

Ark House Press

PO Box 1722, Port Orchard, WA 98366 USA

PO Box 1321, Mona Vale NSW 1660 Australia

PO Box 318 334, West Harbour, Auckland 0661 New Zealand

arkhousepress.com

© Pastor Leslie Barnett 2018

No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any way without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations for articles and reviews.

Cataloguing in Publication Data:

Title: Tongues on Fire

ISBN: 9780648371939

Subjects: Christian Living; Holy Spirit;

Other Authors/Contributors: Barnett, Pastor Leslie

Design by initiateagency.com
OVERVIEW

Tongues on Fire are a must-read for those who want to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the gift of speaking in tongues. Authored by Pastor Leslie Barnett who writes from experience having been involved in the 1970s "New Prophecy Movement"

Pastor Barnett's story begins with 18th century evangelist John Wesley, who paid heed to visions and supernatural encounters that occurred in the lives of Methodists of his day. Throughout his life he gathered stories of how God was revealing Himself in the lives of His people, and gave much thought to their meaning.

The author explains; that when the Holy Spirit was being poured out with the speaking of tongues families were reunited, long-severed friendships reconciled and hearts flowed together in true fellowship in the Lord. And even more than that, along with the spirit of unity and love came the spirit of sacrifice and the wondrous spirit of liberty.

"But in today's modern church tongues is considered unnecessary leaving many to question whether or not Mark 16:17 (the hallmarks to Pentecostalism) should be deemed 'spurious' in many modern Bibles. This has led to a noticeable decline in spiritual gifts among Pentecostal and charismatic worship services"— says Pastor Barnett.

Leslie explains how the New Apostolic Reform movement is causing a schism within the Assemblies of God churches prompting concern that this may emulate the second century Montanist movement when prophecy became presumptuous by self appointed apostles, prophets, and prophetesses.

Pastor Barnett exposes many who claim to be God's anointed and dismisses the notion that a third wave outpouring of the Holy Spirit is very much alive due to the many ethical problems facing the Pentecostal church in our day.

To sum up the problem Leslie had this to say:

"The very soul of Christ's church, embodied in prophetic utterances, discernment, worship, healing, deliverance, and hospitality has slowly diminished leaving a lifeless institutionalised religion with highly paid works of men." (2 Timothy 3: 1-3).

Of special interest is chapter seventeen were Pastor Barnett provides a spiritual explanation as to why Brett Peter Cowen was involved in one of Australia's most horrendous crimes against Daniel Morcombe and how it may have been avoided. And in chapter twenty five how a couple survived 9/11 by obeying God rather than man.

Last but not least is chapter thirty three which is dedicated to "the Mysterious Messengers"-the angels of God, who have played a vital role in producing this work.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

Dear brethren, welcome to the world of apologetics. By choosing this publication you must be a person who is searching for answers.

I commend you for your curiosity and openness in desiring to learn more about the one true God whom you serve.

I pray that that in reading this book your eyes will be open and your ears attuned in unveiling of the mysteries of the Godhead bodily.

The King James Version of Mathew 13:16 puts it nicely; "But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear".

Disclaimer:

Regardless of whether you are an advocate or a critic of Pentecostalism my intention in writing this book isn't to judge or condemn any religion by exposing what I believe to be theological errors. On the contrary, I have no animosity toward my fellow Christians, only gratitude for the opportunity to learn from their many diverse tenets.

Pastor: Leslie Barnett.

"Thank you, Pastor Leslie, for the encouragement and teaching on true prayer. Praying without ceasing --some days I seem to be doing that, as you describe."

—Christina, of Adelaide SA Australia.

"The church is a training ground? -It sure is!" Pastor Barnett I am going to read your book a second time. I personally am being led deeper into the Spirit of Pentecost. I can't explain this to family and friends. Your book has given me much to think over. I attend an AOG megachurch. But where has their public acknowledgement of the ministry of the Spirit gone?"

—Pastor Dan, of Minnesota USA.

"I love the prayer lines—it is wonderful to pray, occasionally in tongues, with anonymous brothers and sisters in Christ."

—Peter, of Sydney Australia.
Contents

Chapter 1 Technology the Age of Knowledge

Chapter 2 Can the Church Ever Unite?

Chapter 3 Tongues – The Sign of a Believer

Chapter 4 What Cessationists Say About Tongues

Chapter 5 Are Apostles / Prophets Relevant to the Church?

Chapter 6 Seven Facts about the New Prophecy Experience

Chapter 7 Codex Sinaiticus Denies Tongues

Chapter 8 Is Speaking in Tongues Demonic?

Chapter 9 The Spiritual Awakening

Chapter 10 God's Full Measure Flourished

Chapter 11 Are Anointed Gifts Irrevocable?

Chapter 12 Who are Wolves in Sheeps Clothing

Chapter 13 Where is the Perfect Church?

Chapter 14 Institutionalised Church Vs. Home Church

Chapter 15 Testing the Spirits

Chapter 16 Can a Church Become Contaminated?

Chapter 17 Using the Gift of Discernment

Chapter 18 Were is the Third Wave Outpouring?

Chapter 19 The Counterfeit Tongue

Chapter 20 Who Needs God When You Have Money!

Chapter 21 Televangelists are Celebrities

Chapter 22 Can the Pulpit be Questioned?

Chapter 23 Paper Not People

Chapter 24 Is Suffering a Christian Virtue?

Chapter 25 Teachers Vs Facilitators

Chapter 26 Can a Christian Suffer from Anxiety?

Chapter 27 Does God Have a Sense of Humour?

Chapter 28 Touch Me Not!

Chapter 29 Can the Body of Christ Suffer?

Chapter 30 Humility Builds Faith

Chapter 31 How should a Christian Tithe?

Chapter 32 Healing and Deliverance

Chapter 33 My Encounter with an Angel

Chapter 34 Conclusion

CHAPTER 1

Technology the Age of Knowledge

Dear brethren, would you not agree that in this technological age of knowledge and enlightenment, ignorance can be no excuse for anyone who is literate? (Ephesians 5:7)

As in keeping with the prophecy in Daniel 12:4, starting at Pentecost 33 CE man's understanding of scripture began to increase. Church historians tell us that early church fathers such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, Eusebius, Chrysostom of Constantinople and Augustine of Hippo were among many who experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit speaking in tongues in accordance with 1 Corinthians 14. But by the end of the fifth century due to schism within the church these gifts waned. It was during this period of time that due to the lack of scholarship, textual flaws in the reproductive process of the original text lead to erroneous interpretations which continued on into the medieval period. Many of these errors became dogmas rendered from the apocrypha and the infamous Alexandrian text which, according to church law, were only available to authorized persons.

John Wycliffe defied Catholic law.

But in the thirteenth century John Wycliffe defied Catholic law by making copies of church documents. With the help of his followers, called the Lollards, his assistant, Purvey and many other faithful scribes, Wycliffe produced dozens of English manuscript copies of the scriptures. They were translated from the Latin Vulgate, which was the only source text available to Wycliffe at the time. The Pope was so infuriated by his translation of the Bible into English, that he ordered his bones to be dug-up, crushed, and scattered in the river forty-four years after Wycliffe's death!

Not long after Wycliffe came John Hus who actively preached that people should be permitted to read the Bible in their own language in opposition to the edict of the Roman Catholic Church that threatened anyone who possessed a non-Latin Bible with execution. Not surprisingly Hus was burned at the stake in 1415, with Wycliffe's manuscript Bibles used as kindling. The last words of John Hus were: "In 100 years, God will raise up a man whose calls for reform cannot be suppressed."

Uncannily just over a century later, in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses of Contention (a list of 95 issues of heretical theology and crimes of the Roman Catholic Church) into the church door at Wittenberg. Martin Luther went on to be the first person to translate and publish the Bible in the commonly-spoken language of the German people.

Freedom to study, evaluate and compare faiths.

Today more than any other time in the history of the church you can study, evaluate and compare your traditional faith to that of patristic documents and unadulterated Bible text, which have been for decades preserved in God's time capsule and now revealed in these –our last days. It simply amazes me to think that just by a few clicks of a mouse original commentaries from early church fathers can be seen and read free from persecution from priestly nobles who for so long zealously guarded it under their own law. But the Word of God needs revelation in understanding which can only come through a "New Prophecy" experience,-which is why the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues is so vital to today's modern church.

CHAPTER 2

Can the Church Ever Unite?

The reality we can no longer ignore is that there is disunity among God's people, who radically defend their denominational traditions, without discerning the political agenda that has been behind the issue for generations. In fact, forgery of early Christian documents has a long and distinguished history; even within orthodox circles there was great debate regarding which manuscripts to include or exclude in scripture. And to add further confusion, certain word meanings were lost in translation from Hebrew to Arabic and Latin to Greek Koine.

Even the Vulgate written by Jerome contained errors that were brought to the attention of Alcuin who under direction of the emperor Charlemagne A.D. 799 was to secure a more pure version in the Latin tongue.

Nevertheless, despite all obstacles, during the period from 1604 -1611 fifty of the most notable scholars were able to agree on one authorized standard Bible-the King James Version rendered from the "Textus Receptus" (Latin for "Received Text").

This received text is basically a Greek New Testament that provided the textual base for the vernacular translations of the Reformation Period and was translated into the languages of the people to whom the message was given. It was a printed text created in the 15th century to fill the need for a textually accurate Greek New Testament. Both Luther and Tyndale translated the Scriptures into their vernacular languages using the same basic Greek text. Luther used the second edition of the Erasmus New Testament, and Tyndale utilized the third edition. The King James Version was read by most Bible- believing Christians down through the centuries where hidden truths lay waiting for the most discerning Christian.

One such truth is the gift of tongues, which, according to Mark 16:17 is the sign of a true believer. "And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues" (NRSV).

CHAPTER 3

Tongues – The Sign of a Believer

Those who have an eye and ear for discernment regard this heavenly language as a call to the church to "arise and receive the Pentecostal clothing of the Spirit"— which is her birthright and necessary for unity in the body of Christ.

But Satan, who is fully aware of this, has desperately tried to quench the Spirit by excluding Mark 16:9-20 from God's inspired Word. But before I explain why, let us review the subject at hand by first reading 1 Corinthians 12:10 which says:

"To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues" (KJV).

Dear brethren, rather than say two different "types" of tongues — it would be better understood as two distinct "operations" of tongues.

Now let us examine how these two operations of tongues differ.

1. The first initial tongue is usually after baptism and is coined "the prayer tongue." Paul tells us that this tongue is not a message to the church, but between himself and his heavenly Father. 1 Corinthians 14:2 says this: "For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit." And in verse 4: "If I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prays but my understanding is unfruitful" (NRSV).

2. The other tongue that Paul speaks of is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:27 which says this: "if anyone speaks in a tongue, two or at the most three should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret" (NIV). This tongue has been coined "the administrative tongue" which gives licence for one to interpret and discern. Read 1 Corinthians 14:11, 12:31.

How does one know they have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Everyone experiences the manifestation of the Holy Spirit differently. For me it is likened to vibrations from top to toe followed by a feeling of weightlessness and an uncontrollable sound coming from my lips. Some experience a feeling of butterflies rising up from within the stomach followed by a weakness in the knees and a lump in the throat.

I recall an incident in the 1970's when my pastor's twelve-year-old son was awakened from sleep with an uttered tongue that continued for hours. So this definitely rules out any subliminal influence as many sceptics claim. Besides, can millions of tongue-speaking Christians be delusional?

Unlike the prayer tongue, the 'administrative' tongue' relies on a discipline based on a good understanding of God's Word when interpreted and is used for the edification of the body of Christ. This gift according to Joel 2:28, is initiated by an imaginary process such as a dream or even a creative thought.

For instance: I recall one time being given an image of a bull being sacrificed on an altar by a priest who was cutting out the best pieces (fatty portions) to devotees who were totally disengaged. Within only a few seconds the Holy Spirit brought to mind the appropriate scriptures needed to discern the image hence, the result was as follows;

"To my people - Have I not said that I have chosen you among the many to be priests to present yourselves as living sacrifices without spot or blemish? Your sacrifice is not you're very best. I don't want a portion, a half or even a quarter but 100 percent otherwise none at all!"

Apparently God's message to His congregation—was the lack of wholeheartedness in their praise and worship. (1Coritheans 14:13 /Leviticus 3:3-5/Genesis 4:4/Romans 12:1)

Ask and you shall receive!

God has commissioned His pastors and the body of believers for the laying on of hands in order to receive all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This methodology first requires a confession of faith, and has tremendous power when used in one accord with like-minded believers in one place. (Acts 2:1) I recall in the seventies when the entire congregation joined hands in front of the altar praying together for a Christian brother to receive the gift of tongues. Acts 8:17 says:

"Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost" (KJV).

But unfortunately today's Pentecostalism finds the laying on of hands a bit disconcerting, even suggesting that tongues is not all that necessary in worship—no doubt an attitude that only grieves the Spirit, making His work less effective.

Please note that more information on tongues is addressed in chapter five under the heading 'Tongues Interpretation is a Priority.' But before going there, may I suggest you read this next chapter.

CHAPTER 4

What Cessationists Say About Tongues

Cessationism is the teaching that spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy and healing ceased with the apostolic age.

Cessationists teach that tongues were an intelligible foreign language spoken at Pentecost. But in today's Pentecostalism it's considered to be nothing but gibberish or mumbo jumbo.

In fact cessationists say that the only reason for tongues was because the early church included many foreigners who wouldn't have understood without tongues spoken in their languages.

Is this true?

I will endeavour to prove that the tongue spoken at Pentecost and the early church was unintelligible just as it is today. Also I will endeavour to dispel the myth that Paul spoke all foreign languages, especially Greek. More importantly, I will endeavour to prove that the only intelligible language used in the early church was Aramaic via the prophetic tongues of interpretation and discernment. Come now and let us reason together. (Isaiah 1:18)

Come let us reason;

Bible historians have noted that Paul spoke Aramaic, Hebrew and Latin but there is no evidence that he spoke fluent Greek. How so? We know that Paul was once a pious Pharisee, and like all religious Jews, had no need to learn Greek. In fact, according to the historian Josephus, Paul's dialect when preaching at Athens was not Greek but Aramaic to the Jews and Arameans who lived side by side. Mark 7:26 attests to this: "The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter" (NIV).

Dead Sea Scrolls Archaeologist Yigael Yadin also agrees with Josephus' testimony, pointing out that Aramaic was the spoken language of the common man at the time.

Granted, Acts 21:37 does say that Paul said to the tribunal, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek?" (Acts 21:37, ESV).

Though Paul was familiar with Greek, he was not fluent in it. For instance, when someone says to you: "Do you speak English?" you might answer: "Yes, just a little!"

The notion that Paul could speak all foreign languages including Greek stems from a very poor rendering of the Bible, International Standard Version of 1 Corinthians 14:18, which Say: "what Paul speaks of - is a "foreign language." But cessationists fail to realise that the foreign language in this scripture is a heavenly one. (Prayer tongue)

The apostle Paul affirms this in 1 Corinthians 14:2 saying:

"For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit (NIV).

Granted, at Pentecost there was neither a prayer tongue nor an administrative tongue. That was to be implemented via dreams and visions in the New Testament church following Pentecost. Nonetheless, according to Joel's prophecy the 120 participants did prophesey with many foreign languages. Why? To establish a new religious system for which a universal language was to be the first fruits of unification and equality.

Galatians 3:28 tells us that these "first fruits" consisted of Jews, Gentiles, slaves and noblemen -even women were considered equals when baptized into the one body and made to drink of the one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:13) This begs the question: if the universal language is the joining together the first fruits of God by the one spirit, why then foreign dialects?

Answer! To break down any prejudice that would hinder unity.

Consider this: Greeks, and Judeans, saw Galileans as uneducated and provincial. Since Jesus was from Galilee as were many of His disciples, one way to insult the group would have been to dismissively lump them together as "Galileans." This was a way of implying that they were a group of yokels. Because of the anti-Galilean prejudice among the religious fraternity, pious Jews would have been surprised to hear Jesus' disciples speaking, not as a Galileans, but in the highly esteemed (holy) language of Hebrew with such gusto and authority.

Some Pharisees who adamantly disagreed with one of their contemporaries Philo Judaeus that Moses revelation derived from Greek philosophy would have been dumfounded to hear themselves uttering Greek! The Bible tells us that in that instant many Jews were convicted of their prejudices. Acts 2:37 makes it clear:

"Now when they heard this, [the Jews] were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" (NRSV)

Were the many diverse languages at Pentecost understandable?

As previously mentioned the language used at Pentecost was to signify a universal brotherhood and as such never intended to be intelligible. But that doesn't mean to say that the many foreign dialects were not recognisable. In fact token languages were commonly used in that time period.

For example: Nazareth was a city in the region of Galilee, a popular trade route where people passed through from all other nations. This meant that Galilean tradespersons, namely fishermen, carpenters, wheelwrights and tent makers, needed to understand the basics of a wide variety of foreign languages in order to negotiate their services. Likewise, those of the 120 guests would also have been familiar with foreign dialects when trading their wares and purchasing food.

Consider this: As a musician I can best compare a "token language" to that of a musical arranger who writes the Greek bouzouki and the Indian Sitar into a single score knowing that these instruments would be recognisable by their distinctive melodic tones over and above the noise of cymbals clashing and drums pounding. In the same way, in the early hours at Pentecost when all 120 were in one accord, unique individual dialects could still be recognisable even amid the noise of what was described by onlookers as 'drunken behaviour!'

Let's be reasonable here; do you really think that such a large crowd could have an intelligible conversation amid so much noise and confusion? "I think not!"

A foreign language of revelation.

Peter stood up on the day of Pentecost and announced the fulfilment of a very important prophetic scripture quote: "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel!" (Acts 2:16)

What was this prophecy? Joel 2:28 says:

"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions" (NIV).

Interestingly enough, the prophet Joel mentioned four separate gifts; namely tongues prophecy, dreams and visions. Yet only tongues and prophecy had been manifested. As previously mentioned, the remaining gifts byway of interpretation and discernment through dreams and visions were forthcoming in the New Testament church beginning at Corinthians.

My church showed all the hallmarks of Pentecost.

Jesus is the same today as He was yesterday, which means that the spirit of Pentecost is still alive in today's church. How so? The church where I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, had, on more than one occasion, displayed all the hallmarks of Pentecost. During that remarkable time, not once did I hear any intelligible language other than through interpretation of tongues. There was one exception; a Chinese sister recognised her foreign dialect but could not make head or tail of what was said. And why is that? As we learned earlier,

"The tongues uttered are not of man but of the mysteries in the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 14:2)

Therefore based on sound reasoning, the teaching that speaking in tongues should be fully comprehensible as it was at Pentecost 33 CE is nonsensical.

Many sceptics say that tongues were only a sign for the unbeliever -yet Mark 16:18-20 says otherwise. Besides, could it be said that all 120 in the upper room were unbelievers? "I think not!" The only unbelievers were those onlookers who with disbelief were astounded by the fervency and display of signs and wonders which they could only describe as drunken behaviour. But my point being ; is that the reason for Pentecost was to usher in a new Church having its very own unique language that would communicate God's message to His church byway of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers" — Ephesians 4:11-13.

Did tongues cease when the Bible was complete?

Ponder this scripture:

"Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away" (1 Corinthians 13:8-10 KJV).

Dear brethren, the above scripture is a proof text used by cessationists to establish a tenet which teachers that tongues ceased when the Bible — "that being perfect had come!"

Let's be reasonable here; how can God's Word be perfect when mans interpretation is not!

Contrary to popular belief, the Bible isn't just a book full of wise instructions but an encrypted array of codes that relies on revelation to unravel its many mysteries.

In fact, the word "revelation" comes from the word "reveal"— which means the unfolding of God's sacred secrets.

The apostle Paul said: "I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:12: NLT).

To Simon Peter- Jesus said: "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven" (Mathew 16:17 NIV).

My point is this: for a Christian to understand the process of revelation, they have to be confident that the Bible is perfect. But don't hold your breath, because this will only happen when Jesus returns to earth in his glorified form as one who is perfect! (Mathew 24:27)

Please take note: Christendom teaches that prophecy is synonymous with a prophet and no longer applicable for today. But in this next chapter I will explain that a "prophet" as described by the largest Pentecostal organization in the world, is a manifold group of believer's who testify Gods prophetic Word with many gifts including tongues. (Ephesians 4:11-13 & Revelations 9:10)

CHAPTER 5

Are Apostles / Prophets Relevant to the Church?

This chapter is for those who have the gift of speaking in tongues but have since laid it to rest due to it being discouraged —leaving them to question; "where has the public acknowledgement of the ministry of the Spirit gone?"

Dear brethren, based on forty six years as a Pentecostal, I believe the reason for the decline of spiritual gifts in worship services is due in part to the influence of the "New Apostolic Reform movement" (NAR).

This revised form of Pentecostalism is causing a schism within the Assemblies of God churches prompting concern that it may emulate the second century Montanist movement when prophecy became presumptuous by self appointed apostles, prophets, and prophetesses.

But before continuing, it should be understood that the indifference between apostolic and non apostolic faiths is centered on Ephesians 4:11-12:

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (NKJV).

Discussion.

Pentecostals and charismatic's agree in principal to the fivefold gifts of service as outlined by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:11-12. Some have coined these gifts - "the ascension gifts" others refer to it as the "equipping ministries." Although that term is not mentioned in the Bible, according to the Word of God, that is the purpose for these five ministries. They are "for the equipping" of the believers (Ephesians 4:12; NASB), and many other versions recognize that "equip" or "equipping" is an excellent translation in this verse. The Greek word the NASB translates as "equipping" is katartismos (#2677), and it means "a process of adjustment that results in a complete preparedness" (Friberg Lexicon). Various Greek lexicons define it as "equipping, preparing, training, and perfecting."

Now here lies the problem!

Likened to the Latter Day Saints, some Pentecostals such as the New Apostolic Reform movement teaches that apostles and prophets hold office that exceeds the authority of senior pastors. Not so according to the teachings of the Assemblies of God. How so?

A manifesto regarding the position of apostles and prophets in today's Pentecostalism was read out to the General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God (International) August 6, 2001.

In brief, the AoG say that Ephesians 4:12 is more a manifold ministry than a fivefold one.

That is to say, Ephesians 4:12 gives to all saints the work of ministry: while 1 Corinthian 12:28-30 and Romans 12:6-8 provide aspects of ministry beyond the designations in Ephesians 4:11-12.

Therefore according to the AoG manifesto, the ministry of a "prophet" doesn't equate to a single person (as is the case with the NAR) but a profit-hood of believers who convey God's prophetic Word in speech, music or in deed hence, "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Revelations 9:10). And the ministry of apostleship is one of wisdom initiated by the gift of knowledge — and like that of a prophet, holds no official office. (1 Corinthians 12:8).

NAR vs. AoG Church governance.

The New Apostolic Reform movement has no formal structure but rather is by relational and voluntary alignment to apostles. In stark contrast, the Assemblies of God (AoG) recognizes ministers as certified, licensed or ordained. The work of district councils and the General Council is overseen by presbyters and superintendants and local churches appoint deacons from which the ministry of apostleship can be initiated. The AoG believes this practice is consistent with apostolic practice provided in the pastoral letters of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus.

"The pastoral letters do not make provision for the appointment of apostles or prophets, nor does the Book of Acts indicate that provision, for such was given in the churches established on the missionary journeys"— says the manifesto.

Apostles were elders.

The Assemblies of God believes that the apostles appointed were elders (Acts 14:23).

They say: "At the conclusion of the missionary journeys, Paul met with the elders of the Ephesian church (Acts 20:17-38). Clearly, elders are also given the functions of bishop (overseer) and shepherd (pastor) (Acts 20:28: 1 Peter 5:2) Thus, within the AoG, persons are not recognized by the title of apostle or prophet."

The AoG stress that titles are not as important as ministry itself.

"Too often a title is worn in an attitude of carnal pride. The title does not make the person of the ministry rather; the person with ministry makes the title meaningful. Jesus explicitly warned His disciples against engaging in the quest for titles."

This sentiment is conveyed in Mathew 23:8-12 which says: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. And whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a random for many" (NIV).

Australian Christian Churches merge with apostolism.

The Australian Christian churches of eleven hundred affiliated members have disregarded the AoG manifesto of August 6, 2001 preferring to embrace apostolic views by inviting prophets to preach, or should I say prophesy via a "Certificate of fellowship."

It may well be that the Australian Christian Churches intentions are honorable, but can this UNITY of fellowship be advantages? In answering this question, let us first compare tenets.

What the 'New Apostolic Reform'   
movement teaches.

1. The Church is built on today's apostles and prophets whose titles and authority exceeds that of teacher evangelist and senior pastor.

2. Relational structures as in church governance have no formal structure but rather are by relational and voluntary alignment to apostles.

3. Every church is led by an apostle, prophet, or prophetess who spiritually guides senior pastors.

4. Only prophets, and occasionally apostles, can obtain new revelations. Evangelists, pastors, and teachers cannot.

5. Apostles only can administer the laying-on of hands for the purpose of ordination of all fivefold ministries such as imparting, identifying, bestowing or even confirming spiritual gifts including prophecy.

6. Corporate and individual 'prophecy' makes the gifts of tongues and interpretation redundant.

7. The doctrine of "Deliverance" teaches that all habits such as drug dependency and sexual depravity are directly the work of evil spirits giving Satan much credit.

8. Manifestations of God's Spirit include: drunk in the spirit, barking like a dog, child birth pains, legs growing and the dead being raised.

9. Healings are only effective according to ones faith—eliminating any doubt as to the prophet's authenticity.

More worrisome is the claim by the 'New Apostolic Reform' movement that prophets with prophetic powers of new revelations are crucial in overcoming the world. They teach that the success of the church depends on the apostles following through on the information prophets provide. Furthermore the NAR are willing to modify prophecies since they set no standard of infallibility for themselves. This was the case when chief apostle Peter Wagner prophesied the ending of the "Mad Cows" disease —yet it still lingers on!

This then begs the question: should prophecy be infallible?

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:29 that we are to discern for ourselves all prophetic utterances as to there authenticity. This shows us that prophecy can be questioned. But if prophesy is to be applied via "a single prophet"as is the case with the NAR, then it must be deemed unquestionable! The problem with apostolic-ism is that they confuse prophecy with prophesying. What's the difference?

Prophecy is via tongues-interpretation and prophesying is confirming God's prophetic Word; as was the case at Pentecost 33 CE when Paul said on behalf of the 120 present : "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16. KJV).

What the 'Assemblies of God' (international) teaches.

1. The AoG teaches that the ministry of apostle and prophet are important in the functioning of the church. Not with office, but as a body of believers coined - "prophet- hood" endowed with one or more spiritual gifts, such as wise, instructive, and edifying utterances. This can also include the gift of apostleship. (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; Ephesians 4:7-13; 1 Peter 4:10).

2. Physical and spiritual healing with or without the laying on of hands can be administered via the gift of knowledge or by personal counseling with wise instruction. (1Corintheans 12:8)

3. Church structure is made-up of certified licensed / ordained ministers. District councils and the General Council are overseen by presbyters, superintendants, and local church appointed deacons.

4. Prophesying \- is conveying God's word in speech, music or in deed. Revelations 19:10 says that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

5. Prophecy is applied via the spiritual realm of tongues interpretation. (1Corintheans14:27)

6. Deliverance from ones ungodly habits is addressed by wise instruction from which faith is strengthened. OR in extreme cases via the gift of tongues discernment.(1Corintheans12:9-10)

As previously mentioned, the Australian Christian Churches are completely autonomous to the Assemblies of God international preferring to implement their own policies.

This then gives rise to the question as whether the Australian Christian Churches are Assemblies of God or an offshoot of the New Apostolic Reform movement. (NAR)

Well, finally after years of denial the question has been answered when Brain Houston's wife Bobbie announced on her twitter account February 2018 that her husband is an Apostle.

Let us review the beginnings of the ACC.

Senior pastor William Francis Houston was active prior to being dismissed from Hills Christian Life Centre by his father Brain Houston in 1999 due to alleged pedophile activities. Brain Houston was then president of the AoG Australia (1997-2009) and the late David Cartledge was national executive of Assemblies of God Australia (AGA). Together these three apostles incognito formulated the Australian Christian Churches. (ACC)

The late Frank Houston was a New Zealand Salvation Army Captain, who was associated with a Canadian cult named the 'New Order of the Latter Rain', which was founded by an apostolic, apostle Charles Greenwood. Today, the remnant of the NOLR movement is now called the 'New Apostolic Reform movement' (NAR) who are aligned with chief apostle Peter Wagner of the Global Harvest ministry. Please keep in mind Peter's prophecy regarding the restoration of the new apostolic age beginning 2001.

Pentecostals and alike need to be aware that the NAR specifically targets and converts churches into its movement. This I know because I was once associated with the 'Richmond Temple' in Melbourne during the early 1970's. But unbeknown to me at that time, the 'New Order of the Latter Rain' had skeletons lurking in the closet. How so?

During the early 1950's they promoted aggressive "divide and conquer" tactics in local churches while pushing the idea of 'unity in the Spirit'. But to their detriment, NOLR were denounced by the Canadian and American AoG churches 3rd of September 1949.

Dear brethren, without sounding to judgmental, could it be said that a similar tactic used by the NAR to recruit AoG churches is now being deployed by the Australian Christian Churches?

I have witnessed in an ACC church a prophecy spoken out loud by a prophetess without tongues interpretation, and when I queried the pastor regarding this strange anomaly he said: "AoG had a policy change!" I should think he meant that the ACC had a policy change!!

What are the problems associated with apostolic teachings?

I have no problems with worshiping alongside apostolic congregants providing they don't take over authority of the senior pastor or prophecy without need for tongues interpretation. But more importantly they don't practice the ministry of deliverance.

Let's be reasonable here; would you not agree that the ministry of deliverance places Satan centre stage with much credit going his way? Besides, have we not already been delivered when dying to Christ through baptism — a new born creature in Christ? (Romans 6:3-4 & 6:23)

The Bible tells us that ungodly habits can be overcome, not always by a measure of faith as is the custom, but by a process of knowledge. Job 36:12 says: "But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword and die without knowledge" (NIV)

Therefore let us proclaim that it's 'God's Living Word' that releases us from ALL bondages! Or as my mother used to say: "One scripture a day keeps the Devil away!" Read also Proverbs 5:23 &10:21.

There can be no doubt that the ministry of deliverance is one of Satan's snares that chains believers to a spirit of fear and confusion? The scripture that I recite daily is 2 Timothy 1:7 which says: "God has not given us (me) a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (NKJV). Read also 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 & 1 Corinthians 12:9 & 4:11.

More pitfalls associated with apostolicism.

The position of AoG regarding apostles, prophets and prophetesses as a manifold group of believers and not a hierarchy makes good sense because it eliminates over lording which I experienced not only in the 1970's but recently while attending the Christian Family Fellowship in Queensland.

To the uninitiated, the Christian family fellowship is aligned with the NAR and Peter Wagner's Global Apostolic Network, (GAN) and the 'Restoration Fellowship International.' (RFI) Its Australian roots began in the 70's with Jay Jackson's Emanuel church Melbourne Australia and like Frank Houston; Ray Jackson senior lost his position due to allegations of sexual misconduct.

Today, BCFF is lorded over by a chief apostle named Vic Hall who claims to be visited by Jesus Christ. It's no secret among Pastor Hall's devotees that one of his prophets embezzled $850 thousand dollars due to a failed property investment and that apostle Hall refused to take him to court leaving the congregation to repay the debt.

Not surprisingly the unorthodox practices of the Christian Family Church were brought to the attention of the ABC Four Corners programme Australia 23 June, 2008.

ACC invite prophets to teach.

Traditional AoG parishioners need to be concerned regarding the Australian Christian churches inviting apostolic prophets to teach. Why? Because a directive from the General Council of AoG August 6th 2001 Page 12v3 says this:

"Since the use of non-Assemblies of God ministers may bring confusion and problems detrimental to the Fellowship, it is recommended that Assemblies of God churches use Assembles of God ministers" (Article V1 Section 3).

Why Assembles of God ordained ministers?

Having only AoG ministers is one way of discouraging visiting apostolic prophets or prophetesses who much like psychics of theatrical notoriety fish their audience.

Fishing is when a prophet will ask the congregation whether there is someone wearing a particular type of fashion jewellery, distinctive clothing or even a date of significance.

For example, while in attendance at one of ACC affiliated churches in Queensland, I witnessed a visiting prophet pull from his fishing line the 11th of November. Well, lucky for him it was the residing pastor's conversion date!! You should have seen the delight on the pastor's face when it was prophesied that God was going to bless him and his congregation with great signs and wonders. But the pastor has since resigned and the church has been dismembered.

More worrisome, this prophet of God convinced some of the more desperate congregationalist in believing they were instantly healed — prompting words of suggestion. He even had the audacity to advertise his book You Can Prophesy which could be purchased on the spot via a credit card. "Am I against the miraculous gifts of healing?" No! But what I am against is interfering with one's faith believing they are out of favor with God should their newly acquired faith wear thin.

Faith healers have a habit of saying this: "God has healed you, but it's up to you to confirm it through your faith!" This of course eliminates any judgment as to the prophet's authenticity if it turns out that your healing was just one of those fleeting moments of joy. (No disrespect to God intended)

Can the dead really be raised?

Typical of apostolic faith healers is that it always seems to be the psychosomatic illnesses that are cured, but never the real serious infirmities. In point of fact, during the 1970's there were countless rumours involving dead people being raised and cripples walking — and one wouldn't be a good Christian if they showed any doubt.

But sooner or later a Christian needs to step down from the clouds and place their feet back on earth to the realisation that not all miracles are true blue. Let me ask you this question; "have you seen anyone being raised from the dead lately?" Please understand that I'm not underestimating God's ability to do anything, but even if you did see with your own eyes a person being raised, can you be certain that person really did die?

You may be surprised to now that there have been many cases of people who were pronounced dead, yet were very much alive. One case study of interest is addressed in chapter thirty two under healing and deliverance.

My point is this: as followers of Christ we need to be careful that our pathway to salvation is not cluttered by hearsay. What we see, touch and discern in the Spirit is what God has placed before our feet. Simply put, we have to make the TRUTH our own by striving for the best and kicking aside the rest.

"Do I believe in miracles?" Yes most definitely—as long as it comes under the umbrella of 'divine intervention' having many connotations including answers to prayer. (Ref 32)

Dear brethren, when it comes to dead being raised the apostolic movement are at the forefront adding to their miracle list legs been grown and teeth being filled with gold. Some apostolic churches such as the 'Brisbane Christian Family Fellowship' of which I've mentioned, practice 'spiritual birthing' whereby women, and at times even men, claim to be having actual contractions of the womb brought on by the anointing of the holy spirit, while they retch and moan as though experiencing childbirth. In fact, while I was attending the Gympie Christian Family Fellowship I was told by the senior pastor not to speak in tongues when prophesying.

But to be fair to Brain Houston (Hillsong) and the Australian Christian Churches they do vet the obscurities of apostolicism as those I've just mentioned. But unfortunately some weirdo prophets and prophetesses do creep under the radar due to the lack of discernment by local pastors. But who can blame pastors when ACC have set in place a "Certificate of fellowship!"

There is no doubt in my mind that the New Apostolic Reform movement and associates are infiltrating among the AoG congregations—not just here in Australia but all over the world! "Have you had a visit from one lately?"

David Cartledge former national executive of Australian AoG writes a book.

A book entitled "The Apostolic Revolution" was written by the late (apostle) David Cartledge who writes from 30 years' experience as national executive of the Assemblies of God Australia (AGA). You may recall me mentioning him as one of the co-founders of the Australian Christian Churches (ACC). In his book David speaks harshly of AoG USA ultraconservatism and how it robbed power from apostles and why it's now being restored.

In discussing the purpose of the fivefold or "ascension gift" ministries, Cartledge believes it's the office of apostle that allows the freedom to discern divine direction. David writes that every significant church should be governed by an apostle, or at the very least a prophet or prophetess to spiritually advise senior pastors.

Cartledge sums up the history of Pentecostalism in Australia in terms of an original revival (1900 to 1930's) a decline brought about by institutionalization (1930's to 1970's) and the second revival driven by the apostolic revolution (1970 to present). David suggests that this later revival resulted from the appointment of an apostolic leadership in 1977, which dispensed with the tradition Pentecostal bureaucratic church structures.

With all due respect to David Cartledge, I don't recall Charles Fox Parham of the first original (1901) "Azusa Street Revival" being addressed as an apostle or profit—did you?

However, David was right to say that the church structure did shift back from apostle to senior pastor, but for good reason. I was there and I should know! In fact, many of my brethren from the 1970's agree that the Holy Spirit was being grieved while prophets and prophetesses were performing their theatrical antics. Honestly, things got so out of hand that everybody was going around giving people hands- on prophecies. I recall one time a prophetess telling me that God had a message for me. I remember saying; "that's strange that you should say that because the Lord said nothing to me this morning while in prayer!"

Unfortunately having a grandiose title of prophet does tend to produce false prophesies which gives rise to the question whether Peter Wagner's prophecy of an apostle driven third wave outpouring of the Holy Spirit really does exist?

Not if the pastoral letters of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus makes no provision for apostles!

In fact during the 1970's when the Holy Spirit was being poured out, there were no Anglican, Methodist, Baptist and Catholic apostles. Yes, God is impartial with His workers everywhere including non-apostolic movements. (Romans 2:11)

Dear brethren, having taken into account all that I have said, can you be assured that when a self styled apostle, prophet or prophetess conveys a prophetic message to you with the laying- on of hands that it will be authentic? I firmly believe that a profit who predicts without 'tongues' is no different than a psychic who reads tarot cards. A sobering thought indeed! (Leviticus 19:31).

It hurts me to say, that the Australian Christian churches despite all good intentions will not convince me or my contemporaries that a minority of apostolic prophets and prophetesses can be beneficial amongst an overwhelming majority of worldwide AoG churches.

Could it be said that the old Australian slang: "She'll be alright mate" has left the eleven hundred Australian Christian Churches up the creek without a paddle?

Tongues interpretation is a priority.

As previously mentioned according to apostolic theology, a prophet is a single person who is able to prophecy with the laying on of hands. But according to AoG doctrine, a prophet is a manifold of believers from which prophecy is granted via a tongues interpretation.

You may ask; "what difference does it make whether God's message to His church is via a prophet or a tongues interpretation?" The answer: Confirmation!

1. Paul speaks of confirmation by more than one person. "If any man speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret" (1 Corinthians 14:27 KJB).

2. Matthew 18:16 speaks of confirmation as witnesses. "But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses" (NIV).

As clearly explained, the apostle Paul uses witnesses as confirmation to what the Spirit says, and Mathew emphasizes the importance of having a witness to all matters pertaining to the body of Christ. Yet despite this clarification, apostolic theology teach that a prophet or prophetess when predicting outcomes (revelations) do not require a tongue as a witness to interpret.

When I asked a prophet as to the purpose of 'tongues interpretation' in the church he said:

"The gift of tongues interpretation is only for the edification of the (corporate) church and not the individual." Can this statement be true?

Not so! according to the apostle Paul who likened the church to physical limbs joined together as one entity hence, if a limb is edified then so too is the whole body. (1Corintheans12:21)

For example: During the 1970's I would make my petition known to God and then wait in expectation for His answer at church via a tongues interpretation. It wasn't unusual to have many prayers answered by the one interpretation. And, on those occasions when comparing one another's petitions, many were of similar nature. It's when the body is in one accord that spirits are lifted knowing that God is listening. (Acts 2:1)

As it stands today, Pentecostalism has been starved of its spiritual identity by teaching that profits can prophecy without need for tongues. The proof text for this reasoning is contained in 1 Corinthians chapter 14:6 which says:

"Now brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?"(NIV)

But apostolism should take note that Paul is not saying that tongues are of no importance compared to revelation knowledge or even prophecy. No! But rather a tongue without interpretation has no benefit.

Therefore with this principle in mind, 1 Corinthians 14:6 should be understood to mean that interpretation comes from the teaching of God's knowledge (prophesying) from which revelations are revealed for the edification of the church. Want proof?

1. "I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying" (1 Corinthians 14:5 KJV).

2. "If anyone speaks in a tongue, two or at the most three should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret" (1 Corinthians 14:27NIV).

Ponder this scripture.

"But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately." (1Corintheans 14:28 NIV)

Sadly many pentecostals and charismatic's in their ignorance use the above scripture to have tongues emitted from their main worship service due to an interpreter not being present. But God would expect those having the gift of tongues to advance to the next stage of interpretation so that His church will always be edified. 1Corinthians 14:13 says: "Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret" (ESV).

Contrary to popular belief, the gift of interpretation as a complement to a prayer tongue is not that hard to obtain. All that is required is sincerity, obedience, boldness, confidence and the ability to recall scripture verses. But one has to be patient because interpretation is a skill that overtime will develop from a simple scripture message to a prophetic revelation of discernment.

You may ask; "How do I know when my 'prayer tongue' has progressed to becoming an administrative tongue?" If when praying in tongues you start to feel a weakness in your legs, a dwelling up from your stomach, a lump in your throat, and a scripture in mind —then very likely you have the administrative tongue.

But don't lose heart if your newly acquired gift is not encouraged by your local church pastor. Why? Because the plain truth is that the speaking in tongues is only acceptable in a main worship service providing it's exercised at a whispered level and never out a loud for the purposes of interpretation. This quenching of Gods Holy Spirit does demonstrate to me that the speaking in tongues have become an embarrassment in today's institutionalized religion.

Today many of the old school AoG Pentecostal pastors say: "even if we were to reinstate the manifestations of the Spirit, how will it be integrated into today's worship services?"

Perhaps a glimpse into the past may give us the answer?

In the 1970's we were taught that when one is moved by the Spirit to speak out loud in a tongue, it should be contained until a lull becomes available in worship service so that an interpretation can come forth. This pause makes available for prayer request to be addressed by the Holy Spirit. But unfortunately today's new generation of pastors has underestimated the importance of appointing specially-anointed song leaders gifted in knowing when the Holy Spirit moves—as was the case when Joshua was chosen to lead his musicians around the strongholds of Jericho! Simply put, the trend in Pentecostalism is to emulate 'Hillsong' or 'Planet shakers' with musicians and singers taking the lead without pause for the gifts of the Spirit to operate.

Prophets were once nonexistent in AoG churches.

When attending AoG church's during the 1970's -90's the very notion of an apostolic prophet or prophetess prophesying without tongues was not acceptable. Let's be reasonable here; why would the church need tongues-interpretation when a prophet or prophetess is readily available? Or for that matter, why would a church need tongues when a "Word of knowledge" is readily available?

Christians need be aware of a trend now circulating among non- apostolic Pentecostal churches whereby at alter calls one is given "a word of knowledge" with the laying on of hands.

But as far as I'm concerned, this trend is no different to an apostolic prophet who prophesies without a witness to interpret. I believe the correct protocol for alter calls should be administered by at least two persons. That is to say, one with a tongue and the other an interpretation —so that the church may guard themselves from familiar spirits?

I have addressed this issue in chapter seventeen were it talks about abduction in 2003 of a 13-year old boy named Daniel James Morcombe and of his murderer Brett Peter Cowan.

In this chapter you will read how Mr. Cowan was influenced by an evil spirit that went undetected for years while regularly attending church and how Brett's uncle (court guardian) Mr. Philbrook and senior pastor Chas Gullo were both criticized for being neglectful in their church duties.

In summary: I highlighted the concerns by Christians in regards to the merging of the 'New Apostolic Reform' movement into the Australian Christian Churches and the Assemblies of God globally. I also mentioned a decline of spiritual gifts in local churches due to it being outsourced to visiting prophets of notoriety who prophecy without the need for tongues interpretation. Furthermore I discussed a trend that is now being exercised in non Pentecostal churches whereby the "Word of knowledge" with the laying on of hands is used for corporate and individual predictions; and not for teaching, counseling and administration duties.

The issues raised hear will no doubt leave potential tongues candidates doubting whether this heavenly language is still necessary in today's modern church. But if you are a candidate searching for a meaningful experience with God then I suggest you read carefully this next chapter.

CHAPTER 6

Seven Facts about the New Prophecy Experience

1. Do all Christians have to speak in tongues to be saved? No.! But though it may not be a requirement for salvation, it certainly can help remove Satan's obstacles placed in ones pathway to salvation!

2. Should we desire to speak with tongues? Yes! (I Corinthians 14:1)

3. Does the Bible make a distinction between baptism in water and 'the baptism of the Holy Spirit'? Yes! (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16 & John 1:26) John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."

4. Is the promise of the baptism of the Holy Ghost with speaking in tongues for everyone? Yes! If they desire it (Acts 2:33-39, Joel 2:28 & Luke 24:49).

5. Is the baptism of the Holy Ghost accompanied by power for living and witnessing? Yes! (Acts 1:4-14)

6. Does speaking in tongues in church require wisdom for proper use, and was it misused in Paul's day? Yes! (See the entire fourteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians.)

7. Should we throw the baby out with the bath water if it's not perfect? No! (1 Corinthians 14:39 says: "Forbid not to speak with tongues.")

Some say that Jesus spoke with tongues? John 11:33 says that Jesus "groaned in the spirit", which was an unintelligible utterance. In Mark 15:34 Jesus spoke to God in a language unknown to those who heard Him say: "EIoi, EIoi, lama sabachthani." They thought he was calling for Elias (Elijah) but the gospel writer Mark interpreted it for us as: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Did Jesus really speak in tongues?

I would like to think so! But John 14:16 says that in Jesus contains the fullness of the godhead bodily. Which means Christ had at His disposal a continuous stream of His father's Holy Spirit?

However in saying that, one cannot rule out the possibility that Jesus did speak in tongues: not out of necessity, but as an example like that of His baptism. In any event, the important thing to note about tongues is that for it to have any real effect requires a fresh anointing daily as exemplified in Exodus 16 where God's Holy Spirit symbolised manna to the Israelites in the wilderness and in Mathew 25:1-13 where God's anointed oil was depicted in the parable of the ten virgins.

Why speak in tongues?

Pastor Harris, who began preaching when he was 12, is a fourth generation member of AoG. His great-grandfather was a church pioneer who founded a Pentecostal camp meeting in Southern Illinois. Harris has pastured First Assembly for two years, and he said that the speaking in tongues was heard just once every two or three months at church.

Harris said: "We do stress that the initial physical evidence of the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. But we do not encourage people to seek tongues but to seek God and to seek the power of the Holy Spirit for witnessing—tongues are just a byproduct of that."

Perhaps Pastor Harris needs to read the story of how Peter when receiving tongues on the day of Pentecost, was transformed from a betrayer to a very powerful witness. Acts 1:8 says: "But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (GNT).Read also Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-4.

Why tongues? John Wesley said that when the Holy Spirit outpouring began, families were reunited, long-severed friendships reconciled and hearts flowed together in true fellowship in the Lord. And even more than that, along with the spirit of unity and love came the spirit of sacrifice and the wondrous spirit of liberty. This was not just a by-product of Christian servitude but a very effective weapon for destroying Satan's strongholds? (2 Corinthians 10:4)

Are speaking in tongues for everyone?

One of the most frequently asked questions in Christendom today is this: If the baptism of the Holy Spirit is so beneficial to all those who follow Christ, why is it not encouraged by all Christian denominations? The simple answer to this question is that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was encouraged by most protestant and catholic faiths during the 1901-1977 second wave of the Pentecostal outpouring. But according to non-tongue speaking religions, that spiritual awakening never really happened.

In fact, today there is a campaign to eliminate any suggestion that tongues is an authentic Holy Spirit-inspired utterance applicable to today's believers. Satan's deception began when Westcott and Hort omitted Mark 16:17-18 from most modern Bibles. How? The answer lies in this next chapter.

CHAPTER 7

Codex Sinaiticus Denies Tongues

Codex Sinaiticus coined the "Sinai Bible" was discovered at Mt. Sinai in 1844 in Saint Catherine's Monastery by renowned Bible scholar Constantine Tischendorf. The Sinaiticus was to complement the 'Vaticanus' which lay dormant in the Vatican Library in 1481 AD. In spite of being in excellent condition, it omits: Genesis 1:1 through Genesis 46:28, Psalms 106-138, Matthew 16:2-3, The Pauline Pastoral Epistles, Hebrews 9:14-13:25 and the Book of Revelation.

Westcott and Hort believed that the Alexandrian manuscripts that include the codices Sinaiticus, Vaticanus and Alexandrinus take precedence over the "Textus Receptus" on the premise that they were written in the fourth century, one hundred years earlier than the 'Received Text.' Nonetheless, as a compromise in a bid to preserve Christian unity, it was agreed by the majority of protestants (with exception to 'King James Only' loyalists) that all 5,309 surviving Greek manuscripts adhere to the King James Bible with only a 5 percent variance from today's modern Bible versions.

Even so, Christians should be asking: "What does this slight variation in the rendering of most Bibles have to say about my salvation?"

The answer! Unlike the received text, the Alexandrian type leaves out the resurrection narrative at the end of Mark 16:9-20 (known as the long conclusion) the Lord's Prayer, and the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8. Granted, some Christians could live with that, but not so Pentecostals and alike who regard verses 17&18 of Mark 16 as the pinnacle point of their faith.

How was Mark 16:9 -20 excluded from modern Bibles?

In 1853 Westcott and Hort from Trinity Collage Cambridge began rendering the codex Sinaiticus to form the Greek interlinear which influenced Bibles such as the NIV and also the Jehovah Witnesses New World Translation.

Interestingly enough, the JW's had the long conclusion in their New World Translation with cross references containing authentic manuscripts. But in 2013 a revised version of the NWT was produced without the slightest hint of Mark 16:9-20.

Mark 3:28-30 says: "Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin."

Although there are hundreds of ancient manuscripts that include Mark's long conclusion, Westcott and Hort based their authenticity on the codex Sinaiticus, which omits verses 9-20.

The point that must be realized is that from the estimated 2.2 billion Christians worldwide, Pentecostalism makes up 279 million people whose main hallmarks are contained in the long conclusion of Mark 16. More to the point, Pentecostals and alike believe that it's an affront to deem these verses spurious, denigrated to no more than brackets or footnotes.

Dear brethren, would you not agree that it's never a good idea to add or subtract from what God has said in His Word?

Matthew 5:18 tell us: "For verily I say unto you, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (KJV).

Deuteronomy 12:32 goes on to say this: "What thing so ever I command you, observe to do it; thou shalt not add thereto, not diminish from it." (KJV) Deuteronomy 4:2 says this: "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you" (KJV).

How many ways can He say that we are not to change a single word, either adding or taking away from it? The text of the Bible is what the translators want you to think is the Word of God. But putting words into footnotes or in italics makes the reader think they don't really belong in the Bible and are therefore not really important. To babes in Christ, that would mean a footnote stating that the long conclusion of Mark 16 is "spurious" is as good as saying it's been corrupted.

But if new converts take the "obligatory" time to research, they will be surprised to discover, that when typing in Mark 16 on the search engine, no reputable apologist has dared to deem spurious the long conclusion of Mark. This only goes to prove that God still guards His truths for those who are willing to think things through. The evidence is indisputable that the exclusion of the long conclusion of Mark from God's inspired Word the Bible is a good example of how human error plays a role in the selection process and rendering modern Bibles. (Philippians 2:12, Mark 7:8)

However in saying that, it doesn't mean that God's Word is lost. Jesus said that "heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away." It simply means that error and alteration did occur and that caution and comparison need to be exercised in the understanding of ancient texts (Matthew 24:35 NIV).

Am I suggesting that the King James Bible is free from errors?" No! Any good scholar should know that the 1611 edition of the King James Bible contains not only the book of Enoch, but also the Apocrypha. Nevertheless, one must consider that the books of the Apocrypha were never accepted as God's inspired Word, which is why they were never integrated into the Old Testament text as the Alexandrian text were. However, these books are still revered for their historical value.

The history of the King James Bible is just one of many fine examples why it is essential for students of God's Word to compare and research all Bibles, particularly those that have been rendered from the Sinaiticus by Westcott and Hort. Why? Because how could any apologist say without conviction that the codex Sinaiticus is the most important text in existence when Tischendorf admitted that he counted 14,800 alterations and corrections-the majority made in the 6th and 7th centuries. In point of fact, apologists have noted that on nearly every page of the manuscript there are corrections and revisions, done by ten different people.

Phillip Mauro was a brilliant lawyer who was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in April 1892. In the early 1900s he wrote a book called Which Version. He writes concerning the Sinaiticus: "From these facts, therefore, we deduce: first that the impurity of the Codex Sinaiticus, in every part of it, was fully recognized by those who were best acquainted with it and that from the very beginning until the time when it was finally cast aside as worthless for any practical purpose."

Yet, despite criticisms by notable scholars, the Codex Sinaiticus has been glorified as the "World's Oldest Bible." But the truth is that the oldest are not necessarily the best! Not if the document makes Mark Chapter 16 end abruptly by omitting twelve verses on the appearance of the resurrected Christ and unusual blank spaces where verses 9-20 would fit as they do with hundreds of other ancient texts.

Juan Garces, the curator of the Codex Sinaiticus project says that it's a "very odd way of ending a Gospel." And I couldn't agree more!

To view the original ancient text along with commentaries visit: http://www.kjvtoday.com/home/should-the-longer-ending-of-mark-mark-169-20-be-in-the-bible

CHAPTER 8

Is Speaking in Tongues Demonic?

Perhaps you've hear this said; "The Charismatic movement is of the Devil. They are easily identified by three distinct heresies: 1) the speaking-in-tongues mumbo-jumbo; 2) the teaching that salvation can be lost through sin; 3) fake healing meetings and crusades".

Obviously the person who wrote the above isn't Catholic otherwise he or she would have recalled in 2010 Pope Frances meeting with 50,000 Catholic charismatic's in Rome's Olympic Stadium where he willingly knelt onstage as those present prayed for him with singing and speaking in tongues. Neither can this critic be Baptist otherwise he or she would have recalled Billy Graham's 'Decision Magazine' in the late 1960's of which highlighted the Pentecostal Welsh outpouring in 1904 led by Evan Roberts who brought the whole country to its knees. And in the fall of 1973 the Liberty University and Thomas Road Baptist Church were among the first group of Christians to receive the gift of speaking in tongues.

Speaking of the Baptist, when I was involved with Billy Graham's Youth for Christ in the 1970s most denominations welcomed me into their brotherhood with the exception of one religion who taught that speaking in tongues, was demonic. Their proof text was Matthew 7:22-23:

"On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers' (NRSV).

Perhaps now as the light has got brighter this religion has realised that Matthew's words were a wake-up call to all Christians from all denominations (tongues or not) who disobey the will of the Father regardless of fine works about which they boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The apostle Paul agrees in 1 Corinthians 13:2:

"And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing" (NRSV).

Tongues- devilish or divine?

Another myth circulated around Christendom is that tongues sounds very devilish, when it mentions drinking any deadly poison or picking up serpents, because these things are the custom of many pagan religions. And, because God is not to be tempted this scripture can only be erroneous. (Luke 4:12) Once again let us read Mark 16:17-18:

"And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover" (NRSV).

Now let's analyse these scripture verses.

''The picking up of serpents" symbolised faith exemplified in the setting of the apostle Paul at Melita where he was bitten by a viper. (Acts 28:3-5)

This setting is backed up in Luke 10:19, where Jesus told His disciples that they would tread on serpents and scorpions and nothing would harm them. Moreover, we see the phrase in Mark 16:18: "If they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them" referred to Justus Barsabas whom Paul mentioned in Acts 1:21-2. He was one of two candidates qualified to replace Judas Iscariot. Church historians claim that Justus became Bishop of Eleutheropolis and later died a martyr. It may be of interest to know that Justus drank a poison-laced drink, as seen by the daughters of the apostle Philip who told the story to Polycarp's companion Papias-Bishop of Hierapolis, who then conveyed the story to Eusebius bishop of Caesarea.

Hierapolis was Bishop of Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale, Turkey), and author who lived circa 70–163 AD. ('H.E.,' 3, 19-39)

The story comes from excerpts of Irenaeus of Lyons (ca. 180 AD) and Eusebius of Caesarea (ca. 320 AD) Eusebius account of Justus Barsabas does highlight how early apologists can assist our understanding of scripture and therefore bring to our attention the importance of patristic evidence as a compliment to Bible truths.

If this explanation had been brought to my attention by my tutor I would have used it as my defence against those who accused me of being demonic. But today with the aid of the internet much more can be understood as why Bible stories are written.

Only apostles can lay hands?

Perhaps you've heard cessationist say that only apostles can lay hands on those who want to receive tongues, and because the last apostle, John, died at the end of the first century tongues must have ceased? Patristic evidence outweighs this theory. Why? Because if Polycarp was an apprentice to John he would have had hands laid on him- who in turn would have laid hands on his apprentice Irenaeus. Want proof?

In Irenaeus Book V, vi.: Against Heresies (c180) it states:

"In like manner do we also hear many brethren in the church who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light, for the general benefit, the hidden things of men and declare the mysteries of God, who also the apostles term spiritual."

But the biggest surprise of all is that tongues continued well into the fourth century due to the existence of the Montanist remnants— a fact brought about by a document written by Augustine, Bishop of Hippo who stated:

"We still do what the apostles did when they laid hands on the Samaritans and called down the Holy Spirit on them in the laying-on of hands. It is expected that converts should speak with new tongues."

CHAPTER 9

The Spiritual Awakening

In 1650 this awakening began to rain down on Christ's Church - "likened to fire," said George Fox, founder of the Quakers! Ironically the Quakers' fire was not of tongues, but a type of shaking hence, the word quake. Other denominations experienced the raining down of fire with speaking in tongues. These included Edmund Irving, the Huguenots, Peter McKenzie, Dwight L. Moody and Charles G. Finney.

As previously mentioned John Wesley believed in the spiritual gifts of miraculous healing as likened to the "Montanist" movement of the second century. (Ephesians 4:11)

In Wesley's Journal entry for August 15, 1750, he wrote, "I was fully convinced of what I had long suspected that the Montanist, in the second and third centuries, were real, scriptural Christians."

Some argue that at times Wesley sounded somewhat ambivalent regarding some of the more "extraordinary" gifts as they surfaced within the 18th century evangelical revival (no doubt concerned about the charges of "enthusiasm" against the people called Methodist). However, on at least one occasion Wesley defended the gifts of the Spirit against cessationist Conyers Middleton. (Works, 10:1-79)

John Wesley defined, described, and defended a whole host of spiritual gifts, including: (1) Casting out devils. (2) Speaking with new tongues. (3) Escaping dangers, in which otherwise they must have perished. (4) Healing the sick. (5) Prophecy, foretelling things to come. (6) Visions. (7) Divine dreams. (8) Discerning of spirits. (Works10:16).

While the order and even the mention of some "gifts" not normally associated with the biblical accounts (such as visions and dreams) may seem a bit strange, the fact remains that Wesley believed that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were not only important for Christ's church but also very much alive during the 18th century 'Evangelical Revival.'

When John Wesley's opponent Middleton charged "that the silence of all the apostolic writers on the subject of the gifts, must dispose us to conclude they were then withdrawn," Wesley immediately responded: "O Sir, mention this no more. I entreat you, never name their silence again. They speak loud enough to shame you as long as you live" (Works 10:23).

Apparently from Wesley's perspective, the Montanist movement in which Tertullian's Trinity hypotheses had derived (190 CE) was not in its beginnings a heretical sect as is generally accepted by today's ecclesiastical theologians.

In point of fact, the Montanist so-called "New Prophecy" is what ignited the 18th century 'Evangelical Revival' which was to be the forerunner to the biggest awakening of all, marking the beginning of the 20th century Christian revival.

In preparation of the New Prophecy-1901.

In the 1880s the Pope in Rome sent out a paper to the bishops insisting they pray for a "renewed Pentecost." Also during that same time period, Rabbis Isaac Lichtenstein from Romania and Rabbi Joseph from Rabinowitz in Moscow started the modern Messianic movement. These were but a portion of God's Holy Spirit - likened to when Jesus breathed upon His disciples prior to Pentecost 33CE. (John 20-22)

Meanwhile across the globe, the foundations of God's new prophecy movement were being laid in the USA by a very godly man named Charles Fox Parham. In 1898 Rev. Parham opened his divine healing home in Topeka, Kansas, which he named "Bethel." It was from these humble beginnings that it quickly developed into a Bible school that was housed in an old English-style castle situated west of Washburn College, close to Charles' home.

In this rented mansion, Rev. Parham began recruiting Christians from all denominations that were willing to forsake all material comforts for study and prayer. Things such as food, fuel and rent were entrusted to God alone. Rev. Parham's school was elegant, boasting hand-carved wooden panels, polished brass door knobs and marble floors. But the castle had unfinished rooms because its owner lacked the funds to complete it. One of these rooms was the upper third floor dormitory which unbeknown to Parham was soon to be the setting chosen by God to mark the beginning of a new dispensation following that of Pentecost 33 CE.

It was there in the tattered surroundings of a mansion that students knelt at wooden plank seats praying for the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit.

Second (wave) Pentecost 1901.

Seeds from the second century Montanist movement began to sprout in expectation of the great harvest of souls for Christ!

On the stroke of the midnight hour 1 January 1901 the Holy Spirit filled the whole upper floor with a dazzling, bright white light. Twelve ministers, who were in the school from different denominations were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues. Then not long after that Rev. Parham received God's heavenly gift of tongues. For the next three years God's empowerment slowly gained momentum in the form of tongues, healing and deliverance. Of course Satan was to take full credit via the media referring to Rev. Parham as a divine healer who transferred his magnetic powers by the laying on of hands. Nonetheless, according to the Bible students of Topeka, any news was good news regarding those that threw away their crutches and gave their lives to Christ.

Many believed that God's Holy Spirit empowerment was timed to coincide with the 1906 California earthquake and the sinking of the Titanic as a lesson to all who would dare put their trust in man rather than in God. Others said that God timed His outpouring of Holy Spirit in preparation for the beginning of WW1. It is believed that many people gave their lives to Christ prior to this shocking slaughter of twelve million souls. I'm not suggesting that God deliberately planned these events. But rather, knowing beforehand He prepared the ground, as was the case with Joseph and the seven year drought mentioned in scripture. (Geneses 41)

God in His foreknowledge prepares a way for those who are predestined to proclaim His glory always amazes me. And, likened to a moth that is irresistibly drawn to a light, God's chosen ones are irresistibly drawn to His purpose. And so it was that two African American Bible students from Topeka, Kansas were chosen to share their upper room experience in a little cottage on Bonnie Brae Street in Los Angeles California, which would be the beginning of the "Azusa Street Revival."

CHAPTER 10

God's Full Measure Flourished

Godly men including Raymond T Richey, Evan Roberts from the Welsh revival (1904-1905) and Dr. Charles Price, writer, lecturer and evangelist (1922-1947) were called to join in sharing Rev. Parham's message of deliverance. This movement was later to be coined "The full Gospel" which the Assemblies of God Churches adopted as their own.

Just as it was in the days of Christ, divine healings were God's pathway to salvation. Raymond T. Richey was reported as saying, "Divine healing is the dinner bell. Keep ringing that bell and people will come."

Holy Spirit comes in waves.

During my research into God's spiritual awakenings, I discovered a divine pattern whereby God prepares a window of opportunity followed by a rest period. You may recall the mention of the Montanist first wave movement, which Wesley addressed in his journal. And as mentioned, the Montanist movement of the second century were the forerunners to God's 'New Prophecy' movement of the 20th century and beyond.

Montanus accused of being a heretic.

In the earliest beginnings of the new prophecy movement Montanus (its founder) was sanctioned by Pope Victor 1, before he had a change of heart due to political pressure, and deemed him a heretic. It's important to note that cessationists like to capitalise on Montanus heresy as evidence that speaking in tongues was no more than an "enthusiastic strain to utter extraordinary expressions."

But the truth is that Pope Victor was not condemning tongues per se but Montanus. How so? Pope Victor's condemnation of the prophet Montanus was based on an anonymous letter, which ended up in the hands of Abercius Marcellus, Bishop of Hierapolis. Although it's not clear what was contained in the letter, I do suspect it was regarding apostles, prophets, and particularly prophetesses who were prophesying presumptuously. Nonetheless, it may have been easy to condemn Montanus as a heretic but not Tertullian who became his most loyal devotee.

Why Montanus' demise?

I suspect that the letter given to Abercius Marcellus, Bishop of Hierapolis was from Praxaes: that under the pretence of Montanus false prophecies, Praxaes hoped to connect Tertullian's Montanist association in order to taint his work on the Trinity against modalism which teachers that Christ is one of three modes of God's expression and that Jesus is actually the eternal father. (Ref: Adversus Praxean)

How do I come to this conclusion? Patristic documents reveal that Praxaes was aware that Pope Victor 1st conducted a vendetta against Tertullian for apostatising from his (western) church to join forces with Montanus. But Tertullian having discerned Praxaes conspiracy defused the plot by disassociating himself from Montanus to form his own group under the auspices of the eastern Catholic Church.

Interestingly as it stands today, Tertullian has not been canonised due to his so named "Arian subordinationism"— despite the fact that Arius wasn't even born in the second century. If the truth be told, subordinationism was Nicene approved yet considered heretical ('Decretum Gelasianum') in the 6th Century.

But before I explain why I should remind my readers that Tertullian's most important works are the Apologeticum, in defence of the Christians and Adversus Praxean, in which the doctrine of the Trinity comes into clear focus due to Tertullian's gifts of knowledge, tongues prophecy and interpretation.

What is subordination?

Late second century Tertullian, the father of TRINITY taught that Christ was formed (not created) with one nature infused with divine and human attributes nestled within His father's bosom. John affirms this in 1:18 stating that the begotten Son is in the bosom of the father, who has already been declared! King David speaking prophetically about the messianic linage said : "Your eyes saw even the embryo of me and in your book all its parts were down in writing, as regards the days when they were formed" (Psalms 139:15 KJV).

Tertullian taught that Christ unique personage of 'embryonic' substance placed Him second to His Father in deity kingship. But in Ephesus 431 AD Tertullian's subordinationism was replaced by a dogma named "Hypostatic Union" which gave Christ two natures, God ( divine) and human- the latter being attributed to Mary's biological traits.

The reasoning as to Christ having two natures stems from notion that for Christ to be a single subordinate would make Him less of "a god" - which would undoubtedly undermine Mary's title of queen of heaven and mother of the Almighty GOD.

But I reason from a Unitarian (modalist) point of view that if Mary is the mother of the Almighty God then Yeshua and Jehovah would have to share the same office. This then produces a conundrum—"who begat whom?"

Tertullian said; "Father is not the same as the Son, since they differ one from the other in the mode of their being....Thus the Father is distinct from the Son, being greater than the Son, inasmuch as He who begets is one, and He who is begotten is another; He, too, who sends is one, and He who is sent is another; and He, again, who makes is one, and He through whom the thing is made is another" (Against Praxeas).

Apparently the Mariology dogma was not one of the 95 heretical theologies that Martin Luther in 1517 nailed into the church door. On the contrary, today many Protestants have adopted Catholicism's Mariology remodelling it as "Marian theology."

Interestingly enough, Justin Martyr, Origen and Clement of Alexandria were not canonised for the same reason as Tertullian. I will be discussing this in my next book the "Lost Trinity" - a complement to this publication.

From my own perspective, regardless of how one views the activities of Montanus and his prophetesses, they do not speak on behalf of the 'New Prophecy' movement per se.

The main point that must be realised is that Tertullian's Montanist beliefs led him to the unpalatable truth, that the church was not a conclave of bishops, but the people of the Holy Spirit.

Granted, God did put His 'New Prophecy' at rest, but we must not forget that the first wave manifestation of God's Holy Spirit (Montanist) were just the seeds in readiness to sprout and yield a harvest of God fearing men such as 13th century Vincent Ferrier and 14th century Francis Xavier- and of course Martin Luther just to name a few.

Dear brethren, during the following chapters I will be addressing many of the ethical problems facing the Pentecostal and charismatic churches today due to its neglect of spiritual gifts.

I have also included simple guidelines to help you become more discerning with brethren that would impede your growth in servitude to the Lord. But first let us begin with this next chapter which gives us an example of what can happen to those who abuse their calling.

CHAPTER 11

Are Anointed Gifts Irrevocable?

There exists within Pentecostalism and alike a perception that gifts of tongues, prophecy, discernment, healing and deliverance are all irrevocable. (Romans 11:29)

Kenneth E. Hagin known as the Big Daddy of the "Word of Faith" movements made the following statement: "If God has called you, that calling is still there, whether or not you have obeyed. And if God gave you a gift-if He gifted you along a certain line-that gift is still there!"

The late Kenneth Hagin Sr. was a very godly man who in 1974 started the Rhema Bible School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Many of his students, including Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar, embraced this irrevocable tenet, which later proved to be a thorn in Hagin's side.

To the uninitiated, this tenet sets a very powerful precedent which holds that God's anointing can be channelled through church leaders regardless of their spiritual condition.

To elaborate further on this topic let us review a case study.

A.A. Allen was an anointed prophet who in 1955 purchased a large tent for $8,500 making him one of the major healing evangelists on the revival circuit alongside fellow prophets Jack Coe, Oral Roberts, and William Branham. Allen became one of the first to develop a national television ministry and started a trend by preaching that poverty was a 'bad spirit' that could only be shed by giving money to his ministry. He was the first evangelist to employ professional musicians to create just the right angelic atmosphere. One of Pastor Allen's ploys was to fake healings by placing those with bad backs in wheelchairs. By doing so, Allen knew that with the power of positive thinking they would most likely leap out of their chairs-if not for a flinting moment. These theatrics would no doubt lead the audience to believe it was a cripple learning once more to walk.

It's known among evangelist that faith healers would often justify their antics claiming they were building up faith so that audiences could experience miracles without having hands laid on them. The Rev Jim Jones from the notorious Peoples Temple Movement of the 1970's used this methodology. More about Rev Jones later.

Allen died an alcoholic.

It seemed that pastor Allen could deliver others from their demons but not himself. How so? Allen died at the Jack Tar Hotel in San Francisco, California, on June 11, 1970, at the age of fifty-nine after a heavy drinking binge. Following a twelve day investigation and an autopsy, the coroner's report concluded that Allen died from liver failure brought on by acute) alcoholism. The coroner reported that his blood alcohol content of .36 was "enough to ensure a deep coma." Allen was buried at Miracle Valley, Arizona, on June 15, 1970.

Sadly Pastor Allen had completely missed the point and abused his calling. But according to Hagin's irrevocable dogma, Pastor Allen was used by God to heal the lame and deliver the oppressed, regardless of whether or not he was controlled by alcohol and motivated by greed.

Dear brethren, it can't be denied that God gave us certain abilities when He made us and called us into the ministry. So in that sense God's calling is irrevocable regardless of our personal weaknesses. But if a minister of God sets his heart on "self" then that's the foundation upon which he builds his ministry, as opposed to caring more for others than he does for himself, just as a shepherd who truly loves his sheep. God's true anointed ones are entrusted to protect and nurture His flock. Hebrews 13:17 tells us that these fine shepherds are accountable for our souls, which requires them to be caring and compassionate.

So the question is not who has the anointing but whether or not it has been regularly validated. This is God's way of applying a fresh touch. One just cannot depend on the old anointing as was the case in Matthew 7:23 where it says this: "Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers" (NRSV).

It seems apparent that Pastor Allen's old anointing had not been replenished with fresh oil daily, while the irrevocable tenet gave him a false sense of security. Perhaps if Allen had believed that his anointing was conditional upon keeping his temple holy he would have dealt more seriously with his addiction.

The damage was psychological warfare?

This is not my judgement but God's. (Ephesians 5:18-20 -1 Corinthians 6:10-5: 9-11)

Not only did evangelist Allen lose his salvation due to his drunkenness, but countless numbers of others lost the opportunity to be saved simply because Satan had a contract with Hollywood to psychologically prepare minds to reject the soon-coming baptism of the Holy Spirit as just another religious scam to take their hard-earned dollars.

The movie in question was "Elmer Gantry"- a 1960 drama about a con man and a female evangelist selling religion to small town America. This picture was nominated for five Academy Awards in 1961, including Best Picture and Best Score, winning the other three; Best Actor for Burt Lancaster, Best Supporting Actress for Shirley Jones, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

In Lindsay's book "They Saw it Happen" he wrote;

"Every movement of the Spirit of God must run the gauntlet of the devil's forces. The Dragon stands before the bearing mother ready to swallow up her child. (Revelations 12:7) The enemy does much counterfeiting. But God kept the child well hidden from the Herods until He could gain strength and discernment to resist him. The flame was guarded jealously by the hand of the Lord from the winds of envy, criticism, and unbelief. It went through the same experiences that all revivals have. Its foes were both inside and out, but God's work is wrought in human imperfection".

CHAPTER 12

Who are Wolves in Sheeps Clothing

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15 ESV).

Counterfeits are usually self-proclaimed apostles or prophets who come into the pulpit with guns blazing and armour glimmering, accompanied by a brass band and flashing a cheesy, well-rehearsed grin. Well, that seems to be the perception! But wolves come in other forms as well. In fact, they can simply be goat-like Christians who unwittingly open themselves to be used by Satan to teach the art of discouragement.

Am I saying that discouragement is false religion? Yes most definitely. In fact the Bible tells us that the tongue is treacherous, and like a viper it can inject very hurtful venom thus poisoning someone's faith. David says in Psalms 52:2 says: "You are plotting destruction. Your tongue is like a sharp razor" (NRSV).

The mention of the tongue reminds me of a WW2 slogan that said, "Loose lips sink ships."

This slogan demonstrates the immense power that our tongue can have and how we as believers need to tame it into submission. The apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:29 have this to say about the tongue: "You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear" (NET).

What Christians fail to realise is that the hardest people to reach are those who have been in church but have left the church, because they're wounded. I can attest to this because it was the reason I left the church determined never to return.

Let's be honest with one another. All Christians, including myself can be guilty of falling into discouragement. Titus 1:16 says: "They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work" (NRSV).

We who are in the body of Christ should focus on addressing our own shortcomings rather than criticising our brothers and sisters in Christ, praying for those among us who are weak and weary. But beware because some ravenous wolves who have sold themselves out to Satan, with no desire for redemption. This means that no matter how much you encourage and pray for them, their hearts are set on destroying that which is good; refusing your overtures on their behalf. Jesus described them this way: "You belong to your father the Devil!" (John 8:44 NIV)

This then begs the question: how does a loving forgiving Christian discern between weaker brethren and those of Satan's influences? We find the answer in 1 John 4:1: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (NIV).

This passage leads us to another question: how does one try the spirits of our brethren without criticising? The answer is in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13: "And we beseech you, brethren, to -know them -which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you" (KJV).

Do not be deceived!

The word "Know" in many Bibles is rendered respect, honour or even appreciates which already qualifies leaders as being righteous when it could be quite the opposite.

Jeremiah 23:1says this: "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!' declares the LORD" (NIV).

At this point you may ask: "how does one know when a shepherd's guidance is honourable?"

2 Timothy 2:15 has the answer: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (NIV).

Approval has to be earned!

To know your brethren including those who take the lead begins with familiarity, from which derives respect, honor and trust? It is from these three principles that one can feel comfortable enough to speak the truth in love, gently pointing out errors that will bring about growth in the knowledge of God. 1 Peter 4:9-10 says: "Be hospitable (familiar) to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (NKJV).

James 5:16: "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" (ESV).

Colossians 3:13: "Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others" (NLT).

Who can one trust?

When in my youth attending Richmond Temple in Melbourne, I was taught to respect honour and trust apostles and prophets who claimed to be God's channel of communication. The same rhetoric was taught to me by the Jehovah's Witnesses anointed governing body.

Should I put my trust in someone I don't know personally? NO! I make it a rule to test those who are preoccupied with financial security power and greed. This is not my judgment but a means of qualifying ones true intentions in wisdom and in knowledge.

John 7:24 says: "Do not judge superficially, but be just in your judgments" (NEB). Read also Matthew 10:16/Philippians 3:14/1 Chronicles 16:32.

Dear brethren, during the next 5 chapters I will be highlighting the importance of trusting brethren —and how we Christians need to discern the difference between good and bad.

But first let us review today's church in this next chapter.

CHAPTER 13

Where is the Perfect Church?

The apostle Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 11:26: "I have travelled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not" (NLT).

The sad truth is that if you are looking for the perfect church, then your search is in vain.

The reality which Christians find hard to grasp is that God's place of worship is not always a sanctuary but a battleground where false brethren lurk.

I have learned through experience that any religion that claims to be 'true blue' should at least admit there are wolves in sheep's clothing lurking among their very own flock.

Not so according to some religions were it's taught that for a religion to be true blue there should be evidence of fine fruits. Mathew 7:16 says: "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (KJV)

Obviously the fruit in which Mathew speaks of is one's personal attitude in LOVE — exemplified in the previous chapter as respect honour and trust. But to some religions, these fine fruits are religious ordinances such as, no blood transfusions, no voting, no beards, no contraceptives and defiantly no pagan celebrations.

There seems to be the perception that religions who set high standards are the ones more likely to be 'holier than thou?' Granted, rules and regulations will make one more religious, but not necessarily more Christian. So then who really are the fruitful ones amongst Christ church? Is it Pope Francis and his entourage of spiritual advisers? After all the word Catholic does mean universal. Perhaps a look into the first century Christian church may give us some answers.

What was the very first church?

Historical records show that the first church was actually called a gathering, and was held not in synagogues or buildings but in communal dwellings.

These early followers of Christ were called "the way" before the term Christian was adopted in 40 AD. It is interesting to note that church buildings were non-existent until 303 AD when the emperor Diocletian decreed it should be so. Church historians tell us that during the first century, Christians were spread throughout the Roman provinces which meant that many were unable to meet Jesus and their fellow disciples face to face. This fact is made apparent in Luke 9:49-50 where it says that Christ's inner circle had come across those of the outer circle who were also performing many miracles in Jesus' name.

The apostle John approached Jesus on this question. "Master," said John, "We saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you" (NIV).

But in today's Christendom, many inner circle followers of Christ cannot agree with outside followers of the same faith. Some as I've mentioned even accuse others of teaching a false gospel through deceitfulness, trickery and craftiness. (Ephesians 4: 14). This mindset is similar to Islam were Shiites and Sunnis believe in the same Allah, read the same Quran, believe in the prophet Mohammed, yet both sides war over who has the true teaching of Islam!

Many Christians would agree that a wise and mature Christian should be free from prejudices in order to discern the difference between what is good and what is bad. But the question begs: who of the 1300 Christian denominations are preaching good and not bad Bible truths?

(Hebrews 5:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:21 & Proverbs 18:15)

With regard to deceitfulness, trickery and craftiness, I firmly believe Paul was referring to Judaism, Gnosticism, Mithraism and the like that all denied Christ's resurrection.

But today's Christian denominations base their doctrine on Romans 10:9 that says:

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (NIV).

Please understand that I'm not saying that salvation comes by just believing. No! There is a much more that is required for true ongoing commitment. But what I will say— is that the greatest of all hallmarks which separates believers from unbelievers is ones heartfelt confession of faith.

It is from this virtue that revelations are revealed to those who search them out with fear and with trembling. (Romans 10:9. Hebrews 11:6 & Philippians 2:12-13)

How hard does one need to search?

Even though most believers are faith-oriented, that in itself doesn't mean they are growing in the knowledge of God. Why? Because many of today's institutionalised churches neglect to offer proper and timely food that will help a babe move from milk to meat. This means that if the diet goes without wise supervision, it could result in emaciation to the point of starvation and premature (spiritual) death. A sobering thought indeed. (Matthew 24:45, 1 Corinthians 3:2 &21, Revelations 3:1-6)

Allow me to ask you a hypothetical question; if you were unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with a terminal illness would you seek out a second opinion? Of course you would! So why not do the same regarding religion?" Let's face it, today we shop around for jobs, cars, houses and even schools, but when it comes to a spiritual home, we just accept what is conveniently handed down. In all honesty, don't you think your spiritual health and physical wellbeing are worth a little more effort?

Your church may argue that it isn't what you are getting fed on Sundays that is the problem, but what we feed ourselves during the week. Point taken, however it's vital that a one-on-one follow-up study needs the support of church elders who have neither the time nor the commitment. Some churches will use fear and intimidation tactics to prevent you from leaving their church, by citing 1Timothy 4:1 which says:

"Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings" (NET).

Dear brethren, there can be no doubt that today's institutionalised church is divided due to neglect, religious indifferences and overlording. Let us analyse this subject further in the next chapter.

CHAPTER 14

Institutionalised Church Vs. Home Church

"Religious institutions governed by committee overlords segregate the body of Christ, not to mention placing a financial burden on those Christians who can least afford it"— Rev. William Barmen.

During 1970's Pentecostal awakening, families were reunited, long-severed friendships reconciled and hearts flowed together in true fellowship in the Lord. And even more than that, along with the spirit of unity and love came the spirit of sacrifice and the wondrous spirit of liberty.

During those glorious days, I was one of 3,000 congregants attending Pastor Klimionok's Garden City Church in Mt. Gravatt in Brisbane Australia. Today it's one of Hillsong's international worship centres. I often ask myself, "What is it about mega churches that attract Christians?" To be perfectly honest with you, I attended Klimionok's church because of the music, dynamic speakers and the lively atmosphere, which to me was very appealing. This is probably the same reason why Planet shakers and Hillsong are so popular today among the youth.

The Garden City church was becoming so institutionalised that it had to split their meetings into weekday groups. These mid-week prayer meetings seemed foreign to me. Why? Because unlike my previous church, there was no laying- on of hands, no prophecy and no tongues interpretation. To be blunt, the Garden City home fellowships were more like the Baptist services I attended when I was with Youth for Christ.

I don't mean to be judgmental or to put down the Baptist faith, but having been anointed with the gift of tongues-discernment, I felt that although all appeared godly, many worshipers had not been released from their earthly graves to enjoy the heavenly gifts that God intended for them in the here and now. (Ezekiel 37:12)

During that time many anointed men of God had fallen victim to sexual misconduct.

There was Ray Jackson Sr. from the Emmanuel church in Melbourne, Clark Taylor, Australia's first televangelist of Christian Outreach Centre in Brisbane, and Frank Houston pastor of Sydney Christian Life Centre in Darlinghurst, Sydney just to name a few.

Even though all these men have sort forgiveness their ungodly acts did at that time stifle my spirituality. This explains why that every time I tried to settle under the ministry of those ministers mentioned I would feel uneasy without really knowing why.

In fact my spirituality was so bad that after a while I started to lose confidence in Pentecostalism, convinced that it was nothing more than a money making racket. But turning your back on God isn't that easy as His irresistible Spirit will always woo you until you eventually yield to His will.

God will never let you go!

Dear brethren, isn't it nice to know that by hook or by crook our heavenly Father will not let us go? And so it was that after fifteen years of never setting foot in a church, the Lord sent along a very loving Christian lady (my wife) who being a Jehovah's Witness convinced me that the main principles to Christianity is not about making money, but about making disciples. And with this in mind I made a fresh start in serving God. But looking back I believe my eight years with the JW's wasn't about having the right doctrine but having the right attitude. I can honestly say that I have been cured of being a self-righteous over-the-top, hallelujah-praise-the-Lord loud mouth!!

Not surprisingly, many of my Pentecostal brethren were livered as to my change of religion— implying that it wasn't the hand of God that lured me but Satan. But I told them to read Luke 26:27-36 were it says that Christians are not to judge or condemn anyone including what they perceive to be God's enemies. Yes! We Christians need be reminded that maintaining a loving attitude relies on a fresh anointing of oil daily upon examination of the heart. And should it be revealed that the heart has strong uncompromising beliefs that are intolerant to other views —then it needs to be purged of its 'bigotry' so that the Holy Spirit will not be grieved. King David said: "Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness." — "Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me." (Psalms 26:2 & 51:11.NIV)

Dear brethren, it hurts me to say that bigotry is the number one scourge in today's Christian community becoming viral in social media websites such as Christian forums. How so?

The largest among Christian forums is CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry) who have via a word program excluded the word 'bigot' as a reminder to members that debate is to be conducted in a spirit of Christian LOVE and not as a whipping post to demonise other religions.

Perhaps forum members including my Pentecostal brethren need memorise Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 13:2 which says: "If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing" (NLT).

Let us see how the above scripture relates to us;

Mathew 7:23 tells of a story about Christ most loyal devotees who worked tirelessly preaching and performing miracles. But instead of Christ commending them He said: "And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness" (ESV).

I ask you; "what do you think it was that displeased Christ?"

Certainly not doctrine as there was only one Christian religion back then. It could not have been sorcery because we learn that Simon the ex- sorcerer was initially denied the miraculous gifts.

So what was it? The answer lies in Simon's overall attitude expressed in Acts 8:21 where Jesus says: "You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God."

Upon examination of scripture one can conclude that the disciples in Mathews setting were wrong to think that their miraculous works in Jesus name would be sufficient in pleasing the Lord. Ephesians 2:9 says: "Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it" (NIV)

Dear brethren, would it be fair to say that those who brag in forums when referring to their fine works are likened to Simon and fellow brethren as having a form of godly devotion void of the fruits of the Spirit such as Love, Joy, and Kindness? (Galatians 5:22-23)

Christians of all religious persuasions must not forget that growing in the knowledge of God is not just about obeying religious ordinances or dogmas, but about obedience to the second commandment —which is to LOVE one another without condemnation.

John 8:32 says: "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."Read also Proverbs 4:18 & 1 Corinthians 8:1.

Love covers a multitude of sin — 1 Peter 4:8;

My JW wife and I often agree to disagree, yet despite our religious indifferences, we find common ground in serving our heavenly father Jehovah and His beloved son Christ Jesus.

My only regret in leaving the JW's is that some of my family members are reluctant to associate with me —which makes me even more thankful to God for releasing me from the dreaded scourge of bigotry. My steps have now regained their foothold in readiness for my next assignment which was a small Charismatic home gathering specializing in praise and worship in the Spirit.

WHY HOME CHURCH?

After spending some considerable quality time with home church brethren, I am now convinced that although doctrine plays an important part in our quest for truths, a foundation of LOVE must first be laid. That's why a home church experience is so beneficial in its nurturing; it's as close as to the communal living experience of first-century Christians as today's practising Christian will ever get.

Interestingly enough, early fourth century church father John Chrysostom metaphorically described Christ's church this way:

"Accordingly all...suffer with it - "When a thorn enters the heel, the whole body feels it, and is concerned: the back bends, the belly and thighs contract themselves, the hands come forward and draw out the thorn, the head stoops, and the eyes regard the affected member with intense gaze" rejoice with it -" When the head is crowned, the whole man feels honoured, the mouth expresses, and the eyes look, gladness."

Dear brethren, when reading John Chrysostom's metaphor of the early church, can you honestly say that it describes your spiritual home? Let's be honest here; if someone in your church was pricked in the heel would you feel it? No, of course not! So then what good are mega churches if not for the entertainment and atmosphere?

But some worshipers may argue that the greater the number the greater the praise which inevitably brings down the fire. I respectfully disagree. Why? Because looking at it from my own perspective, mega churches try too hard to conjure up God's Holy Spirit during song and praise. They unwittingly make the mistake by planning their worship music in order to try and control the Spirit. But according to Ephesians 4:30, God's Holy Spirit is spontaneous, untamed and therefore will not be choreographed. To me, the Holy Spirit is likened to the wings of a dove caressing me in peaceful serenity at a time of His choosing and not mine.

Grassroots music or professional music.

What worshipers need to understand is that the playing of percussion, stringed or even wind musical instruments is in effect prophesying and therefore should be more valued as a hands-on ministry.

For example, in 2 Kings 3:15 when Elisha wanted to seek the mind of God so that he could prophesy, he asked for someone to play a harp. As the musician began to play, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha and he prophesied powerfully.

But mega churches in keeping their congregation entertained need to outsource their worship music to Christian marketing companies who copyright professional written songs many of which aren't even scripture orientated. These songs are often accompanied by professional singers -who with the aid of a HD digitised gigantic screen, coerce congregationist into praise and worship. I might be old fashioned, but I prefer a song sung in the Spirit by familiar brethren with few lyrics so my eyes can be closed and my spirit rose. Whatever happened to that song – "Be still and know that I am God?" (Psalm 46:10)

Home church vs. mega church.

"If men could learn from history, what lessons it might teach us! But passion and party blind our eyes, and the light which experience gives us is a lantern on the stern which shines only on the waves behind." — Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Dear brethren, do you honestly believe that mega churches of bricks and mortar will be standing when the prophesied persecution of the church comes to a head?

History tells us that in the 20th century Joseph Stalin promoted Marxism and Leninism as a substitute for all religions including their very own Russian Orthodoxy. It is estimated that during the Communist purge more than 20,000 religious buildings were destroyed, not to mention the million or more Christians who were either martyred or put into concentration camps.

Do you think this won't happen again now that Russia has removed the Berlin Wall—marking the end to the Cold War? Well think again, because my wife informs me that many parts of Russia have confiscated Kingdom Halls and banned religious activity with many being imprisoned despite United Nations objections. This begs the question: what religion will be next? In point of fact according to the 'Open Doors' watch list, 51 million Christians from 50 countries around the globe face religious persecution daily. Mathew 10:22 says this: "And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved" (NIV). (https://www.opendoors.org.au/persecuted-christians/about-persecution/)

Ministers of God need to be cautious when placing a heavy debt on parishioners for the purpose of building their own church. The best option is to rent halls, or better still set up a cluster of small home cell groups to enable Christians to adjust to a less formal style of fellowship.

A home church reminds me of the first century Christians whilst under persecution, clustered together in small numbers within the confines of the Roman catacombs. It may well be that very soon Christian homes will be ones catacomb of refuge— were privacy, security and self-interest will be put aside for the betterment of Christian unity.

Are you willing to compromise?

The subject of home church brings one to question: "am I willing to compromise my traditional values and beliefs for the sake of Christian unity?"

The apostle Paul may have asked himself this same question when purchasing food sacrificed to idols and the acceptance of Christian Jews in keeping with Judaism's religious observances.

Paul's compromises could have been regarded by some as hypocritical when allowing Timothy to be circumcised while at the same time forbidding the practice to the children of Christian Jews. Even Christ while nailed to a cross compromised when promising the thief beside Him eternal life without need for water baptism as required in Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38. So you may ask; "what was the reasoning's behind so much compromise?" Well, the answer to this question lies in 1 Corinthians 9:11:

"To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some" (NIV). Read also Corinthians 8.

However despite Paul's many compromises, some religions continue using scriptures such as Ephesians 5:11 which says: "have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." (NIV)

For example, deeds of darkness to the Jehovah's Witnesses are blood transfusions and the exclusion of God's name Jehovah—and to the Seven day Adventist it's worshiping God on a day other than Saturday. Furthermore, deeds of darkness to the Pentecostals are the denial of tongues and to the catholic's the denial of the Pope.

Well, if you think that's a narrow minded mindset then ponder this next scripture:

"Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works." (2 John 1:9-11 NIV)

To the narrow minded, the above scripture is interpreted to mean that religions, who do not teach the true gospel in accordance with theirs, are considered to be false teachers of darkness.

In point of fact, when in my youth as a "Jesus Only" I would often observe my pastor greeting visitors at the church door. Unfamiliar Christians got a "hello and welcome" while familiar Christians got a handshake, hug, or even a holly kiss!!

If that wasn't bad enough, trinitarians were never given hospitality by our church in fear of partaking in there so named "wicked works of the trinity!"

But what's ridiculous about all this judgment and condemnation is that the Ephesians 5:11 and 2 John 1:9-11 when in context to 1 Corinthians 5:9 and 2 Corinthians 6:14 are referring to the sexual immorality of the world from which Christianity is unyoked and the denial of Christ sacrifice to His father's will.

A parable of compromise.

In the very last days of religious persecution, four people gathered together—a Jehovah's Witness, Seven Day Adventist, Pentecostal and a Catholic. To each God gave a piece of dry kindling (Word) as a sign of His love. Then when persecution came suddenly, all four fled to the mountains and found refuge in a cave. But when winter arrived, each was asked to contribute their kindling. But because some were unwilling to cooperate, there wasn't enough dry wood to ignite the fire. Hence, all froze to death.

So what is the moral of the story?

Do you really think God wants you to die for a principle? NRSV Colossians 2:8 says:

"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ."

Today's Christian must not forget that because Christ is the central player to all those who believe in His deity, death and resurrection, are indeed brethren. When it comes to survival what should be a Christian's main focus is to LOVE unconditionally.

Dear brethren, if you are contemplating joining a home church I suggest you discern in love those of your fellow brethren as to whether they have the same goals and aspirations as yourself.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 says: "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us." (NIV)

1 John 1:6 says: "So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. (NLT) Read also 1 John 4:1 & 1Corintheans 15:33.

CHAPTER 15

Testing the Spirits

I have touched on this subject in chapter 12 and would like to elaborate further.

When reading this book you may have noticed a lot of criticism about today's institutionalised church. "Am I judging?" Well, Satan would like you to think so! Truth be told, Judgment seen in its correct context is simply exercising a proper discrimination.

NIV Study Notes say: "The Christian is not to judge hypocritically or self-righteously, as can be seen from the context. [But] Scripture repeatedly exhorts believers to evaluate carefully and choose between good and bad people and things. "A Christian is to test everything!"

Ponder this scripture; "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1 NRSV).

The above scripture brings to mind an incident in the 1970s where during a church gathering, a very desperate man seeking to be healed was coerced into falling down. Not by the gentle power of God's Holy Spirit but by a very forceful human hand.

Not surprisingly, this incident gave way to seeds of doubt to the point where I sought God's guidance on the matter. That night the Holy Spirit gave to me a revelation via a dream which I would like to share with you.

In my dream I saw three trees being swayed by a powerful wind, like human hands casting shadows over each other. Then as if the wind was speaking, I heard these words: "Although both are my branches, one tree is of the anointing, the other is not." Then after what seemed like a very long pause I remember asking: "But what of the third tree?" In reply I heard these words: "It is the counterfeit of my authority." Then I asked, "But Lord, which of the three is genuine that I should believe in it?" The voice replied: "Those who have faith need not inquire as to the tree. Rather, examine the fruit that it bears."

So what lessons did I learn from this dream?

God's revelation taught me that Christians can in good faith; act out roles (pushing) without proper ordination thus, diverting attention away from those who are ordained. Hence, "one tree is of the anointing, the other is not." (1Timothy 5:22)

God's revelation also taught me that the devils service is not of his own choosing but of God's appointed time so that we Christians can learn to discern the devils hand. Hence, "It is the counterfeit on my authority." But more importantly was the lesson that we should know God's hand by its fine fruit. Matthew 7:16: "You will know them by their fruits."

Perhaps it could be better explained in a metaphor;

Just imagine yourself at the local supermarket sampling an apple of which you were about to purchase. Then when arriving home discovered that the apples purchased were not as tasty as the one sampled when looking rosy and waxed up under the spot lights. Simile, brethren who appear doing God's work under the spot lights of a church platform may indeed be quite the opposite when you really get to know them. It was from this revelation that gave me the idea of implementing a three principle "Taste Test" formula:

1. Enquiry - Questioning. (Matthew 7:7, Philippians 2:12 & Acts 17:11)

2. Doubt - Critical thinking. (1 John 4:1)

3. Evaluation - Gathering evidence. (Matthew 7:16 & James 1:22)

Let me back these three principles with Scripture.

The disciple Thomas after questioning his fellow believers used critical thinking in discerning a ghost like figure emerging through a door. These inquiries lead to evidence made apparent by Jesus markings which were visible for identification purposes.

Ponder this: Thomas was the only disciple who used discernment when testing a spirit that claimed to be Jesus? Yet ironically the lesson we are taught is to 'never be a doubting Thomas'. (John 20:27 & Mark 16:14)

How do the lessons of Thomas apply to our places of worship?

If the fruitage of your minister claims healing either spiritual or physical, evidence of this will show in your overall health and enthusiasm. If the fruit of your pastor claims title or ministry of an apostle, prophet or prophetess, then evidence will show in good sound leadership and decision making. But if the fruit tastes sour when being solicited for money, coerced into submission, and expected to overlook error, then it's time to shop around.

As simple as that may sound, many Christians, either from habit, tradition, peer pressure, loyalty or fear, will forever put up with having a bitter taste.

For example, one Church in which I visited taught that physical and mental suffering with Christ daily is a necessity for spiritual wellbeing. So that would mean despite what congregationist see and hear from the pulpit, their duty is to forgive and to suffer in silence. But my perception of being partakers of Christ's suffering is that we enter into the victory Jesus bore for us on the cross. The only suffering we encounter in sharing His victory is spiritual discomfort brought by resisting the pressures of the flesh and not a physical or mental suffering.

Ponder this scripture;

"Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul" (3 John 1:2 NRSV).

The above scripture brings to mind an old saying: "what you are is what you eat!" These wise words say to me that wise instruction brings about good health which in turn brings Joy when serving the LORD in a labour of LOVE. (Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 119)

In summary: I talked about how Christians should without judgment or condemnation; test all spirits by their fruitages including those who take the lead by implementing the taste test formula. But more importantly was my advice to all Christians that they should be on guard from ministers who lord over them with mind control techniques —and to flee from such heresies.

Please take note that the subject of church leadership needs to be open for further discussion as one's very salvation may depend on it. In this next chapter I will be discussing how easily fruit can become tasteless to the point of being contaminated when being dispensed by God's faithful stewards.

CHAPTER 16

Can a Church Become Contaminated?

"Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time?" (Matthew 24:45 NRSV)

The servants depicted in Matthew's setting are likened to pastors and teachers in today's church who feed us our daily bread. You may recall me mentioning this food as likened to manna fed the children of Israel on their way to the Promised Land in Exodus 16:4-adding that virgin olive oil is also symbolic of spiritual food, depicted in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew chapter twenty five. I often wonder how the parable of the ten virgins would have turned out if they had received rancid oil, due to mishandling.

How can a church become contaminated?

During an investigation held by the Australian Royal Commission into sexual abuse in religious institutions (2013-14) Frank Houston of the Christian Life Centre was exposed as having a homosexual relationship with his youth leader as well as participating in paedophilia activities. You may recall me mentioning his name as one of three co-founders of the Australian Christian Churches. Also mentioned was Ray Jackson Sr. from the Emmanuel church in Melbourne and Clark Taylor from the Christian Outreach Centre Queensland who both fled to the USA after being accused of sexual impropriety.

What does this have to do with me?

I believe that in that period of time when I was just a babe in the Lord attending these churches, the food dispensed to me by Pastors Jackson, Houston and Taylor was indeed contaminated.

My reasoning is not just based on Matthew 24:45 but also on Joshua 7:22, which depicts the story of Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah who secretly buried Babylonian treasure in their tents in disobedience to God's commands.

The penalty for their disobedience was cast on the whole nation of Israel and cost the lives of thirty-six men.

Dear brethren, do you agree that Achan's story depicts today's church whereby one minister's unclean hands can contaminate and thereby undernourish and cause spiritual illness to his whole congregation, though they might not understand why? The apostle Paul does!

In fact, Galatians 5:9 says that a little leaven can affect the whole lump. To the uninitiated the leaven is a small portion of fermented dough which is introduced into the fresh lump of dough, and makes the entire thing to rise.

The Bible tells us that church leaders are accountable to the souls of those who God has entrusted them too. And because of this, pastors have a duty of care to put in place checks and balances. As a guide I have drawn up two levels of principles that I have found to be successful.

1. Plurality of leadership —serves three purposes. It diversifies gifting within leadership, encourages members of the Body to seek opportunities to serve in leadership, and militates against corruption and pride among those who assume authority.

2. Regular communication —allows engaging with other leaders or trusted counsellors. These conversations, conducted in an atmosphere of trust and love, give opportunity for a minister of God to address openly the concerns of the congregation. Leadership meetings should not be optional or as needed but must be regular with complete transparency in mind.

But sadly, many churches neglect to have a system of accountability from charlatans who would misconstrue God's Word for personal gain.

One such charlatan who comes to mind is the Rev. James Warren Jones from the infamous Peoples' Temple. You may recall in the 1970's Jones lead 900 of his devotees to their death by drinking a lethal cocktail of poison. A brief outline taken from chapter twenty two.

Rev. Jones loved to misconstrue Hebrews 13:17 to remind his devotees that the work of God's anointed are to watch over their souls- whilst they submit to his authority with joy and not sorrow. But unfortunately devotees of Jones were not able to discern Joy and sorrow, from good and evil. For example: If a student is mentored in love, the teacher would have gained respect and the student great joy.

But if a student is mentored in fear, they will become sorrowful. The choice as to whether Jim Jones followers should submit their soul too is written in Hebrews 5:14 which says: "but solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."

The bottom line is this: "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help" (Psalms 146:3: KJV).

Yes likened to the Jewish Bereans mentioned in the Bible, Paul is telling us to sample the food before digesting it —in order that we maintain a spirit of love and joy and not a spirit of fear and sorrow. (Acts 17:11)

In the next chapter I will be discussing how a Church was left vulnerable by its neglect of leadership and spiritual discernment.

CHAPTER 17

Using the Gift of Discernment

"And to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:10 NASB).

Aiden Wilson Tozer (April 21, 1897 – May 12, 1963) was an American Christian pastor; preacher, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor said this:

"Among the gifts of the Spirit scarcely one is of greater practical usefulness than the gift of discernment. This gift should be highly valued and frankly sought as being almost indispensable in these critical times. This gift will enable us to distinguish the chaff from the wheat and to divide the manifestations of the flesh from the operations of the Spirit." (1Corinthians 12:10)

A familiar spirit that went undetected.

Here in Australia there was a very important case, second only to the Azaria Chamberlain debacle of the 1980's which involved abduction in 2003 of a 13-year old boy named Daniel James Morcombe. In August 2011, Brett Peter Cowan a former Sunshine Coast resident was convicted of Morcombe's murder.

What many Australians don't know is that Brett Cowan was a born-again Christian who attended a Pentecostal church in Woombye Sunshine Coast Queensland. Brett even used the church's car park to hide his vehicle so he could walk to the bus stop under the Kiel Mountain Road overpass in a ploy to offer Daniel a lift after he had missed the bus.

A convicted pedophile among children!

Brett Peter Cowan was a convicted serial pedophile who claimed to have been rehabilitated to Christianity in 1998 with the help of his uncle, associate Pastor Mr. Keith Philbrook of the Woombye church. Brett settled down to church life and even got married in 1999 to one of the church parishioners who gave him two sons. It's within the period 1998-2003 that I would like to focus on because during that time Brett was regularly attending Church when apparently something evil resurfaced. What was it?

Before I continue, I should tell you from past experience that Catholic Priest that perform exorcisms say that people who are demon-possessed can never be completely free if they are not fully immersed in the blood of Christ. Evil spirits may leave their host for a short time, but under certain circumstances will return ever more aggressive. Please keep this in mind as you read on.

Brett Cowan placed in custody to the church.

I was surprised to learn that Brett was placed by the court in the care of his uncle and aunt Mr. and Mrs. Philbrook both senior church elders. Pastor Chas Gullo was aware of Cowan's conviction and sentencing in Darwin, nevertheless accepted Cowan into the church under Mr. Philbrook's supervision. Brett was even allowed limited access to church children without a Blue Card (Police check).

"He attended church with us, as this was one of the requirements of his coming to us, and boundaries were placed around him and he was not to be around young children"—says Mr. Philbrook (Source: Sunshine Coast Daily 16/3/2014).

But boundaries were broken.

Melissa Bridges, then a 15-year-old teenager reported Brett Cowan in 1998 for an alleged rape and said that Pastor Chas Gullo had been advised of the incident but failed to expel or report Cowan despite knowing he had been jailed for child abuse in Darwin.

Melisa, now 33 believes that the warning signs did demonstrate that Brett Cowan had not been true to his convictions and that Mr. Philbrook and pastor Gullo just swept this incident under the carpet until Mr Cowan's highly publicised arrest in August 2011. Mr Gullo has since been removed from his office.

"Maybe we were naïve in thinking that Brett was worth giving a second chance. All impressions were that he was clean (from drugs) and willing to respond to support"— says Mr. Philbrook. (Source: Sunshine Coast Daily 16/3/2014)

Clean from drugs or evil spirits?

The Daniel Morcombe debacle demonstrates a neglect of duty, and it may have been the case, that if Pastor Chas Gullo had used his gifts of knowledge and wisdom Daniels abduction may have been avoided. But more so, if the church had exercised the gift of discernment according to 1 Corinthians 12:10, Brett may have received a true born–again experience.

Is demonic possession real?

Jesus often dealt with the demonic realm in the gospels, primarily in the context of casting them out. He trained the disciples to do it also and said that driving out demons was one of the signs that follow believers. Mark 16:17 says:

"These signs will accompany those who have believed: in my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues...." (NIV)

In 1 Corinthians 12:10, Paul explains that there is a spiritual gift of discernment available to believers so that they would know what the demonic realm is doing.

Ponder this scripture:

"When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first" (Luke 11:24-26 BSB).

In simple terms, Luke is saying that when a person who is possessed by an evil spirit, but surrenders it to Christ to be loosed and then bound, that person will be free to receive the spirit of Christ. But if the recipient doesn't truly repent, or have a fresh anointing of Holy Spirit daily, the unbound demon will come back with even more power and influence than before.

Perhaps it is better explained by using a metaphor.

Just imagine you are a landlord renting out a house in goodwill only to find that the tenants were so bad that you needed to acquire an eviction notice to kick them out -but neglected to change the locks and have a better tenant move in. Your carelessness resulted in the bad tenant returning — not alone as before, but with his teammates making them the "neighbors from hell!"

My point is this: our heavenly Father is our landlord from whom we rent out our dwelling (temple) on the proviso that we regularly maintain it and remove anything that would defile it. Read Mathew 15:11 & 1 Corinthians 3:16.

Was Brett Cowan's tenancy application approved?

In keeping with the metaphor, God's salvation tenancy agreement 'Form Acts 2:38' stipulates three basic requirements needed before approval can be granted —which are as follows:

1. Repentance — acknowledging change.

2. Baptism — symbolising the washing clean of one's house. (Temple)

3. The renewing of one's spirit— inviting the presence of Christ within. (John 3:5).

But the question begs: did Brett Cowan pass all three requirements? Well, only tongues \- discernment could have answered that! But unfortunately the only discernment exercised was from 15 year old Melissa Bridges whose evaluation of Mr. Cowan was completely ignored.

Read Mathew 7:16-20.

Dear brethren, there can be no doubt that Brett Peter Cowan's evil influence is a wake-up call to the church that they should value the gift of discernment as a regular part of their spiritual disciplines when praying for loved ones, families, businesses, and ministries. When the church engages in this, it is declaring that a Christian's warfare is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. (Ephesians 6:12)

Note: Daniel Morcombe's parents are exceptional by making the loss   
of their son purposeful. They have set up the "Daniel Morcombe foundation" educating students as regards to the nature of sexual predators. Please support them on www.danielmorcombe.com.au

How many masks does Satan have?

"And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light"

(2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV).

The Devils influence is not just designated to demonic possession but also   
evil oppression which no doubt affects everyone and therefore needs to be analysed in more detail as such;

In today's modern church the definition of a spiritual home has changed as many of today's 21st Century Christians have chosen to make the television their church, and the televangelist their pastor. One such angelic evangelist, or should I say apostolic prophetess, is 60-year old Joyce Meyer who lives in a mansion in Fenton, Missouri, near St. Louis.

Mrs. Meyer fights having her books open by the IRS –making her a target for much speculation as to her personal wealth and those of her church. It has been said that Mrs. Meyer owns a $2 million home, a $10 million private jet, and houses worth another $2 million for the couple's children that would be counted, because the children also work for the ministry.

Yes Joyce Meyer is rich, but so was Abraham hence, God does bless Christians financially: but whether that wealth is used honorably only God knows! So with that in mind, a Christian needs to discern Joyce Meyer from a different perspective other than her wealth. And what better way to test ones authenticity than through God's Living WORD!

Galatians 1:8 says: "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a divine curse!" (NIV)

Apologist Matt Slick from the Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry (CARM) has reviewed Joyce Meyer's apologetics as follows:

Meyer says that Jesus went to hell in our place and was tormented:

"Jesus paid on the cross and went to hell in my place. Then as God had promised, on the third day Jesus rose from the dead. The scene in the spirit realm went something like this: God rose up from his throne and said to demon powers tormenting the sinless son of God, 'let him go.' Then the resurrection power of Almighty God went through hell and filled Jesus. On earth his grave where they had buried him was filled with light as the power of God filled his body. He was resurrected from the dead — the first born again man."

Matt Slick responds. "Where does she get this entirely fictitious dialogue between God and the demon powers? It is made up, not founded on scripture, and mistakenly assumes that Jesus went to hell, the place of torment and suffering after he died on the cross.

The Bible does not teach that Jesus suffered in hell and finished the atonement there."

Myer says that if you don't believe Jesus went to hell, you cannot be saved:

"His spirit went to hell because that is where we deserve to go... There is no hope of anyone going to heaven unless they believe this truth."

Matt Slick responds. "This is an amazingly bad statement on her part. She is saying that you cannot be saved from your sins unless you believe that Jesus went to hell where we deserve to go. This is a false modification of the gospel which is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and states that the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Nowhere in scripture are we told to believe that Jesus suffered for us in hell or that he went there. This is not only wrong; it is heretical" (Joyce Meyers apologetics go to https://carm.org/joyce-meyer)

In summing up: it's not enough to just believe what Joyce Meyer says, no matter how good the words are or how well she presents them. Let's not be taken in by a public figure that is confident, assertive, and appears to be biblical. Our duties as Christians include biblical discernment – which can only be done by examining what is said on the pulpit and comparing it with scripture. Pray for Joyce Meyer that she may one day come into the light if she is truly one of God's own. I always hold on to the hope that while one is alive they can be disciplined. I will be discussing more on the subject of TV celebrities in Chapter 21.

CHAPTER 18

Were is the Third Wave Outpouring?

In chapter five I mentioned Peter Wagner's prophesy of a new apostolic age beginning 2001.

To jog your memory, chief apostle Wagner is part of New Apostolic Reform movement which is infiltrating among Pentecostal and charismatic churches heralding a third wave Holy Spirit outpouring. Let us put Peter Wagner's prophesy to the test by comparing the events of 1960-70's to that of 2001 onward.

The year 1901 ushered in the second wave of the "New Prophecy Movement", which ultimately led to the 1960s resurgence in an Episcopalian Church in Van Nuys, California, (St. Mark's with Dennis Bennett as rector). Witnesses to that event testify that there was an outburst of tongues speaking in this church. This event was so significant that both Time and Newsweek covered the story. In October of 1962, the glossolalia phenomenon broke out at Yale University, among members of the Evangelical Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship.

Included in this new-Pentecostal revival were Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, and even one Roman Catholic. Five were members of Phi Beta Kappa, and some were religious leaders on campus who were nicknamed the "Glosso Yalies."

Thereafter, the movement spread to Dartmouth College, Stanford University, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Interestingly enough, 1967 also marked an important event in the Notre Dame area where thirty zealous Catholics began to speak in other tongues. In just a few years this number grew to a staggering 22,000 consisting of ten foreign nationalities.

In 1975 Notre Dame was chosen to host a conference attended by 30,000 Catholic Charismatic's including Pope Paul VI who personally expressed his warm appreciation for the movement.

The new prophecy movement was mushrooming not only in the Roman Catholic Church, but in all of the major Protestant denominations.

In the summer of 1977 the Kansas City Charismatic Conference was held where all three wings of the Pentecostal movement were present –which is as follows:

1. Old Pentecostals —sometimes called "classical Pentecostals"

2. Protestant Charismatic's.

3. Catholic Charismatic's.

This was the biggest and most inclusive gathering of "baptized in the Spirit believers" in modern history. There were nearly 50,000 participants in this five-day conference. One speaker proudly hailed this conference as "the largest and most inclusive ecumenical assembly in the history of American Christianity." Almost half of the participants were Roman Catholics.

A newspaper article published in 1977 (AP), reported that there were 10 million Charismatic's in America (5 million Classical Pentecostals and 5 Million New Pentecostals). Thus, the new charismatic movement grew to 5 million in only seventeen years.

Those were the glory days when simply bowing before the throne in worship would touch hearts, including my own, and lift the spirits of those who sensed the incredible love of God.

I experienced as did John Wesley, families being reunited, long-severed friendships reconciled and hearts flowing together in true fellowship in the Lord.

The Apostle Paul experienced such manifestations in Romans 5:13:

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (NRSV).

But what about today's prophesized third wave outpouring?

According to the International Vineyard, the New Apostolic Reform, Signs and Wonders, and the Kansas City Prophets— the third wave Holy Spirit revival is now evident.

But where are the Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians Catholics, Baptist, Anglicans, and Methodist? Besides, I don't recall in the 1970's Pentecostal awakening seeing any apostles in the above faiths—did you? Many apostolic followers have said that Benny Hinn has been favoured by God to be part of Peter Wagner's new apostolic age beginning 2001.

But if you think conversing with dead saints is in God's favour you are mistaken. In fact, apostle Hinn makes no secret of possessing the keys to Kathryn Kuhlman's crypt where he often goes to pray. Benny believes her mantel of power has been predestined to go to him after she laid hands on him in Pittsburgh in 1973. This is clearly necromancy or communication with the dead. But Benny Hinn justified it by using the Mount of Transfiguration when Moses and- Elijah talked to the Lord. Let's be reasonable here; if apostle Hinn has been favoured by God to be the forerunner to a new apostolic age revival then why the threats:

"Now I'm pointing my finger with the mighty power of God on me. You hear this. There are men and women in Southern California attacking me. I will tell you under the anointing now; you'll reap it in your children. You'll never win...And your children will suffer. You're attacking me on the radio every night; you'll pay, and your children will. Hear this from the lips of God's servant. You are in danger. Repent, or God Almighty will move his hand." (World Charismatic Conference in Anaheim, California August 7, 1992)

Ted Haggard of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs is another apostle who convinced himself to be favored of God. Pastor Haggard was a founder of the Association of Life-Giving Churches; and was leader of the National Association of Evangelicals from 2003 until November 2006. Rev Haggard was accused of procuring sex with a male prostitute and taking illicit drugs which lead to his resignation in 2006. Sorry to say that Rev Haggard had not learnt the lessons of Jimmy Swaggart who was also defrocked when caught procuring sex with a (female) prostitute.

Yet another so named favored one of God was Louis Lamonica who walked into a police station in nearby Livingstone and confessed to a series of crimes that left the duty sergeant reeling with shock. Lamonica said that he and a group of parishioners had abused children and sacrificed animals in satanic ceremonies. Dear brethren, the above incidences of God's anointed falling from grace are just the tip of the iceberg —leaving many disgruntled Christians asking: "what does God expect from His Church in preparation to the final third wave outpouring of His Holy Spirit?"

Perhaps the answer to this question lies in Revelation 21:2 were the Bride is symbolized as the Church and the Bridegroom Christ. Ephesians 5:27 says that the bride is to be in splendor, holy and blameless without spot or wrinkle in preparation to meet with the bridegroom. But let's not kid ourselves; Christ our bridegroom will not come unless we the Church-bride are willing to lift our gain on holiness living as did the early church.

Speaking of early Christians and their commitment to holiness living, I have dug up from my mother's library a book entitled 'The Power of His Presence.' The author Graham Truscott writes the following:

"With the power of the Spirit and the manifestations of the Resurrection Life of Christ received at the outpouring of the Early Rain, the early church tuned the world upside down. (Acts 17:6) In the face of terrifying opposition, in which they were stoned, beaten, thrown to the lions, mercilessly tortured and killed without riches, organization, security or recognition, their efforts at preaching the Gospel were accompanied by triumphant success!

The harvest of souls they reaped was nothing short of phenomenal-Three thousand were converted to Christ in one day; five thousand on another; multitudes on another. And yet, in those days it was a crime to be a Christian-a crime for which there was no apology accepted, no trial allowed and no forgiveness granted. Fifty days after the death of Jesus, He proved both to His few followers and to the world that He was alive, by filling them with the Holy Spirit Jesus filled those who believed in Him with the same Spirit through Whom He had lived a life of power, love and spotless purity. The outpouring of the Spirit made the disciples of Jesus as zealous as He had been. This despised sect demonstrating breathtaking miracles and reaping such a harvest of souls had to succeed. They could not fail. For they were motivated by the Power of the Spirit"

Dear brethren, Brian Truscott's story of true discipleship does give rise to the question as to whether today's church will be of similar nature to the early church. Perhaps by reading another topic in Graham's book (Ark of the Covenant) we may have our answer. Graham writes:

"In King David's day, we see the same situation. The Ark of the Covenant was lost to God's people. Because of this, they had lost also the Presence, Power and Glory of the Living God. The Presence of God - this Ark of the Covenant -had to be restored. David by bringing back the Ark of the Covenant restored the Power of His Presence to Israel. He put the Ark in a Tabernacle, from which the light of God's glory, power, victory and peace shone out to all who came to Mount Zion. This is the Tabernacle that God had promised to restore". (Amos 9:11, 12 and Acts 15:16, 17) (World Map Press Burbank California)

As regards to the question posed, during the 1960-70's the Church did experience the Presence, Power and Glory of the Living God similar in nature to early Christians. But unfortunately in today's institutionalized religion the Holy Spirits presence has not been welcomed. We can only pray that God's Holy Tabernacle (church) will be completely restored when God sees once again His people hungering for its Life giving Power.

Graham's book is indeed a timely reminder for all Pentecostal and charismatic churches to make the speaking in tongues a priority so that Christ's church can once again become full of zeal and enthusiasm in preparation for Christ's return.

We Christians should not forget that the clothing of the Spirit is ones veil of purity which the prophet John describes as a head covering over the Church; who will without spot or blemish await her bridegrooms coming. (Revelation 21:2)

What are the signs that mark the beginning of Christ return?

I recall in the early 1970's while witnessing on the streets of Melbourne Australia, a city council ordinance which affected our Christian coffee shop ministry. How so? At that time there was a religious group calling themselves ' Hare Krishna's' — who in large groups strutted their stuff through the main streets of Melbourne distributing religious literature, and chanting songs with very noisy clashing symbols. After many complaints the city council in order to ban them had to include all religions. It was from this predicament that the Lord gave me a prophetic Word taken from Matthew 24:32-33.

"Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door" (NLT).

Please note that before continuing with my tongues discernment, I need to say that Muslims overall are a peace loving people and should not be all branded as extremist or for that matter terrorist. But that doesn't mean to say that Satan the Devil won't capitalise on the negative side of what is considered to be the second largest religion in the world.

My interpretation as follows:

To those of my people with an eye and ear please take heed:

The sprouting buds symbolize the influx of millions of refugees who take with them the tree of Islam which will eventually take root and begin seeding the message of the prophet Mohammad. By puritanical means Islam will dominate the political arena which will change the culture of Christian civilization. Islamic fundamentalism will lead to riots to the point where all religions will have to be regulated. Those who are not registered as a legitimate government-run religion (whatever that will be!) will have to go underground where private dwellings will become likened to catacombs of sanctuary.

It is then when the church is stripped bare of its pride and prejudice that God's great Power and Glory will be manifested through great signs and wonders. God's restoration will begin. Those with plenty will lose much and those with little will learn to share even more. Doctrine will be compromised for the common good of Christ's church. But the very essential tool for unification and endurance will be the empowerment of my Holy Spirit from this third and final spiritual awakening— thus says the Lord.

In summary: the first wave of God's new prophecy movement began with the first century Christians who sowed the seeds for the second wave of the 2nd century Montanist movement. The 20th century marked the time when these seeds were made ready for the 21st century harvest which is God's third and final wave of sorting out the goats from the sheep. (Mathew 25:33-36)

Simply put, the former rain yields the seeds and the latter rain brings the harvest to full maturity each accompanied by the gifts of the Spirit confirming the Word with signs following (Mark 16:20)

CHAPTER 19

The Counterfeit Tongue

Normally I wouldn't recommend Hank Hanegraaff because of his cessationists' views, however in his 1997 book "Counterfeit Revival" he makes a good argument in regard to today's charismatic and Pentecostal movements, namely the New Apostolic Reform movement (NAR)

You may recall me mentioning the NAR and apostle Peter Wagner who prophesied a third wave movement (second apostolic age) beginning 2001. (Ref 5)

In brief: Hanegraaff says that the "manifestations of the Spirit" are caused by psychological manipulation of parishioners, and that many of the "signs and wonders" claimed by these churches are fraudulent or result from manipulation, peer pressure, subtle suggestions, altered states of consciousness from repetitive chanting or singing, and expectations of supernatural events. Hanegraaff goes on to say that many of the practices within these movements are not biblically sanctioned or appropriate, but are based on scriptures that have been misinterpreted. And to add, Charismatic movements rely too much on subjective experiences or feelings.

Dear brethren, it seems apparent to me that Hanegraaff is referring to the New Apostolic Reform movement who are considered extremist compared to the Assemblies of God moderates. Besides, I don't know what Hanegraaff means by too much "subjective experiences!" But if he's referring to the speaking in tongues, then he's wrong providing that the methodology used in acquiring this heavenly language is administered correctly. How so?

For instance, there exist a Pentecostal group of 24 million Unitarians coined "Jesus only" (UPC) who teach that the speaking in tongues is mandatory for salvation. In some of these congregations a fast track methodology is taught that a tongue can begin with a few words, then after time more words will be added. But this begs the question: could this ministry be open to subliminal influences or "subjective experiences of emotions"— as Hanegraaff puts it?

There can be no room for doubt.

If your heavenly tongue is not flowing freely from within your stomach first go then keep on trying. I know from my youth that there was a lot of parental and peer pressure applied to me when seeking out this gift. It may be the case that God has kept this gift in safe keeping (due its neglect) only to be given out sparingly to those who sort His power with heartfelt prayer and fasting. Nonetheless, there is enough in reserve to help you cope until His fullness (third wave) arrives prior to His coming. But you have to be patient and wait on the LORD and not listen to people like Hanegraaff.

How can I know when I have the gift of speaking in tongues?

As mentioned in chapter three and five — the evidence that one should expect when being baptised in the Spirit is a complete change of attitude. If this is not made apparent in your servitude to God then it's possible that either your experience was subliminal or a stealth spirit is at work. Stealth spirits are familiar spirits who go undetected due to the neglect of prophetic utterances of discernment as was the case with the Brett Cowen in chapter seventeen.

Let us read once more what Aiden Tozer- an American Christian pastor; preacher, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor has to say about discerning stealth spirits:

"Among the gifts of the Spirit scarcely one is of greater practical usefulness than the gift of discernment. This gift should be highly valued and frankly sought as being almost indispensable in these critical times. This gift will enable us to distinguish the chaff from the wheat and to divide the manifestations of the flesh from the operations of the Spirit."

Do you think that Aiden Tozer is right in saying that tongues discernment is not valued in today's institutionalised church? You may be surprised to know that a survey conducted by the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life in 2006 revealed that speaking in tongues is not practiced by a significant number of Charismatic and Pentecostal Christians. But what's more alarming is that out of six countries at least forty percent of Pentecostals said they never pray or speak in tongues. That would indicate that from the 290 million Charismatic's and Pentecostals worldwide, 116 million don't speak in tongues. And that figure does not include those who think they have tongues but have been hoodwinked by a stealth spirit.

Bert Farias from 'Charisma News' says this about today's Pentecostalism.

"I travel to churches for a living so I see firsthand how much of a diminishing emphasis there is on praying in tongues these days. There is a marked difference between now and just 20-30 years ago. Even in the back-room in pre-service prayer there seems to be less of praying in tongues. And singing in tongues is even rarer and almost unheard of. More and more Christians seem to be uncomfortable and unfamiliar with this realm. This neglect is hurting the church. This de-emphasis is diminishing her power and effectiveness. And this is exactly what the devil wants."

I can only hope and pray that after reading Bert Farias description of today's church many Pentecostals and charismatic's will find the courage to lobby there local church pastors to use tongues more frequently. Read 2 Timothy 3:5.

CHAPTER 20

Who Needs God When You Have Money!

Dear brethren, I'm addressing this issue because today's institutionalised church is more focused on money than people by selling the notion that financial security is the answer to all problems thus, robbing local churches of much needed financial support.

The greatest of all heresies is the desire for personal wealth.

In 2014 David Yonggi Cho, the founding pastor of the world's largest Pentecostal congregation of one million in South Korea has been sentenced to three years in prison for embezzling 13 billion won (US $12 million) in church funds. Also added to the list was Pastor Kong Hee who in 2015 was sentenced to eight years in prison by Singapore's charity commissioner for siphoning $35.9 million in church funds to support his wife Sun Ho's singing career in the United States and Asia. If you think this doesn't happen in the USA then your mistake. How so? Remember televangelist Jim Bakker who was conviction for his part in the embezzlement of church funds in the 1980's?

Apparently, the Pentecostal trend toward personal wealth began with A.A. Allen's prosperity tenet which was then adopted by Kenneth Hagin who renamed it "Seeds to harvest!" — as in give a dollar and receive ten dollars. The beneficiaries of this tenet were Kenneth and Gloria Copeland whose seed investment harvested a six million-dollar mansion in Fort Worth Texas and a twenty million dollar Lear jet.

But Hagin was upset by the way his message of prosperity was being abused. Hence, wrote a book in 2000, three years prior to his death called The Midas Touch that addressed what Hagin called selfish indulgence. Unfortunately this publication wasn't being read or understood by those for whom Hagin intended it. More to the point, one year before Hagin's book's publication, "Big Daddy Hagin" summoned all his students for a meeting at the Rhema campus in Tulsa. Those invited to attend included Jerry Savelle, Jesse Duplantis, Mac Hammond, Steve Parson, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar. Note: Leroy Thompson refused to attend. It was there that Hagin faced off with his colleagues, accusing them of manipulating the Bible to support what he viewed as personal greed.

J. Lee Grady, the editor of Charisma Magazine reviewed "The Midas Touch" and highlights some very important principles in the book as follows:

1. Financial prosperity is not a sign of God's blessing.

Hagin wrote: "If wealth alone were a sign of spirituality, then drug traffickers and crime bosses would be spiritual giants. Material wealth can be connected to the blessings of God or it can be totally disconnected from the blessings of God."

2. People should never give in order to get.

Hagin was critical of those who "try to make the offering plate some kind of heavenly vending machine." He denounced those who link giving to getting, especially those who give cars to get new cars or who give suits to get new suits. He wrote: "There is no spiritual formula to sow a Ford and reap a Mercedes."

3. It is not biblical to "name your seed" in an offering.

Hagin was horrified by this practice, which was popularized in faith conferences during the 1980s. Faith preachers sometimes tell donors that when they give in an offering they should claim a specific benefit to get a blessing in return. Hagin rejected this idea and said that focusing on what you are going to receive "corrupts the very attitude of our giving nature."

4. The "hundredfold return" is not a biblical concept.

Hagin did the math and figured out that if this bizarre notion were true, "we would have Christians walking around with not billions or trillions of dollars, but quadrillions of dollars!" He rejected the popular teaching that a believer should claim a specific monetary payback rate.

5. Preachers who claim to have a "debt-breaking" anointing should not be trusted.

Hagin was perplexed by ministers who promise "supernatural debt cancellation" to those who give certain offerings despite the fact that there is not one bit of Scripture that validates such a practice. Hagan says that it's simply a scheme to raise money for the preacher, and ultimately it can turn out to be dangerous and destructive for all involved.

Hagin condemned other hare-brained schemes, gimmicks designed to trick audiences into emptying their wallets. He was especially incensed when a preacher told his radio listeners that he would take their prayer requests to Jesus' empty tomb in Jerusalem and pray over them there - if donors included a special love gift. Hagin wrote: "What that radio preacher really wanted were more people to send in offerings."

God bless Brother Grady and Charisma magazine for bringing Hagin's message to the forefront. Although I don't go along with Hagin's irrevocable tenet and that of being drunk in the spirit I do appreciate his honesty and integrity in writing his book, The Midas Touch. This was a timely reminder to keep one's spiritual house in order prior to the Senate enquiry 2007.

Senator Grassley and the United States Committee on Finance in 2007.

In 2007 Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, was investigating six prominent televangelist ministries for possible financial misconduct. According to Grassley's office, the Iowa Republican was trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to hide lavish lifestyles. The six ministries under investigation by the committee included: Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn.

However in reflecting back to 2007 I am convinced that Grassley's request was nothing more than a political stunt. Why? Because Grassley must have known that there was no requirement for any religion in the USA to file a form 990, which is a 'Return for Organizations Exempt from Income Tax Form'— a document that discloses one's personal assets and opens financial records for public inspection.

In the end, the negative publicity did a great deal of damage to Christianity at large, giving the impression that all ministers of God are money grabbers. But can you honestly blame anyone for thinking that way when Creflo Dollar wanted to match his rival Kenneth Copeland by also purchasing a private jet? Creflo pleaded with his church and associated global partners to open their hearts and wallets and donate $300 each in order to achieve a $65 million goal. Fortunately this request was adamantly refused. Why? Because unlike Caucasians, Afro Americans are not easily lured by the promise of prosperity; they know what it's like to be poor.

I reason, how can a minister of God solicit money from his fellow Afro Americans when most are living below the poverty line while he and his family are living in the lap of luxury? To both the saved and unsaved Creflo Dollar ministries is not about God's blessing. Rather, it's about a bank called false "Hope", unethically promising depositors a ten dollar return for every dollar invested. But what really makes me angry is that most televangelists, when it comes to their own personal finances are considerably less-inclined to be honest.

For example: In 2016 documents obtained by "Daily Mail Online" (USA) show that Creflo Dollar was threatened with prison for failing to hand over documents that would reveal the source of his income. He was held in contempt of court carrying the possibility of prison during a messy divorce between boxer Evander Holyfield and his second wife. However, threats did not persuade Mr. Dollar who refused to cooperate in the civil case. In point of fact, the judge even wrote a personal letter to Creflo pleading with him as a 'man of God' to comply with the law. But Creflo refused and used every legal loophole available to avoid revealing anything to do with his finances by appealing to the Georgia Supreme Court. These televangelists seem to enjoy manipulating the Constitution with the utmost contempt for the law.

CHAPTER 21

Televangelists are Celebrities

It was revealed by a church whistle blower, that one of the six religious ministers investigated by Senator Grassley in 2007 hired a consulting company advising that a televangelist salary be comparable to the salaries of celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Britney Spears, Madonna, and David Letterman. A recommendation was given to the church committee that a $2 million annual salary be applied. And who do you think gets paid $2 million a year? Some say Paula White, others say Joyce Meyer. It may be Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, or even Kenneth Copeland. Surprisingly not Benny Hinn due to the fact that he was the only one of six evangelists who opened his books to Senator Grassley's investigation. Hinn's critics say that he was simply using reverse psychology so he wouldn't arouse suspicion regarding his "trust building" enterprise! Whether true or false, only God knows.

A book authored by Rick Renner entitled Merchandising the Anointing is much like Kenneth Hagin's book The Midas Touch, which addresses self- indulgence and greed.

Following is a portion of what Rick Renner wrote.

"The word 'covetousness' is from the often used Greek word pleonexia (pleo-nex-ia), and is used throughout the New Testament to denote an "insatiable greed' or a 'strong desire for more, more, more, and more. In Colossians 3:5, Paul connects this word to "idolatry," and then lumps it together in the same category of the vilest of sins. He says, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry."According to Paul, this "strong desire to have more, more, more, and more," if not corrected, eventually becomes so all-consuming that he likens it to the worship of an idol. In plain language, it becomes a thing that we serve and worship."

In Australia we have our own TV celebrity-chief apostle Brian Houston who with his wife Bobbie manages the Hillsong International churches. You may recall in chapter five me mentioning Brian as one of the co-founders of the Australian Christian Churches.

At 64, Brain Houston seems the embodiment of Hillsong's promise: olive-skinned, unlined brow, gleaming teeth, designer stubble, and powerful build set off by jeans, open-neck shirt and tailored jacket. "We are lean, mean kingdom machines, all set for everything that God wants to do in this place. Amen! Amen! " Brian proclaims, strutting the stage as the crowd stomp and cheer.

But in 2013 this lean mean Kingdom machine attempted to quell speculation about how much he and his family were earning from the rivers of gold Hillsong was generating by posting an online letter entitled "Bobbie's and My Finances." He stated he was earning $150,000 that year from the church plus $150,000 from Leadership Ministries Incorporated (LMI), which he described as "the entity by which Bobbie and I conduct our broader ministry" worldwide as guest speakers. Please note; there is a well-trodden circuit for celebrity pastors, who were thick on the ground at the Hillsong's own conference 2015. Personal royalties were not clarified, nor were Bobbie's earnings.

In 2015 when Deborah Snow of Good Weekend (Sydney Morning Herald) asked for an update on the latest figures, a Hillsong church spokesman demurred, saying, "We do not disclose the remuneration arrangements of any individual employee due to privacy and confidentiality issues." Nonetheless, the 2014 return for LMI showed it had gross earnings of nearly $670,000 and two full-time employees, whose names Hillsong did not disclose. As from 2015 it's estimated that the Hillsong Corporation in Australian and overseas revenue exceeds $200 million dollars. It maybe soon that Brian and Bobbie will go along the same lines as Joyce Meyer and Kenneth Copeland by purchasing their very own 20 million dollar Lear jet.

Much is given-much is required.

According to the 2013-14 Australian Royal Commission on child sexual abuse, Brian Houston was accused of withholding information for five years regarding his late father Frank Houston's paedophilia activities. Frank Houston was said to have admitted paying off one of his many victims with church funds. But more alarming were accusations of Brain reincorporating his father's church in 2009 for purposes of avoiding paying compensation to his father's many victims. In response to many of these allegations, Brain said that neither he nor Hillsong should take responsibility for his father's actions. But what does the Bible say?

Ezekiel 33:15: "If a wicked man restores a pledge, pays back what he has taken by robbery, walks by the statutes which ensure life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die" (KJV).

Will Brian Houston be charged?

In December of 2015 the Royal Commission barrister Simeon Beckett recommended publicly that Brian Houston be charged with paedophile protection offences. Pastor Houston's many critics say: "it's highly unlikely this recommendation will be carried out by the NSW Attorney General due to Hillsong's political association with the Australian Liberal Party!"

Interestingly enough, during the eve of the Australian 2004 election Liberal treasurer Peter Costello (brother to Tim Costello of World Vision) was in the front row raising his hands (to God of course) in full view of the camera—need I say more?

Brian Houston's 1999 best-selling book called "You Need More Money?"—quickly fills church coffers with empty promises of wealth. Not surprisingly due to bad publicity, this book promoting the "prosperity doctrine" was removed from its shelves!

Brain and his public relations team even designed an APP for young converts to place compulsory tithes and offerings into Hillsong's bank account. Many critics of Hillsong regard these financial offerings as a ticket to their musical extravaganzas with Brian and Bobbie Houston (plus family members) as guest celebrities.

However Hillsong's devotees say it's better for the youth to attend Christian concerts than local pubs or concerts were excessive drinking and illegal drugs are prominent. Point taken, but as to whether Hillsong is teaching religion or selling entertainment is the issue here.

Remember, God is looking for quality and not quantity. Read Mathew 7:21-23 and Romans 12:2.

The irony of the "prosperity doctrine" is that the Jehovah's Witnesses, who are not Christian according to Brian Houston, have no paid ministers and teach as do some Pentecostals that tithing under the Mosaic Law is no longer required under the New Testament arrangement.

I often wonder what would become of Pentecostalism if they had a non-compulsory tithing policy! In fact when it comes to creature comforts Pope Francis chooses to live simply in a dormitory shared with other priests and does not even own a bank account.

So in light of this, what makes the Pentecostal movement think that it's their God-given right to live high-on-the-hog based on Old Testament principles? Do they not take into consideration when soliciting tithes and offerings that their personal wealth and prosperity is but a tool used by Satan to corrupt Christ's church and stifle the message of salvation?

Every time I switch on a religious programme there are books and DVDs for sale at over-inflated prices. Did you know that due to today's technological innovations, a CD or DVD costs as little as a dollar to produce? So how can religious organizations justify a 1000 % mark-up?

My personal encounter with the prosperity doctrine.

In the 1970's our pastor, due to lack of church funds, invited an American evangelist who had earned a celebrated reputation for increasing faith-based giving. This evangelist was the epitome of a sheik with gold chains draping down from his neck and fingers weighed down by expensive glittering stones. Pentecostal pastors, including mine would often speak of him over the table, as a boaster who had convinced himself that he was a prince of his Father's kingdom. But in true religious hypocrisy this prince was always welcomed as royalty while church coffers were being filled. "Less commission of course!!"

Dear brethren, would you agree that compulsory giving weighs heavily on the poor robbing their joy and happiness in serving the Lord? I speak to you from experience when as an underprivileged child I watched when my mother was fleeced by her church. Sadly her fear of robbing God plagued her, totally consuming her finances so that my brother sister and I ate lard on toast while paid ministers were eating steak. It's for this reason that I have promised God that I would never sell the gospel and will always live a simple lifestyle.

For what it's worth, every cent generated through 'The New Prophecy Church' is used for God's work. I and my colleges don't solicit donations— rather encourage our supporters to pay their dues to their local church. In fact this book that you are reading gives us a 10% return from the publisher and extra copies purchased at a 50% discount are often given away.

The New Prophecy Church is not about money but about the preservation of the gifts of the Spirit.

Now is the time to pay the piper!

There are those in politics who strongly advocate reform. They argue that in 1943, Congress exempted churches from the requirement to file annual returns. This made sense at the time, when churches were generally smaller and only solicited their local congregations. However, in an age when mega-churches can solicit millions of people across the globe, eventually reaching the size of large corporations, and awarding over-the-top benefits to their ministers, this kind of regulation is clearly outdated.

Thanks to our greedy and self-indulgent anointed church leaders, Christ's church is now under the microscope. Satan has arranged it so that soon all religious and charity organisations will lose their autonomy. And, if left unchecked, all mainline churches will be regulated by a government-run committee. Religions that accept government requirements will be funded while others will not. Yes, history will once again repeat itself.

CHAPTER 22

Can the Pulpit be Questioned?

"Ours is not to question why but to do and die!"

This infamous quote grew out of the story of the 1854 'Charge of the Light Brigade' where many soldiers' lives were lost simply to cater to the prideful reputation of men.

Australia also had its own Light Brigade, when in WW1 on the shores of Gallipoli in Turkey thousands of naive young soldiers were used as fodder in a war that wasn't their doing, but was for the glory of 'God, King and country!' Similarly, we also can die (spiritually) by not questioning those of our leaders who teach doctrines of men in whom there is no salvation. (Psalms 146:3)

During my life-time quest for truth, never once did I accept a hand-me down religion at face value. My learning skills are modeled after the Jewish Bereans who the apostle Paul says in Acts 17:11 were more open-minded than their fellow Christians in Thessalonica.

While reading about them I couldn't help but admire their hunger for truth as they listened with great eagerness, and every day they studied the inspired Word to see if what Paul said was so. Apparently, these disciples were free to question Paul's God-given authority and were not accused of disloyalty for doing so. Yet, my questioning mind has always been an agitation to denominations who only encourage questioning other religions as long as it's not theirs. This brings to question whether or not a minister of God should be challenged on the pulpit.

My view is that ministers of God should learn that playing the part eventually shows itself. They must serve from the inside out— meaning servant hood begins in the heart.

But in today's institutionalized church it's almost imposable to challenge church leaders, especially those like Brian Houston who are placed high on pedestals by church devotees.

I sincerely believe that ministers of God should be constantly reminded by their congregation that 'Servant- hood' requires not only the right actions, but also the right attitudes.

Let us read what Kerri Ferguson ex member of Baulkham Hills (Hillsong) church said in a letter to Brian Houston regarding his attitude in relation to a donation to the Gideon Bible society.

Dear Mr. Houston,

I have had grievance on my heart for a long time concerning an incident with you and I feel it needs to be cleared up in order that I may satisfy myself as to its reason.

On night while attending your service we were handed (at the front door) a brochure concerning The Gideon's and their work. After reading about a plan whereby one could send money to the organization to purchase Bibles which would then be placed anywhere in the world (and bearing an inscription/dedication to a person of one's choice) I decided it would be a wonderful way to commemorate a friend's ordination to the ministry. I decided to purchase several Bibles and have them bear a dedication to my friend.

On examination I was unable to find an address on the brochure and approached you after the service to enquire about the address to send the money to. You showed little interest (surprising since it was your church giving out the brochure at the front door) and finally you personally (not one of your workers) took my money and my application and carelessly tossed it into a drawer near the front desk saying you'd pass it on after you found out where it was supposed to be sent. I must admit your lack of real interest in something you were promoting at your own church did ring a warning bell at the time but I passed it off as over-sensitivity on my part.

More disturbing Mr. Houston is that the "Gideon's" did not receive my application for four bibles nor did my friend receive the promised ordination gift. After four years I do not suppose I am premature in conceding that my money or application was never sent (nor is it probably still in the drawer). I realize in your busy day it was probably not worth a pinch of salt to worry about following up and doing that which you had undertaken. For me (and no doubt for the Gideon organization) it was considerably important. At a time when my trust in pastors had been severely shaken I can assure you that in no way did you do anything to change that. Incidentally as a Mum, raising five children alone, money doesn't come as easily to me as it obviously appeared to you as you haphazardly tossed it into a drawer.

This may seem unimportant to you but if I sit on it (as I have done) I feel it does neither me, nor you, any good. When Churches become big business machines and pastors more difficult to get an appointment with than Christ himself would have been, I feel unless someone speaks up no one benefits. Maybe it's fine to have heaps of people coming forward to be "saved' – but it's also important to deliver what is promised. A loving, caring, HONEST church is the blueprint Christ left – please don't get so self-important that you forget the Jesus who first called you.

Let me say that I am in NO WAY without sin – not at all – but none of us can afford to go without gentle correction here and there. I am aware of one instance when your off-hand attitude (flippant is perhaps more correct in the instance to which I am referring) turned someone "off" whom I had brought to church for the first time. We who have been through the mill hopefully look, past the persona, to the Shepherd but had your action to me been done to a person less familiar with the Christian Church, you may have been responsible for disillusioning them too. I do not mean to offend – what you feel when you have this sort of complaint directed at you is your business and your relationship with God is your business.

But so is my relationship with God my business and it has been on my heart for a very great while to let you know how disturbed I was at the obvious "loss of my money".

Perhaps now I have put the problem back onto your shoulders where it properly belongs you can be more alert not to let it happen again – (I hope so) and can be free too. You and I and our fellow Christians should be better stewards of our Lord's church."Yours faithfully Kerri Ferguson (signed)

Well, did you get a sense of Kerrie Fergusons frustration and disappointment when reading her letter? Pastor Houston like all ministers of God need be reminded that it's people who matter more than TV programs, agendas, and musical concerts.

I have spared Brain further embarrassment by not quoting Kerrie's entire letter which can be read @ hillsongchurchwatch.com.

Granted, chief apostle Houston is a dynamic speaker having practised his art from a silver plate, but the problem here is carnal pride— which can overwhelm the smallest of detail from which the Devil works best. The bad news is that according to Hebrews 13:17 Brian Houston will have to apologise to God for stumbling Kerrie Ferguson and her new convert. But the good news is that Kerri Ferguson will in future be questioning the pulpit more often.

"Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment" (1 Corinthians 14:29 NLT).

"But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21 NLT).

In summing up: we as Christians need to assert ourselves to whether our leaders are speaking from God or man. You may recall me addressing this issue under the heading of "Testing the Spirits," and the use of discernment. (Ref. 15 &17)

It's always been my opinion that those who consider themselves to have title should be the first to be put under the microscope. Christians need be aware that those who are less inclined to apologise and except constructive criticism could very well be lead astray from their calling.

Proverbs 15:31-32 says: "He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. He who ignores discipline despises himself, but those that heed correction gain understanding."

A lesson from history.

This next story touches deep with me because during the 1970's after seeing Rev Jim Jones so called miracles on a propaganda film, I would have been willing to join his movement if given half a chance.

The story as it unfolds;

Do you recall in the 1970s an infamous Christian movement known as the Peoples' Temple in San Francisco, USA? Allow me to jog your memory. This church was founded by Rev. James Warren Jones who often preached total loyalty, quoting Hebrews 17:17.

"Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you" (NIV).

Reverent Jones was a very charismatic confessed born-again apostle come prophet who at first was accepted by his peers as legitimate. But after receiving bad press regarding his unorthodox views Rev Jones decided to re-locate his church from San Francisco to Jonestown, Guyana.

It was there in the tranquillity of communal Christian living that the unthinkable happened. What's that? Temple devotees blindly obeyed Rev. Jim Jones, committing suicide by drinking a lethal cocktail of poison resulting in the deaths of 900 adults including 304 children.

Reflecting on this tragedy the question begs: why didn't God protect those devotees of the Peoples' Temple when all they were doing was following Paul's counsel? The truth is that God doesn't want anyone to perish and will warn His people of impending doom. But God can't open ears that don't wish to hear or the eyes that don't wish to see the truth. It's like that old idiom of the three "wise" monkeys who: "See no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil."

What was God's warning signs?

1. See no evil! Some of the temple devotees were known homosexuals and their practises were discreetly and secretly tolerated by the commune. Some chose to ignore it.

2. Hear no evil! The Rev. Jones was a confessed Communist, who was politically highlighting socialist living and racial equality. Rev. Jim Jones would often boast saying; "I believe we're the purest Communists there are."

3. Speak no evil! Rev. Jones was a sexual predator who practised sodomy-rumours were circulated in camp by his many victims, but no one spoke up until after the mass suicide.

And to add: Rev. Jones admired Joseph Stalin, Karl Marx, Mao Tse-Tung, Mahatma Gandhi and Adolf Hitler. Books by these men were found in his personal library. But what's more alarming is that all devotees heard Rev. Jones say:

"What you need to believe in is what you can see — if you see me as your friend, I'll be your friend. If you see me as your father, I'll be your father, for those of you that don't have a father. If you see me as your saviour, I'll be your saviour. If you see me as your god, I'll be your god."

Dear brethren, if you were one of the many temple devotees that heard the above statement spoken by Rev Jim Jones, wouldn't you take off running-getting as far away as fast as possible?

I would think so! And if not, then your ignorance can be no excuse for salvation when God in his mercy left enough clues to show that Rev. Jones was a false prophet?

But apparently a temple devotee by the name of Annie Moore chose to ignore the warning signs by writing a note which reads as follows:

"JIM JONES -the one who made this paradise possible— much to the contrary of the lies is not a power-hungry sadistic, mean person who thought he was God."

Evidence after the suicide massacre suggest that many of Rev. Jones devotees had gunshot wounds inflicted by the notorious red brigade henchmen, proving that not all devotees were willing to take the poison. But there were survivors who God spared to tell the story such as Jim Jones biological son who just happened to be away on a basketball tournament.

Sadly, those 900 devotees of the Peoples' Temple did not question why but did drink and die! Just as Matthew 15:14 says this: "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (KJV).

Why did so many willingly take poison?

When it all boils down to it, one of Christendom's greatest heresies is to take scripture out of context to formulate someone's very own exclusive doctrine. One such doctrine which Rev. Jones invented was "Translation." This dogma taught that all who die honourably would reincarnate to heaven to live blissfully. Sounds familiar with what is taught today by some factions of Islam!

Recapping the Jonestown massacre, the lesson we must learn is to never take a scripture at face value without first evaluating it with other scriptures, in context.

To prove my point let's take God's Word at face value and see where it leads us. I have chosen Hebrews 17:17 because Rev. Jones would often recite it.

Again Paul says: "Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you" (NIV).

Now ask yourself these questions!

1. Was the work of Rev. Jim Jones made joyful by confidence? YES!

2. Did 900 devotees submit to Jim Jones' authority? YES!

3. Did followers of Rev. Jones place their complete trust in him? YES!

There can be no doubt that Hebrews 17:17 contain very important elements of confidence, trust and submission, which are all important principles in the nurturing of Christ's church. However, a single scripture needs to be witnessed by other scriptures so that through Christ wisdom via the advocate discernment can be made as to what is good and what is bad.

1 Thessalonians 5:21: "But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good" (NLT).

Am I saying that all ministers of God are as bad as Jim Jones, or for that matter, David Koresh, who in Waco Texas (1993) led 76 men, women and children to a fiery graves?

No! But what I am saying is that it's unwise for any Christian to place complete trust in their church leaders, who are in fact, still fallible human beings.

Speaking from my own experience, as a former Jehovah's Witness I once asked an elder this question: "if the Watchtower tract society were to build a ship's railing under the supervision of Jehovah, would you in a storm, hold two hands on the rail believing it to be secure? Or, would you hold one hand on the deck and the other on the railing just in case the structure gave way under duress?" Not surprisingly the elder said that he would have the confidence in holding two hands firmly on the rail.

Could it be said that the Jehovah's Witnesses are no different from Brian Houston, Rev. Jones and David Koresh when it comes to trust and loyalty to a priestly hierarchy?

The way I see it: whether one is physically or spiritually poisoned, the outcome can end up the same.

Colossians 2:8 says: "Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ" (NIV).

2 Timothy 3:13-14says: " But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse as they deceive others and are themselves deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and found to be true, because you know from whom you learned it" (NIV).

CHAPTER 23

Paper Not People

Have you ever heard the saying; "Time is of the essence?" This is a legal term which, in effect, says: the specified time and dates in this agreement are vital and thus, mandatory; in other words, "we mean it." Therefore, any delay, reasonable or not, slight or not, will be grounds for cancelling the agreement.

How does this principle apply to Christianity?

Our Christian commitment is a binding contract promising God that we will apply all commandments according to His will and time frame. But in today's society for ministers of God, finding the time to share the gospel message with parishioners can be a challenging task when there is so much red tape to contend with.

Let me ask you this question; when was the last time you were invited by the pastor to open your Bible to a sermon? To some preachers opening scriptures does take up too much lecturing time. Granted, this may suit some congregants who find it hard to remember chapter verses or find some sermons boring. But one must not forget that the Bible is a very important tool and as such, ministers of God should make time in encouraging congregants to use it more effectively.

I recall as a Sunday school teacher taking time to teach students how to memorise the books of the Bible in chronological order using a board game. But in today's technological age the smart phone and tablet does all the referencing for you—the assumption being that these electronic gizmos will save time. Is this true? No! In fact, time management experts say that saving time requires more time to manage hence, all we are doing is chasing the clock!

The above sentiment does give rise to the question as to why mans obsession to detail requires so much paperwork. Perhaps the answer resides in a game you may have played as a child called Paper-Rock &Scissors. To jog your memory, the rules of game are simple whereby paper covers rock and scissors cuts through paper. In exploring this topic further, allow me to use a metaphor of this game symbolised as follows:

1. ROCK. — Christ church. (Mathew 16:18)

2. PAPER. — The Mosaic Law from old wine skins. (Mathew 9:1)

3. SCISSORS. — Charity via new wine. (Acts 1:8)

Dear brethren, please allow me to use the story of the 'Good Samaritan' as an example of how the Mosaic Law can override charity.

In brief, the setting in Luke 10:25-37 demonstrates the charity of the Good Samaritan who helped a badly injured man close to death lying on the side of the road. The story goes on to say that upon further investigation the Samaritan found the battered man to be alive and placed him in an inn to be cared for at great financial cost. This story is a classic told among Christians to demonstrate Christian charity; but there is another lesson to be learnt here. How?

During my research I discovered that the Samaritan, unlike the Priest who was a Pharisee, could touch a dead body without defiling himself —if upon inspection the battered man was diseased.

This was one of many reasons why the Samaritans were considered the underdogs of Jewish society which brings to question: what would have been the outcome if the Pharisee had no Law that would hinder him from showing the same charity as the Samaritan?

To answer this one must consider that the Pharisees had 613 commandments placed on them which showed how legalistic and self righteous they had become. Thankfully we Christians have only two laws upon which all other laws rest. They are to Love the Lord our God with all our mind body and soul and Love our neighbor as ourselves. (Mark 12:30) As simple as that sound, many of us find these two commandments very hard to follow. Perhaps the following may give us the answer as to why?

Ponder this synonym: "old habits die hard?"

"The above saying does relate to Mathew 9:17: "Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskin's. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskin's will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskin's, and both are preserved" (NIV).

Mathew's metaphor uses new wine as the New Testament Law of grace and new wineskin's are those who are able to apply it.

Mathew's analogy reminds me of an event when as a Jehovah's Witness engaged in door to door ministry, my elderly brother and I came across a 'Seven Day Adventist' lady who invited us to join her in prayer for a friend who was sick. But surprisingly her request was graciously declined by my elder due to a theocratic directive forbidding intercessory prayer. Could it be said that the elder was likened to the pharisee in Luke's setting who's skin was to old to absorb new wine?

Galatians 1:10 says this: "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant (NIV). Also read Colossians 2:16 and Acts 16:3.

Allow me to leave you with this thought: Paper may well be the covering veil of the Rock. But while there is the severing power of the Scissors, the Rock will always be free from religious entanglements. Read (John 3:29).

CHAPTER 24

Is Suffering a Christian Virtue?

Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23).

Dear brethren, there is a perception among Charismatic's that to suffer with Christ "daily" is a noble course. You always know those who believe this by their Cod-faced excuse for godly reverence. And, when meeting these brethren you can't help but notice the "suffering servant syndrome."

Sadly, these are people who have been heavily indoctrinated to believe that if they are not in the daily habit of denying their appetites and desires they are not Christ-like. In other words if they don't fast regularly they can't possibly die with Jesus. The truth is that abstaining from food, Face book, or fun won't make you righteous and holy-only religious, which profits nothing.

This message of self-denial is nothing more than the ancient practice of asceticism dressed up in fancy religious jargon. Simply put, this theology is a type of legalistic self-righteousness.

This mind-set will not give you any joy, only anxiety and low self-esteem. If we have to ask, "Have I denied myself enough?" the answer is you can never know. So you'd better deny yourself some more, just to be safe. "Don't touch, don't handle, don't taste." Pretty soon you'll be whipping yourself and asking your friends to crucify you for the Easter parade.

Jesus did not suffer and die on the cross so you could join him in suffering and dying on a cross as well. That's not the good news. Jesus died so that we might be free from this sort of doctrine.

But where did this obscure tenet originate?

The notion of dying to oneself daily is derived from the fourth century when priestly corruption led the church into moral decay. But there were the faithful that refused to fall into disrepute and instead became hermits and monks who built monasteries far away from the influences of the Roman papacy thus, daily sufferance by self -denial is a form of monasticism.

Jesus is showing us the way to salvation.

And who is the way? Jesus. When Jesus says, "Follow me," he's saying the way to salvation is through him and his cross. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me..." (Galatians 2:20a).

The reason most Christians struggle to live the Christian life is they do not know they have died with Christ. Yet Paul says so again and again. To the Christians in Colossae; "You died with Christ" (Colossians 2:20). To the believers in Rome: "We died with Christ" (Romans 6:8). To the Corinthians: "We died" (2 Corinthians 5:14).

Do you not agree that when you were saved and baptized or placed into Christ, you were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3) Would you also agree that this was the single most important thing that ever happened to you? Of course it was, yet many of your fellow brethren are unaware of this crucial point.

Some Charismatic churches where I have visited don't even have a policy on baptism which leaves them wide open to the perils of monasticism. But the gospel declares, "You died." You have been crucified with Christ. The person you used to be-dead in sins and alienated from the life of God-no longer lives, but Christ lives in you.

Perhaps you're asking: "If we have already died with Christ, why does it say to take up our cross daily?"First of all, note that the word "daily" is only found once in the three accounts of Jesus' words. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and......take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24) ...take up his cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34) ...take up his cross "daily" and follow me. (Luke 9:23) The question begs: why does Luke record the word "daily" when Matthew and Mark don't?

In fact, some modern apologists claim that the word "daily" is not in many reputable manuscript versions. But even so, it does not contradict Mathew and Mark. Why? Because by dying with Christ to our old agendas we now live happily, every day, in union with him. This means no longer as Christians are we to be so self- righteous in our worship to God because He has already done the suffering for us.

Simply put, one doesn't have to be a monk pretending he's someone else who can't enjoy anything. The point Luke was trying to make is that dying to oneself daily means consistently trusting in Jesus for the long haul. It means to live each and every day out of the glorious relationship you have with the Lord. It also means not to fall back into the inferior ways of the flesh and the religious spirit that you once walked in, but to stand firm in the freedom of Christ.

Fearing God not Satan, is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:11)

One of the tenets that have emerged from monasticism is the belief that Satan has power over God's elect. How many times have you heard Christians say: "the devil made me do it?" This mindset originates from the medieval period when witches were believed to be the devil's spawn who caused plagues and crop failures.

Church historians tell us that the Jews, including Paul never mentioned the devil in fear of worshiping a demigod. But in today's modern church Christians are still unwittingly worshiping Satan and his fiery den called hell, giving him far more credit than he deserves!

An example of this is in chapter seventeen were TV evangelist Joyce Meyer claims that Jesus suffered and finished His atonement in hell and not on the cross.

It's made apparent to me that Joyce Meyers preaching is based on the doctrine of "Hellfire" which is synonymous with fear. This doctrine has been so ingrained into Christian society that even I have to admit that my misgivings are sometimes blamed on Satan. Often I have to remind myself that God is in complete control of any temptation that Satan puts before me-and that any sufferings are caused by my unwillingness to surrender to God's will. (James 4:7/1 Peter 5:10)

God tells Satan what to do.

Remember in Job 2:6? Permission was granted to Satan to make trial, but with limitations. In other words, Satan is given an appointed time and not a time of his own choosing. Nonetheless, some religions who preach fear often use 1 Peter 5:8: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (NIV).

Granted, Satan is like a roaring lion ready to pounce — but that would depend on whether God lets him out of his cage, or if you place your hands to close to the cage!

The subject of lions reminds me of first century Christians who were made to kneel before the loins mouths in the Roman Colosseums experienced no fear because their Spirits were already reunited with Christ in heaven. This comforting thought does assure us that in times of desperation and fear God will not let us suffer more than we can bear.

Christ was spared a long arduous death. How?

History tells us that a Roman Crucifixion could last 3-6 days until the victim died of exhaustion or asphyxiation. But we are told that Christ's sufferings coincided with the Jewish pass-over (9 am - 3 pm) which was all His (tortured) body could endure. Yes, as promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13— Jesus did find escape when handing back His Spirit to the father. (1 Corinthians 10:13 / Mathew 18:8 / Luke 23:46)

Am I saying that Christ didn't suffer physically? No! What I'm really saying, is that His heavenly father spared Him the physical pain so that He could bear the mental pain. In other words, Christ suffering was not from a broken leg, but from a broken heart!

To the words of John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (NIV). Also read John 19:34 / 1 John 5:6 / Luke 23:34 & John 19:32-36.

History tells us that towards the end of WW2, Hitler while holed up in his bunker as his beloved city was being destroyed above, still believed he could win the war. Similarly, Satan, while holed up in his earthly domain, still believes he can win his war against God's people. It simply amazes me how the devil's ego and self-denial has actually lured him into doing God a service hence, the only credit we should give Satan is in helping us grow in the knowledge of God — without any fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 says: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (KJV).

CHAPTER 25

Teachers Vs Facilitators

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14 KJV).

I designed and made a computer came consisting of a set of running lights for the purposes of testing ones reflexes. The operation would involve a player to skilfully press a button in order to freeze the running lights at a set mark on the screen.

This 'Reflex Simulator' proved popular with disabled children who could only play providing they were assisted by their class room teacher. How so?

The teacher would facilitate by holding up their limp arm placing their finger on the button. From this point, the player alone would press the button — in anticipation of receiving a prize. Surprisingly these students had very good reflexes despite their lack of gross motor coordination.

So what's this got to do with me?

Dear brethren, it simply amazes me how the gift of discernment is ever present when one is in touch with the Spirit talking. This was the case when it was revealed to me through this game how the functions of a facilitator and teacher differ. Prior to this revelation, I believed the facilitator and teacher were of the same office. Allow me to explain!

Two stages of spiritual development.

The first stage of spiritual development relies on our church leaders who guide us through Bible disciplines. This stage is what Paul in Hebrews 5:12 calls 'babes on milk'. The second stage of our spiritual development is when we begin to digest solid food in order that we see with our eyes, hear with our ears and understand with our hearts (Matthew 13:15-16).

Now take a look at the following passage in 1 Corinthians 3:6 and consider what it has to say:

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth" (ESV).

To me this scripture is saying that Apollos (facilitator) who once was my wet nurse has now become less important to me!

Am I saying that mature Christians no longer need pastors to shepherd them? No! But in the course of maturity there comes a time when God expects us to be able to discern things for ourselves. Hebrews 5:14 says: "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil" (NIV).

Ponder this next scripture:

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25 ESV).

Acts 5:29 says: "... We ought to obey God rather than men" (KJV).

The above scriptures outline a narrow pathway where every step is initiated with strength, endurance and caution— made possible when being in tune to what the Spirit is saying.

To highlight the importance of walking in the Spirit I would like to present two stories: September the 11th 2001 and the fall of Jerusalem 70 AD.

Let us begin with September 11th which was marked down in history as America's worst terrorist attack. But for Dan and Jean Potter it was a day that changed their lives!

The story as it unfolds;

Mr. and Mrs. Potter were living in a Manhattan apartment just a few blocks from the World Trade Center. Jean worked on the 81st floor of the "South Tower" building and her husband was a New York firefighter. On that fateful morning, Jean while at work recalls a massive explosion which rocked the building literally swaying her from side to side. Apparently the first planes impact point was only three floors above. Survivors recalled hearing a loud voice from a megaphone. It was the "Port Authority officials" asking that they remain calm and wait patiently for a rescue. One observer while in flight downstairs heard an announcement saying that the building was secure and that the safest place was inside. A broker with the Morgan Stanley bank said that she had made it out on to the staircase and galloped more than 20 floors when she heard an amplified voice telling her and others to return back upstairs to the sixtieth floor.

During that time Jean Potter was thinking: "Is this building going to fall before I'm rescued?" Fortunately Jean chose to listen to God's voice telling her to flee just short of her 81st floor becoming engulfed in flames.

"My heart was palpitating a mile a minute as I was going down the staircase," Jean recounted. "And what also came to me is, "You and Dan will be blessed with a beautiful life. You will go north." Jean believes God was reassuring her and prodding her to keep moving down the staircase facing north. Jean recalls a short conversation with a New York Fireman Vinny Giammona, who was her husband's lieutenant and one of 343 New York firefighters that was entrapped when the building came down.

Fortunately Jeans husband Dan wasn't with lieutenant Giammona that fateful morning for reasons only God knows, but was called to duty when the north tower was hit. The first thing on Dan's mind was to look for his beloved wife Jean amongst the ruins of the south tower. "It's just a matter of time," Dan told CBN News. Debris and concrete pelted Dan, but he says God kept him alive, and "the big hit" never came.

Covered in ash, the battered Dan Potter refused to give up his search for his wife pounding on the door of their Manhattan home, but no one answered. It was then he thought that he had lost Jean. The overwhelmed firefighter then left the building and sat on a nearby bench and prayed. Dan believes Jesus directed him to go back to the apartment because it was then that the phone rang. On the line was his father informing him that Jean was in a safe place; and in hearing this, Dan was on his way. "I saw her standing there all upset, and she looked at me kind of wide-eyed"— said Dan while wiping his blood red eyes and brushing away the white dust from his bunker gear. Jean then said: 'Where were you?" To this Dan replied; "In the arms of the LORD!"

What lessons can we learn from this?

"God is a loving God," Jean shared. "If you just tune into His voice He will direct your path and pull you through —at every turn, every moment I was guided by every decision."

Yes, Jean and Dan can assure us from 9/11 that it's God's voice that we can put our complete trust in. Romans 8:14 says: "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God" (NIV). (Source: By the Grace of God, A 9/11 Survivor's Story of Love, Hope, and Healing - www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/16/september11.usa3)

In this next story the facilitator, like that of the 9/11 port official, is not only an adviser and protector but also a religious teacher —which makes it even harder when loyalties are tested.

What these two stories have in common is a conflict of trust between man and God.

The story as it unfolds;

In Jerusalem 70 AD Christianity and Judaism coexisted. The Christian community relied on guidance from God's Holy Spirit mediated through Christ Jesus, while the Pharisees and Sadducees relied on the Jewish priesthood and traditional loyalties.

Mark 13:14 tells us that the Christians were told by the Holy Spirit to flee Jerusalem to the mountains when the Roman armies entered the outer perimeter of the city walls allowing them a window of opportunity to flee before the city gates were permanently locked up tight.

Josephus, a Jewish general and historian has recorded an eye witness account of what happened in Jerusalem 70AD. He writes that the majority of the Jews ignored Christian warnings preferring to trust in their protectors, and as a consequence, Jerusalem was besieged by the Roman army. Josephus goes on to say that Titus the roman general in charge of the siege, gave him a note offering the Jews a peaceful surrender. But this was adamantly refused by the arrogant zealots who believed they could defeat the Roman army for a second time as they had three years earlier. Some zealots even destroyed the food supplies thinking that Jehovah would come to their aid straight away. This religious piety caused human babies to be cannibalised and a million Jews butchered leaving the rest to be sold into slavery to pay for the refurbishment of the Roman Colosseum. (Matthew 24:19)

What lessons can we learn from these two stories?

Psalms 118:8 says: "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man."(NIV)

The office workers trusted their government's security network and port officials who assured them that the Twin Towers buildings were structurally sound and free from terrorism amid the 1993 attack which left six dead and one thousand injured.

Similarly, the Jews trusted Jerusalem's impenetrable walls, the army of zealots, and their high priest to protect and guide them. But Christians simply relied on the voice of the LORD.

So in light of these two stories; should a facilitator, whether it be a port authority official, pastor, evangelist, apostle, prophet, priest or the Pope himself were to say to you; " go here or there !" respectfully say that you have to wait on the Holy Spirit for confirmation.

Isaiah 40:31 says: "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (KJV).

CHAPTER 26

Can a Christian Suffer from Anxiety?

"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy" (2 Timothy 3:1 NIV).

While surfing the net I got this from an unknown source which I believe needs to be shared.

The paradox that exists during our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less common sense, more knowledge, but less good judgment, more experts, yet struggle with more problems. More medicine, but have poorer health. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.

We've added years to life not life to our years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done bigger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more. But learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the days of two incomes to afford fancier houses only to become broken homes. These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stock room.

Dear brethren, as you can see there is a lot to be depressed about and throwing away the television, radio, lap top, smart phone does nothing to alleviate the problem. But you could definitely throw away the computer games! God expects us to face the real world so that we can offer an antidote to a very anxious and depressed society.

Philippians 4:6 says this: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (ESV).

I have to admit that although I'm a very positive person I do suffer from anxiety due to my Aspergers Syndrome. I wonder if perhaps I'm not praying hard enough or not trusting God enough. The truth is that all Christians have anxiety disorders at roughly the same rate as those of the world. But we must not let this get us down because being anxious is not a failure of character or spiritual immaturity but simply the brain being overloaded with too much negative information. Doctors will tell you that medication combined with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help identify the unhealthy thinking patterns that make your brain work harder. Much of this therapy involves having patients talk about their inner feelings and aspirations. But this therapy has always been made available by the Church, which today has not prioritised it, due to the lack of time, money and commitment in training church counsellors. (Ref 23)

During the 1970s the notion that a Christian could suffer from depression was out rightly rejected. And, to say otherwise would make one's witness ineffective and hinder the gospel message. How so? As ministers of God we are to offer the world hope for a happier and more contented lifestyle: and if we preach this message in a depressed state we are in effect being hypocritical. What Christians fail to see is that with anxiety come fearful thoughts of "What if?" which can become ones worst nightmare.

This was the case when I lost my wallet not long ago. I remember thinking 'what if' a thief used my identity to open up a line of credit to take out a gigantic loan from forged property documents? Fortunately there was really nothing to worry about because a very honest person turned my wallet into the police station with all moneys and documents intact.

I have to admit that in that moment I felt a sense of guilt and shame because I failed to trust the situation to God. But reflecting back, I now realise that God was teaching me not only to trust Him, but to be more responsible for items of importance. Yes, I was very careless and took my personal identity for granted. Can you say the same thing? God tells us that if we can be responsible in little things, then He will trust is in the bigger things— as was the case when I kept three copies of this book for safe keeping prior to it being published.

So there can be lessons learned from being anxious and for this we should be grateful.

But that doesn't mean to say that we are to allow anxiety to become habitual, because that only lends itself to a depressed state of mind (Luke 19:17-16:10).

2 Timothy 1:7 says: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (KJV).

Yes, there is real evil in the world: terrorists equipped with bombs, murderers with guns, laws that take away our freedoms, and genuine economic difficulties. But we must always acknowledge that evil and fear are really only happening "out there" and not within the security of our heavenly fathers protection. But that doesn't mean to say that our father won't lift His veil of protection on occasions –if not, then what lessons can we learn? But be assured our physical body's maybe exposed to the influences of the world but our spiritual umbilical cord will always remain unbreakable.

I just love the way God is so possessive in desiring our time with Him. I always try not to take Him for granted and constantly remind myself that I'm not saved but are being saved daily by my obedience to His Word.

Dear brethren, if you are suffering from anxiety right know then please allow me to encourage you with these words. As soon as you feel fear, recognize it as only a thought and consciously ask God: Why am I afraid? Is it fear of an immediate threat to my safety or wellbeing? If not, then it is completely imaginary!! This line of thinking is another way of saying -"get behind me Satan!" Yes, I know it's easy said than done and that's why God has made provision for your church leaders to help you. Why not make arrangements with your local pastor, preferably one who has the gift of apostle-ship (wisdom and knowledge)

It could be that you haven't been fully immersed in the gift of tongues, or that you haven't regularly exercised your heavenly language. Whatever the circumstances to your depression it's hard to be sad or depressed when your hands are raised in praise and sincere worship to God in tongues. Remember God inhabits the praises of His people. And if you are feeling depressed right now and need instant relief then read out loud Psalms 150:1-6:

"Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!"

If you did this exercise, tell me, do you feel as if a great weight has been lifted from you? The Lord has promised me that if my readers repeat this exercise twice daily for three weeks Satan will flee and their faith will be restored.

But I must warn you, if you don't keep your faith consistent Satan will only come back more enraged with yet another mind game. So in order to maintain your positivity you have to keep occupied by becoming proactive in your church and local charity organisations.

Remember the words of James 1:22: "But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise you are only fooling yourselves" (NLT).

CHAPTER 27

Does God Have a Sense of Humour?

Much of this publication may to some seem very negative, and for that I do apologise. But as I see it, Christ gospel message to His church is geared for the pessimist in order that they may become optimist. But being an optimist doesn't mean that a Christian should take their gift of salvation for granted No! Gods wants His people to appreciate that salvation is a daily commitment by obedience to His Word.

But as soon as the word obedience is mentioned— straight away Christians think of a God of punishment wielding a big stick. Yes true, God does hate sin, and if I understand the Scriptures correctly, He even hates sinners which do tend to give the impression that God is not one of LOVE. But overall, God is deeply concerned of our welfare and will protect us just as a parent would their own children. Remember the old idioms? "You have to be cruel to be kind!" and "Spare the rod -spoil the child"!

It may be of comfort for you to know that the words "blessed God" used in Timothy 1:11 is the same term our Lord used in the Sermon on the Mount- rendered as such in the King James Version, the NIV and the NASB. However, some Bible commentators and apologist such as J. B. Phillips render the term "happy God" The term employed could be used in this sense, and biblical theology does not prohibit it.

This aspect of God's personality brings to question whether a place called 'Hades' really does exist were God torments His victims!!

Paul says there's no hell!

Granted hell is mentioned in many parts of the Bible. Nevertheless one must take into account that the word hell was rendered from the Hebrew word Sheol which means the common grave of mankind. And to add, the Hebrew word Gehenna was a place where corpses were thrown into a burning pit outside Jerusalem's walls, and Hades was a fictitious sanctuary in Greek mythology.

You may recall me mentioning in chapter seventeen Joyce Meyer's preoccupation with a place called Hades were she claims that Christ finished his atonement there. But the Bible tells us that Christ finished His atonement on the cross, which is probably why Paul makes no mention of Hades in any of his epistles. (Ref chap 17)

Early Pentecostals didn't believe in hell.

You may be surprised to learn that the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM)   
of the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles didn't believe in a literal place called Hades—preferring to adhere to a doctrine called 'Annihilationism'. (also known as extinctionism or destructionism)

These early apostolic Pentecostals taught that at the Last Judgment those not receiving salvation are destined for total destruction, not everlasting torment. However this doctrine was abandoned in 1928 when the AFM merged to become Assemblies of God who know teaches everlasting punishment — but as to how, is left open for interpretation.

Where did hellfire originate from?

Bible historians say that the word 'hellfire' was adopted by Puritan preacher Thomas Vincent (an eyewitness of the Great Fire of London) who authored a book called "Fire and Brimstone in Hell", first published in 1670. In it he quotes from Psalm 11:6 "Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest, this shall be the portion of their cup" Furthermore, preachers such as Jonathan Edwards) and George Whitefield were referred to as "fire and brimstone preachers" during the Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s. Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" remains among the best-known sermons from this period. Reports on one occasion when Edwards preached it said that many of the audience burst out weeping, and others cried out in anguish or even fainted. But sadly these tears from the Edwards congregants were brought out of fear and not joy which is the strength to stand upright in confidence and not to faint in fear.

What is hellfire?

According to Mark 9:48 Hades is where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched (KJV).

Let's be reasonable here; if our thoughts perish when our fleshly body roots away, then what will the worm of decay live on? And to add, how can there be darkness when fire is eminent? (Psalms 146:4 / Revelations 20:14 / Mark 9:48).

Obviously worm, fire and darkness are powerful figures of speech and not to be taken literally as was the case when the apostle Paul was said to have mentioned it in 1 Corinthians 7:9: "However, if you cannot control your desires, you should get married. It is better for you to marry than to burn" [with sexual desire] (NIV).

Thankfully the copyist clarified Paul's scripture using brackets so that it could not be misconstrued to mean that sex outside marriage is to burn in hell for eternity. It's hard to imagine that prior to modern Bible rendering many religions used this scripture to prove a hellfire dogma. But that doesn't mean to say that in the 'Lords Day' there will be no retribution for those who have sinned against God's laws. How so?

Patristic evidence seems to suggest that words fire, brimstone and the decaying worm were epitomized by early apologist such as Tertullian and Origen as meaning ones state of perpetual torment; bringing into question whether or not the apostolic faith mission's annihilationist tenet has some merit.

Dreams reveal mysteries;

Dear brethren, whenever I have a restless spirit in wanting to solve a mystery such as this one, the answer would often come to me in a dream. And so it was that one night while sleeping, I saw a vision of a heavy steel container with people hovering around it likened to surgeons over an operating table. The next day I thought nothing of it until I switched on a TV a show called Air Crash Investigators. There staring right at me was a 'black box recorder' and the surgeons hovering over it were investigators analyzing the planes operations. It was from this dream that I was able to discern its meaning as such;

When in death, all unsaved persons will automatically give back to God their Spirit life force to be preserved in Gods memory until His day of reckoning. On that eventful day, all black box recorders will be opened. Not only will sinners be able recall in minute detail all the mental pain and physical suffering they caused others, but will painfully experience every minute moment. This will be their "hellfire."

The good news for Christians is that there black box recorder will have stored only loving memories from which will become realities in their new glorified bodies. Yes, we believers can be confident that once again we will experience the touch and smell of our love ones including our very own faithful pets. This will be our "heaven." (Philippians 3:21)

I do realize that my hypotheses is very unconventional to say the least, but so is Darwinism, Creationism and Trinitarianism. In fact a hypothesis is not an exact science but a theory which is exactly what mine is. Nonetheless, as a science teacher all I can do is give seven reasons why I came up with my hypotheses and let you be the judge.

1. The definition of heaven and hell is ambiguous due to Hebrew, Latin and Greek, translations— and is why all religions have their own theory.

2. According to Joel 2:28 visions and dreams have no language barrier and can be inspired by Holy Spirit via revelation. As was the case with mine. - Biblical point!

3. Christ overcomes the sting of death from the cross and not Hades. -Biblical point!

4. God retains His nature of LOVE and not a revengeful executioner. -Biblical point!

5. The evil doers' ungodly actions are filed away and marked as indisputable evidence. And the judgment and punishment is self administered.

6. What one sows one reaps. -Biblical point!

7. The black box is similar in design to the complexities of the human 'cerebral cortex' were learning, reasoning and memory is found. And the possibility that medical science will soon discover hidden elements of the cerebral cortex and its association to the subconscious mind.

To many people, the fear of spending eternity in a burning lake of fire and brimstone might force one to a church confessional but it won't make one more Christian. 2 Timothy 1:7 says that God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Yes, God is LOVE—which means fearing Him is having reverence to His will and not to His wrath. This alone is good reason why we should see God as one who delights in seeing us joyful.

So with this in mind I invite you to open up your hearts and enjoy reading the story about a Bible Salesperson.

The story as it unfolds;

"A Pastor concluded that His church was getting into very Serious Financial Troubles. While checking the Church Storeroom, he discovered Several Cartons of New Bibles that had never been opened and diation who would be willing to sell the Bibles Door-to-Door for $10 each to raise the Desperately Needed Money for the Church. Jack, Paul and Louie all raised Their Hands to volunteer for the Task.

The Minister knew that Jack and Paul earned Their Living as Salesmen and were likely capable of selling some Bibles. But he had Serious Doubts about Louie who was a Local Farmer, who had always kept to himself because he was embarrassed by His Speech Impediment. Poor Louie stuttered badly. But, not wanting to discourage Louie, the Minister decided to let him try anyway.

He sent the Three of Them away with the Back Seat of Their Cars stacked with Bibles. He asked them to meet with him and report the Results of Their Door-To-Door Selling Efforts the Following Sunday. Anxious to find out how successful they were, the Minister immediately asked Jack: "Well, Jack!!! How did you make out selling our Bibles Last Week?" Proudly handing the Reverend an Envelope, Jack replied: "Using My Sales Prowess, I was able to sell 20 Bibles, and here's the $200 I collected on Behalf of the Church." The Minister said, vigorously shaking His Hand: "Fine Job, Jack!!! You are indeed a Fine Salesman and the Church is indebted to you." Paul, how Many Bibles did you sell for the Church Last Week?" Paul, smiling and sticking out His Chest, confidently replied: "I am a Professional Salesman. I sold 28 Bibles on Behalf of the Church, and here's $280 I collected." The Minister responded: "That's absolutely splendid, Paul. You are truly a Professional Salesman and the Church is indebted to you."

Apprehensively, the Minister turned to Louie and said: "And Louie, did you manage to sell Any Bibles Last Week?" Louie silently offered the Minister a Large Envelope. The Minister opened it and counted the Contents. "What is this?" The Minister exclaimed. "Louie, there's $3200 in here!!! Are you suggesting that you sold 320 Bibles for the Church, Door to Door, in just One Week?" Louie just nodded. "That's Impossible!!!" Both Jack and Paul said in unison. "We are Professional Salesmen, yet you claim to have sold 10 Times as Many Bibles as we could." The Minister agreed: "Yes, this does seem unlikely. I think you'd better explain how you managed to accomplish this, Louie." Louie shrugged: "I-I-I re-re-really do-do-don't kn-kn-know f-f-f-for sh-sh-sh-sure," he stammered. Impatiently, Peter interrupted: "For crying out loud, Louie, just tell us what you said to them when they answered the Door!!!"

Louis replied: "A-a-a-all I-I-I s-s-said wa-wa-wa-was. W-w-w-w-would y-y-y-you l-l-l-l-l-like t-t-to b-b-b-buy th-th-th-this B-B-B-B-B-Bible f-f-for T-T-Ten B-B-B-Bucks--o-o-o-or--wo-wo-would yo-you j-j-j-just l-like m-m-me t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-here and r-r-r-r-r-read it t-to y-y-you?"

Well, did you laugh? The secret in maintaining a healthy Christian attitude is never to take life seriously and to always hold on to a good sense of humour.

Consider this; In Australia we have a well-known comedian named "Steady eddy" who makes a living out of his Cerebral Palsy disability. He says - "self-pity is what hinders many disabled from being free from their chains" Is there a lesson to be learned by Steady eddy's statement?

Yes! What's that? "A laugh a day - keeps the devil away!"

CHAPTER 28

Touch Me Not!

According to the experts, when we were born, a hormone called oxytocin helped expel us from our mother's womb and made it possible for her to nurse us. As a small child, we enjoyed our parents loving touch because it released oxytocin into our body. As an adult, we experience the effects of oxytocin when we enjoy good food, or a massage, or an intimate interlude with our romantic partner. (Uvnas Moberg 2003, p. 65)

How does this relate to Christianity?

John 4:23 makes a point that true worship comes from giving God ones emotions which in effect is God's provision for His worshipers to feel euphoria due to the release of the hormone oxytocin. This is providing Christians don't ritualise their worship to the point where it's nothing more than vain repetition or chanting. Remember the power of Gods Holy Spirit resides in the heart —otherwise it's just a form of godly devotion. (2 Timothy 3:5)

Some Christians withhold emotions.

Without meaning to be to judgmental, Christians often stifle their emotions, trying to avoid becoming vulnerable, embarrassed or hurt. You may be interested to know that in the 1970's the Jehovah's Witnesses banned the holding of hands by all congregants while in prayer — with exception to close family. If you think that's very unloving, just recently a Pentecostal church in which I regularly attended forbid the greeting of handshakes and hugging at the start of the meeting due to a complaint by a senior elder.

I suspect this "no touch" directive came from a "Cold Frog" who has the New Living Translation which is the only Bible that substitutes "Holy Kiss" with the words — "Christian love." (1 Thessalonians 5:26)

In point of fact when attending JW's meetings, I would often see French, Italian and Russian couples kissing brethren on the cheek—and in doing so set a very loving mode prior to the meeting. It's just a pity there are few foreigners in Kingdom halls!

While many religions make allowances for intimate greetings by foreigners, it can't be denied that we of the western world are discouraged from showing the same affection. But I reason: are we not united together by one culture and one custom?

Why is touch so important?

While surfing the net I came across a very interesting sermon by Duane Smith of www.crcna.org regarding the touch of Jesus which is as follows;

"In Matthew 14, just after Jesus had walked on the water, people brought all their sick to Him and begged Him to let the sick just touch the edge of His cloak and all who touched Him were healed. In Luke 6, people all tried to touch Him because power was coming from Him and healing them all. In Luke 18, people were also bringing babies to Jesus to have Him touch them. Oh, what a joy, what a blessing to feel the warmth of Jesus' touch! It seems that Luke, himself a doctor, knew the special effects of touch and how it enhanced healing for the sick. He mentions Jesus' touch more often than Matthew and Mark. The power of touch by a doctor or therapist, even today, enhances healing. It's regrettable that we live in a society where no one dares to touch another person for fear of sexual harassment - a touch that so easily sends out the wrong message.

Touch, of course, must always be appropriate. Be it on the arm or shoulder, a gentle embrace or a hug. It's often done at weddings and funerals and other such occasions of great joy or sadness. Babies need to be touched, cuddled and held to grow and develop normally. Our children need to be touched and hugged on occasion, including through the teen years. It conveys the message, louder than words could say, "We care for you and about you." It gives encouragement and hope. Adults also need to be touched. We need to do it more often at the appropriate times and places. In a time of difficulty, times of depression, after a talk, a handshake or better, a hand on arm or shoulder, even a hug with the words, "Hang in there...you can do it, I'm praying for you," makes hope soar. People in the crowds reached out to touch Jesus and He touched them with power. The power of God went out from Him to heal and restore"

God bless Duane Smith for her encouraging words— which does beg the question: if Jesus was a touchy person, then why not His most loyal devotees? The apostle Paul answers this question in 2 Corinthians 13:5 when he said; "Or do you not realize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you?" Paul wasn't speaking poetically or metaphorically, but meant that Jesus Christ is literally dwelling within all believers.

Like the Corinthians, we need to realize that our Lord is not merely outside of us but rather dwells in us all the time. Therefore according to the Bible, unless one is a touchy person they cannot fully experience the LOVE of Christ.

In closing: Christians may adopt a political correctness as in respecting ones intimacy. "BUT at what cost?" Withholding emotions when   
greeting brothers and sisters in the LORD is unacceptable and against Bible principles. But more importantly it grieves God's Holy Spirit. Therefore in the name of LOVE I appeal to all churchgoers to unlock the steel doors of their hearts this Sunday and greet fellow brethren with a warm hug. And by the way, make sure you give a 'cold frog' a kiss on both cheeks — just for me!

CHAPTER 29

Can the Body of Christ Suffer?

As mentioned in the previous chapter— to touch and be touched is a connection of human emotions and is very healing. Paul explains this in Corinthians 12:25-26 where he states that if one member suffers, all members suffer, and if one member is honoured, all members rejoice with him or her.

However, there is a reality that cannot be ignored. How so? In today's institutionalised churches parishioners often suffer without anyone's knowledge, unless their illness is mentioned in a church bulletin or by announcement, asking for prayer. But many parishioners conveniently forget that prayer can be God's avenue, motivating His people into action on behalf of the hurting. This may involve mowing the lawn, preparing meals, driving the kids to school, feeding and walking the pets and so forth. These duties are the responsibilities of all congregants and are best shared by a roster system. James 1:22 tells us not just to be hearers of the Word but doers of the Word-otherwise we are just kidding ourselves. If James were alive today he would say: your service to Christ's church is not just one who likes to talk--but one who "walks the talk!"

Are you a private person?

Yet another hindrance in expressing our emotions is centred on privacy.

Christ's church seems to have adopted many worldly traits such as keeping phone numbers private from fellow congregants and neglecting to extend hospitality to others.

I recall in the 1970s when hospitality was defined by a large dining suite and required a 'Royal Doulton' dinner set before inviting fellow Christian's home for dinner with the evening meal often ending with a good spiritual discussion, accompanied by song and praise. No doubt hospitality teaches us the "Art of LOVE" which is no wonder it's mentioned 25 times in the Bible. Let's review the meaning of the word 'hospitality' and see how many fine qualities you can tick.

Are you....Welcoming, friendly, congenial, genial, sociable, cordial, gracious, amicable, well disposed, helpful, obliging, accommodating, neighbourly, warm-hearted and generous?

I was talking to a Salvation Army captain who admitted that only twenty percent of his congregation were active in field service to the local community — a far cry from the days when the tambourines were jingling everywhere. But nowadays the only time you hear of the Salvos is once a year when collecting donations for Christmas. This lack of Christian enthusiasm was portrayed in Luke 10:2 were it says that in the last days workers would be few. And to the church revelations 2:4 says this; "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first" (NIV).

I would hate to think that the reason why so many Pentecostal and Charismatic ministers discourage listing needed service opportunities is because of that dreaded notion of work, which tends to scare away churchgoers.

It seems a pity that some church attendees do not feel a sense of responsibility to each other and to their surrounding community.

Discover Connect Serve.

I remember in the 1980s attending a charismatic church called "The Open Door" where their motto read: "Discover, Connect and Serve." This congregation had a very simple rostering system in place whereby the pastor would ask guests to raise their hands and those on the roster would invite them home for lunch. This roster also was applied to church members who in turn would invite each other home for a fellowship meal.

The pastor from the open door church told me of an event which involved one of his parishioners who begrudgingly had to invite his Christian brother home for lunch when it was his turn on the roster. It was made apparent to the pastor that these two men had issues.

Nevertheless, according to the protocol of the roster system, the guest was to say a prayer over the meal. But what surprised the host was that his brother's prayer was so genuine and from the heart that it stirred the emotions of all who were at the table, resulting in a restored bond of brotherhood. Such an experience could never be simulated in a formal setting. Proverbs 16:7 says: "When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him" (NIV) Read also Isaiah 9:6/ Matthew 18:20/John 20:21).

Please take note that the rostering system works well for those who are willing but cannot manage time for the things of God. However, because the Holy Spirit is spontaneous in nature, a time table should only be implemented as a temporary measure until a regular pattern can be developed- otherwise it will become ritualized. Simply put, obedience by commitment through a rostering method is likened to taking a sleeping tablet in order to restore a normal sleeping habit where pills are no longer required.

CHAPTER 30

Humility Builds Faith

"Congregants tend to wear their hearts on a sleeve," said one Jehovah's Witnesses elder. Granted, it's hard enough to love what is considered to be a 'normal person' let alone one who is infirm or has a medically-diagnosed personality disorder like I have. Nonetheless, God tells us to love and nurture all sorts of people including the elderly which in many cases can be extremely time-consuming.

You may be surprised to know that the Jehovah's Witnesses have a theocratic directive (red tape) that discouragers church elders from spending a lot of their time nurturing the elderly.

"This should be the responsibility of family members"- said one elder! More to the point, my Jehovah's Witness wife told me that this directive caused many problems in her congregation.

For example, an elderly sister was told by church elders to arrange for her sister to move from England to Australia so that she could be cared for. In another instance an elderly JW brother who could not be cared by his family or the elders, was simply dumped into a nursing home where he waited all day for someone to visit him. To make the situation even worse, the church elders and family even forbid the nursing staff to involve him in any activities such as bingo or theatrical concerts.

It seems to me that the JW's are good at rostering hours for the teaching of their children and door to door witnessing, yet have no such system in place for the nurturing of their elderly. I'm sorry to say that it is hypocritical for a religion like Jehovah's Witnesses to claim love as the evidence of true discipleship. What Christians must realise is that true Christ-like disciples, particularly those who take the lead, are supposed to be self-sacrificing.

Do you visit your brethren in sickness?

But to be fair to the Jehovah's Witnesses, they are not the only ones who neglect their elderly. My Pentecostal mother while in hospital had not one church visit. But in her dying moments, God brought along a very loving and caring Catholic priest to pray with her. I know this because the last words my mother said on the phone was that it was the nicest and most sincere prayer she had ever heard. This was a surprise to me because my mother always believed that Catholicism was the mark of the beast (666).

Could it be said that my Pentecostal, born-again mother in her dying moments had been given one final lesson on bigotry by a Catholic? To my Aspergers way of thinking, the mortician may have prepared my mother's fleshly body for open viewing! But not until the Holy Spirit prepared her spirit for the eternal Father's viewing.

Philippians 1:6 tells us: "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (ESV).

Can today's young generation learn humility?

There can be no doubt that old age and death build humility, which in turn builds faith. But how do the invincible Christian youth of today learn humility when it requires so much of their time away from the lures of materialism? It's true that many of us oldies do give the youth a hard time, but we are also to blame for spoiling them. Nonetheless, there are some young Christians that do donate their precious time in the nurturing of Christian principles.

One that comes to mind is the tribe of Judah who through an agency, help the under-privileged by collecting food stuffs donated by farmers, wholesalers and retailers. Through a labour of love, these once "hard core bikers" who at one time were making drugs are now making disciples.

I'm sure that there are many young Christians who are searching for a meaningful and exciting Christian outreach that bypasses the boredom of the usual religious rituals. But this type of outreach is not for the faint-hearted and may require a lot of faith and some hard work. How so? Whether you're an ex-biker and former drug addict, an ex-alcoholic or an ex-gambler, helping the desperate is a specialised anointing that requires a willingness to be abused and used by both people and governments who regard Christian charities as a political dumping ground for the unemployed.

Dear brethren, if you work with these sorts of agencies and feel angry or disillusioned with the way you are being treated, then take my advice and leave before your heart becomes hardened. There's nothing sadder than seeing a disgruntled Christian whose spirit has been broken by the works of man. Granted, we as Christians are required to display charity. But not all Christians can be like Sister Teresa. Luke 12:48 tells us: "But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more" (KJV).

CHAPTER 31

How should a Christian Tithe?

Mandatory tithing-giving 10 percent of one's gross income is regarded by some religious institutions as extortion. Yes, it's true that Mark 10:30 does tell us that by giving a seed God will return a harvest. But there are religions that would have us believe that God's seeds are money. Some charismatic churches have what is called "storehouse tithing" based on Malachi 3:10, where God tells Israel to "bring the whole tithe into the storehouse." This also is misconstrued to imply that God's blessing is conditional upon faithfulness in tithing. Some religions even go as far as teaching that if one doesn't give generously they are robbing God. A.A. Allan preached that poverty was a bad spirit which could only be dealt with financially (Ref 11).

This mindset was taught by my former Pentecostal church. How so? The pastor would compel the entire congregation to have their names and wage earnings written on envelopes with monies sealed inside. If you think that's a rare and unusual irregularity then think again. Why? The trend today is that congregants be obliged to give their tithes and offerings via electronic funds, which so happens to require a name for reference.

Should tithing be compulsory?

It's my opinion that mandatory tithing has a tendency to be more like a legal contract with God rather than a love relationship with God. Unfortunately, as far as the church is concerned, the congregation has no right to know where, when and how their money is being spent. No! This information is only available to the church finance committee, hand-selected by church elders, which in many cases happens to be their family members. In such cases, all congregants need to know is that their money is entrusted to trustworthy people. But are they trustworthy?

I recall recently visiting a charismatic church who was asking donations to build a new extension to accommodate a Sunday school for only ten students with the tender going to a couple of church devotees. Another church in which I attended payed the pastor a very generous wage and if that wasn't enough he and his wife took on part-time jobs leaving a couple of very elderly parishioners to do the pastoral duties.

Regarding religion, the Jehovah's Witness and the mainstream Christian churches are at loggerheads. But when it comes to financial accountability the JWs score highest. How so?

They don't have paid ministers but believe that all who are committed to preaching the gospel are themselves ordained ministers. They have a building committee who use JW volunteer tradespersons. They use all their resources on spreading the gospel, even using carpools when going door to door. They even print their own religious material including Bibles in over 500 foreign languages, all from non-mandatory love offerings.

There can be no doubt that the JW's spend considerable time and money on evangelising and therefore should be highly commended for that. But sadly, not like mainstream churches, Jehovah's Witnesses are not known for soup kitchens and accommodating the homeless.

One JW worker said this: "When evangelising, those who ask for hand-outs are but time-wasters and could best be serviced by charitable organisations." These charities are what JW's call: "rice Christians— who fall into the category of people such as Sister Teresa who was admired for her work among the slums of Calcutta, India.

My view is that religious paraphernalia is fine for those who can read, but how does God's message of love and hope get through to those impoverished who have not the means to understand the written word? Besides, even if a Jehovah's Witness message of salvation were to fall on deaf ears nothing is lost but gained through character building.

All Christians regardless of their denomination should not forget that 'rice people' are the ones Christ loves best because they allow a disciple of Christ to become more compassionate and less self -righteous. Simply put, the lowly and destitute are the teachers, and the haughty are their students. Mathew 25:40 says:

"I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (NIV).

What can we learn from giving?

There is no doubt in my mind that giving your fruits in a labour of love is a spontaneous reaction led by the Holy Spirit. I recall in the late 1970's when just as I was about to place my tithes and offerings into the box, the Holy Spirit moved me to hand it personally to a new convert for desperately needed dental work. Well, you should have seen the look on her face when I told her that it was a love gift from the Lord. And what was my blessing?—the satisfaction of seeing that young lady whose teeth, once decayed by illicit drugs, now gleaming white, when praising the Lord. Psalms 128:2: "You will enjoy the fruit of your labour. How joyful and prosperous you will be." (NIV)

Many of my brethren thought this to be against church rules. "The use of your tithe is decided by a church finance committee!" they said. But I argued that the committee members were more focused on their own material wants than the needs of those in the church. After all this child of God had been going to church for over a year—yet not one church elder considered that she had a legitimate need. Giving in LOVE far outweighs giving by force because it entails both self-sacrifice and a willingness to be used according to God's will and not our own or any other man's. The bottom line is that each individual member of Christ's church is responsible to know how, when and where their tithes are being utilized if they are to receive any blessings from God.

Tithing is more valued in time.

Mathew 25:15 describes how God gave to each of three disciples a certain number of talents to invest according to his potential. The story tells us that they did as required with exception of one who lost favour with God by burying it underground.

Interestingly enough, in Christ's time a talent was equivalent to 6000 denarii. Now considering that the average worker during that time was paid one denarii a day, a talent would have been equivalent to 20 years' wages.

I believe that Mathew's point is to show us that it's time and not money per se that God requires in winning souls and for the building up of His church.

Mathew's metaphor does throw an entirely different perspective on Malachi 3:10 whereby the storehouse would be full of new converts due to the time and effort of those who have invested their talents wisely. Am I saying that churches should collect no tithes or offerings? No! I'm advocating that a church encourage time in the ministry in serving God as being a valued part of tithing. Simply put, one's tithe is 100% not ten.

Previously I touched on the Gideon Bible Society in regards to incidental witnessing. The concept of using Bibles for street witnessing was brought to my attention by a very zealous Christian named Tom who told me that he purchases 100 pocket sized Bibles for $ 2.00 each out of his own pocket. Tom says that he has learned to respect the Bible as a living organism that requires guidance as was the case with Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:27—and as such is to be handed out sparingly with 1 Corinthians 3:6 in mind:

1. You planted the seed: God's Living Word from the Bible.

2. Apollos: a minister of God who followed up through baptism.

3. God's Holy Spirit: who makes your convert grow in the Lord.

Sadly many churches support the Gideon foundation on behalf of the congregants who place complete trust in their integrity. But as I explained in chapter twenty two, this trust was abused when a church member Kerri Ferguson placed her trust in Brian Houston of the Baulkham Hills NSW Hillsong church. Normally I don't endorse any particular religion but I feel that an exception can be made to 'The Gideon Bible Society' because of their neutrality. Why not contact Gideon's direct as a complement to your ministry work. Mathew 28:19 says: "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (NLT).

How can a talent be buried?

Please be advised that if a Christian is not responsive to one of God's greatest commandments then they are guilty of burying their talent. For example; soon after dissociating from the Jehovah's Witnesses, I started attending the Gympie Christian Family Fellowship which at first appeared to have all the hallmarks of good leadership. One Sunday morning an announcement was made inviting congregants to distribute Christian literature into letter boxes. Having had eight years' experience with the Jehovah's witnesses, I offered my services along with a suggestion that we personally hand the literature to the householder. I reasoned that this approach would be an opening to invite families to our meetings. But unfortunately my services and advice was graciously declined by the pastor without explanation. Later I observed that this process failed to add even a single visitor let alone inspiring a conversion.

What is the lesson?

Let me ask you this question; "would a farmer place healthy seeds into unfertile soil knowing it was highly unlikely to germinate?" Of course not! Then why would we consider placing seeds of salvation in a letter box knowing it was highly likely to be discarded with the trash? It seemed far more like burying our talent than actually investing it.

The way I see it, the pastor missed the opportunity to inspire appreciation for the hard work that went into publishing the literature as well as the wise use of their funds. Could it be said that the pastor didn't want to place his people in potentially embarrassing confrontations? There is a false perception that all householders hate door knockers. Besides, even if one were to be abused at the door, it would only build humility and a taste of what is to be expected in the last days. Mathew 10:33 says this: "But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven" (NLT).

The bottom line is this: ministers of God are responsible to train students to be bold and enthusiastic, because in the process, they will discover the fruits of their labour. This blessing is not necessarily measured in dollars and cents, but in the building up of one's faith knowing that they are pleasing God. There is no greater joy than seeing an entire family grow in the Lord because of just one seed wisely planted. Psalms 128:2 says this: "You will enjoy the fruit of your labour. How joyful and prosperous you will be!"(KJV) Isaiah 3:10 says: "Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds" (NIV).

The ministry of puppetry.

Another way in which parishioners can exercise their God given talents is with puppetry. This ministry is an excellent way of developing God given talents and Christian disciplines as outlined below:

1. Puppeteers can hide behind black screens without fear of a microphone or speaking directly in front of their peers.

2. Puppets can deliver sensitive massagers that a discord cannot. Subjects such as holy living, tithing, hospitality and the preaching of God's good news can all be addressed in a fun and loving manner.

3. Parishioners who elect to become puppeteers would be obligated to acquire a Bible discipline when writing scripts about biblical characters.

4. Puppeteers would be obligated to spend much time in prayer - asking God's blessing for their ministry.

How can a Church begin this ministry?

First thing is to do some research on the NET, YouTube is a good start. Then contact other Christian organizations specializing in the making of puppets accompanied by scripts voice and music. The making of the stage and props is quite simple using lightweight speaker stands, adjustable twist bars and heaps of black (non wrinkle) curtain material. Everyone in the church can get involved by sewing, script writing or even singing. More importantly, using a puppet production for street witnessing will appeal to children who can be invited by the puppet characters to see and hear more at Sunday school along with their parents. This ministry will also bring a spirit of joy, fulfillment and comradely into the congregation giving all a sense of responsibility in making better disciples for Christ.

CHAPTER 32

Healing and Deliverance

"Divine healing is the dinner bell. Keep ringing that bell and people will come."

Raymond T. Richey.

If there is anything typical of pentecostals and charismatic's, it would be the major emphasis on healing, and we need to understand that. Perspectives on faith healing often seem as varied as the number of faith healers around us. Some say God wants to heal all sickness; others come close to conceding that God's purposes may sometimes be fulfilled in our illness and infirmity.

Some equate sickness with sin, others stop short of that, but still find it hard to explain why spiritually strong people get sick. In any event, I will be addressing many of these questions later, but firstly let me deal with the most serious allegation. Which is? That Pentecostal and Charismatic faith healings are the work of Beelzebub.

Let us reason.

The Bible says in Luke 11:18 that if Satan could heal then he would be divided against himself. But that doesn't mean to say that Satan doesn't rob God's glory by using 'New Age' science in confusing the source from which our healing derives from. Simply put, Satan is not in the business of healing but in the business of deceitfulness. Besides, I don't blame anyone for being sceptical about faith healers in light of Kathryn Kuhlman who died on an operating table at 62 due to a genetic heart defect. Many sceptics say, "Why is it that a faith healer can heal others but not herself?" A good question which can be very difficult to answer - but here goes anyway!

As I see it, just because a faith healer has a physical disability doesn't mean that God cannot mediate through them? Take for example the apostle Paul— although having the gifts of healing, could not be healed from what he described as a thorn in the flesh. No one would dare say that Paul lacked the faith as he pleaded with God twice to relieve him of his ailment.

What was Paul's thorn?

The Bible doesn't tell us what Paul's ailment was, but I suspect it was his eyes due to the fact that he was blinded for three days after being stopped by Christ presents in amidst of a burning white light when traveling on the road to Damascus.

I reason, could it be that Paul's vision was not 100% restored, but slightly impaired as a scar reminder of that fateful event? I can just imagine Satan saying; "Hey Paul! What you saw and heard was just fatigue due to your very strenuous journey!" Or perhaps his thorn was to teach him humility when writing in dimply candlelit rooms? Whatever it was that agitated Paul he obviously overcame it by relying solely on God.

Paul's predicament reminds me of Frances (Fannie) Jane Crosby (1820-1915) - a blind devout Christian who wrote many hymns one of which is "Blessed assurance" which was sung at my mother's funeral. I often wonder; did Jane Crosby's disability bring out the very best in her as it did Paul? The late Karen Carpenter said: "the best love songs are written with a broken heart".

Do prayer cloths have any power?

I often surf the NET for stories of religious experiences. One interesting story I came across was that of a Baptist minister who received a miracle prayer cloth in the mail with a message that read as follows: "Take this special miracle prayer cloth, put it under your pillow and sleep on it tonight. Or you may want to place it on your body or on that of a loved one. Use it as a point of release wherever you hurt. First thing in the morning send it back to me in the green envelope. Do not keep this prayer cloth, but return it to me. I will take it, pray over it all night. Miracle power will flow like a river. God has something better for you, a special miracle to meet your needs."

The minister was a stanched protestant who was taught that this type of request was nothing more than idolatry. But not so according to Kathleen Evans who was cured of brain cancer when praying over a tiny fragment of Sister Mary Mackillop's clothing.

Allow me to tell the story;

At age sixty-six, Kathleen Evans was the mother of five, grandmother of 20 and great-grandmother of two when she told how she had smoked since the age of sixteen, but had given up in 1990, three years before she received a terrifying diagnosis of cancer at age forty-nine. The tumour, located in her right lung, was particularly aggressive and quickly spread to her lymph nodes. Within a few months a secondary cancer was found on her brain. She was told it was inoperable and that chemotherapy and X-ray treatment were considered pointless. "Besides," she said, "the odds were just not worth it."

"I was only given a couple of months at the most to live so I said thanks but no thanks. All I had left was prayer."A friend in the Hunter Valley gave her a picture of Mary Mackillop and a piece of her clothing, so Ms Evans, her family and her parish all began praying. "I'm not one to be on my knees all the time or think I'll go to hell if I miss mass," she said. But she is a regular churchgoer. Far from getting worse, her condition improved and after four months her doctor called for more tests, "because, as he said, I just shouldn't be here."

Ten months after her original diagnosis, she was told there was no sign of any cancer, just some scarring where the tumours had been.

In December her recovery was formally recognised as Mackillop's second miracle- clearing the way for her canonisation at St Peter's Square in the Vatican 17 October 2010.

There were many other healings accredited to Mary Mackillop such as burns victim Sophie Delezio and Irishman David Keohane who woke from an eight-month coma following an assault in Sydney.

Remember in the beginning of this paragraph the claim that Pentecostal and charismatic faith healing were of Beelzebub? Well in this case neither Pentecostal or charismatic influences were instrumental in the healing of Kathryn Evans.

In fact, unlike many charismatic faith healers, the Catholic Church does not take healing lightly but relies only on hard core medical evidence. But as far as protestant faith healers are concerned, any miracle that would involve a catholic praying over a deceased person's image or clothing would be regarded as idolatry and therefore would not be blessed from God.

But they do believe it's real when it comes to miracles performed with the laying on of hands amid a stirring worship service.

So the question begs: who will God bless— a Catholic or a Protestant? The truth is that God's undeserved kindness does not discriminate, but will only respond to one's soulful prayer regardless of any Christian based religious ritual. As far as Kathleen Evans was concerned, her healing had nothing to do with being a catholic or going to mass.

Why is faith so important?

When it comes to healing a lot of emphasis is focused on faith—and without it God cannot be pleased. (Hebrews 11:6) So we must ask: what is faith? Some say it's like taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. Others say that faith is likened to oxygen-just because we can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there. The following saying says it all: "To those who believe, no explanation is necessary. To those who do not believe no explanation is possible."

Allow me to share a heart-rending story that has been bandied around the NET.

The story begins with a little girl named Tess who always attended Sunday school where she was taught to put money in the offering plate to help the sick and poor. One day Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way six blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big Red Indian Chief sign above the door. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at that moment. Tess moved her feet to make a scuffling noise, but he still didn't respond. Finally she cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!   
"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. Tess responded in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick, and I want to buy a miracle." The pharmacist said, "I beg your pardon?" "His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head. My Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So Mister, how much does a miracle cost? "

"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you," the pharmacist said, softening a little. She was not to be deterred. "Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest." The pharmacist was a well-dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?" "I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."

The pharmacist asked, "How much do you have?" Speaking barely above a whisper she answered, "One dollar and eleven cents. It's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to." "Well, what a coincidence," said the man with a wide smile. "A dollar and eleven cents-the exact price of a miracle for little brothers."

He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said, "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need." That well-dressed man was Dr Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neurosurgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well. "That surgery," her Mom whispered, "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?" Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost...one dollar and eleven cents...plus the faith of a little child. In Mathew 18:3-4 Jesus said:

"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (ESV).

It's obvious to me that when it comes to faith all rationality goes out the window. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 19:26; "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Ponder this verse 9 in 1 Corinthians 12 which says:

"To another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit" (NET).

According to the scripture above there are two completely different types of faith. One is blind faith-as in taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. The other type of faith comes from not ourselves but is a gift from God, which simply means that no matter how much one fasts and prays, faith cannot be conjured up.

Kathryn Kuhlman often said that many hundreds whom God healed had very little or no faith at all. It must have really upset her to know that the faith needed to heal her from a genetic heart disease would largely depend on God and not that of her own faith.

But the question begs: Why did God allow Kathryn to die in July 1975 on an operating table when she was being used to heal and bring people to Christ? Without casting aspersions on Kathryn's ministry I do have a theory. How so?

Remember Moses in Numbers 21:9 who was told by Jehovah to erect a bronze snake around a pole so that the Israelites could be healed from their snake bites? The Bible tells us that after a while instead of worshiping Jehovah through the image, they began to worship "the image."-which was the reason why it was destroyed. (2 Kings 18:4)

How does this story relate to Kathryn Kuhlman?

Kathryn's many devotees were Catholics, which eventually led to her meeting with Pope V1. TIME magazine once called her a "one-woman shrine." Yes, God made a wonderful provision for healing through Kathryn Kuhlman. But we must not forget that it wasn't the brazen serpent that cured the Israelites; but in looking up to it, they looked up to God as the Lord that healed them. Hence, God foresaw that sooner or later just as it was with the brazen serpent Kathryn would also be 'a god' to be idolised. The KJV of Exodus 34:14 says:

"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" However nothing was lost, because Kathryn is now resting in the Lord awaiting her heavenly reward. Remember this; Life isn't about how long one lives— but what one achieves!

Like Kathryn Kuhlman many sick and infirmed are often left wondering, particularly after a faith healing service, why God heals those who seem less deserving than themselves. But consider this; many miracles can be honoured by God through prayers from unknown sources!

In Pentecostalism this is known as 'intercessory prayer-by proxy'. This phenomenon occurs when God places a burden on a Christian to prayer for a complete stranger. Romans 8:26 says this: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning's too deep for words" (ESV).

Just think, your miracle could have been initiated by a complete stranger which tells me that there is goings on in the heavenly realm far beyond our human comprehension.

Interestingly enough, scientists have become aware of this phenomenon after studying identical twins. It is a documented fact that twins from two different sides of the globe can be joined as one in mind and in spirit. So I figure, "Why not the body of Christ?"

Intercessory prayer-by proxy is one of many manifestations of the Spirit which seems extinct in today's Pentecostalism, and may be why we see fewer miracles.

Could it be that these and many other manifestations of the Spirit will once again resurface in the third wave outpouring of the Holy Spirit when access to medical treatment is denied to true worshipers of God? I believe so!

Dear brethren, I used to think that miracles could only happen to Christians until I meet a young lady named Christine who told me she had cured herself of breast cancer by meditating on a blue light. She explained that this science is called "Chronotherapy" which uses colour that influences the flow and amount of energy in our bodies. "I believe that colours have certain wavelengths of electro-magnetic energy seen through our eyes, and when all colours merge-the result is white light that brings about completeness"— says Christine.

Yes I do believe that people like Christine can experience healing from what the medical profession call "the placebo effect"

But this type of healing is not to be confused with Christian healing which is the complete restoration of mind body and soul. Mathew 18:8 says: "If your hand or your foot cause you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. Its better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire."

Can a Christian raise the dead?

In chapter five I touched on this subject of healing emphasising that God can do anything! However as Christians we need to face reality as to what is authentic and what is hearsay.

But before reading, I want you to imagine yourself in the storyline as one of the paramedics who noted no signs of life to a young lady named Parnia, but in faith prayed that God would raise her. Then after seeing Parnia alive, proclaimed a miraculous miracle.

The story as it unfolds:

In 2011 a woman in Japan, intent on committing suicide, wandered into a forest and overdosed on pills. The next morning, a passerby found her. When emergency personnel arrived, her body temperature was 20C. She had no pulse and was not breathing. Efforts to shock her heart into action failed, but rather than send her to the morgue, doctors connected her to an extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine – a device that acts as an artificial lung and heart, and is a standard of care in Japan – and left her to circulate. Several hours into the procedure, her heart fluttered back to life. The woods' cool temperature, it turned out, had prevented the woman's cells from breaking down as quickly as they would have in a warmer environment, allowing her to lay dead in the forest for around four hours, plus survive an additional six hours between the time the passerby called the ambulance and the time her heart began beating again. Three weeks later, she left the hospital, and today she is happily married and recently delivered a baby. "If one of our [emergency medical service] crews found that young girl, she would have just been declared dead," - Parnia says.

Dear brethren, in discussing this subject no one would say that the paramedic's eye witness account was not honourable or that his prayer was not sincere, but the reality is that Parnia's prognoses was only privy to specialist. Nevertheless, we all know that rumors of such miraculous events do spread like wildfire without much investigation. "Do I believe in miracles?" Well that depends on one's interpretation of what constitutes a miracle!

The way I see it; whether one is physically or spiritually healed, or has many prayers answered, it all falls under the one umbrella of "divine intervention."

Could it be true to say that faith healers are the ones who circulate rumours of the dead being raised in keeping their offices alive? After all they do believe they are a special breed of Holy Rollers who like Benny Hinn can perform great signs and wonders.

But as far as I'm concerned, a miracle is when my steps are guided by markers strategically placed along God's pathway to righteousness— assuring me that in sickness He will be there to heal, deliver or just comfort me. If it's any consolation my late mother used to say: "the worst thing about death is dying alone."

I would like to finish off this chapter with the words of the late Kathryn Kulman:

"If you are ill and have not yet received the gift of faith so that you believe in miracles, then get yourself the best medical assistance possible, and pray that God shall work through the human vessel: pray that your doctor will be given Divine guidance in treating you, and then both of you wait for God to do the actual healing. God's healing power is an indisputable fact, with or without human assistance." (Source: I believe in miracles)

CHAPTER 33

My Encounter with an Angel

Joan Wester Anderson began her writing career in 1973 and had published over a thousand articles and stories in a wide variety of magazines and newspapers. A lecturer and teacher, Anderson is the best-selling author of several books including: Where Angels Walk, An Angel to Watch Over Me, and Where Miracles Happen.

Joan confessed that she never really believed in angels until she had a personal encounter of her own.

In a book entitled Mysterious Messengers (edited by Rex Hauck and published by Ballantine Books New York) Joan tells an intriguing story that began when her son was to visit her over the Christmas holiday. During the days leading up to the visit, the Midwest was experiencing a terrible cold snap. Joan wrote, "Christmas was on the weekend that year and I believe it was Wednesday when my husband called the kids and said please don't drive, because they were warning cars of the dangerous highway conditions." Of course, the weather warning made no difference to two twenty-one-year-olds.

The kids decided to come anyway, and her worse fears soon became a reality. They broke down in the middle of the night, right outside a little town in Indiana. It was thirty-two degrees below zero. The wind-chill was ninety below, when they sat there realizing that they were probably going to die. It was two in the morning when all of a sudden there was a flare of light directly behind them-the headlights from a tow truck, and as improbable as it sounds the driver got out and asked them if they needed help, and if he could take them and their car back to the town they had passed earlier. So, he did. Once in town they exited the truck and turned to ask how much they owed him, but the truck had disappeared along with the driver. Her son's car was just sitting there all by itself, as frozen as it had been twenty minutes before.

When her son got home he didn't tell her the story in just that way, and that was her first clue that something special had happened, because people often try to second guess the event to make it fit their paradigm. That's exactly what was happening to Tim who was mulling it over, contemplating what had occurred.

But after four weeks he still couldn't make it fit into any kind of mould, and that's when he told her exactly what happened. Now the interesting part was that she said to him, "What time did that man come?" and he answered, "That I know for sure. I'm not sure of much that night but I do know that he came at a quarter to two." Well, at quarter to one her time (it was at exactly the same moment, because Tim was on Eastern Time and she was on Central) she had been standing at the window waiting for him; by then he was five hours late. And she had felt this lifting of my spirit as she said, "God you've got to send someone." That was not a prayer that she had ever prayed before. So, of course, she was left with the reality that she had asked God to send someone, and God did.

Whom had God sent? In the following months she tried to trace the tow-truck driver, calling the state police, but they said there had not been any rescue vehicles out at that time. She called a couple of tow-truck companies, and nobody knew anything about it. It just didn't line up with the facts. Why would a tow truck leave the safety of a town on such a dangerously frigid night? In the end she eventually chalked it up to angelic intervention.

My story

Joan's story bears an uncanny resemblance to my own experience. How so? I recall in 1969 when my brother, my sister and I decided to spend a day visiting friends in the country. Interestingly enough, as we were travelling my brother and sister remarked on hearing singing as if it were coming from a choir. I just put it down to some sort of travelling fatigue and thought nothing of it. After spending a lovely day with friends it was time to return home and typical at the age of nineteen, we did not leave enough time to get home before the sunset. Not only was the last hour of our journey in darkness but it was ridden with torrential rain. Honestly, I just could not see two meters in front of my face; in fact, my direction relied entirely on the tail lights from passing cars that left my old VW Beetle in the dust.

The weather was so bad that I remember driving with my head out the window just so I could get my bearings. Then from out of nowhere came a truck with a gigantic car trailer lit up like a Christmas tree. And guess what? It was travelling at the exact speed of my VW which was 75 KPH. But we were surprised to see, that as we approached the safety of the outer city lights, the truck's right turn signal lit up and it turned across a grassy strip and headed back in the direction from which it had come. My brother was on the passenger's side and turned to catch a glimpse of the driver but couldn't see anything. Could it be that it was too dark? Or was it just that there was nothing to see?

The Bible claims many encounters with angels: some in dreams as was the case with Joseph and the Magi, and others visually as with Mary mother of Jesus. (Mathew 1:20 - 2:12/Luke 1:26-38) Angels have even appeared human as they did at Sodom.

Joel 2:28 says this: "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions" (NIV).

John Wesley, who was an 18th Century apologist, paid attention to dreams, visions and angelic encounters among the early Methodists. No doubt Wesley knew from hard experience that claims of special visitations and inspirations had to be handled with great care. John Wesley remained eager to hear what God could do among his people, and so he gathered stories and pondered them. Three centuries after John Wesley people are still experiencing angelic visitations- especially very young children.

Joan Wester Anderson says; "I think that when children get to Earth they are probably still in connection with heaven for a while. It's been said that there is a veil that draws over us more and more as we become more involved on Earth." With that background of Joan's comments I share with you my childhood angelic encounter.

Yes, I was visited by an angelic figure!

It was in the year 1955 when my mother was tarrying earnestly for God's truths, in particular the baptism in the Holy Spirit. She was a new convert to Christianity when she attended a Christian Pentecostal Church in Melbourne for the very first time. We were just a typical Australian family consisting of Mum (Audrey) Dad (Leslie), my brother Laurie and my sister Carol. I guess one could say that we were a poor family always struggling to make ends meet. Nevertheless Mum always made time to attend church.

Very early one morning I was awakened from sleep by a high-pitched sound that instantly made me sit straight up in my bed. Then suddenly I saw a dim light creeping onto the wall from the main hallway. It was not uncommon for my mother to check on us with a candle as not to disturb us. So in expectation to her arrival I was ready to ask for a drink of water. Then as the light intensified I realized it wasn't Mum at all, but a very tall shimmering figure.

My description!

Usually angels are depicted as having beautiful smiling faces: yet due to the ultra-white light radiating from whatever it held in its right hand, my angel's appearance was obscured from the waist up. When reflecting back I often wonder whether the light was that of a candelabrum of seven golden candlesticks mentioned in Revelations 1:20.

Furthermore, it has been said that angels are depicted as having wings from the waist up: but mine had very large dove-like wings that stood taller than its seven foot height. My angel appeared in a gleaming white gown with noticeable patterned edging and a rope tied just below its waist. It also wore leather lace-up sandals.

Interestingly enough, the Talmud records that high priests had purple pomegranates on the edges of their garments and wore a golden rope around the waist as they entered the Holy of Holies. (Exodus 28:33) But what I could not help but notice was the very long double edged sword in its left hand pointing directly at me. I was so terrified that I screamed for my mother who rushed in to console me. Mum said that as she picked me up in her arms I was still crying out: "Look, Mummy look-can't you see it!"

Sceptics may say: "Why would an angel of God frighten a young child?"

Yet God has shown me that the things we fear are the things we never forget- as was the case in Luke in 2:9 when the disciples were terrified by an angel. One sceptic said, "But angels don't carry swords!" Not so according to Genesis 3:24, were at the east of the Garden of Eden a flaming sword was used by an angel to guard the path to the tree of life and. in Numbers 22:23 when an angel of the LORD stood with his sword drawn. And to add, 1 Chronicles 21:16 when David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, with a sword stretched out over Jerusalem.

Please know that I'm not suggesting that I saw Jesus, but I can't help but notice comparisons as to what I saw and what I read in Revelations 1:16 were it says: "In his right hand he held seven stars; His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance"

And in Daniel 10:6 where we read:

"His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning" Revelations 1:16 adds that "out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword"

What constitutes an angel?

Sophie Burnham who is an award-winning playwright, novelist, and non-fiction writer makes the following statement about angels:

"Many people say that humans evolve into angels. Other people say that angels are a separate species, created by God at the beginning of time. We don't know. What we do know is that there are these beings that we call angels, that they're on our side, and that they come with warmth and light and a great sense of glory and colours. When you see them, you experience warmth and unfathomable love. They love us beyond our wildest imaginings."

I have learned that apart from angels having abundant LOVE they also convey God's Will to His people on earth. Hence, my massage given to me as a child of five was of a symbolic nature –which I'm know able to reveal via the gift of knowledge as follows;

1. A very intense white light obscuring its identity:

a) God's true identity is neither seen nor understood by human reasoning but only by revelation via the gifts of the Spirit. (Joel 2:28)

b) Corinthians 2:14 says: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (KJB).

2. Double edged sword:

a) "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires."

b) Yes the sword of truth reveals the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that His people may know Christ and His heavenly father better." (Hebrews 4:12 - Ephesians 1:17 NLT)

3. A golden cord around the waist:

a) A token of sorrow and humiliation, which is how God currently views His church.

b) [Sorrow] "But I have this against you: You have departed from your first love!

c) [Humiliation] "Therefore, remember from what high state you have fallen and repent! Do the deeds you did at the first; if not, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place-that is, if you do not repent (Revelations 2:4-5, NET).

4. Leather lace-up sandals:

a) That I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, 'I have made Abram rich' (Genesis 14:23 NIV).

b) He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."(John 1:27 NIV)

c) A token of transferring property to those who are to be joint heirs with Christ. John 3:3: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (ESV).

d) Romans 8:17: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" (NIV)

CHAPTER 34

Conclusion

"We are lean, mean kingdom machines, all set for everything that God wants to do in this place. Amen! Amen! "—says Brian Houston of Hillsong while his young devotees stomp and cheer. But this lean mean Kingdom machine does not preach true Pentecostalism as did his forefathers!

Pastor Harris of Southern Illinois is yet another lean mean Kingdom machine who says that tongues are just a byproduct of Christian faith and not all that essential for witnessing.

Obviously pastor Harris wasn't there in the 1970's down pouring when families were reunited, long-severed friendships reconciled and hearts flowed together in true fellowship in the Lord. This was not just a by-product of Christian faith as Harris says, but a very powerful weapon for pulling down strongholds. Acts 1:8 says: "But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (GNT).

Dear brethren, sadly Houston and Harris represent the majority of today's Pentecostal and charismatic ministers who don't appreciate the manifestations of the Spirit as in speaking in tongues.

But there is one mean kingdom machine by the name of Paul who was not ashamed to acknowledge the gifts of the Spirit when saying: "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you" (1 Corinthians 14:18 NIV).

You may be interested to know that the turning point as to why I left the Jehovah's witnesses was the removal of Mark 16:17 from their new NWT Bible. This included the removal of all references and footnotes that had been previously added to all JW Bibles from 1960- 2013. There excuse for this blasphemes act is that the light has become brighter. (Proverbs 4:18 is a popular scripture used to cover up false teachings). But when switching back to Pentecostalism I noticed that the speaking in tongues was denigrated from the main worship service to the back-room leaving me to question: "where has the public acknowledgment of the Spirit gone?"

Could it be said that Pentecostals and alike who are not exercising tongues are as guilty as the Jehovah's Wittinesses? The way I see it, whether one deems tongues fraudulent or discourages its usage is still grieving the Holy Spirit.

In chapter seventeen I spoke of Wilson Tozer's commentary on the gift of discernment and how in these critical times it should be valued as a weapon against spiritual forces of evil.

Tozer's commentary is a reminder that the gifts of the Spirit are the covering veil that sanctifies the bride in readiness to meet with Christ her bridegroom. But as I have pointed out, a lot more work has to be done in order to establish a bridal- church without spot or blemish.

In this book I make no apologies about being critical against those who would grieve God's Spirit, and neither do I apologize for encouraging Christians to move from an institutionalized church to a less formal setting —such as a Home Church were hospitality can allow familiarity to grow in love, respect and trust for one another.

These are the virtues that Christ church needs if it's to meet the requirements of the bridegroom.

In King David's day the Ark of the Covenant was lost to God's people. Because of this, they had lost also the Presence, Power and Glory of the Living God. This same situation has happened to the Pentecostal movement in the aftermath of the 1901 revival. Christians need to pray that God will restore the Power of His Presence so that Gods people will once more have the zeal and boldness as a witness for Christ.

Ponder this scripture:

"Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them". (John 14:23 NIV)

The above scripture places salvation on the condition that we obey His teachings otherwise we may indeed lose our inheritance.

2 Peter 2:20-22 "If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: 'A dog returns to its vomit,' and, 'A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.'"

Revelation 3:5 says that those who won't have their names blotted out of the book of life are those who overcome. And in 1 Corinthians 9:27): "No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Paul says he takes care so that he doesn't become disqualified for eternal life -and so should we!

Below are 9 steps required in holding firm your footing on the   
pathway to salvation.

1. Learn the art of LOVE by being more hospitable kind and considerate.

2. Be doers and not just hearers of the WORD— Walk the Talk!

3. Get rid of any condemnation that would taint your heart.

4. Never be too proud to admit when you're wrong, and take good criticism.

5. Have an open mind for change.

6. Always encourage fellow brethren and greet them with LOVE.

7. Never take church leaders at face value — rather get to know them as you would your brothers and sisters so that a relationship of trust can be established.

8. Always have an enquiring mind and question everything that is said on the pulpit.

9. Seek the gifts of the spirit— especially the speaking in tongues. That alone may not get you to heaven, but it will certainly help avoid any obstacles that would hinder your steps.

Ponder this scripture:

"May you have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:18-19 ESV).

In the above verse, Paul places LOVE above head knowledge knowing that human emotions require a lot of spiritual strength in obtaining unconditional love. Breadth, length, height and depth are symbolic to a measure of TIME called a dispensation. (Geneses-Revelations)

The words: "filled with all the fullness of God" are expressive of God's immeasurable LOVE which is a learned virtue derived from many dispensations.

The Bible tells us that Lucifer was once a beautiful angel who loved God but due his pride and ego was banished from heaven. This tells us that angels aren't robots but have evolved by a process of free will. (1 Corinthians 6:3, Revelations 3:21 & Daniel 7:22)

I often wonder how many billions of years Lucifer enjoyed before he fell out of LOVE with God. That we may never know; but what is known, is that our heavenly father has made provision for us to replenish the angels He lost to Satan's rebellion. That means that our salvation has more to offer than just a heavenly abode -but the opportunity for us to become angels of immeasurable Love. "Will you join me?"

In finishing, we of the New Prophecy Church would like to invite you to our spiritual retreat called 'Noah's landing' nestled within the beautiful hinterlands of Maleny Queensland Australia. This is a place of learning, healing, meditation, and the rejuvenation of Pentecostal spiritual gifts.

If you can't get there in the dates nominated on our web page, then we will come to your home church with a Power-point presentation on the benefits of speaking in tongues.

I look forward in meeting with you personally. 
Pastor: Leslie Barnett. (Internet) New Prophecy Church, Maleny

Queensland Australia.

All inquiries: www.newprophecymovement.com.au

Note: Gift wrapped autographed copies of this book along with a free Holy Spirit lapel pin is available on line.

About the Author.

It began in 1955, when at the age of six Leslie began to receive spiritual dreams that were simply dismissed as normal fanciful childhood imaginations. It was during that time that his late mother was seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Like most Christian mothers, Leslie was brought up to know and love the Lord Jesus. He received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the age of twelve and later began to speak in other tongues. Many times Leslie would have prophecies given to him regarding what God had in store for him. Hence, at the age of twenty-one his pathway was made clear. How so?

Leslie was called by the Lord into Billy Graham's Youth for Christ as a gospel singer. Christ's message of love and peace was very much in vogue, made popular by the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War activists. The radio waves were bombarded with religious songs like "Jesus is just alright with me" performed by the Doobie Brothers and Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky." Then came the counterfeits such as "My sweet Lord" by George Harrison who's lord was a Hindu deity named Krishna. Nor can one forget Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) who promoted his brand of Islamic-themed songs such as "Peace Train" and "Morning Has Broken."

Also high on the charts were religious songs sung by Pat Boone, who was second in popularity only to Elvis Presley during the 1950s, before his conversion to Christianity. During the seventies, Boone founded his own record label called Lamb & Lion Records, and it was from this studio that his daughter, Debbie Boone recorded her own number one hit: "You Light up My Life."

But that the biggest surprise of all was Bob Dylan's conversion and his album 'Slow Train Coming' that topped the Christian music charts in 1979. There was also the Australian production of the hit musical 'Godspell' who's leading lady was Australia's own recording artist, Colleen Hewett.

It was during that time that many Christians from all denominations including Catholics and Messianic Jews resembled early disciples with the same enthusiasm, preaching with zeal and boldness.

"Those were the glory days when simply bowing before the throne in worship would touch hearts, including my own, and lift the spirits of those who sensed the incredible love of God"-says Leslie. The Apostle Paul experienced such manifestations in Romans 5:13:

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (NRSV).

At that time God gave Leslie an opportunity to be part of a live radio broadcast held every Sunday morning at Melbourne's 3DB studios.

Leslie says: " I felt incredibly blessed when I was asked to sing gospel music alongside some of Australia's finest country and western recording artists, including Cole Joy as well as the performing duo of Bobby Bright and Laurie Allan".

Leslie's biggest break came when Brian Cadd (assistant to Roger Savage) invited him to a recording session at Bill Armstrong's recording Studio South Melbourne. But reality quickly set in when Leslie realized that he wasn't there to cut a record but to give samples of his unusual synthesized sounds for use in advertising jingles. All was not lost because Leslie's encounter with internationally song writer opened up his career through Brian Cadd's number one hit: "Marshall's Portable Music Machine."

Leslie's portable Music Machine is best described as a one-man-band and was a popular site act around the New South Wales club circuit. During that time a talent scout signed Leslie up to be a TV presenter on a children's morning show under the name of Marshall. That then opened the door into the Australasian Christian Broadcasting Association where he hosted a religious TV segment with a well-loved ventriloquist character named Elfie.

Leslie says: "And though I was just a children's personality, anyone whose face appeared on any of their four stations was a celebrity, with a very rigorous schedule that included church rallies, live TV shows, talk-back radio and appearances at clubs and shopping centres. As a result I even had a gig at the Sydney Opera House".

Apart from music, Leslie always had a keen interest in electronics, which enabled him to build not only his music machine, but an animatronic robot he named Algatron. This realistic personality increased in popularity in the 1990s in schools and shopping centres in a production called "Robotec." Algatron was even invited by the then-Minister for Science Peter McGauran to perform at Australia's parliament house in Canberra.

In fact, Leslie is still singing country gospel music and entertaining with many of his technological innovations in science workshops.

"I believe that the hand of God has trained me through music theatre, science and technology in preparation to write my books"-says Leslie.

What qualifies Leslie to write this book?

Leslie says that he was very hesitant to write this book, because of his 'Aspergers Syndrome'- a disability which makes the English language seem very foreign to his way of understanding.

A little about Aspergers which is a type of autism:

According to statistics, one in every 200 people suffers from some form of autism.

For those who have Aspergers, a computer far outweighs the effectiveness of human educators because it provides a sense of control by way of instant answers to questions posed. English grammar seems illogical to an Aspergers person, particularly when using adjectives. It interrupts the creative thought process because it demands a pause to consider grammatical errors. However with the aid of a computer and spell check, this problem is alleviated. Furthermore, Aspergers people think in paragraphs rather than words or sentences. This explains why they often seem rude when interrupting conversation, but it's done out of fear that they may lose their train of thought.

The advantage of Aspergers syndrome is that science and math are their best subjects-probably because their universal language allows thinking outside the box. Leslie says: "There is much more to be said about this disability, but from where I stand, attributes like creativity and imagination are not disabilities but gifts, and essential tools to help communicate ideas"

Pastor Barnett's credentials derive from the United Pentecostal Church Glen Waverly Melbourne. Then following a change of doctrine, Mr Barnett and then wife Linda, were both ordained youth workers by the Assemblies of God in Ettalong on the central coast New South Wales.

Despite Bible training, Leslie believes that one doesn't need to have a doctorate in apologetics or a Masters of Divinity to decipher God's Word quoting:-

Matthew 11:25:

"At that time Jesus said, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of   
heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have   
revealed them to infants' " (NRSV).

Leslie goes on to say: "I'm but a simple practicing Christian with a desire for justice and truth. My knowledge and revelation of God's Word has been learned from my own personal experience with several Christian denominations. Therefore, let it be said, that God's Holy Spirit is the author of this book, and as such He is to be given all honour and praise.

However, I'm sure God wouldn't mind if I also acknowledge my late mother Audrey Roberts as the inspiration for this book.

Proverbs 22:6 tells us: "Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray" (NRSV). "Mum is now resting in the LORD!"
