False Prophets

               You know, I have seen an awful lot of garbage posted about “false prophets” lately. It seems that every time someone does not agree with the doctrine presented in a message by a minister, that minister is automatically labeled as a “false prophet” by someone.

It seems that we have so many people running about, screaming “false prophet” that it is unsafe to listen to anyone any more. After all, something in their last message may have offended the sensibilities of some dear soul, somewhere, resulting in their being so labeled. Is it just me, or does this not sound like God?

I have even heard the name applied countless times to those that have never even prophesied. My question is this: how can you be a “false prophet” when you have never claimed to be a real prophet?

There are thousands of denominations spread out amongst hundreds of thousands of churches just in the United States alone. I do not agree with the doctrine presented in many of these churches, backed up by many of these denominations. So does that mean that everyone who believes something different than me is a “false prophet”?  Of course not. That is a ridiculous statement! But then again, before the day is through I am sure to read another article on why Pastor So-and –so is a “false prophet.”

“Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.” (1 Cor. 1:10).

It was God’s will for the Body of Christ to be one body. In other words, we are to have one mind and one Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord. How then, can the individual members of one body constantly be running around calling one another “false prophets”?

Maybe the time has come that we need to begin developing understanding and compassion for one another. Just because my doctrine differs from yours, it does not mean that either of us is a “false prophet”. It simply means that we are walking in differences of revelation. Maybe the Lord has given you an insight into the Word which I have not received, yet. That’s okay. Be patient with me, I’m getting there. Even though I am a minister, called and ordained to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it does not mean that I know everything there is to know. Perhaps you have had experiences which I’ve not yet had. Hey, does that make you the “false prophet”?

What I’m saying is this: we have to leave room for differences in belief and opinion amongst brethren which love one another. Running around screaming “false prophet” is not an act of discernment, nor is it an act of love. Therefore, it is not of God.

If you disagree with someone, ask the Lord for clarity for both of you. Who knows, you may just find that you are the one walking in the wrong understanding. Scary thought, isn’t it?

Christ in the Old Testament

               I have always had a question when reading Matthew 23:37, 38. Jesus seems to be awfully upset by the fact that the people of Jerusalem had not accepted Him. I really didn’t understand why.

               Let’s face it: He came and completely changed the religion that they had practiced for thousands of years. He should have expected resistance, shouldn’t He? After all, when God laid down the Law for the Israelites, He made it clear that any form of idolatry was forbidden. When Jesus identified Himself as the Son of God (John 10:29, 36), He was, in fact trying to change their religious beliefs, and God had forbidden that, right?

               From what I had been taught, Jesus only made a few appearances in the Old Testament. He appeared to Abraham, once to stop him from killing Isaac (Gen. 22:11-12), and then again as Melchisedec (Gen 14:18-19). He appeared to Moses in the burning bush (Ex. 3:2-6). We also know that He appeared to Daniel (Dan. 10:5-6; Rev. 1:13-15).

               So how could God expect Jesus to be recognized and accepted, when the children of Israel didn’t really know who He was or when He would come? That’s what I thought, anyway. I should have known better. The nature of God is not like that. He just doesn’t operate that way.

               As I was obediently studying Psalms, Jesus began to reveal to me His presence in the Old Testament. I have to say, that this took me some time in prayer and study to fully understand.

               Psalm 23:1 reads “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (kjv). We are all familiar with this scripture.

After reading this Psalm, the Lord then took me to Exodus Chapter 3. In Exodus Chapter 3, Moses is having a discussion with the Lord through a burning bush. First off, the Lord identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Ex. 3:6). Then the Lord (YHWH/ Jehovah) says that He has seen the oppression of His people, and has come down to deliver them (Ex 3:7-10). When Moses asks Him what His name is, He replies “I AM THAT I AM” (YHWH/Jehovah). This statement literally means “I will be what I will be.”

In this short discourse, the Lord has revealed that He is the eternal One, and He never leaves or forsakes His children. He was with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is also there in the present to see the oppression of His people. He will also be there in the future to lead them to a new land, flowing with milk and honey (Ex. 3:8).

Then the Lord God (YHWH Elohim/Jehovah Elohim) tells Moses that the God of the past, present, and future is sending him to His people, and His name (YHWH/Jehovah) is a memorial to all generations.

Okay, now I have a question: who, exactly is YHWH/Jehovah? Is it God? Is it Jesus? Who is it?

Psalm 23:1 tells us that the Lord (YHWH Rohi/ Jehovah Rohi) is my shepherd. John 10:11, 14 tells us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. If the Lord (YHWH/Jehovah) is my shepherd, and Jesus is the Good Shepherd, then it stands to reason that Jesus is YHWH/Jehovah, right?

Wait a minute, here. If YHWH/Jehovah is translated as Lord hundreds of times in the Old Testament, and Jesus is YHWH/Jehovah, that means that He was very active in the lives of the children of Israel, even before He came to earth as a man! When David said “The Lord (YHWH/Jehovah) is my shepherd,” he was implying a very intimate, one-to-one relationship with YHWH/Jehovah.

Jesus said “I know My sheep and am known of Mine” (John 10:14). He also said “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). Again, this implies a very close personal relationship.

Is it possible that David had a close, one-on-one relationship with Christ several hundred years before He was born? It’s not only possible; the Word makes it clear that is exactly what took place.

The name YHWH first appears in Genesis chapter 2 verse 4. In the KJV it is translated as Lord God (YHWH{Jehovah} Elohim). Jesus was there when the earth was made. He was there when Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15). He invited Noah into the ark (Gen 7:1). He promised Noah that the ground would no longer be cursed for man’s sins (Gen. 8:21-22). He confused the languages at the tower of Babel (Gen. 11:6-7). He created the earth and blessed the Sabbath (Gen. 20:11).

So Jesus/YHWH/Jehovah was involved in everything that happened to His people from the very beginning. So why did He say that “by My name, Jehovah (YHWH/Jesus) was I not known”? Because YHWH refers to Jesus. In the past, the Israelites had never needed redemption and deliverance. Before He could deliver them from the Egyptians, they needed to know His full character. They needed to understand that he was redemption, deliverance and salvation. They had to be given the chance to develop a relationship with the One that would deliver them from oppression. They had to know that His name stood for a God that was eternal, and His name would bring salvation and deliverance. He had always been there, and now He was reaching out to His people, showing them a side of His nature that had never before been revealed. He was reaching out to an oppressed people, waiting for them to accept Him as God. He had always been there for them.

Most importantly, He was there for a personal relationship with anyone that would seek Him out. David very clearly had a personal relationship with Jesus, as did Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and many others. Psalm 22 tells of how Jesus delivered David when he was broken and had no means of escaping the situation. Psalm 23 tells us of the close, intimate relationship that David had with Jesus.

And now, Jesus is still there, waiting to embrace whosoever will. It’s a shame that so many of us, living in the age of Grace, do not have that close, intimate relationship with Him. Do you? Can you say that you are one of His sheep, and that you know His voice? If not, invite Him into your heart today. Begin building that relationship with the One that loves you so much that He died for you. Make the decision that will change your life forever. Become a sheep.

Feng Shua is a Spiritual Concept

Introduction

I know this is a strange title for an article on a Christian Blog Site. So, let me start with a disclaimer: I do not practice, nor do I endorse, the Feng Shua belief system. I will even go one step further: Feng Shua is a system of beliefs based on geomancy, astrology and numerology. It is, by its’ most basic definition, witchcraft.

However, we know that the enemy lacks creativity. He has never created anything; he only steals, kills and destroys (1 Peter 5:8). Part of being vigilant, however, is to realize what he has stolen, perverted, repackaged, and sold back to the rest of the world as “new age” religious ideas. Feng Shua is one of these ideas.

 Please understand that the term, “new age” does not refer to the amount of time that the belief has been in practice. Feng Shua is, in fact, older than Christianity, but is still a “new age” belief. New age beliefs try, in the most part, to replace God with some other system of belief. In the case of Feng Shua, God is replaced by “chi”, the non-intelligent force of the universe as a whole. As part of the Buddhist doctrine, practitioners believe that they will, after a series of many incarnations, aspire to be a god, themselves (humanism, again a new age belief).

Feng Shua Explained

               The Lord has been talking to me lately about the spiritual concept of Feng Shua. In order to understand the fullness of what He was saying, I had to do a little research. I am going to share my relevant findings, here so that we all fully understand the message that the Lord is trying to convey.

               Feng Shua is an ancient Chinese religious belief system. Evidence of its’ use can be seen in structures as old as 5000 to 6000 B.C. in certain regions of China, Europe, and in the Bible. While it was not referred to as “Feng Shua” in Europe or in the Bible, its’ principles were in use. More on this, later.

               The Chinese traditional religious beliefs hold that everything and everyone on the earth is affected by, and affects, “Chi”. Chi can best be compared to “The Force” in Lucasfilms “Star Wars”. The belief is that it surrounds everything, permeates everything, it is neither good nor evil, but can be manipulated for either cause. In effect, they have tried to explain the supernatural presence of the Spirit of God and the forces of darkness as physical phenomena.

               Chi is completely dependent on the belief in the yin and the yang. Yin is receptive while yang is active. Yin and yang has been explained as good and evil, also. They believe that in order to achieve totally harmonious balance, both must be present in equal amounts. Chi flows through the earth in “dragon lines”, and the placement of villages, houses, doorways, tombs and furniture become of utmost importance in relation to the dragon lines. If one elemental substance is misplaced within the dragon lines, chi will not flow correctly, and “bad chi” results.

               According to this belief, “good chi” promotes health, wealth, creativity, positive social relationships, confidence, meditation and contemplation, and respect for one’s self and others. Bad chi results in just the opposite. Feng Shua is even practiced as a medical discipline to treat chronic illnesses.

               Feng Shua is a discipline of alignment. As a belief system, it has translated spiritual principles into the physical realm, similar to the way that the Tabernacle was a physical representation of heavenly things. Therefore, Feng Shua is a spiritual concept, and as such, I think it is worth a look to discover what we can learn from it.

A Discipline of Alignment

               Feng Shua practitioners have mastered a concept that most Christians struggle with, daily: alignment. While Feng Shua mystics attempt to align themselves with a mystical force, Christians should be aligning themselves with the will of God.

               The Feng Shua believer knows that they must be in proper alignment with the universe. This produces a proper flow of chi, and they benefit immensely from it. We as Christians know we must align ourselves with the Word and the will of Almighty God, so that there is a proper flow from the heavens to the earth. Not only do we benefit immensely from this proper alignment, but all of those touched by our ministries also benefit immensely when the minister is properly aligned with the will of the Father.

               Alignment is an all-important principle in the Kingdom. God wills for each of us to have an abundant life, a constant, abundant flow of blessings. So many of us are not receiving the flow we’re entitled to. Why? Perhaps it is time to look at our alignment.

               When we are aligned with the principles presented in the Word, God is free to release everything He has in store for us. This includes material wealth, spiritual well-being, physical health, and so much more. We were promised an abundant life, a life of being more than a conqueror. Are we lining up with the will of God to receive that abundant flow? None of us would try to force a stream to flow uphill. That would be ludicrous! How many of us try to force our abundant heavenly flow to move uphill, through obstructions, and over desert areas in our lives, though?

 

How alignment affects the Ministry

               I am not casting any stones, and I am not going to mention any names, but we have all seen the results when a minister comes out of alignment with the Lord. We’ve all heard about the moral failures, financial scandals, etc. Unfortunately, these ministers lost sight, at least temporarily, of their alignment.

               Alignment is an all-important factor in the lives of true Christian Believers. Jesus made this very clear in John 5:19 when He said that He only did what He saw His Father do, and He only said what He heard His Father say. In other words, Jesus was in perfect alignment with the will of His Father. That is why His ministry was so effective. That is why His prayers were always answered. He was in perfect alignment. Are we?

               Again, without casting stones, step back and take a look at the ministry you’ve been entrusted with. Are you and it completely in alignment with the Father? God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). Is your ministry built on love? We are all ambassadors of Christ. Do you reflect that you are an ambassador of love? I would love to say that I have mastered this, but I am still working on it, just like most of you.

               The Lord has re-released His vision for the Church. It is a vision of love and covenant. We must all grab hold of this! God is Love! Love is not an emotion; it is not an abstract force! It is a person! It is God, Himself! When the world sees us, do they see a ministry of Love? Do they see Love as our foundation? Is Love our foundation? Are we in alignment with the Father? Are we in alignment with and an ambassador for, pure heavenly Love? Do we allow our own agendas, goals, and beliefs to bring us out of alignment with our heavenly Father? If so, are we willing to make the appropriate changes?

               There is an awesome move of God’s Spirit being released over the earth in this season. We must all grab hold of this! We must examine ourselves and our ministries! The time for personal agendas and personal goals has come to an end. God is looking for those whom will minister out of pure, unconditional love. Are you the minister He is searching for? Are you in alignment with the Father? Have you mastered the concept that Feng Shua is a spiritual concept?