THE SPIRIT of LAWLESSNESS by David Wilkerson

"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work" (2 Thess 2:7).

The Greek word Paul uses for iniquity in this passage means,
literally, "lawlessness." Therefore, the mystery is one of lawlessness,
meaning that multitudes are going to act without law or restraint.

Yet, this lawlessness is not simply a rebellion against the rule of
man. It is not about rebelling against civil authority or committing
robbery, rape or murder. These things do provoke God's wrath,
but the mystery of lawlessness goes much deeper. It is an outright
rejection of the truth that is in Christ, a casting aside of God's Holy
Word and rebellion against the restraints of Scripture!

This spirit of lawlessness is rampant in our nation today. It is the
force behind the legislation that seeks to banish God from our
society and the same spirit that Satan used to deceive Eve when
he told her, in so many words, "God is easy; He won´t punish you
for disobeying. You can eat the fruit and indulge your lust and you
won´t have to pay for it!"

Today Satan is using this same lie to convince masses of believers
that they can indulge their sins without paying any penalty. It is a
demonic scheme to pervert Christ´s gospel of grace and turn it into
a message of licentiousness. Tragically, many lukewarm Christians
are succumbing to this spirit of lawlessness.

Paul says the Antichrist will rise to power because people will be
blinded and deceived by their own sin: "After the working of Satan
with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivable-
ness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved"
(2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).

Satan will deceive masses of people by convincing them of a subtle
but powerful lie, just as he convinced Eve: "God doesn't punish sin!"

Paul says this deception will come "with all deceivableness . . .
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might
be saved" (verse 10). He then adds, "For this [reason] God shall
send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie" (verse 11).

The apostle is saying, "Those who refuse to obey or respect God's
Word will fall under a powerful delusion. At first they will wink at
their sin and justify it. But soon they will actively seek out a
message of easy grace. They will invent a grace that is far beyond
what God intended. His grace never leads to license-it always
leads to repentance."

-Source-

http://sermons.worldchallenge.org/en/node/25407

Give us a King Pastor?

As I have pondered the structure of todays church with its programs, formulas and hierarchy I wonder why? Why are things set up in way that are directed and operated by man devoid of Holy Spirit led? Many church services are routine habitual practices that are never questioned, never augmented from the standard scheduled procedure. Its a customary methodology more akin to a performance than spontaneity of the Holy Spirit with life. The typical service is an organized procedure, a planned and predictable schedule. Each week we go through the drill. It becomes such normal practice as to become ordinary and habitual except for the occasional good teaching or song that moves us emotionally its church as normal. How did we get this way? Shouldn’t a group of believers who gather in the Holy Spirit operate in the unpredictable and unscripted rather than procedures? Where we are in awe of the presence of the Holy Spirit as He has the freedom to move among us unrestrained by procedure? 

The more I read the old testament the more I understand men are the same in every generation. In reading Samuel chapter 8 we read where God’s people cried out to Samuel to give them a king to reign over them so they could be like the other nations. Though they wanted to follow traditions of surrounding nations I believe there was also an underlying reason. That is they wanted someone else to pursue God for them and tell them what God expects of them. A reason which subconsciously removes them from any responsibility or accountability for their actions. They can live their lives as they see fit and trust kingdom issues to their leader king.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. “Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day — in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods — so they are doing to you also. “Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them.” 

1 Sam.8:4-9

They had forsaken God and served other gods, but what gods? I suggest the worship of man as one other god. Because they wanted to follow a man(king) and not God.

God amazingly appeased them. He gave them their hearts desire but was it God’s desire? God told Samuel to do so and WARN them to tell them the PROCEDURE of the man(king) that would rule over them. I looked up the hebrew word for procedure with interesting insight.

1. fDÚpVvIm mishpat [1048b]; from 8199; judgment:—arrangements(1), case(5), case*(1), cause(m)(7), charge(1), claim(1), court(m)(2), crimes(m)(1), custom(11), customs(2), decide(1), decision(2), decisions(1), deserving(1), destruction(1), due(1), injustice*(2), judge(1), judged(1), judgment(62), judgments(40), just(m)(4), justice(118), justly(m)(3), kind(1), manner(3), matters of justice(1), mode of life(1), order(1), ordinance(29), ordinances(79), plan(1), plans(1), practice(1), procedure(m)(4), properly(2), regulation(1), right(8), rightful place(1), rights(2), rule(m)(1), sentence(2), sentenced(m)(1), standard(m)(1), trial(m)(1), unjustly*(1), verdict(1), way prescribed(2), what is right(2), worthy(1).

The king chosen that would now rule over them will set procedures over them by holding arrangements or court, look at each case by case, judge crimes, determine customs and decide the deserving, dispense justice. Set ordinances, plans, practices, matters and modes of life. He will determine procedures, regulations, standards and will prescribe or regulate justly what is right. Executing sentence and verdict he deems deserving. Reminds me of some churches today where a pastor determines and acts as king.

Chapter 8 vs 15 continues with the people serving the organization of the king taking a tenth of their seed and given it to his officers and servants. To maintain the organizational system of the man(king). How most churches are ran today.

In vs 19 the people refused to listen to the voice of the prophet and instead determined a man(king) shall rule over them.

Then the truth comes out in vs 20, the real reason for choosing a king. It was so they could be like all the other nations, that the king would judge them (and not God) and the king would fight their battles. I believe something similar is happening today in our structured and programed churches where the people want a pastor to rule over them, they prefer his judging and ruling over them and for him to seek God for them and to fight their battles. Tell us what to do pastor (king).

When the king was sought 1 Sam 10: 19-24 Saul was chosen of God. But look at how he appeared to the people to those of his peers. See also 

1 Sam. 9:2 He was a choice and handsome man more so than all the sons of Israel and he was taller, he stood above his peers. Do we not today do the same? We follow after the handsome, the wiser, the good teacher, a seasoned man. All of which are external qualities unlike KIng David who was a man after Gods own heart. Do we wonder why so many churches and leaders fail? God never planned on His people being led by a man rather He purposed them to be led of the Holy Spirit as they seek Him and to hear from Him.

When Christ came He proclaimed a different way. One of following the Holy Spirit and not man kings. Yet many neither search scriptures for truth to know the structured procedures of the past are no longer valid today. That we are now in the kingdom of God and not mans. Still many follow a man rather than realizing they have been bought with a price and belong to Christ and Him alone, they continue to follow unquestionably their pastor king. Just saying.

~ Michael Smith

1 Samuel 12:12,13

12 WARNING SIGNS OF A DANGEROUS CHURCH by Pastor Kevin Shell

With the rise of mega churches everywhere and there being some kind of church literally on every street corner in America. A sobering question comes to the forefront that begs to be answered. Has God actually entrusted every mega church and every church that’s on every street corner in America to represent Him? The following are 12 WARNING SIGNS OF A DANGEROUS CHURCH. Prayerfully this will help those that are fatally attracted to the false bride that masquerades itself as Christ bride and TRUE CHURCH.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage —with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

1. A COMPROMISED GOSPEL – If there’s an absence of preaching Christ and Him crucified, His atoning sacrifice on Calvary, justification through faith, repentance, and other important essentials that encompass God’s plan of salvation, and an authentic walk with Christ after salvation that produces biblical fruit then this could be a MAJOR WARNING SIGN that this isn’t a church that you want to plant your family in… In other words if THE GOSPEL is being compromised with false teaching, easy- believism, or constant miracle and musical services, don’t be like that silly family in scary movies that stays in the house even after it hears a voice from somewhere telling them to GET OUT!!! This isn’t a movie this is your life and you and your family’s eternal souls are what’s at stake. Regardless of how large or small the ministry is you can safely conclude that if the gospel has been compromised, trust and believe; there are other compromises…Its time for you and your family to GET TO STEPPIN! The Gospel is NON-NEGOTIABLE!!!

2.ABSENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – The Holy Spirits presence and power is vital to getting Gods business accomplished in and through men. Contrary to popular opinion great music and emotionalism have little to do with whether The Holy Spirit is present or not. His presence brings forth TRUTH, CONVICTION OF SIN, HEALING, POWER and RENEWAL. His absence leaves men to attempt to carry out Gods work inside and outside the church in their own strength. If you’re in a church where the Holy Spirits presence is absent and there’s only a form of godliness and powerless religion, be on guard! It won’t get better as you’ll see!

3.ABSOLUTE AUTHORITARIANISM – If you’re in a church where the pastor is a controlling God figure that can’t be questioned, nor approached without old testament armor-bearers, you may not even be in what most of us consider a church. You may be in a CULT! This can partially explain the absence of the Holy Spirit! If this behavior is followed up by things like the pastor having a say in where you go, whether it’s a good time for you and your wife to have children (yes this happens), and having to know how much money you make, this is not of God. This type of abuse of spiritual authority is found in many churches, and should not be taken lightly, nor be mistaken for loving accountability. In these types of churches the pastor’s sense of self-worth is tied up in how well he can control the congregation. Sexual abuse is also common in these types of ministries. When the ruler eventually gets wind that you and your family are leaving, you’ll be told that you’ll be cursed with a curse and that a fiery inferno awaits you and your family on the other side of the church doors. It’s also typical that all former members are the enemy and were wrong for leaving and are to be shunned. Just know that these environments thrive on ignorance of the Word of God and fear. Know also that if you didn’t see a fiery inferno on the way in, you can leave out of the same door with a Godly assurance that your heavenly father will lead you to a healthy church.

4.CARNAL LEADERS – I’m sorry but if you walk in a church and the pastor, prophet or evangelist has multiple tattoos and piercings and is pimp slapping people in the name of Jesus and calling it a move of God…RUN FORREST RUN!!! Jesus even warned not to chase false moves of God that bear His name in the last days. If the pastor and leadership constantly uses carnal means to attract and keep a church full of carnal people thus depriving the starving remnant that want and only need THE TRUE GOSPEL take note. This may not be the church for you. If divorce, infidelity, wife and husband swapping are a current theme of THE LEADERSHIP by all means, don’t plant your family in this type of toxic atmospheres. Carnal atmospheres breed compromise and lukewarmness. These churches keep the spiritually undiscerning on a steady diet of regurgitated MIRACLE, SEASON, BREAKTHROUGH, and FAVOR messages that keep the hearer, carnal and immature in the faith.  So please!!!…I beseech you brothers and sisters by the mercies of God…Don’t subject your family to carnal leadership. I don’t care who they are…Family included!

5. THE LOVE OF MONEY – Listen carefully…MONEEEEEY COMETH to those that have a job and work hard. I don’t care how much Hebrew and Greek a preacher pretends to know! I don’t care how big of a church or following they have…YOU CAN’T PLACE A DEMAND ON GOD FOR MONEY, and there’s no example of anyone crying out to MONEY in the bible! If you’re in a church where money is always the focus and the pastor talks about money all the time, you’re in a den of iniquity, and a house of horror! If you’re in a church where your Pastor subjects the church of Jesus Christ to ponzi schemes, get rich quick investment gurus, or brings in prolific offering raisers that come in town to make merchandise of you…. RUN!!!! The bible is very clear…

1 Timothy 6:9 People who want to get rich FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND A TRAP and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

 Get out of these financial TRAP HOUSES that deceive the masses to chase empty lifestyles!

 6.LACK FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY – What typically follows THE LOVE OF MONEY? It’s usually lack of financial transparency and accountability! If you’re in a ministry that lacks financial integrity and operates in financial secrecy, this is not a WARNING SIGN you want to ignore. Churches with high integrity are financially transparent and have checks and balances in place to help keep them above scrutiny. This even includes being financially transparent to its members. At some point you have to ask…If the church is hiding money…What else are they hiding???

 7.HOMOSEXUALITY – If the landscape of your church has changed to the point where along with the homosexual organist and choir director, there is a now a section for homosexuals and the Pastor hasn’t lovingly addressed homosexuality from a biblical perspective FROM THE PULPIT, trust and believe that he hasn’t addressed it because he’s either GAY, or he’s planning to start preaching some form of INCLUSION (universalism) to cash in on that demographic. It’s that simple! Anybody that knows anything about the homosexual agenda knows that it comes to boldly take over. Any thinking that ANY church can survive the leaven of unrepentant homosexuality is foolish and any resemblance of compromise in this area should send you packing!!!  Don’t let Pastor’s caught up in OBAMAMANIA, or the new norm and direction in society sway you away from what’s right in the sight of the Lord.

 8.SEXY/ WORLDLY WORSHIP – If the spirit of BEYONCE has taken over or you start hearing PARLIAMENT/FUNKADELIC, JILL SCOTT and U2 songs in the worship, this is just another sign of CARNAL LEADERSHIP. Cleavage, club music, and 9 inch stilettos are inappropriate when God is supposed to be the focus. What happened to heart felt worship that puts God on display instead of men? If the spirit of lust goes unchecked and is allowed to manifest itself openly in the house of God. Imagine what goes on when the music stops?

9. RACIAL OBSESSION – If you’re in a church that through false doctrine and manipulation has you constantly nursing and rehearsing the historical sins of this nation and has you thinking or operating in a perverted sense of RACIAL PRIDE…Get you and your family out of that toxic atmosphere! The spirit of RACISM keeps men in a perpetual state of delusion that keeps one thinking that their fight is physical when the bible is clear our fight is spiritual.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

If you’re in a church that lifts up BLACK POWER, WHITE POWER, JEWISH POWER, or any power other than CHRIST POWER, this is not of God! The only color that God has obligated Himself to embrace is the RED flowing blood of His Son! His blood has the POWER to cleanse all men who by faith put their trust in Him! Now am I saying it's a sin to celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH, ST PATRICKS DAY, or other celebrations of ethnicity and heritage? Certainly not!!! I am however warning you to GUARD YOUR HEARTS from hype men that aim to preach to your lower nature and continue to keep your emotions stirred with racial issues. Again your battle is and always will be spiritual!!!

10.CHILD SACRIFICE – If you are in a church that refuses to engage the next generation and sacrifices them on the altars of the secular idols of this generation, you’re in a DANGEROUS CHURCH! Find a church that challenges your children to live for God. Find a church that will teach your children that this world is not their PLAYGROUND, but a BATTLEGROUND for their souls. The assumption that the only way to reach the next generation is through carnal secularized ministry is false. The notion that they can’t be reached without Harry Potter, Twilight Vampires, Lady Gaga, and Hip Hop is a lie from the devil! Don’t lend your children to youth ministry’s that dumb down Christ to reach their youth. There is a young generation that desperately wants God and refuses to be sacrificed and aborted.

 11. UNGODLY ALLIANCES – If your church is connected to the Tea Party, Democratic or Republican Party, Occupy Wall Street or any other political movement beware! That pulpit could be bought and paid for. The church that was bought and paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ should not be under the yoke of political persuasion. Other examples of UNGODLY ALLIANCES include Freemasons and other secret societies, The LGBT community, Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion groups, Hollywood and the entertainment industry, Ungodly Celebrity Preachers, Bubble Gum Gospel artist that moonlight between the church and the world, New Age guru’s like Eckhart Tolle,  Deepak Chopra, and Iyanla Vanzant  just to name a few. Who a church is aligned with says volumes about how it can influence error in those under its teaching.

  12. DENOMINATIONAL PRIDE – If you are in a denomination that claims that THEY are the only way, and that THEY and all their pet peave doctrines and ordinances are the only truth, be cautious of what may be denominational pride. JESUS is the way, the truth and the life, NOT YOUR DENOMINATION OR ORGANIZATION! Be leery of any denomination that trumpets itself as superior. While it will always be important to contend for the essentials of the faith, and preach biblical truth, in the end, only God Himself can properly settle the peripheral or non-essential issues that often divide denominations. But if you see and hear denomination before you see or hear Christ, it’s a good sign you’re in a church that IDOLIZES their organization!  AGAIN, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR CHURCH!!! It begins and ends with God.

Unfortunately we're living in a time when we have to ask ourselves, and more importantly ask God...LORD, AM I ROOTED IN A SAFE PLACE, AND HAVE YOU ALSO CHOSEN THE PLACE I'VE CHOSEN TO REPRESENT YOU? If you you're in a safe place, praise God! I know that there are some great ministries out there! But if you indentify with some of these WARNING SIGNS mentioned above, seek direction from your heavenly Father to lead you to safety. Hit me in my inbox if you'd like prayer. Lastly, if you know that this message would benefit someone you love, forward it to them and pray that they would also find refuge in a safe place of worship. God bless!

Freedom From Avoidance behavior ~ Michael Smith

In my past and the past of many I have spoken with over the years there can be fears or phobias that we develop with time. I mention “we develop” because we construct them and give them power over us. These fears eventually turn into patterns of avoidance in which we operate daily without most people knowing. However we know, we are painfully aware of those fears when confronted with exposure to them. We become artful in making excuses for not exposing ourselves to that which we fear. Yet it is not avoiding exposure to the fear or phobia that we need to understand or focus on as much as the lie concerning the fear we have accepted as truth.

When we begin to accept lies as truths we give the those lies credence which is supported by feelings and emotions and overtime develops avoidance behavior. We receive a lie as truth just as Adam and Eve did in the garden. That God cannot be trusted therefore we must act on our own determining our future thus we begin to control our surroundings. Anxious feelings unsureness and unfamiliar will reinforce lies as truth. Over time as we operate in these untruths we develop a pattern of avoidance. This avoidance is a survival mechanism of the flesh and is natural-earthy. Whereas faith is Godly and a supernatural power beyond our flesh that enables us to walk into that which we fear. As we try to step out in faith often times the feelings of anxiety become so intense we fall back to our survival mechanisms and avoid that which we fear resulting in continuing a pattern of avoidance. Plus our feelings of fear reinforce the lie that, God is not helping me, I am on my own, I must do this myself, God has abandoned me” 

Repeated survival routines train us to act in avoidance behavior for our survival diminishing our daily activity as we avoid exposure to that which we fear. We become reclusive or isolated as we seek to understand what is happening to us. We seek prayer, healing, medication and more, the list is endless as we substitute trusting the peace and power of God for our own efforts of survival. The devil has not changed his tactics he continues the same since the garden experience. He did the same to Adam and Eve and tried to influence Jesus in the wilderness. Adam and Eve believed the lie and found themselves outside the garden operating in their own strength, clothing themselves with their own avoidance mechanisms because of fear. Luke 8:11,12

This scenario does not have to be our lot. We are of the most high God, blood washed and accepted in the beloved. Jesus is our Lord and Savior. He is for us regardless what our feelings tell us. We are not left to our own devises outside of the garden. Because of Christ we can go boldly into the throne of God. The devil is a liar and wants us to believe a lie so he can take control of the outcome of our daily lives. As a result we begin to pray harder, read the word more or spend hours in secluded worship of God believing we are finding freedom. When in reality we are avoiding and seeking peace through works of the flesh, trusting in our own efforts rather than God’s faithfulness. Not realizing we are working for God’s approval we operate in a behavior to find His peace which becomes more elusive with time leaving us confused and disillusioned as we continue deceiving ourselves into believing we are finding freedom.

Our freedom is to no longer to avoid instead believe God concerning our future and step boldly into the lie fed us from the devil who is the father of lies. These are steps I began choosing to believe in finding freedom from the fears I have experienced.

1. Tell myself the truth that scripture says concerning who I am.

2. Refuse to accept the lie I had so long accepted as truth.

3. Take steps to expose myself to that which I fear if only in small steps.

4. Stand my ground choosing to believe GOD WILL NOT ABANDON ME.

As we begin to see the lie we’ve been accepting as just that a lie and not truth, the battle is really over. Because a lie only has power as we choose to believe and accept it as fact. We actually give the lie power by not resisting it as the devil deceives us into believing them. Once we begin renouncing those lies and choosing by faith to believe the truth God say’s concerning our identity and our future we will be free. We must walk into that which we avoid by exposing ourselves to the outcome. When we do, God will come in great power with a peace which surpasses all understanding and the lie that we have accepted as fact will be exposed for what it is, a LIE. 

As we continue in this course of freedom we become amazed after each occurrence of exposure of what we can do. We develop a NEW PATTERN of learned behavior that we can really do it, we can walk into our fear and not expect the worst. We find freedom real true and lasting freedom in God and not in our efforts or works of the flesh. Our boundaries of freedom enlarge increasingly with each exposure.

Exposure is our answer even if little by little rather than avoidance. Utter and complete surrender to God for He will not fail us. 

If we only endure each occurrence while seeking escape or in our efforts remove the anxious stimuli we will continue in avoidance behavior. However, if we stay until His peace comes and IT WILL COME, we will be free. With each exposure we gain assurance that WE CAN do all things in Christ. God loves for us to abandon ourselves to Him whereas complete survival is in His hands. Because it Glorifies Him when He and He alone is our savior, deliverer and Lord. Nothing can separate us from His great love when we cast ourselves fully into His Hands where He exceedingly and abundantly overwhelms us with Himself. We must believe He can and will move heaven and hell for us. Because He loves us He will save us. Trust Him with the outcome and reject the lie.

~ Michael Smith

Safety of the Controlled Church

Christians today are escaping to safe controlled churches devoid of expressions in the spirit. I use the word escape purposely because they have chosen to no longer experience moves of the Holy spirit through people who might offend their sense of church. Some having grew up in traditional churches eventually run back to what they have known and still others run from fear, not be exposed to another what might be considered weird or strange church experience. Granted there are those that go beyond the Holy spirit and operate more in the flesh or are inspired by demons. Yet when the Holy spirit moves among us things can be different than normal church and can offend our traditional beliefs. Deliverance can be messy, prophecy can be uncomfortable, worshiping in tongues can be scary to some. We naturally in the flesh prefer the predictable in a church. We don’t want our perception of church challenged. Give us a bulletin to follow. Like the children of Israel called out to Moses to speak to God for them and they would follow. They too didn’t want to deal with an unpredictable God. Today the cry is pastor hear for us and put God in a box we can manage and control therefore we can know whats expected of us. No surprises.

Jesus often had His “ church service” of preaching, delivering or healing interrupted by the unexpected. Such as the women caught in adultery or a man let down through the roof right into the middle of His church service. Real church can be messy and uncomfortable at times yet through allowing the moving of the Holy spirit true freedom in Christ, the real freedom can happen in such occurrences. Jesus used such examples for an opportunity to teach, set free and deliver. Today we would prefer a manage environment to avoid those messy services yet in so doing we sacrifice the excitement and exhilaration of the presence of the Holy spirit as He moves among us. 

True times of church service is not a one hour service designed by men to herd people through a structured program to satisfy the fear of messy church. Sadly many have settled for safety rather than relishing in the excitement that comes from the spontaneity of the Holy spirit.

~ Michael Smith