The following video was shared with me, and I felt it kind of summed up my thoughts in this area. It is a short documentary about the ministry of a woman referred to as "The Preacher Lady of Riverdale, GA". At one point in the video, the minister, Mary James, is speaking to a man in his car, asking him if he is saved. He replies, "Nah, I ain't saved baby." Now, I have to admit that this put me off. Not that he called her baby, but that she didn't correct him. How can you have a sober conversation with someone about the Lord when they are calling you "Baby"?
Folks, saving souls is serious business. The things of God command respect & honor because He is holy. If we do not understand this, then how can we expect anyone to take us - or God - seriously? I honestly cannot picture the Apostles ignoring someone calling them, "Pimp" or "Dog" while they are trying to lead them to Christ. Nonetheless, she asks the young man to repeat after her as she proceeds to recite a sinner's prayer, which he does. Then she says, "It's just that simple. Welcome to the family of God."
Friends, nothing could be farther from the truth. I don't care what words you recite, if you are not drawn by the Holy Spirit of God to have a heartfelt change through repentance from sin - and are walking in that truth daily - then you are not saved. You cannot come to faith in Jesus Christ apart from such brokenness (repentance). Where in Scripture does it talk about "inviting Jesus into your heart"? What does that even mean?
I am not against street preaching. We are commanded by Jesus to go into all the world and proclaim the good news; even from the highways to the byways, compelling people to come to Jesus. However, if our works (preaching on the street, writing on a blog, giving a sermon in church, feeding the hungry, etc.) are not inspired by the Lord, then they are all dead works. It is just that simple. The evidence that a work is born of God is that it generates life in the hearer.
"...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."John 10:10b
Further, if God calls us for a work, then He will prepare us for it and it will be fruitful. It will prosper to accomplish His purposes because God is performing the work through you. I am not talking about worldly standards of success. In fact, just look to Gideon's army as an example of how God prospers (Judges Chapter 7). His ways are often counter to the ways of the world; He chooses what looks foolish to the world in order to confound the wisdom of the wise. This way, it will be known that God alone - and not flesh - has performed it. My point is that you can have lots of activity, speak really loudly, possess lots of zeal, use lots of charisma, have lots of supporters...and still be promoting nothing but a dead work.
Look around you on the streets today. People are spiritually dead and they are continuously feeding on death by partaking of the things of the world. Even in many churches, people sit bound while the minister yells, screams, tunes ups, and squalls...only to have them leave in the same condition (or worse) then when they came. This is salvation??
People need the life of Jesus Christ to transform them, but who has that life within in order to share it with them? If we are not literally imparting the power of the life of Christ to others, then what are we doing really? And this pertains to everything that we do. What are we really doing? Are we just going through the motions of religion or are we truly being led and fed by the Spirit of God? Do we even desire to be?
"For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you." II Corinthians 4:11-12
By the way, by no means do I intend to hold this woman up to ridicule. She is doing more than many others who claim to believe. However, possessing the life of Christ within is about more than activity and emotion. You can be sincere in your efforts and still be sincerely wrong. When you are looking at people bound by grief, addiction, idolatry, sickness, perversion...religion is just a woefully poor substitute. It takes more than a sinner's prayer and a pep talk about love to convert a soul. It takes the power of a Living God; a power which slams into our very being, confronts us with the truth, and brings us to naught when we finally see ourselves for who we really are before a holy God: a wretched soul in need of a Savior. This is the power that saves souls, and this is the power which needs to be at work in us if we are His witnesses.
"Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known." Psalm 106:8
UPDATE: This article explains why the message being taught in the video is so misleading.
WOW!!! My mother and I talked about this very thing during our bible study yesterday!! I was telling her that the whole come to the altar and recite this prayer thing throws me off!! First of all during these altar calls there is no mention of sorrow and repentance before a Holy God!! There is just some confession made that Jesus died for our sins and then repeating "I AM Saved" a few times!! Every time I witness this I literally cringe and it sets me off on the inside because I know these people have not been truly born again!! The pastor then tells them that no matter what they do or the "mistakes" they make they are saved!! What a load of garbage that is!!!
ReplyDeleteI am finding that many of these people that sit on these pews week after week and the leaders are not truly born again. They say they have been "in the way" a long time and I believe that they are speaking truth because as Pastor Price said, "they are just in the way" and not truly saved!!
I am speaking from experience that when Christ SLAMS into you, you become broken before Him!! You realize that you are indeed a wretched soul!! I thought I was saved at one time in my life but I really wasn't because the Holy Spirit had not produced Godly sorrow and true repentance. There is a difference between feeling guilty and having Godly sorrow. I was truly born again when one day I realized that I had been sinning against the Almighty God and I had grieved Him. What happened in my soul, I cannot fully explain, but I knew that I had had a personal revelation of Christ Jesus, my Lord!! The desire to sin LEFT me straightaway. Now do I miss the mark occasionally, yes I do, but I tell you what.... my desire is to not miss the mark. My desire is to be perfected and made into the image of Christ whatever the cost!!
Mia all I can say is to God be the Glory for the things he has done and will do. I pray that you and your family are well and that God continues to bless you and prosper you!! Email me your address because I would like to send you something!!
Much Love Always!!
Hi Stephanie,
DeleteI have half a mind to go back over the years and count how many times you have posted, "My mother and I were just talking about this!" :-) Isn't it funny how God often puts similar things on His children's minds at the same time? LOL
I agree with you Sister. When I first heard the truth, it literally changed my whole life. First, I felt like the bottom had dropped out because everything I thought I knew was false. But then He began to rebuild me on the foundation of Christ and everything began to make sense. Salvation is truly a life changing experience as God makes "all things new" in our lives.
I pray that you & the family are doing well and will email you today.
Much love for you too!
It is not "just that simple!" But I shake my head because unfortunately so many of us have been taught this "Jesus come into my heart" lie. She is out there and trying to reach the people but this very well could be dead works. Some of the comments from the video are truly sad. The young girl said that she needs to keep all that at home or in the church building. WE ARE THE CHURCH! Where in the bible is a building described as the church? There are many false converts out there and they don't even realize it. That's scary! If you don't tell people that repentance and living holy is a requirement, then you really are doing all this for nothing. Wow, not only do we need to reach the lost, but that also includes so many self professing Christians who are not truly born again!
ReplyDeleteHi Tina Rose,
DeleteI know what you mean. If we can take the drive and dedication of some - like this woman or Jehovah's Witnesses or Muslims, etc. - and combine that with the truths of God, then the Church would surely be a threat to the enemy. I think too many Christians are "soft", at least in this country. We want a life of luxury and ease, so faith in Christ becomes just one more thing to help me obtain that life of luxury. When the persecution comes (as it already exists in other countries), it is going to really force many to reconsider what they believe. Most of the converts are likely to come from those with no religious affiliation at all, because many of those in religion think they already have it. And they who are whole don't need a physician.
May God help us. That is all I can say. May He draw this woman closer to Him and may He give us all more of the gumption she has by the leading of His Spirit.
God Bless you Sister!
"If I never post here again, that is truly fine with me"
ReplyDeleteBut mia didn't God call you for a time such as this?
you do understand there are not enough sound,biblical teachers as God hath given you this grace
and when God says we are saved for good works,in knowing your gifting Christ will be feeding through you regularly as He sees fit because He knows those He hath drawn to you are very weak and needs the Word articulately expounded to them along with us carefully reading the Bible on a regular basis
i'll be honest 99% of the time you post it Always meet my need, it is as if God whispers to you in the wee hours of the morning where i am struggling
how can it be fine with you if not being led to post the Word God hath given you or He not using you anymore for such a time as this?that baffles me apart from that excellent post again met me where i am at.
be bless mia, you and yours
Hi Christthinker,
DeleteI meant that I don't do this blog because "I want to have a blog", but because God led me to create it. It is His and for His purposes. If He hadn't led me to, I would have never created one. I am the type of person who is more comfortable in the background, and this blog has forced me to deal with people more than I am used to (which I think was part of its purpose, to get me out of myself).
Yet, there may very well come a time when He moves me on to something else and no longer needs me to continue the blog. In fact, I believe He has showed me that this will be the case (although I don't know when). I didn't mean that I would no longer be useful to the Lord or no longer serve Him.
Think of it this way. Any truth you have found on this blog all belongs to the Lord. He is the truth; I am just a vessel. The same one who whispers it to me, lives to whisper it to others. He is no respecter of persons. I believe that is what the below verse signifies.
"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." I John 2:27
When I was first saved, I was discipled by Pastor Gary Price and his wife Barbara. They taught me how to study, how to pray, how to war against the enemy; helping to grow me up in the faith so that I could hear and recognize the voice of the Lord myself. By God's grace, my family has now been able to lead others to Christ and disciple them as well. That is God's way. One waters, another plants, and God gives the increase. He is faithful to perfect His children, growing them from handling milk to meat by His Spirit (Heb. 5:12). No matter what He plans for me, continue to trust the Lord. He will never leave nor forsake you.
I have met many brothers and sisters through this blog, ones who have truly become for me like family. Those relationships will not just pass away. I remain grateful to the Lord for them.
For everything, there is a season. :-)
*Now this comment is sounding more like a farewell than I intended. LOL But hopefully it further explains what I meant by that comment. God Bless & Much love in Christ!
Praise the Lord!
ReplyDeleteYour blogs have helped me in my walk with Christ. It is amazing how God uses the members of the Body to encourage each other. May God continue to use you for His glory and to built His Body.
Thank you
Luxcey
Jesus saved me at 14 from suicide and depression. My brother came in from a revival and quoted 1 Thess.4:6-7 and also stated that Jesus was soon to come! I knew I would be left behind and I was broken. All a person need to do to be saved is to hear (Roman 10:17) the good news and then surrender their hearts to Christ. Yes, they have to repent, but God will give the increase after they take that step of faith. Salvation is a FREE gift and to all that will, let them come. The Holy Spirit will do the rest... I cried out to the Lord Jesus in the bathroom and I have been truly saved every since; even though my brother was only 15, he did not tell me about repentance. When I surrendered my life, the Holy Spirit made me not want to do the things I used to do or hang out with the friends I used to hang out with. God helped me when I just surrendered my life and said, "Jesus, I need you, please don't leave me here."
ReplyDeleteWe have better keep our mouths off of God's servants, because while we are sitting behind a computer screen blogging, the "Crazy Lady" is about my Father's business. Jesus said to go into all the world and preach the gospel to "EVERY" creature!
One plant, one water, but God gives the increase...
We better stop being so critical and self righteous and GO be SALT & LIGHT! Who are we to judge another man's servant? You better be very sure and be very careful...
Hi Anonymous,
DeleteYou might be saved, but you are still quite religious.
One does not have to be "told" about repentance. One must simply repent (period). Reciting a sinners prayer is not the equivalent of repentance. A "sinner's prayer" is not even biblical.
Neither is it biblical for you to assert that repentance is some subsequent "increase" of faith after salvation. One must understand what the Gospel even is before one is qualified or called to preach it. This is part of what I mean about your comment being religious. We cannot just make up what it is to be saved based on what we think sounds good or churchy. Either your faith is based in the truths of the word of God or it is not.
Repent & Believe
"We have better keep our mouths off of God's servants..."
That is just nasty sounding. What does that even mean? I'll tell you what it means, a mouth full of nothing. Does it mean that a servant of God is above reproach? Above correction, even when they are in error? This is another one of those religious sayings which has no basis in Scripture.
This post was not even primarily about Ms. James (which is why I did not bother with the issues in her teachings). However, one thing of which I am very sure is that - in spite of her zeal - much of what Mary James is recorded as teaching in this documentary is false.
Ms. Mary James was "ordained" by a female pastor. That is error. There is no such thing as female pastors and those who operate in such a role are in rebellion against God.
Ms. Mary James is potentially creating false converts by using an unscriptural sinner's prayer to give assurances about salvation she is in no position to provide.
Ms. Mary James is promoting the perverted doctrines and teachings of a self-professed false teacher, Ted Haggard, and calling it a ministry of love.
She has a zeal for sure, but it is not a zeal according to knowledge.
I suppose you would prefer that nothing be said and that these errors continue to be propagated with many souls going to Hell because they have believed a lie about who God is and what salvation even is? It is better to let people falsely believe they are saved - winding up in Hell - than to tell them the truth about the Gospel? That is what "your father" would have you to do? Then you had better think quite seriously about whom you serve.
By the way Anonymous, I am not disputing your conversion or the experience you describe which you say led to it. Thank God for leading you to the point of brokenness as you cried out to the Lord for salvation.
DeleteThis article is not about the authenticity of your conversion or even that of Mary James. It is merely about the truths of the Gospel and the importance of really being led by the Spirit in all that we do.
Yea, Yea... No, we as christians are not above reproach, reproof, or rejection. You are correct in many of your statements and I agree. Jesus said to Nicodemus that he MUST be born again of the water (Word of God) and the Spirit in order to obtain eternal salvation. Who are we to know whether or not those people will go home and cry out to the Lord. Yes, you are right when it comes to too many confessing salvation without true repentance. Anybody can be a minister of the gospel and I believe that if the true saints of God don't go and cry out, then someone has to. If we don't cry out, he will make the rocks cry out. God is God and He will use whomever He pleases... The gospel is good news, no matter who is preaching it. Many of us as babes in the Lord were once zealous, but not according to the full knowledge of the truth. I pray that she as well as myself will hunger and thirst for the Word and not books or commentaries from man's opinions. God's Word is true.
DeleteQuestion is: How do you know a person's heart? Was John the Baptist out of order? or the apostles? Did they not do enough to make true disciples? Many times when Jesus healed or forgave sins, he would tell them to go and sin no more. How are we to know God's ultimate plan for these people. Peace & blessings to you sister.
By the way, I do like your blogs...
Hi Anonymous,
DeleteYou ask, "Who are we to know whether or not those people will go home and cry out to the Lord."
That is my point exactly, which is why we should not be presumptuous about giving people assurances which might make them feel good, but may very well be false. Until people are drawn by the Spirit unto repentance, then they have not yet been saved. If they still need to have a personal, heart pricking exchange with the Lord, then they have not yet entered the "family of God". Further, assuring such persons that they are saved apart from such a change may very well be the stumbling block to them later receiving the real Gospel (why should they repent when they are already saved?).
We can & should examine fruit to see what spiritual life is inspiring a person; but sinners can repent & be saved, and believers can fall into apostasy and be cut off. This one moment does not reveal our eternal destiny, but we must endure to the end.
I agree that every believer should be a minister of the Gospel (Eph. 4:11-12). And God certainly will use whomever He chooses. Yes, may we all have our foundation on His word. Apart from getting a word of knowledge from the Lord, we don't know another's heart. We are given the word of God not to judge hearts, but to know (and be transformed into) what is true.
Consider this. What is it that makes the difference between works that are fruitful and works that are dead? Is it not whether the work was breathed by the Holy Spirit? We can prophecy, cast out devils, and do many wonderful works, but if God hasn't called us to do those things, then our efforts may very well be in vain - and even considered iniquity by the Lord (Matt. 7:21-23). If we just "Go" simply because we want to do something for the Lord, then we run the risk of creating Ishmaels vs. bringing forth the seed of promise.
That is the purpose of this post. Writing on a blog is not more or less Godly than street preaching, pulpit preaching, mission trips, etc. No matter the activity, as believers, we should ask ourselves, "Is God leading me to do this?" If He is, then He will also prepare us to do the work and impart His Holy Spirit to perform it.
This post is not about who is saved or who is not. I have not the time nor the inclination to look at someone else's heart, for I am dealing with the Lord on my own. Yet, when I see a snare of the enemy, I will post about it if God leads. It is wonderful to have a heart for the Lord, but we still must not get ahead of Him. We must wait for what He has called and prepared us to do. When we do, His purposes will be accomplished through us as yielded vessels.
God Bless you too!
Matthew 13 - The Parable of the Sower
DeleteWe are to plant and water, but God gives the increase...
It all depends on the type of soil the water or seeds fall on. We as ministers of the gospel have no control of the type of soil.
We must spread the gospel and keep being SALT & LIGHT. God knows all intentions of the heart.
God Bless!
Hi Anonymous,
Delete"It all depends on the type of soil the water or seeds fall on."
Exactly! Which is why we should not be assuring people that they have entered the family of God just because they have recited a sinner's prayer.
We are only salt and light to the extent that we are being led by God in what we do, and not going off to do what we think are "good works" apart from the Lord.
God bless you too!
I'm not trying to be funny but one thing Pastor Price is always talking about is how obese many of these "saints" are these days. Now I'm not talking about those that have issues with their thyroids. No. I'm talking about those who has made their bellies their god. You know they have never ever fasted in their lives. It just shows how undisciplined many of them are. That was the first thing I thought when I saw this lady. I remember seeing Kurt Carr one time and I thought the same when I saw him too. Sorry. I know this was a bit off topic but it was an observation nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteHi KGore,
DeleteI understand your point. We (all believers) are called to live a fasted life. Such is not just about food, but living a life where the flesh is crucified and the lusts of the flesh denied.
"I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." I Cor. 9:26-27
You have hit the nail on the head when you say it is about discipline. I have a situation I am dealing with in my own life and a brother once asked me how I was handling it. I told him that God had showed me that the reason I was having to deal with this is because He is using it to teach me discipline. So many aspects of my life were undisciplined; in other words, I only did what I felt like doing. Yet, how are we to ever grow or ever be usable by the Lord if we are swept away (or rather disempowered) by being led by the lusts of the flesh?
I don't think it is off topic, because even when we run off doing "good works" for the Lord which He is not calling us to do, it is all still the flesh. No matter how it expresses it self, we must keep the flesh in submission to the spirit. God will really lead us in all aspects of life (what we say, where we go, what we eat, etc.)...if we submit to His leading.
God Bless!
I read the post but I didn't read all of the comments nor did I watch the entire video but I do want to propose a question or two based off this statement:
ReplyDelete"When you are looking at people bound by grief, addiction, idolatry, sickness, perversion...religion is just a woefully poor substitute. It takes more than a sinner's prayer and a pep talk about love to convert a soul. It takes the power of a Living God; a power which slams into our very being, confronts us with the truth, and brings us to naught when we finally see ourselves for who we really are before a holy God: a wretched soul in need of a Savior. This is the power that saves souls..."
Question #1: What exactly does this look like?
"a power which slams into our very being, confronts us with the truth, and brings us to naught when we finally see ourselves for who we really are before a holy God: a wretched soul in need of a Savior. This is the power that saves souls..."
Question #2:
Why isn't it simple for one to be born again look at Romans 10 starting at verse 5
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”(that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’”(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”(that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
That sounds very simple to me. Confess & Believe. God is righteous in making a sinner righteous. And according to him one must believe and confess in order to be saved.
Look at Acts 10 when Peter went to Cornelius' house. The Holy Spirit fell on those who HEARD THE WORD. Peter said:
43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
Once again. That wasn't a complicated process. And in both scriptures we see a common factor which is faith. One must believe, that's it.
My point is this, we do not know what is in a mans heart and if the man in the video confessed and believed, according to the word, he is saved. That is between him and the Father.
The woman in the video may be extreme and she may be taking scripture out of its contexts...I don't really now...but I do know she is telling people that Jesus died for their sins and that he will save them right where they are; and that is scripture and that is all that matters. The Lord will be their Shepard and the Holy Spirit will lead them where they need to go. This woman said she feels lead of the Spirit to do this...so what more is there to say?
Hello Anonymous,
DeleteYou ask:
What exactly does this look like?
Good question. Perhaps that is something we should ask those who are assuring people they have been saved based on reciting a sinner's prayer.
Notice, I have never said that the young man in the video did not get saved. My point is exactly what you have already stated. "we do not know what is in a mans heart". Unless the Lord gives us a word of knowledge, we have no idea if a person has truly believed from the heart or not. As such, we have no business telling them that they are saved just because they have repeated some words after us. The evidence of salvation according to Jesus Christ is spiritual fruit, not verbal confession (Matt. 7:15-20; Luke 6:43-45).
Saying "If you repent from sin and believe from the heart, then you will be saved" is not the same thing as saying, "You are saved". Like you, I ask, "Upon what basis are they making such determinations?"
When I got saved, I was not emotional. There was no outward, apparent difference in me that would tell anyone I was saved. However, I was...and I knew I was because the Holy Spirit bore witness with my spirit that I was a child of God. In fact, I didn't need anyone else telling me that because no man is appointed to give me that assurance; only the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:16).
False assurances are just as deadly as false gospels.
Cont...
DeleteYou also ask:
Why isn't it simple for one to be born again look at Romans 10 starting at verse 5
I have never asserted that salvation is something more than the simplicity of believing. My point is that most people don't understand what it means to believe. The thing which is "not that simple" is the assurance given that one is saved just because they have recited a sinner's prayer.
I love how on time God is. My pastor and I were just talking about this last evening; how many who claim to be believers are really not. Why? They have never been born again; they have never brought forth fruit meet for repentance.
"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." James 2:19
We must consider the whole counsel of Scripture in order to instruct others in righteousness (II Tim. 3:16). Unless a person has been born again, then their "belief" is no better than that of demons. They in fact have a dead faith that is powerless to save them (James 2:14-17).
Even Jesus was clear that one could "believe" and yet not be received by Him.
"Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." John 2:23-25
Both the words "believed" and "commit" in the text above are forms of the Greek word for "belief". These men "believed" in Jesus, but Jesus did not receive their "belief". Why? He - being God - knew what was in their hearts. Their hearts had not been pricked by the truth, bringing about an inner brokenness unto repentance. Rather they had simply done what my pastor often referred to as "mental ascension". They acknowledged on an intellectual level that Jesus was who He claimed to be by virtue of His miracles. However, even though they "believed", they were not entrusting (committing) their lives unto Jesus. As a result, He was not entrusting (committing) Himself to them...in spite of them "believing".
True faith must be accompanied by obedience. Obedience to respond to the initial drawing of the Spirit towards repentance to enter salvation, and obedience to continue walking in submission to the Holy Spirit afterwards. It is also not a one time thing, but a continual committing ourselves to Jesus unto the saving of the soul (Heb. 10:38-39).
Cont.
DeletePlease read a little more of Acts 10. Cornelius had already been in fasting & prayers (brokenness) before God prior to Peter coming. Cornelius had already been received by the Lord, and Peter acknowledges this (Acts 10:35). God only draws near to those who humble themselves before Him.
So hearing the word alone - apart from such inner brokenness - does not equal salvation. One must hear the word with the right condition of the heart in order for the word to take root and produce new life (Mark 4:14-20; Matt. 13:19-23; Luke 8:11-15).
And yes, the people in the house received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as Peter was preaching. Yet again, Peter didn't just take their word for this or assume it was so just because they "heard the word". Rather, He knew this to be the case precisely because the Holy Spirit gave tangible witness to this fact (Acts 10:46).
Lastly, you say, "My point is this, we do not know what is in a mans heart and if the man in the video confessed and believed, according to the word, he is saved. That is between him and the Father."
That is absolutely right! Which is why we should never put ourselves in the position of assuring someone that they are saved. That is the Holy Spirit's job alone; both for our personal assurance as well as a witness to others.
Jesus will save people right where they are, but that is certainly not "all that matters". One must still be in a position to receive this wonderful gift He has provided. One must repent and be born again to live for Him. The Lord will only be their Shepherd if they have in fact given their lives to Him as one of His flock (Matt. 25:32; John 10:3-4, 14).
What more is there to say? Only what the article says itself. We had better be very sure what God is calling us to do so that we are not running around in the flesh trying to do "good works" which are dead and not inspired by His Holy Spirit. If God is truly leading us, then He will empower us to accomplish the work in Spirit and in Truth. You cannot have one without the other. Any "spirit" which is not in alignment with the truth is NOT the Holy Spirit. And "truth" which is not inspired by the Holy Spirit is not true.
I have to say one more thing. It has been said in this comments' section, "This woman said she feels lead of the Spirit to do this...so what more is there to say?"
ReplyDeleteI would hope that we all know the witness of truth is not the word of man, but the Spirit of God. We are never called as Christians to accept something as truth just because someone says, "God told me...God is leading me to do/say..." If we do not understand that we are to "try every spirit to see if it is of God" (I John 4:1), then we are likely already deceived.
For those who want more on this topic, please see The Witness of the Spirit.
So well said! For the longest time, I struggled with hearing the Truth spoken by a preacher - only, moments later, to hear the same preacher speak an UNtruth - but contending that God speaks to him. I had such a difficult time understanding that error in man. However, God has really shown me -through trying the spirits -- that "the witness of truth is not the word of man, but the Spirit of God."
DeleteUltimately, we must be earnest in seeking God's TRUTH - not man's. With a humble heart, we should call on the Lord to guide us and help us to discern the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of error.
Latter Days Ministry, please remember me in your prayers - God has absolutely confirmed in the last 24 hours that I am to speak the truth in His congregation - especially when error is being taught. I am a quiet person, by nature - but my heart longs to serve the Lord in Truth and to shine light where there is doctrinal error - as is the case in my church. I pray to do this with meekness.
Thanks,
Joy
Hi Joy!
DeleteI understand. I think as new believers - and maybe not so new - we can tend to look to man as a type of Moses. You begin to view that person as the one with the answers to whom God speaks.
However, God desires to speak to each of us and has made this possible by giving each of us His Holy Spirit. Indeed, God never wanted to just raise up a "Moses", but wanted to speak to all of Israel that way.
The truth is that each of us can only speak & live the truths of God to the extent that we are yielded to His Spirit. Like Peter, you can speak revelations from God one minute and then speak something inspired by the devil the next...all based on the condition of our own hearts (Matt. 16:17, 23). We each must be able to recognize and follow the leading of the Spirit so that we can pick out the meat and throw away the bones, so to speak.
I imagine that addressing errors in church doctrine would be a challenging task. I have been keeping you in prayer since seeing your comment and will continue to do so. Yes, I agree we must have the right spirit, particularly in such instances, so as not to be contentious. If the Lord is leading you to do that, then He surely has a purpose in it and will lead you in how/when to do it. I pray that you remain sensitive to His leading in all things.
God Bless Sister!
She isn't giving false assurance by saying "Its just that simple. Welcome to the family of God." Nor is she giving false assurance if she told him "you are saved" because according to the word #1. You must believe and confess to be born again #2. After you are born again you become a son of God. Look at Galatians 3:
ReplyDelete26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."
She is assuming that he prayed with her out of faith and that he believed in that prayer; why would he pray with her if he didn't want to be saved? That makes no sense. So after he prayed with her he instantly becomes a son of God and a brother in Christ. So "Welcome to the family of God" is a very appropriate comment to make. And even saying "you are saved" is very appropriate comment to make because she is making it on the same bases.
Nevertheless, you didn't answer my questions. I don't want to know what others have to say I want to know what you have to say because those where your words. I quoted your statements.
Hello Anonymous,
DeleteYou say, "She is assuming...". That is the problem in a nutshell.
If she is offering assurances of salvation based on her own assumptions, then may God help her and those to whom she "witnesses"...and may God help you if you think that such is of the Lord.
There is no room for assumption in witnessing for the Lord. Either one is led by the Spirit of God or one is leaning to his/her own understanding by relying on the wisdom of men. When we are truly doing work that the Lord has empowered us to do, we will never need to assume. We will only need to follow the guidance/direction of the Lord, doing/saying as He instructs.
Many want to be saved. Yet not all want to deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow Jesus. The latter is only possible from those who have truly been converted (born again). My own children will say almost anything to avoid punishment, but that doesn't mean they have a heart to obey. Although you say this "makes no sense", it is confirmed in the Scriptures. The rich man wanted to be saved, and inquired to Jesus about how he could be. Yet, he didn't want to give up all for Jesus (Matthew 19:16-22). Don't be misled thinking that someone who says they want to be saved actually wants to follow Jesus. A desire to be saved is not enough, as seen by this rich man. One must repent from sin and be willing to lay down all for Christ, always. THAT is faith. THAT is believing.
I did answer your questions, although perhaps you have not taken the time to read the responses. You are correct in that you quoted me, but I quoted the word of God. Will you take His words to heart? That is all that matters.
Anonymous, you should read the following:
DeleteBut I'm a Believer!
Have you laid down all for Christ? Do you keep all the commandments?
ReplyDelete16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 BUT JESUS LOOKED AT THEM AND SAID TO THEM, "WITH MEN THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE."
I didn't say she made that statement based off her own assumptions. You seem to enjoy making accusations and pointing fingers of condemnation and that's not cool. I would like you to meditate on this..its the goodness of God that draws men to repentance.
Hi Anonymous,
DeleteForget me. It really doesn't matter what you think of me.
You asked your questions. You claimed to be interested in answers. I provided them, with evidences from the word of God. However, instead of considering and addressing God's word, your focus is on attacking my character.
Let me tell you truthfully, I don't care about that. I merely want to raise for your consideration this all too common tactic of the enemy. When we are being presented with truth - if there is anything in our hearts contrary to that truth - Satan will try to accuse the messenger as a means to get us to reject the message. This is why I suggest that you forget about me and deal strictly with God's word. Lots of Scripture has been provided to you confirming that you cannot remove the condition of man's heart out of the equation of salvation without preaching a false gospel (with false assurances). Now you can either receive what God has to say in the matter or not, but His word surely stand sure regardless of whether I represent Him or not.
All things are possible with God. However, that sure didn't equate to the rich man receiving Jesus in that discussion did it? The rich man still chose to walk away from salvation when he realized that he had to be willing to lay down all? Whether I (or anyone else) ever lives up to that standard does not stop God's word from being true. ALL things are possible with God in terms of His ability to save man, and YET, the rich man still walked away without having Jesus Christ. Maybe you should consider that.
The goodness of God is seen in that He is righteous and true. Take away that truth, and all you have are perversions and lies.
"And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth." Exodus 34:6
"(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)" Eph. 5:9