Any Other Gospel Than This

Last night I was watching my service online like I typically do in this season of my life and they were sharing awesome testimonies from a retreat they’d had over the week-end.  The one that stood out to me was a young man who was bound by witchcraft and homosexuality.  When he was an extremely young child his family introduced him to voo doo by taking him to a ceremony.  At this ceremony or another like it, a man molested him which introduced him to homosexuality.  I shared the picture and Facebook version of the testimony so the world would be encouraged by the young man’s awesome testimony.

However, this testimony elicited an unexpected response from a former ORU [Oral Roberts University] peer (wing sister) of mine.  She called it “rubbish” and completely disregarded the young man’s struggle and deliverance.  It was late so I deleted her response because I do not allow any form of blasphemy or grieving the Holy Spirit and His evident work in someone’s life nor do I allow anyone to speak ill of my spiritual father or his church.  I don’t play that!  But not wanting to be rude and feeling maybe the testimony was unclear to her, I inboxed her a message to clarify the testimony of the young man and also my comment that Jesus can and does deliver from witchcraft and homosexuality.  I thought that maybe she misinterpreted it to mean that witchcraft causes homosexuality, which was not at all what I mean to convey.  I quickly discovered that her issue was not confusion with the testimony, but in believing that the Bible is true. 

The young lady has several loved ones that are active participants of the homosexual lifestyle and because they are wonderful people—which I cannot argue either way since I do not know any of them—has somehow led her to believe that it is alright for them to be homosexual because “God created them that way” and He loves them.  She also went on to add that I am judgmental, insinuated that I do not truly know the Bible (or at least how to interpret it), and that I will have to answer to God for my sins of judgment against His [homosexual] people.

This to me was absolutely laughable and also extremely sad because some people really think that their feelings about God and or His word determine how they are allowed to interpret the Bible.  They are sadly mistaken.  I write this blog not to gather personal supporters, but rather to use my literary platform to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom.

The Apostle Paul provides an excellent passage that will direct the heart of this post.  It reads as follows:

“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said and said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.  For do I persuade men, or God?  Or do I seek to please men?  For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ,” (Galatians 1:8-10).

Dear ORU grad, FB friend, Twitterbug, or other acquaintance: whether I know you or not, like you or not, I am not here to impress you.  I am here to lift up the name of Jesus and to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God—not of man—to you.  If anyone has an issue with what I say, then you don’t have an issue with me—you have an issue with God, with Jesus, and with the Bible.   

The Two-Edged Sword & Rock of Offense

Let us first clarify that the Word of God is a two-edged sword, sharper than any known to man (Hebrews 4:12).  So guess what? That means the Word cuts.  Or as Pastor Tamara Bennett would say, “it’s cutting me while it’s cutting you”.  We may not always like what the word of God says and we as human beings with free will are absolutely entitled to that preference.  However, when we stand before God on Judgment Day, He is not going to forgive us and let us in His Heaven to spend eternity with Him if we chose to disregard or twist His word to fit our preferences without repentance.  That’s not how it works.  When we truly know God, when we truly make Him our Lord and Saviour of every part of our lives, then we want to please Him; we want to abide by and preach His word because it’s our passion.  It doesn’t matter how we feel about it because what God says goes.    

The Bible also refers to Jesus as the “rock of offense” and that is a most accurate statement (Isaiah 8:14, Romans 9:33, I Peter 2:8).  I Peter goes on to say:

“They stumble, being disobedient, to the word, to which they also were appointed,” (I Peter 2:8). 

This means that even the people who have been introduced to the Gospel, those who claim to know, serve, and love God, can be [consistently] disobedient to God’s word.  

The word disobedience as defined by Merriem-Webster is the refusal to neglect or obey.  This means that the disobedient person knows the truth, knows what they are supposed to say, do, or believe, and yet they willfully choose to do otherwise.  They choose rebellion.  And it is this disobedience that allows the person to choose to be and or remain offended.

The Curse of Teaching [Promoting] False Doctrine

The Word is very harsh on those who teach and or promote off doctrine of any sort whether it’s a Unitarian doctrine that states everyone is saved and going to Heaven, they just don’t know it or that lying is ok.  Sin is sin to God and to be a believer and especially a member of the Fivefold ministry (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and or teacher) and promote it is a deadly mistake if it is not confessed and forgiven. 

The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy about false teachers saying:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables,” (II Timothy 4:3-4).

Jesus tells us the punishment for leading God’s children astray in Matthew.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.  Woe to the world because of offenses!  For offenses must come, but woe to the man by whom the offense comes!” (Matthew 18:6-7).

Another passage that pronounce a judgment on promoting a false doctrine states:

“Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.  For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven,” (Matthew 5:19-20).

The Bible places very steep judgment on those who know the truth and choose to do, preach, or live otherwise.

Mistaking God’s Love for His Tolerance

Many people, especially as it concerns homosexuality, tell themselves that since God is a God of love, He would not really send unrepentant sinners to Hell for eternity.  These people are sorely mistaken.

God most certainly is love, but He is also holy and as such, demands us to be holy.  Sin cannot dwell in His presence which is why man was driven from Eden.  Their sin-sick state would have tainted the realm of glory that God created us to live in and it is as true today as it was then.  God loves us so unbelievably much whether we serve Him or not, whether we surrender our sexuality to Him or not.  Yet when we actively choose to disregard or disbelieve what His Word says about [homosexuality], when we choose to ignore the work of redemption and freedom that Jesus won for us through his horrible suffering, gruesome death on the cross, and powerful resurrection, we slap Him in the face and reject the gift and therefore willfully forfeit eternal life with Him. 

Illustration: If I give you a gift card to Nieman Marcus,  but you never redeem it, you will not be able to possess all of the wonderful gifts that are waiting for your there.  It’s like you never had it to begin with.

It is the same with salvation.  If we never accept it and walk in it, then we forfeit the abundant life that God longs to give us. 

Furthermore, when we say that God is love, it does not mean that He is tolerant of our sin and rebellion.  This is one of the biggest deceptions of our “advanced” society.  You become labeled as a bigot or hatemonger if you profess God’s stance on homosexuality because there is a widespread misconception of God and His word.

Illustration: An example I love to use is a parent and their child.  If you as a parent tell your child to clean their room and they don’t, they are being disobedient.  You hate that the child does not clean their room, but you do not hate the child them self.  Yet the child’s disobedience requires punishment. 

God is the same way.  He loves each and every one of us so very much!  The word tells us that “The Lord…is not willing that any of us should perish”! But I’m going finish the verse that so many would prefer I not see or read because it states “but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9). 

The Fragrance of Life or Death

I have been accused before of “cherry-picking” (preferential selection) Bible verses to suit a particular theology or philosophy.  Yet it is not cherry-picking to preach God’s word the way He intended to preach it.  I refuse to have blood on my hands for not preaching God’s word to the lost, or worse, for twisting and or selectively preaching His word to make it more appealing to a deceived generation.  I could boost my popularity with people and preach to their itching ears the things that comfort them in their mess, polish their chains of bondage, or pity their flesh, but God would be most grieved.  I would lose my place in Heaven and eternity because I was too busy trying to make myself a place among men. 

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is not popular, sugar-coated, or encouraging to our flesh.  In fact, it is foolishness (I Corinthians 1:18) and “the aroma of death leading to death” (II Corinthians 2:14-16) to those who do not believe.  But do not let it remain a deadly aroma in your nostrils.  If you repent and believe on Christ and His word, it will become the fragrance of life to you(II Corinthians 2:14-15)! 

Repeat this prayer with me:

            Father God,

I know that I am a sinner and my sin grieves You and separates me from you.  I want to put aside my emotions, preferences, and bondages to embrace You and Your word.  Come into my heart today.  I confess that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God who was born of a virgin, died on the cross, and rose from the grave on the third day to claim my freedom and healing. I make you the Saviour and Lord of my life.  Fill me with Your precious Holy Spirit who teaches and guides me into all truth!  I accept you now!  Thank God for saving and filling me!

In Jesus’ name,

Amen!

My prayer is that you repeated and believed that prayer with all your heart.  If you did, you are transformed and a bona fide son/daughter of the Most High God whose presence lives in and leads you.  If you make a mistake, it’s ok! Just ask God for His forgiveness, ignore condemnation from the devil, and continue to grow in the things of God.  Join a church near you that preaches the sound doctrine Jesus preached and can help you in your walk.   

I love you and most of all, God loves you! 

God Bless! xx

Cry Aloud

*Disclaimer: This blog and no scripture referenced herein gives anyone the right to call out their pastor or any other minister [publically].  If you have a concern, take it to God in prayer.  The Word tells us the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much (James 5:16).  So tell God about it.  THEN, and only then if God specifically tells you to speak with them, then do so in love.  We are still called to respect our elders and the men and women of God.

My spirit is so unbelievably grieved at the level of arrogant sin-sick 5 Fold ministers. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers with very real—very noticeable—struggles in the pulpit ministering to people and all the while tainting them with their struggles.  It makes me sick.

Now, let me be clear about my definition of struggles in this particular blog.  I do not refer to a struggle that is confronted and dealt with or a struggle that is in the process of being dealt with.  I speak of struggles that are unaddressed and growing by the moment.  What’s the difference you might ask?  Well I’ll answer that question with two illustrations. 

Illustration #1: Little Johnny likes to steal.  If his mother leaves her purse out he’s sure to take her money. If he trails mommy to the store, he’s bound to sneak some candy from the candy aisle when he thinks no one is looking.  Little Johnny has a problem.  But Little Johnny likes his problem and has no intention of stopping.  No matter how many times he’s taught that stealing is wrong.  Little Johnny refuses to change.

Illustration #2: Little Suzie likes to shop.  She shops all day, everyday and no one can stop her.  When her father cut off her allowance, she got credit cards.  Little Suzie wracked up a mountain of debt and realized that she had a problem.  Now, she has a job, pays her bills, and even though it’s not easy, she understands that it’s not smart or healthy to spend all her money on clothes, shoes, and the like.  Little Suzie had an epiphany while watching Confessions of a Shopaholic and understood that she needed help to overcome her problem.  Little Suzie now exerts moderation in her spending and is a happy woman.

Now, which of the two examples do you think demonstrates a person who’s struggle is out of control?  That’s right, Little Johnny’s.  And it’s the Little Johnnies of the 5 Fold ministry that disturb me. 

How can one stand in the pulpit and proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom, preach against the things that God hates, and lay hands to deliver the people from their hang-ups while they struggle with the same thing?  How can one prophesy into the life of a precious child of God and yet ignore the Word of the Lord in their own life?  It makes no sense.  And I’ll take it a step further.

How can the righteous ministers of the 5 Fold ministry who know the Lord for themselves and see the struggle in their brother or sister’s life and not call it out in love?  The Bible says “faithful are the wounds of a friend,” (Proverns 27:6).  How can I stand by and watch a friend make a mockery of the Word of God?

Now, I have two theories on this.  The first, is that God blinds the eyes of the righteous to the struggle/sin of the unrighteous minister for the sake of deliverance and healing for the minister themself.  Pastor Marvin Winans Sr. and Pastor Donnie McClurkin are an excellent example of this.  God brought Pastor McClurkin into the life of Pastor Winans so Pastor McClurkin would be connected with purpose and destiny and simultaneously be delivered from the spirit of homosexuality.  God allowed them to have a David and Jonathan relationship that they still possess today and now Pastor McClurkin is one of the world’s foremost psalmists and now a pastor of his own church in Long Island.  You can listen to Pastor Donnie’s testimony here.  After Pastor Donnie gave his testimony, Pastor Marvin mounts the pulpit and explained that he “never saw anything but the anointing of God” on Donnie’s life and that there was no way he would have let this man in his home with that particular struggle with two small boys.  God blinded Marvin’s eyes so His glory could be manifest in Donnie’s life.  Yet this is an extreme rarity.

My second theory, and I believe the more common of the two, is that God allows a person to remain in fellowship with a struggling/sinful minister, all the while shutting their mouth on the topic, for the sake of the people that need to be ministered to.  The best example I can think of for this is two years ago, when my favourite preacher in the entire world, Bishop Tudor Bismark, came to Tulsa, OK to preach at a conference.  The first night was spent preaching at one particular church while the rest of the conference was at another church location.  I will not even begin to tell you the level of corruption that took place with the majority of the ministers hosting the conference.  I forced myself to sit through every session with full-knowledge of the corruption that grew as the conference continued.  Why would I subject myself to that you might ask?  Easy, because I knew that God had a word for me.  And if suffering the biggest blow(s) I’d ever suffered in my life was the price for obtaining that word, then I was willing to pay it. 

I’ve asked myself time and time again why God would allow such an anointed and godly man to minister in such a toxic environment and finally I came to this conclusion: if in fact the people who belonged to these churches subjected themselves to this type of corruption and manipulation on a regular basis, then they need the ministry of the Bishop to heal, deliver, and set them free. 

It breaks my heart that ministry has come to this.  I know not all churches and ministries are corrupt or controlling, however, many of them are.  And we know that the Bible says that the gifts of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29).  Therefore, we the Body of Christ, must learn to distinguish between the godly and the ungodly.  The Apostle John tells us, “beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world,” (I John 4:1).  Do not chase after every so-called bishop, apostle, or pastor.  Simply because a person decided they should be an apostle does not mean they are.  Just because someone gave one generic prophesy does not mean they are a prophet.  Furthermore, we must be cautious because there are many 5 Fold ministers who were indeed anointed, appointed, and ordained of God to fill their positions, but they grew arrogant and take part in whatever sin they are drawn to.  Saul is an excellent example of this. 

Saul, was anointed by the Prophet Samuel to become the first king of Israel.  But he grew arrogant and decided that it was not necessary for him to follow God’s commandments.  Therefore, God ripped the kingdom from him and gave it to David.  Saul reigned illegally for almost four decades when God only allowed His anointing to rest on him for a few.  Eventually, Saul died because of his arrogance.  (See I Samuel 9-31 for the full story.)  Do not follow Saul(s) and better yet, do not become Saul.  God will reward you if you fulfill your end of the bargain by remaining faithful to Him.

Cindy Jacobs, a proven prophetess and mighty woman of God with mantle for apostolic intercession, Bishop Bill Hamon, another mighty man of God as well as others have declared 2012 to be a phenomenal year for those who are in the center of God’s will.  Yet for those who are not, for those who do not have father’s/mother’s heart for God’s people, for those who are enjoying their sin while calling themselves ministers of the Gospel of the Kingdom, this will be a year of judgment.  And I believe that this is so.  I feel such a level of expectation that I have never felt before and yet, my heart is grieved by the judgment that will undoubtedly go forth.  But there is good news!  It is Monday, January 30^th and God has not yet stretched out His hand of judgment which means that there is still time for those of us who have been wrong to repent and recognize the error of our ways.  God is a merciful God, full of love and compassion for His children.  He would that none perish, but that all would come to repentance (II Peter 3:9).  God will yet shake this earth and we must be ready.

We must pray for God’s mercy and grace upon the nation and the world.  Daniel was able to pray, repent on behalf of his entire nation as well as his ancestors and move the hand of God to shorten the Jews’ Babylonian captivity.  On several occasions, Moses plead with God to stay His hand of wrath from the Israelites and not destroy them.  Abraham plead on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah for his nephew Lot’s sake.  The Bible is chocked full of accounts of God relenting from His righteous fury and instead extending grace and mercy to His loved ones on behalf of one man.  Be an intercessor, a repairer of the breach, and stand in the gap for ministers.  It may be that God will allow their hearts to be softened and they will turn from their wicked ways before it is too late.

Some may ask why I’ve written this blog.  Is it for hate or for self-righteousness?  No.  Isaiah 58:1 states, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins".  I could not keep silent.  Jeremiah cried, "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name.  But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay," (Jeremiah 20:9).  This is why I cannot stay silent.  I cannot justify  silence in the face of corruption and wickedness.  Can you?