sights of my life. Reaching down to the surface of the ocean and rising overhead as far as I could see was the full, unbroken circle of a rainbow. The color was indescribably brilliant with the lower part of the ring seeming to float on the surface of the water. There was not a gap in it--just the breathtaking color of God's beautiful sign of Covenant. Genesis 9:13.

I had learned a short time before that the complete rainbow, like the wedding band, is a continuous ring. It is much, much more than the mere half-circle we see from ground-level. At best, our earth-bound view reveals only part. To behold the bow's full circumference it is necessary to be above the earth looking down. The spiritual application of that truth is obvious: In this present life, we grasp only a fragment of the wisdom and strategy of God. Not until we are in Heaven looking back at history will we be able to understand the full-scope of His plan and purpose in our lives. Believers who grasp this holy truth now, seeing themselves already seated with Christ "in heavenly places," Ephesians 1:3,20. find that it releases faith powerfully within them. When life is unfair, disappointing, painful, we need to be reminded that the view from above is very different from the one below. William Cowper saw this reality nearly three centuries ago and wrote,

"Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust Him for His grace;

Behind a frowning Providence,

He hides a smiling face.

Cheer up, ye saints, fresh courage take,

The clouds you so much dread

Are rich with mercies and shall break

In blessings on your head ..."

Cowper's words and the indescribable beauty of God's Covenant were still going through my mind as our plane left the rainbow behind. Leaning back in a state of awe, a series of revelations began flooding me. First was the amazing, spiritual beauty of the bow; its colors were ethereal, unreal. Secondly, its endless circle, representing the complete cycle of God's loving, sovereign perfection in creation, was overwhelming. Nothing was omitted from its meaning. The smallest, microscopic sea-life below me to the largest galaxy in space, were all contained in the scope of His unified plan. The apex of that purpose was the redemption of man.

Covenant-truth, issuing from the Kingdom of God, is as wide as the Universe, encompassing all the wisdom, work, and wonder, of God. My mind was overwhelmed with what seemed to be scientific and theological facts radiating in all directions around me. Each was a unique display of His Covenant-plan. In that flashing moment I understood more about the glory of God than ever before. This fact seized me. All truth, regardless of its rising from the Old Testament or the New, whether it comes from Scripture or true scientific discovery, points toward one ultimate reality: God is One; God is love; God is power. Creation pulsates with that. Jesus, the One by whom the "worlds were framed," Hebrews 11:3, John 1:1, is the incarnation of all three. His Resurrection, as an explosion of that triangular-truth, defeated every opposing principle of disunity, hatefulness, and weakness, in existence.

Wonderfully, the Holy Spirit showed me the relationship between the rainbow and another Biblical, Covenant-sign: Circumcision. It too, is circular. The revelation that took place there on the plane went light-years beyond everything I had understood about circumcision before. Circumcision means "circular cutting." Some of this may seem indelicate to share but the message is too valuable to allow modesty to interfere. Beginning with Abraham, every Hebrew male bore in his body this physical sign of God's Covenant. Suddenly, I realized that the miles-wide rainbow and the few inches of circumcision were identical. Each contained all the glory, beauty, majesty, of the other. With that realization, an important question came: "Why did God place the Covenant-sign on the male genitals?" The answer which was awesome, came in one of those giant facts: First of all: The rainbow, as the greatest visible Covenant-sign in Creation, like a "Crown of Heaven," was transferred to the body of Covenant-man. Secondly, God willed that the conception of every Hebrew child take place in the mother’s womb and the Covenant-sign of his father. Half of the genes of every future generation passed through his father's Covenant-ring. God wanted that mysterious, creative act of conception in which others made "in His image" and "in His likeness," Genesis 1:26, take place within the "Sign of the Covenant."

By a painful cutting-away, shedding of blood, circumcision is the "uncovering" of maleness. In Scriptural typology, it is the exposing of man to His God. If you study the covering–and uncovering–of Tabernacle furnishings in the Old Testament, Numbers 4:5-12, you will understand more of the parabolic teaching present here. Exodus 35:12, etc. Again, this may seem indelicate but I will say it anyway: In the marriage act, the Hebrew groom's penetrating the bride's Temple-body, the shedding of her hymen-blood, and the opening of her Temple vail, was done precisely where his own Covenant-blood had earlier been shed. In the process of their being united into one, each met the Covenant-requirement of giving blood for the other. Hear this: The man gave his blood for her; she gave her blood to him.

The New Testament makes the Covenant-meaning of circumcision more beautiful than that which the Old Testament revealed. The death and resurrection of Jesus transformed circumcision into an experience of the heart. It is no longer limited to the flesh. "He is a Jew who is one inwardly, for circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God." Romans 2:29. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision avails anything, but a new creation." Galatians 5:6, 6:15. Being far more than a physical cutting of the outer flesh, it is now man's inner being, his heart, that bears the Sign of Covenant. No longer an earthly sign, it is now a Heavenly one, begetting ultimate relationship with the Creator-Father.

But the Sign of the Covenant goes far beyond Noah's rainbow, Abraham's circumcision, William Cowper's encouragement, or our struggling against the seeming unfairness of life. In a remarkable way, the Holy Spirit's miraculous gifts to the church are also revealed through their Covenant-purpose and meaning. I Corinthians 12-14. Believers who find themselves powerless and insufficient should be encouraged to know that the gifts of the Spirit are Covenant-provisions which Jesus gladly imparts to all. We have a beautiful example of this spiritual-gifting in the Old Testament. Specifically: "And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold." Genesis 24:22.

Here is an important point: The sign of the Covenant is revealed through the charismatic gifts of the Spirit. I Corinthians 12. This truth is seldom seen--but is absolutely magnificent once we grasp it. We can best understand the principle through a parabolic example in the Old Testament. It is this: Abraham sent his servant to get a bride for his son Isaac. The young woman chosen for this honor was Rebekah. In Scriptural typology, Abraham represents God the Father, the servant represents the Holy Spirit, Isaac represents Jesus the Son. Rebekah symbolizes the Church. Her name means "circles" or "loops of a rope." The imagery of the rope suggests her being "inside the circle" of God's providence and grace. This is a true concept of Covenant. And in keeping with the Covenant-tradition, as soon as the servant identified Rebekah as God's chosen one, he presented her with golden "rings." Genesis 24:22. The shape of these gifts, circles, conveyed an important message which she understood. They were like binding-loops that encircled her engagement to Isaac.

Hear this point carefully: These bracelets and rings were not wedding gifts. They were "engagement" gifts. Even today, brides frequently receive two rings, one before the wedding; the other at the wedding. So it was with Rebekah. First came the engagement gift; these were followed with wedding gifts. In a similar way, Jesus sends "engagement" gifts to the Church in advance of her receiving the wedding gifts. The Church's wedding gifts, which are beyond human comprehension, will not be given until the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Revelation 19:9. But, please hear me carefully about gifts which come in advance of the Wedding: The charismatic gifts which the Church is now receiving, Acts 1:5,8, by which she "tastes the powers of the age to come," Hebrews 6:5, Ephesians 1:21, are engagement gifts. Through them, the Groom is showing the Bride the "glories of His Father's house." This parallel of Rebekah and the Church is exact. While Rebekah's gifts spoke of Isaac's love, they also revealed Abraham's great wealth. In the same way Rebekah had never met the man to whom she was engaged, so the Church has yet to meet her Royal Bridegroom.

The gifts Jesus is now sending through the Holy Spirit correspond to the rings and bracelets given Rebekah by Abraham's servant.

I spoke at a Baptist Church where many members were still opposed to spiritual gifts. They did not understand the miraculous operations of God and drew back from them. I explained that Christians who reject the gifts of the Spirit, I Corinthians 12:1-11, are actually telling the Heavenly Servant, "I don't like that bracelet. Put it back in your box! I won't wear it." Rebekah's acting in such ugliness is unthinkable. Not so with modern, self-centered Christians. Many become irate, incensed, at the mere suggestion of their experiencing the Holy Spirit's miraculous gifts. The gift of tongues is the primary offender because it is the only one of the grace-gifts that is deliberately designed to attack man's ego and pride. Many in that Baptist congregation saw the ugliness of their having rejected spiritual gifts and came forward, repentant, saying, "I don't fully understand the Holy Spirit’s gifting--but I want whatever bracelet God has for me! Pray that I will receive it!"

"And upon its hem (the robe of the High Priest) you shall make pomegranates ... and bells of gold: a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe all around." Exodus 28:33,34.

Finally, it is important that you understand the Covenant-meaning of the golden bells and pomegranates decorating the hem of the High Priests garment. Jesus is the High Priest portrayed in Israel's Tabernacle worship. Hebrews 3:1. The pomegranates and bells on his garment symbolize the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 5:9, and the gifts of the Spirit. I Corinthians 12:4-11. As Jesus bears both fruit and gifts, so those who would be like Him must bear the same. Christians who reject any of the gifts are ripping them off the garment of Jesus. Don't do it. When viewed from the bottom, the bell is a perfectly round ring. It is through that circular opening (the gift in operation) that the music of the Spirit is heard. When Scripture says, "Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound," Psalm 89:15, it speaks of those who have seen the circle of God's Covenant and rejoiced in the sound ringing from it. That ring is as wide as the rainbow or as small as the scar on a man's body.

One of the great hymn writers said, "All nature sings and round me rings, the music of the spheres."Receive the gifts. Wear the bracelets. Accept the message of the rainbow. See the revelation of the pomegranates, golden bells, and circumcision. Its all there!

I REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR IN A DIFFERENT WAY

The day Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor the American flag flying above the U.S. Naval base at Honolulu had a second flag beneath it: It was a simple white banner containing the Cross of Christ. In full view, and with the approval of every government office from Hawaii to the White House, the Cross shared the same pole with Old Glory. No one dared challenge it. From the 1776 birth of this Nation forward, the Cross protected believer and unbeliever alike, identifying, defending, fortifying, the moral fabric and heritage of the nation.

I remember the Sunday afternoon, December 7, 1941, when every radio broadcast across the land was suddenly interrupted with the news of the Japanese attack. At the time I was an eleven year old boy standing in our yard in Miami, Florida, and ran to the window to find out why the adults in the house had begun shouting. Pearl Harbor was being bombed. We soon learned that one of our neighbors was killed on the Arizona. Four years later, as a High School student, I remember my class breaking into shouting when the announcement came that the war was over. We had won! Japan had surrendered unconditionally. Germany soon followed. That night Flagler Street and Biscayne Boulevard were jammed with people dancing, shouting, crying, laughing, in the streets. Today, we are losing a different war. As I write this, the 5% minority of Americans atheists--and their unscrupulous politicians--are organizing efforts to remove the Cross from the graves of the very soldiers who died to preserve it. Not only so, the 5% are determined to destroy the rights and heritage of the 95% by eliminating every reference to God in public life.

Our Forefathers did not leave us without guidance concerning faith in public matters. They emphatically expressed their posture in the Declaration of Independence when they said: "And for the support of this declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, and Fortunes and our sacred Honor." In 1892 the United States Supreme Court followed their example by declaring "Our laws and institutions must necessarily be based upon the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind." Every President until now has sought the Nation’s prayers. Not so with Obama. He refused the White House participation in the National Day of Prayer then publicly took part in a Muslim “Call to prayer”. America, are you blind? This President’s behavior slaps the face of all American heritage and truth. The attack is two-fold: Destroy Christianity and throw open the door to Islam. The 5% are steadily moving forward. More alarmingly, the 95% are letting them get away with it. The Cross no longer flies above Pearl Harbor. America! Wake up and speak up! CC

REPRODUCING BY DYING Story Of A Single Grain Of Corn

One grain of American corn (Indian corn) in the first generation produces a solitary stalk with possibly 5 ears. Each ear may contain 900 seed each. That first grain reproduces itself by giving birth to approximately 4,500 seed. If you planted all those seed and each reproduced proportionately the second generation would yield 16,000,000 seed. If all those were planted and brought forth their maximum potential the third year would produce 72,000,000,000 seed. Statistics for the fourth-year harvest gets off the charts. That is a lot of corn! Never underestimate the power of a small beginning. Jesus began His ministry with 12 ordinary men. Today there are more than 2, 000,000,000 Christians worldwide. With corn there can be productivity only in cross-pollination. Identically, there can be no Christian productivity except by our impregnation with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus in the Jordan, the disciples in the Upper Room, us today as we personally receive Him. He, alone, is the source for the church’s power. His crop is guaranteed to be good! The death of self is a significant point. Jesus explained it this way: “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” John 12:23-26.

He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." Mark 4:26-29.
CC

ANCIENT WARFARE AND ITS MESSAGE TO THE MODERN CHURCH Part 2

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:07:16 +0100

Originally published in December 2010...

Someone may say, “Pastor Carrin, I thought you would write a Christmas article in the December Newsletter!” Sorry! You have heard that many times in the past. Thank God you did! Conditions we now face are too grave to ignore or delay.

In last month’s article I explained how the battering-ram which the Roman Army brought against the walls of Jerusalem was a prototype of the spiritual weapons we have been provided for Christian battle. We are at war. Several states are preparing for proponents of “Sharia” law. As I write this, Christian churches in Iraq and other Islamic nations are being bombed and their congregations murdered. Not all of this is reported by America’s media. A black-out order exists. The effort is being made to convince the American public that Islam is peace-loving and kind. History emphatically denies that. In spite of the propaganda, Islam is judged by its own history.

An example of this history occurred in Indonesia several years ago when three Christian High School girls were beheaded by Islamic militants as a Ramadan “trophy” for Allah. The girls' bloody heads were dumped in plastic bags in their village with a handwritten note threatening more such murders. The note read: "Wanted: 100 more Christian heads, teenaged or adult, male or female; blood shall be answered with blood, soul with soul, head with head." The girls’ bodies, dressed in school uniform, were left by the roadside near the execution site. Hear me carefully: Brutality and murder has been the identifying mark of Islam since its inception and the same plans are in store for the U.S. Get ready!

Like it or not, the day is rushing like a dam-burst toward us when all sincere believers will be forced into every aspect of spiritual war. Our own safety and the well-being of our families will depend on it. In spite of the blood-thirsty opposition we face the Christian war is empowered through the Holy Spirit. We dare not forget that! Our artillery includes living in God’s authority, spiritually trampling on serpents and scorpions, and exorcism–the casting out of demons. Christians who are now saying, "I don't believe it," will be soon be saying, "Tell me how it is done!" Paul explained that this battle is not physical or earthly. He said: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

Unless Jesus catches the church away soon, chaos is coming, and we will have opportunity to battle the spiritual giants. The Holy Spirit is presently emphasizing these facts to the church: We are in the confluence of end-time prophecies and are racing toward all-out spiritual war. Be warned! If you are not being taught principles of spiritual warfare by your present church you better find one that is teaching and get in it.

The streets of our nation, as well as other parts of the world, are crammed with demonized people—and Satan is recruiting more by the hour. They are a virtual army within our borders and are waiting for the signal from their Commander, the Prince of Darkness, to explode in violence. Millions are flooding illegally over our borders and the government refuses to stop them. Some are morally good; many others are not. Few of the demonized have any realization of the evil potential within themselves. The church is the only one who will have either the explanation or the power to deal with the crisis even in a minimal way. Policemen, jails and psychiatric lock-up wards will not be able to cope. Hopefully, the church will be caught away before that massive eruption occurs. The first skirmishes of the battle are already appearing however, and we are still here. Satan is eagerly rallying his troops while much of the church slumbers on its velvet pews. Conflict with Satan is going to intensify incredibly. We see this in the world-wide resurgence of Satan worship and witchcraft. London, formerly the home of some of the greatest evangelical Christians, today has more witches and occultists than pastors. And the figures are growing. Numbers of historic English churches have been converted into Mosques. The stone church building where William Carey preached in the late 1700's and from which he left as the first Baptist missionary to India has been demolished and a Hindu Temple built on the site. India has come to England. In a way unthinkable to Carey and other believers in his day, thousands of Englishmen are being converted to Islam and various Eastern religions. Paul's warning of "seducing spirits" attacking the church in the last days is being fulfilled before our eyes. II Timothy 3:13. We are at war!

Deliverance ministry is an aspect of that spiritual war in which unclean spirits are cast out and the victims are set free. Though long neglected, this ministry is now growing rapidly among Christians of all denominations and is gaining much-needed recognition. Until recently, most of the church ignored the reality of unclean spirits. In opposition to the church’s attitude, thirty percent of Jesus recorded ministry was spent in direct conflict with demons. Jesus never heaped scorn on the persons who were afflicted by them; rather, He simply cast out the offender and returned the person to normal living.

I was introduced to “deliverance ministry” in 1977. That wonderful year it happened to me when I was rescued from a spirit of depression and suicide. Not only was I set free but I was dramatically filled with the power Jesus promised. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8. That day God sovereignly forced me to accept Bible truths I had rejected and ignored all my adult life. In spite of being in the ministry for nearly thirty years I knew absolutely nothing about casting-out the-devil. In thousands of sermons I had never devoted one messages to the topic. Nor had I realized my own problem could be so easily resolved. Does that seem incredible to me now? Yes. Am I regretting it? Absolutely. My church members suffered needlessly because of my ignorance. In reality, I betrayed them. Unfortunately, there are thousands of other ministers who could give an identical testimony as mine. To whatever degree we reject the truth we reject the power. To whatever degree we reject the power we reject success. Failure in ministry is always on our end of the blame–not on God’s.

I believed the Bible–to the degree my denomination allowed–and was conscientious about preaching the "full counsel" of God. Somehow, when I came to this subject of spiritual warfare it blurred off the page. Behavioral problems in my congregation that did not respond to office counseling were hurried away to psychiatrists and other secular therapists. That treatment gave marginal help to those who could afford it but nothing to many others whose neurotic ways kept the church in turmoil. Believe me!, I encountered many of those. Unfortunately, it never occurred to me that those individuals could be delivered from their negative behavior by simply obeying Scripture.

My discovering the power of the Holy Spirit took me to remote parts of the world. I saw lives rescued, homes saved, and ministries empowered. Thousands of ordinary people returned to successful living. Would I go back to my former ministry of failure and defeat? Never. In the category of which I now speak, however, I refer only to the ministry of deliverance. The people involved in these deliverances were vexed by such things as drug addiction, homosexuality, prostitution, alcoholism, suicide, pornography, perversion, night-mares, child-beating, witchcraft, cruelty, Satanism, disease, pain, fear, and the whole catalogue of the devil's work. One pastor who came to us also brought his gun. We did not know it, but as he later explained, "If this ministry had failed, I was not going home alive." Thankfully, the power of God's battering-ram broke through and he went back to his family and church aflame with new liberty and love for God.

On another occasion, a woman held a gun in her lap while we ministered to her over the phone. The crisis involved the suicide of her only daughter. Not only was the mother set free and filled with the Holy Spirit but she was able to minister to other members of the family who had been devastated by the girl's death. Another woman who had been an alcoholic for eighteen years was set free in a matter of minutes. Unfortunately, her church could accept her addiction but not her deliverance. Alcoholism did not challenge their theology; deliverance did. In time, she had to leave the congregation and find a new one that could rejoice in the Holy Spirit's beautiful work in her life.

A young man who was a repentant believer sat in my office and wept about his temptation to homosexuality. He was not committing the sin but was daily battling the desire; his life, in consequence, was one of total frustration and failure. Had he repented? Yes. Many times. Was he living in victory? No. Tragically, his church told him that it was impossible for a demon to be the problem–and he did not need deliverance. Their claim was that Christians are immune to such demonic work. My reply to that error is that a demon can go anywhere sin and disease can go. If a Christian is immune to a demon he is also immune to evil and infirmity. Such a believer does not exist. Our mortal has not yet put on immortality;

After anointing the young man with oil in Jesus' Name, Mark 6:13, the unclean spirit in him began to bellow like an angry bull. Then, as if a gun-blast had hit him, he fell back into the chair, raised both arms into the air and began weeping loudly. He was delivered and his weeping turned to praise. The spirit was gone. Today I look back over more than 60 years in the ministry and grieve over the wasted hours I spent in my early church life. I tried to counsel people for months on end when what they really need was a fifteen minute ministry of casting out a demon. On several occasions I ministered to people who were totally out of their minds and had to be forcibly pinned to the floor while paramedics, policemen, firemen, and medical doctors, looked on. In each case the victims were set free and became normal again. On one occasion the policemen returned to their station and filed the report that they had "witnessed a successful exorcism". It made believers out of them. Unfortunately, the National Enquirer, the Observer, and other tabloids published the story and it went across the nation in their ghost-story fashion. The real tragedy, however, is that secular papers will capitalize on such Christian stories while church publications maintain a deathly silence. They are terrified by any believer claiming to do the works of Jesus–when they are not. Years later, one of the firemen who witnessed the deliverance that evening reappeared in my office and said, "That night changed my life–I am now a `Bible- believing' Christian."

I began this article by telling about horrendous violence Muslims are bringing against Christians worldwide. What does that have to do with “Deliverance Ministry” on your home-front? The answer is found in a question asked by the prophet Jeremiah. He said: “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the flood-plain of the Jordan?” Jeremiah 12:5-6. In other words, if you have failed in the small test how can you possibly pass the big one? If you do not know how to cast out a demon how can you possibly cast out an army of them? Get real! We have one major Enemy whom we must face on every battlefield. Hopefully, you will not encounter those who cut off human heads. But you daily face the same enemy in your home, school, work place, and leisure time. In every capacity, you must be prepared to win.

Here is my plea to you: If the religious horse you are riding has died–for Heaven’s sake, dismount! Don’t sit there until the carcass explodes under you! The Kingdom needs you, your message, your ministry now. You don’t have time to waste! You are seeing end-times prophecies be fulfilled every day. You need God’s power in your life. Get filled with the Holy Spirit! Receive the power! Ready or not, you have been drafted for Spiritual War. Join God’s team of soldiers, take your place on the rope, be part of the battering-ram’s power and help break through the devil’s stronghold. Do it! Amen! CC

TERRI MORROW–MISSIONARY TO THE VANUATU ISLANDS

Terri Morrow is one of my “daughters in ministry” whom God has called to the South Pacific islands of Vanuatu. She is an anointed 50 year-old who has thrown herself totally into the hands of God. Terri expects to give the rest of her life to these native tribes–some of whom are naked and uncivilized. I quote part of a recent letter in which she tells about her visit to a different island of the Vanuatu chain. She writes:

“ ... They were very happy to have me there and arranged for a village gathering the following day for the showing of the Jesus Film. ... The video was in Bislama, for which I was very excited–but many of the people did not speak Bislama. Lenlen stood by the sheet (the screen) and translated the highlights into North Tanna language. It worked! About 30 people were born again that night! I led in the prayer of salvation; Morris interpreted into Bislama, Lenlen into North Tanna, and the people repeated after Lenlen! The next day we had a church service that people from a village up the mountain came to. Afterward we wound our way down a very steep ravine, zig-zagging down, down, down; steep, steep, steep. I am being truthful in saying that during the entire trip down I was wondering if I could get back up. Many people came to observe the baptism. It must have been a sight to see for people who had known nothing of Jesus and water baptism. They were on the banks and up the river watching. And that night, we showed the film again, and between 15 and 20 more came to Jesus!

“While meeting with the chief, I told him my desire to provide a school teacher for the Yakel children. ... A hut is being built for my stay. Please–family–pray with me about this. It is my desire to go and live among them. They must be taught. Many are so steeped in witchcraft and custom way. They have no idea how to follow Him. Most cannot read. They sing Christian songs and don't understand the words they sing. It is one thing to say the sinners prayer; it is entirely another to be discipled ... Once in another location we walked for 4 hours up a mountain to reach a village. The Lord came in power for that little gathering, the chief was healed by the power of the Holy Spirit. He had suffered from some type of breathing ailment. His body first became cool and then the heat of God came on him and he began to sweat. He was joyous at the touch of God. Others were touched by the Lord and they were grateful we had come. But the time there was short, due to the distance we would have to walk in order to get back down. On the trip up, we had gone from the coast, to the bush, to rain forest and had to make the trip back. But we left with the promise that we would return. There is a village similar to Yakel on higher up, that we hope to reach on a next trip and have been invited to stay in this village during that visit. Please, keep praying! –Terri”

If you would like to help Terri’s ministry, send your contributions to Walk On Water Ministries, P.O. Box 2346, Franklin, North Carolina, 28744. God bless you for helping!

ISLAND IN THE SUN. Dear Charles, As one who very seldom reads a novel, regardless of who is the author, when I learned that you had written a novel, Island In The Sun, I had to read it. It was a wonderful historical novel of the Indian and Civil Wars and how they impacted Florida’s settlers. The story is well written and engulfs you in the lives of the characters right from the start. So much so, I could hardly stop reading the book; I cried many times because I felt as though I had lost my family in those situations; and, yet, the Word of God was evident throughout the book. The Word reminded us that the rain falls on the good and the bad and that there is nothing the Lord does not know about. He is indeed merciful and faithful to His people. This story is worthy of being made into a movie.

Because it is a story based on the lives of real people, I wondered if I would have had the strength to endure what these people did in establishing Florida as a homestead and a state. I would guess that most people that relocate here have no idea of the hardships and fears the settlers endured especially with the Indians. The truth be known about the Indian wars should cause us to fall to our knees and repent for our greed and evil dealings with them. Also, I had forgotten Florida’s part in the Civil War until I read your book. Thank you for telling a story of overcoming faith and grace. I bought my copy of the book through Barnes and Noble. The Lord richly bless you in all you do for the Kingdom, Joan Stombres.

CC Comment: One of my motives in writing Island In The Sun was to challenge the non-Christian public with a book they would read–and by which they would be won to Christ. Pray that happens. The book is available through all major bookstores or this ministry. Cost from us is $15.00 plus $5.00 postage.

WORD, SPIRIT, POWER, BOOK

Chosen Books has contracted to publish a new work co-authored by R.T. Kendall, Jack Taylor, and me, on the subject of Word, Spirit, Power. This is the same title as 50+ Conferences which we have held across North America and England. These three subjects have become the theme of our joint ministry. Jack, R.T., and I, are great admirers of the Chosen Book company and are pleased they are producing our work. The manuscript is finished but the book will not appear in the stores until May 2012. Pray for its success!

ANCIENT WARFARE AND ITS MESSAGE TO THE MODERN CHURCH Part 1

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:07:03 +0100

Originally published in November 2010...

When the Roman General Titus–son of Emperor Vespasian–laid siege to Jerusalem in 70 a.d. and brought Jewish nationalism to crushing defeat, one of the principle weapons he used against the city was a gigantic battering-ram named Nico. The title Nico was prophetic and in a very real sense speaks to the church today. The word means "conqueror". Nico is the same word used in the Greek text of Revelation 2:15, where Jesus speaks to the church in Pergamos of His hatred for the "doctrine of the Nicolaitans". The word Nicolaitan is a combination of the words, nico, i.e., "conqueror", and laos, meaning "laity", or people of the congregation The message of these combined words is obvious. In the only instance in Scripture where Jesus is described as hating something, it is used here. He hates the doctrines and deeds that enslave the saints. He wants the saints to be free and has fully purchased that freedom for them.

Ancient battering-rams, such as Nico, were usually assembled by invading armies at the battle site and consisted of immense wooden platforms overlaid with iron plates. This metal covering protected the scaffolding from enemy fire. The ram itself consisted of a huge log, suspended horizontally by chains, that could be swung back and forth by squadrons of men holding onto ropes below. As the huge butt-end struck the wall and bounced back, the men maintained a rhythm much like the pendulum of a clock. The slamming of the ram against individual stones was important, but of equal value was the fact that the constant thudding set up a vibration that affected the molecular structure of the whole wall. Though unknown to the Romans, they employed a principle of physics which would not be identified until much later times. It is this: Energy stored in the log by the "rhythm of input" was transferred into the wall at the instant of impact. This sudden impact overcame what is known as the "moment of inertia" in the stone.

Some of the stones in Jerusalem's walls weighed 570 tons, were forty-five feet long, fifteen feet wide, and twelve feet high. The fact that stones like these were dismantled and pushed aside by the Roman Army helps us realize the tremendous energy that was released by the battering-ram. Ultimately, it was battering-rams like Nico, mere wooden scaffolds supporting ordinary logs, manned by teams of soldiers, empowered by a principle of physics, that penetrated Jerusalem's walls and brought the city to defeat. Many of the towers which Titus erected against the walls of Jerusalem were over seventy-five feet tall. Some even had wheels and were portable. Such was the ingenuity of ancient warfare; Rome conquered because of its overwhelming military superiority. When the Jewish War was over, not one Temple block was left standing upon another. Titus dismantled everything. This was precisely what Jesus had foretold would happen. Matthew 24:2.

The fact that Jerusalem's stones were larger, heavier, and stronger, than the battering-ram, did not alter the fact that they still had to move. Darkness cannot resist light, so the stationary rock wall could not resist the movement of the log. Identically, when the authority of Scripture, spoken by a believing disciple, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, is brought against a demonic stronghold, there is an immediate effect. Hell may pretend that it has not happened but inwardly it knows it has. Best of all, the kingdom of darkness panics with the knowledge of the attack. If the saints proceed in faith, believing what their eyes cannot see, and do not quit the battle early, they will win. When believers follow God's battle plans it is impossible for them to lose. These principles of spiritual warfare are clearly taught in the Scripture. Initially, in the log's striking the stone, it appeared that nothing happened. That, however, was not the case; mighty things took place. Though unseen, the energy in the log instantly transferred into the stone. This is the same pattern which frequently occurs in the realm of spiritual warfare.

Hear this carefully: The power of the Holy Spirit is often transferred through the “laying -on-of-hands” in such shattering force that a demonic stronghold is instantly jarred to its center. I have personally seen suicidals, alcoholics, drug addicts, homosexuals, others, be instantly set free by the Holy Spirit’s power coming through this ministry. Jesus taught it and honors obedience to it.All questions regarding the “Seat of Power” were answered by Jesus with His declaration that "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19,20. The sincere Bible student will gladly acknowledge that Jesus not only occupies the Throne of Kingdom Authority but that He also intended that all nations be taught "all things" which He had given the first disciples. Doctrinally speaking, there is no such thing as an apostolic church and a post-apostolic church with different Scripture, different authority, different rules, different expectations, etc., etc. Not so! Jesus established one Church, gave it one Bible, and sent it forth with one Great Commission. Regardless of the age or nation there is simply the "church", the "gospel", and the "power".

Part of the authority which Jesus gave to the church is the power to cast out demons. The Kingdom of God, with its equipment of the Holy Spirit, Scripture, angels, and believing disciples, is the only instrument God has ordained to exercise dominion over the devil. This is where the example of Titus' battering-ram involves us. There is an exact parallel between the church's use of its' spiritual power and the physical weaponry used by Rome. The similarities between spiritual war and carnal war are so apparent that it should not surprise us that ancient battle procedures are exactly re-expressed in the Bible's instructions for the church.

1) We are soldiers II Timothy 2:3,4.
2) We have armor       Ephesians 6:11-13.
3) We are at war          II Corinthians 10:3.
4) We must fight          I Timothy 6:12.
5) There is a battle       I Corinthians 14:8.
6) Satan is the enemy Luke 10:l9.

When Jesus said that the gates of Hell would not resist the attack of the church, Matthew 16:18, He was referring to the battering-ram principle. The church is to pound the gates of Hell relentlessly until it breaks through. Under no circumstances did Jesus imply that the church was to hide in a bunker until the war was over. Never! Quite the contrary. This same battle-plan was identified when Moses led Israel against their enemy, the giants of Anak. He told Israel: "Therefore understand today that the Lord your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. (1) He will destroy them and (2) bring them down before you; (3) so you shall drive them out (4) and destroy them quickly " Though it is not apparent in most of our English translations, the Hebrew language uses two different words regarding God’s destruction and Israel’s destruction. In referring to God, the word means a total annihilation of the enemy's presence and power; the second denotes a “clean-up” operation of what the first has accomplished. We have this exact parallel in the New Testament. Jesus defeated Satan at the Cross when He “spoiled principalities and powers”, Colossians 2:15, and when He later said “These signs shall follow those who believe. In my Name they shall cast out demons ...” Matthew 16:17. As with ancient Israel in its war, the church is to "drive them out and destroy them quickly". We are to attack the devil’s strongholds and send demons to the “dry places”. Luke 11:24. The most essential truth for the believer is this: "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." I John 4:4.

To the natural eye, the world-system may seem impenetrable by the artillery of the Kingdom of God. But that is not the case. We have weapons that draw upon a synergistic power with the Holy Spirit that cannot be stopped. The only thing that interferes with the saint's victory is their refusal to take hold of the ropes. Believers are the soldiers. The battering-ram is the word of God. The power that vibrates the wall, loosens the stones, and penetrates the domain of the Prince of Darkness, is the Holy Spirit. But it takes all of us working together harmoniously for the task to be accomplished. We are "workers together with Christ." II Corinthians 6:1. We must be willing to fight singly and/or corporately.

When Paul wrote the Romans that "We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us", he used the word "nico"–but in an intensified form. According to Paul, we are not merely "conquerors"; not at all. The Apostle used the word huper-nikao, which you may recognize as hyper-conquerors. We can go beyond what ordinary conquerors do. In the book of Revelation when John saw Jesus coming upon a white horse "conquering and to conquer", he also saw Him as the doubly-strong Niko and used the word twice.

Many believers become disheartened in spiritual warfare because most have experienced numerous failures in themselves. There is a primary reason for that failure: We must fight the Tempter–not just the temptation. We resist sin at its source; not just its after-effect. As a result numerous Christians have never seen the "demonstration of the Spirit and of power" in a visible, public way. I Corinthians 2:4. With that discouragement pressing upon them they look at the 570 ton stone “inside their heads” and say, "It can't be moved. My problem is too big to be helped." Discouraged, they surrender the effort. With that attitude it is impossible for them to grab the rope in faith and begin swinging. Please hear this point carefully: These people did not realize that the "stone in their head" was affected by the first blow. Though unseen, the demonic super-structure was shaken and began to crack when the initial shock was applied.

It was an identical circumstance in the Old Testament when Joshua brought Jericho to crashing defeat. The walls did not fall until the seventh day. What was successfully begun on the first day was not accomplished until the last. So it is with us. "We reap in due season if we faint not." Galatians 6:9. When Israel placed God's battering-ram, i.e, the power of the Holy Spirit, against the walls of Jericho, the city was compelled to fall–even though that did not occur until the end of a week. But ultimately, the wall had no other choice. It had to fall. The principle is still true today. Do not give up. Continue the pounding! Admittedly, the task is a large one. This is especially true in the effort of bringing our own minds into submission to the truth of Scripture. Our mental walls are too thick, too old, too wrapped in religious bondage for them to surrender easily. Only as the authority of prayer and the Word of God are applied in an unceasing, merciless pounding, will the opposition begin to crack and fall apart. We must make a careful distinction at this point, however: The attack is never against another person, no matter how wrong they are. We attack the spirit which is controlling them or ourselves. Before his enlightenment, Martin Luther beat himself with metal-laced whips in the attempt to gain holiness. The effort was totally wasted.

Under no circumstances do we "wrestle against flesh and blood ..." Ephesians 6:12.

An important part of the battering-ram’s message to us is this: It was the unison of the soldiers pulling on the ropes that gave them power far beyond their individual strength. Again, Jesus enlarged upon this spiritual principle when He said, "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven." Matthew 18:19. The word "agree" could also be translated "symphonize", that is, through synchronized agreement, believers are able to produce an intensified effect which in praying or working singly they could not achieve. It takes more than one flute, one violin, or one drum, to make an orchestra. Symphonies can be performed only by the full compliment of instruments. So it is with the church. Each believer must fill his assigned role.

Strangely, the world seems able to grasp a spiritual principle for its carnal use more quickly than the saints grasp the same concept for its scriptural use. This is a situation which the church absolutely must correct. We are not meant to be lonely flutes playing our solitary tunes. It is group-prayer and group-warfare that wins. The life-power can function only through a complete body; not through separated parts. Singly and alone, we are no match for the devil's battle-plan. Private praying is important and vital, yes, but wars are won by armies, not by isolated soldiers.

While there are many other factors which worked together for Titus' ruinous defeat of Jerusalem, one of them very definitely was that his soldiers worked rhythmically with each other. There was no tolerance for disharmony in the ranks of Roman Legions. Identically so today, most of the failure in the current church is traceable directly to our fool-heartedly pulling on God's rope according to our own denominational ambitions and not according to the rhythm of the Holy Spirit. A town with ten churches usually has ten competitors for places on the rope with each jerking in the opposite direction from the other. Consequently, nothing is accomplished in the real task of breaking through the devil's defenses and converting the town. It was in this very context of which Jesus spoke: "He who does not gather with me scatters abroad." Matthew 12:30. I absolutely believe that these principles are essential before the church can move effectively into its worldwide role of spiritual warfare. Isaac Watts, English hymn writer, born 1674, expressed the church’s “Call To Arms” in this way:

Thy saints in all this Glorious War,
Shall conquer though they die!
They see the triumph from afar,
And seize it with their eye.

When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all Thine armies shine,
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be thine!

Amen!

Papa Charles, Congratulations on your 80 birthday and 60 years of ordained ministry! I will never forget the first time we met. On May 23,2008, at the request of a friend, I attended a Friday night service during your Sons In Ministry Conference, Boca Raton, Florida. I had never been to a full-gospel meeting before and had no idea what to expect. In the middle of your message you called me up for prayer. My Marine Corps training had taught me Proper, Prior, Planning, Prevents, Poor, Performance and I was reluctant to come forward. However, the same Marine Corps training also taught me to Improvise, Adapt & Overcome. So I went forward.

You laid hands on me and began to pray for me. I distinctly remember the electrical charge that came into my body and how hard my heart began to pound. I had no idea what was happening to me and I ended up on the floor. I experienced the most wonderful closeness with Jesus I had ever known. I now know I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Praise God! I remember telling you at the end of the meeting, “You have a friend for life, you’re never going to get rid of me”. I also remember the look on your face as you said to me, “I welcome the challenge”. You took me under your wing and I will always be at your side. I Love You Papa.

Sergeant Larry Castelli,
West Palm Beach Police
SWAT Team

Since this writing, Larry has retired from the Police Department and become my local assistant and traveling partner. CC

MY 80th BIRTHDAY:
I celebrated a few weeks early by hiking my favorite trail on Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia. This was at Cloudland Canyon State Park. I hiked this trail on my 60th, 70th, 80th birthdays, and–God willing–hope to do it again on my 90th. My wife, Laurie, and I had our first date at this park nearly 60 years ago–February 22, 1951. It has been a favorite site for me ever since. My health is good, my energy excellent, and the Holy Spirit’s anointing the best it has ever been! Hallelujah!

ARE YOU A HORSE OR A MULE? One horse can sled-pull 1,000 pounds. Two horses can pull 6,000 pounds. By cooperating with another, each horse increases his own out-put 300%. Larger teams produce accelerated power. 85% of all results, good or bad, come from the group-system. They do not come from individual effort. God's principle declares that one believer shall "chase a thousand ... two put ten thousand to flight." Deuteronomy 32:30. The application of this precept to the church is awesome. For this reason Jesus prayed that His disciples "May be one, as You Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." John 17:21. Christians in agreement have the potential of astonishing power. In that unity, two things happen:1. We become a "restorer of the breach" to separated Christians. 2. The power-potential in our own ministry is increased a thousand-fold. Practice what Jesus taught: "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35. Become the horse that sled-pulls with others; the Kingdom has enough balking mules.

Charles

GOD’S “INTELLIGENT DESIGN” —OR. EVOLUTION’S NON-INTELLIGENT ACCIDENT

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:06:53 +0100

Originally published in October 2010...

Each square inch of your skin contains approximately 35 miles of nerves. An adult body contains 75,000 miles of blood vessels, serving more than 60 billion body cells. Some vessels are so microscopically small that only one blood cell at the time can squeeze through. If all of your blood vessels could be cut open and laid side by side they would cover an area the size of a football field. During its 120 day life-span, each blood cell makes about 75,000 round trips from the heart to other parts of the body. That is a total distance of approximately 5 billion, 635 million miles traveled in its lifetime. Each cell simultaneously brings nutrients and oxygen to the body while removing toxins. In a quiet room, cup your hands tightly over your ears–like you have done with a sea shell at the beach–and listen to the thunder of blood rushing through your body. That is literally the ocean-roar of life racing through you. Friction would instantly burn through your veins and arteries were it not for the protective coating of cholesterol lining their inner walls.

At the moment of conception, the invisible male sperm invades the almost-invisible female ovum and development of the billions of components listed above are perfectly–and explosively--initiated. We have nothing else in Creation with which to compare such massive and flawless organization of functioning parts. For example, in that miraculous event, millions of optic nerves connecting eyes to brain and brain to eyes begin their journey toward each other. At the moment of birth 280 days later all systems climax simultaneously.

David exclaimed: "For you have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them." Psalm 139:13-16.

Oh, fools! Had we eyes to see,

Into the realm of microscopic things;

To step inside the spider's egg,

With its own suns and galaxies,

Here we'd behold Creation in full display

And the flawless pearl of system find,

That touches every insect, leaf, or stone,

With the same brush-stroke of design.

Astonishment would seize our breath,

Silence us as quiet as death,

To behold Creation's chartless realm,

Compressed inside the tiniest cell.

But more than that, to understand

God’s whole in intent in nature

Is inscribed in every cell of man.
CCC

If for a split-second’s time you could peak into the cell-formation and organizing of body parts in a human baby in the womb, you would see lightening-speed explosions blasting simultaneously inwardly and outwardly in the development of bones, brain, blood, organs, skin, personality, intellect, talents, etc., and all other components. Ecclesiastes 11:5. I Corinthians 12:18.

Try to imagine a dynamite fuze reaching all the way from Boston to Miami--exploding every building in its non-stop path. What occurs in the development of a single human being involves a thousand times more separate parts than there are buildings between New England and Florida. If that baby is male, within four weeks after conception, all the quadrillions of sperm his body will ever produce will already be formed in his tiny being. Think of it! From a single ovum and a single sperm 280 days later emerges a functioning human being possessing an intellect capable of sending rocket ships into outer space.

Each of those minuscule sperm--containing that embryonic baby boy’s DNA--holds more than 3 billion genetic codes. If you were to spend 8 hours a day looking at each code for one second, it would take two years. If the DNA in that baby’s human cells could be unraveled and strung end to end, it would reach from earth to the sun, round trip, 400 times. Accidental evolution? Hardly. His entire body could be reconstructed from information stored in just one of his brain-stem cells; these are part of sixty billion more cells that compose his total being. The sound of his laughter, the curve of his eyelash, talents and attitudes he inherited from his grandparents are all perfectly recorded. At conception, the genetic code from mother and father merged into an ideal arrangement for the creation of his totally new, unique being. Billions and billions of components perfectly joined.

Be aware that there are more than 100 million different animal and plant specie on planet earth. Of some specie, there may be hundreds of billions of individuals. Each has its own distinctive genetic code. In the presence of overwhelming evidence of man's miraculous design, the claim of evolution becomes totally absurd.

Looking at yourself for a moment: Your brain contains as many synapsis as there are stars in existence. The synapse is the point of contact between neurons, by which nerve impulses are successfully transmitted through the brain. After birth, a baby’s brain continues to expand at the rate of 10,000 new synapses per second. Inside your head, you have a composite of total creation. If all five and one-half billion people on earth were talking on eighteen telephone at the same time, it would almost correspond to the electrical traffic handled by the brain. The corpus callosum tissue separating the two hemispheres of the brain contain as many connections as every telephone line in America. To cut through the corpus callosum of one human being would be equivalent to cutting every telephone line in the U.S. Next time you are outside looking at the stars realize that Creation's vastness goes just that far inside of you.

One much-disputed theory of science claims that the most basic particle of the sub-atomic world, beyond which nothing can be reduced, is “sound.” True or not, we know that Creation came into being when God spoke and sound was released. In the early 1990's one of Germany's most influential scientific magazines, GEO, published an article which publicly challenged the validity of Darwin's theory of evolution. The announcement which startled scientific minds around the world, made the following statement: "Gradual evolution by natural selection, the key element of Darwin's theory, no longer stands up to the latest scientific results..." In referring to the origin of the Universe, the article also included this statement: "The idea of a preconceived plan instead of a succession of coincidences suggests itself."

Victor Hugo said, “Where the telescope ends the microscope begins. Which of the two has the grander view?” Nearly 60 years ago I came across a poem by Atlanta author, Ernest Hartsock, whose insight grabbed me and never turned loose. He said:

Ages of earth are in me; I am made

Of time's immortal matter, which is dust;

I am old atoms in a new parade,

I am iron, miracled from rust.

This that is I, has not been I forever;

Once it was pearl or spider, flame or fly.

Nature's destination is endeavor,

There is no dust beauty will let die."

The most shocking scientific discovery about the Universe came in 1912 at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, when Vesto Melvin Slipher, an American astronomer, discovered that approximately a dozen galaxies were moving away from the earth at speeds of a million miles an hour. It wasn’t until years later that Edwin Hubble, another astronomer, analyzed the implication and formulated a new theory about the earth's origin. According to Hubble, Creation had suddenly exploded from a central point from which the galaxies were still outwardly expanding. That point of beginning, they explained, was no larger than the period at the end of a sentence (.) This was distressing news to scientists. Hubble’s discovery was quickly dubbed the “Big Bang” theory.

One of the last minds to accept the "Big Bang" and by far the most Influential, was Albert Einstein. Einstein rejected the theory because "it implied that Creation had a beginning." As a Jew, he believed in God, accepted Jesus as Messiah, but strangely rejected the idea of God as Creator. In 1930, however, Einstein visited the Mount Wilson Observatory in Pasadena, California, looked at the evidence through the giant, 100 inch telescope and admitted the proof was there: The Universe had indeed originated in a single moment and everything was still flying outwardly from that incredible blast.

The “Big Bang” was not an accidental, uncontrolled, cosmological firecracker. As the physicist Freeman Dyson put it, the universe seemed to be acting in anticipation for the appearance of mankind. In fact, leading evolutionists, such as Dobzhansky and others have agreed that there has not been enough time for mankind to have assembled spontaneously within the time span of our universe.” (Both Italics mine) Dr. David Block, a Messianic Jewish believer, is Professor of Applied Mathematics and Astronomy at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. Besides two Bachelor degrees, Dr. Block holds a Master of Science in relativistic astrophysics and a Doctor of Philosophy in Astronomy. He is a world-renowned scientist, a consultant at the European Southern Observatory near Munich, West Germany, and the Institute of Astronomy, University of Hawaii. Relative to the reconciliation of Bible and science, he said “To the person who is seriously seeking, I would say, read the gospels from an objective pont of view, as Albert Einstein did. As Isaac Newton did.”

The next question with which the scientists had to grapple was, "What came before the beginning?" "Who was the Prime Mover?" To this, a British Scientist, Edward Milne, gave the reply, "The first cause of the Universe is left for the reader to insert. But our picture is incomplete without Him."

To my satisfaction, Hubble's explanation is the best, non-theological explanation of Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth ..."

In the middle 1970's, leading astronomers in England reinforced the theory when they announced they had discovered the galaxies farthest removed from the center point of that "explosion.” These galaxies were actually the "edge" of the Universe. The British scientists went on to make a mind-boggling statement: "Beyond these galaxies, nothing exists; not even space." At that point, human intelligence proceeds no farther. As one scientist put it, "We are waiting for someone to step out of the crowd and tell us what it all means." As to the time and place of that “Big Bang” we find both in the opening verse of the Bible: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” When God said, “Light be!,” light was!

In qualifying its position against Darwin's long-accepted claim the GEO article went on to explain That the “chief witness" in support of evolution, a fossil of the Archaeopteryx, or a bird-like animal claimed to be the missing link, has “lost its authenticity." In referring to the origin of the Universe, the article also included this statement: "The idea of a preconceived plan instead of a succession of coincidences suggests itself."

What the scientists are saying is that the mathematical perfection in creation excludes the idea of accidental evolution; rather, they are forced to admit that the Universe resulted from a “preconceived plan.” Whether we are theologians or scientists, we can prove by unwavering mathematical law that our universe was designed by engineering Intelligence. For example, take ten pennies and number them one to ten. Put them in your pocket and shuffle them. Mathematically, your chance of drawing out number one on the first draw is one in ten. Drawing out one and two in succession becomes one in 100. To draw out one, two, and three, in perfect order, your chance is one in one thousand. By fixed, mathematical law, your chance of drawing out all ten pennies in uninterrupted order is one in ten billion. These are the odds of chance. Simply stated, it can't be done. Now apply that law of chance to the multiplied billions of related complexities that are necessary for life to exist on our planet.

In recent years, the Hubble Telescope, named for Edwin and stationed in space was given a unique assignment. It was told to select a spot with the least density of stars and photograph it. The site chosen was equivalent in size to a grain of sand held between a man's finger tips at arm's length. What the telescope photographed through that tiny, minuscule window was breath-taking: In distances beyond comprehension, it showed stratum after stratum of uncountable galaxies disappearing into the distance. If such a panorama lies behind a pin-prick sized view, how great is the power that exploded the rest of it into being? More wonderfully, how great is the Creator who designed it!

Robert Jastrow, in the New York Times Magazine, years ago revealed more of the scientists quandary when he wrote, "Consider the immensity of the problem. Science has proved that the Universe exploded into being at a certain moment. It then asks, "What cause produced this effect? Who or what put the matter and energy into the Universe? Was the Universe created out of nothing, or was it gathered together out of pre-existing materials?" And science cannot answer these questions. Jastrow continues, "Now we would like to pursue that inquiry further back in time, but the barrier seems insurmountable. For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as be pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries."

When Einstein was asked by a reporter if he accepted the historical existence of Jesus, he replied, “Unquestionably! No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life. I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene.”

Anthony Flew, an 81 year old British atheist-philosopher who for more than 50 years avidly denounced God, creationism, and Christianity--in defense of Darwin’s theory of evolution--has declared he is now a believer in God. His acknowledgment has staggered the scientific community. Flew is the author of scores of books and academic articles opposing God’s existence, including “Atheistic Humanism” and “Darwinian Evolution.” Renouncing his own writings, he now endorses science’s Intelligent Design Principle, “IDP,” more technically is known as the Anthropic Cosmological Principle, as the explanation for the origin of the Universe. That intelligent designer is God. This is now Flew’s position.* Flew explained, “Darwin himself, in the fourteenth chapter of The Origin of Species, pointed out that his whole argument began with a Being which already possessed reproductive powers.” This is the kind of evidence that converted Antony Flew.

But what is the Christian view of the "Big-Bang"? Good Christians disagree and while I will not argue the point with anyone, I personally believe it is the most profound penetration which science has yet made into the creative-works of God. Even though the Bible gives us no more clue than “God said ’Light be! ... Let the dry land appear,’” it is easy to believe that He Himself is the center point of that explosion. Probably, His Throne occupies the "O" degree from which everything shot outward. He is the "Original Light" from whom all other light sprang. But where does this idea of a preconceived plan" take us? We are back at Genesis I: Even so, we must remember that "the world by wisdom, knows not God." Saving faith will never come through scientific discovery. Science can open the door of inquiry; but only when that inquiry leads to the person of Jesus by whom the Father “made the worlds" can saving faith result. The verse quoted above goes on to say that “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believed." Believe!

ALBERT EINSTEIN’S VIEW OF JESUS. Albert Einstein probably possessed the greatest mind of the past millennium. As a Jew, Einstein had distinct views on Jesus, the New Testament, and the Church. Below is a clip of an interview from the Saturday Evening Post, October 26, 1929: As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene. Have you read Emil Ludwig’s book on Jesus? Emil Ludwig’s Jesus is shallow. Jesus is too colossal for the pen of phrasemongers, however artful. No man can dispose of Christianity with a bon mot [a witty remark]. You accept the historical existence of Jesus? Unquestionably! No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life.”

MY 80th BIRTHDAY! Joshua 14:11-12. “I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain!” Hallelujah! To celebrate, I will hike my favorite mountain trail alone on Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia. I did this on my 60th and 70th birthdays. If the Lord does not come before my 90th birthday I will hike it again then! To God be the glory!

Chas

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