ANGELS OR DEMONS?

ANGELS OR DEMONS?

By Berit Kjos

July 6, 2008

NewsWithViews.com

“I went into a trance-like state and I saw… the angel of finance…. In that trance I experienced one of heaven’s realities and then that experience became a reality here on earth…. I found myself in a treasure room in heaven. The only item in this room was gold coins, and I began stuffing those coins into my pockets until they were falling out.”[1] Todd Bentley

“… my spirit guides, Jesus and Mamacita, where with me, teaching me to overcome the lower spiritual entities. Now, during the many hours spent in meditation waves of light and peace would flow over me….”[2,p.85] Joanna Michaelson, The Beautiful Side of Evil

“… false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed….” Mark 13:22-23

What’s driving Todd Bentley? Why do thousands of people flock to his revival meetings?

Some reasons are obvious. Many seek healing, financial success, spiritual experiences and sensual thrills. After all, Bentley puts on quite a show! Known for his heavenly visions, angelic “partners,” mystical tattoos, and irreverent “teaching,” he makes them laugh. One of his many Youtube performances includes this outrageous dialogue with an unbiblical “God”:

“The woman was standing in the back of the room when the faith of God hit the meeting, and her tumor exploded out of her right leg, slid down her leg onto the floor! … [God] said, ‘…I want you to grab that lady’s crippled legs and bang them up-and-down on the platform like a baseball bat.’ [loud laughter] … I grabbed her legs, and I started going, BAM! BAM! …banging them…. She got healed!…

“And there is this older lady worshipping right in front of the platform. And the Holy Spirit spoke to me; the gift of faith came on me. He said, ‘Kick her in the face with your biker-boot..’… I went like this [kicks and shouts] BAM! And just as my boot made contact with her nose, she fell under the power of God.”[3] [laughter]

“You will know them by their fruit,” said Jesus. (Mt 7:16) But the genuine “fruit of the Spirit” (God’s love, goodness, gentleness…) was missing from this brutal show. God’s warnings are becoming increasingly relevant:

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so!” Jer 5:30-31

COUNTERFEIT ANGELS AND DEMONIC VISIONS

How to Botch an Altar Call!!!

(A few keys for those who don’t want people saved in their altar calls)

1. Present an unbalanced message. Only let them see the heart-warming part of God’s character. Preach God’s love but leave out His holiness and justice. That way they’ll think He’ll let them into heaven no matter what.
2. Don’t mention repentance until they’re repeating a “sinner’s prayer.” Just get them to say, “I repent of all my sins” while they’re echoing you. They won’t know what they’re saying and they won’t count the cost.
3. Above all else, be dignified. Don’t get heart to heart with the people. They would get something out of what you said.
4. Skim over the gospel and push the prayer. Pretend the lost naturally understand what Christ has done for them.
5. Preach Jesus as a life enhancer not a life rescuer. Tell them how Jesus can improve their life but don’t show them Jesus as the only One who can save them from Hell. People will think if they reject Him they’re only losing out on a spiritual high.
6. Try to please the people instead of convert them. Tell them what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear.
7. Compromise the message to speed up the process. The Christians who have heard it a hundred times before will be pleased with that. The quicker they get out the quicker they can get to the restaurant.
8. Give them the impression that God is so good He won’t send anyone to hell. Don’t present the whole counsel of God or they might realize He is so good that He’ll see to it that justice is served and that all unrepentant sinners will be punished in the fire that is not quenched.
9. Speak to sinners as though they were saints. They’ll think they’re God’s children instead of the enemies of God they’ve made themselves into because of their sin. You’ll give them false assurance and mislead them.
10. Don’t mention sin or man’s guilt. Resist the urge to explain what Christ came to deliver us from. Don’t show them their need for the Savior. Otherwise it may all make sense.
11. Don’t look to the Bible for the substance of your altar call. Only mimic other preachers with large congregations.
12. Tell the lost not to feel bad about their sins. That way you will work against the Holy Spirit who’s convicting them
13. Whatever you do, never mention Judgment Day. Your audience might take spiritual matters seriously.
14. Tell them Jesus is the only way to heaven but don’t explain why. They may think it’s nothing more than fear tactics and leave offended instead of enlightened.
15. Confuse the call. This is a great way to botch up an altar call. Don’t let people know you’re asking them to commit their life to Christ. Be vague and general in what you’re saying. Neglect to mention following Christ in your evangelistic altar calls and say things like, “If you don’t feel you’re as close to God as possible raise your hand,” “If you feel lonely come to the front for prayer,” “If you want more of God this is your time,” and, “If you have struggles and need the answer come down.” Just get them to raise a hand. That way no one will be able to count the cost and you’ll even get saints to respond to salvation altar calls, making the results look more successful.
16. Only give them half the story. Tell them Jesus died to forgive everyone but overlook the fact that they must personally receive Him to partake of that forgiveness.
17. Present the truth as though it isn’t. Be so funny when you share Christ that you belittle the seriousness of the matter.
18. Preach forgiveness without repentance. That way no one will know how to be forgiven.
19. Be unbiblical. Present repentance and faith as an offer instead of how God does as a command (Acts 17:30).
20. Let them think next Sunday is the day of salvation. Don’t make them feel it’s urgent to respond today.
21. Never warn of hell. Dangle heaven in front of their nose but rarely mention hell, certainly not as much as Jesus did.
22. Only do altar calls inside the church. Never take the gospel where sinners congregate. The lost might get saved.
23. Use churchy terms. Use words like, “saved,” “repent,” and “born again,” without any explanation. That way your hearers won’t comprehend what you’re saying. If they can’t understand it, it’s probable they won’t be changed by it.
24. Give false assurance of salvation to unsaved Christians. Assure church folk that they are saved even if they bear no fruit. So that you don’t offend the unsaved pew warmers never quote 2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.” You could lose some financial supporters and have to depend on God.
25. Never mention the wrath of God. If you mention it, people might be awakened to flee to Jesus who “saves us from the wrath to come.” ( 1 Thess. 1:10)
26. Study how the apostles preached and witnessed and do the opposite. Don’t explain Jesus’ suffering death on the cross. Otherwise they may think of running to Him for forgiveness. Don’t speak of His burial or resurrection or they might realize He is God. Refrain from commenting about the hundreds of eyewitnesses who saw Jesus after He rose from the dead. That way they can go on thinking He’s a fairy tale. Overlook talk of the messianic prophecies Jesus fulfilled or they might realize that the Bible is true. If they see it’s the truth they may see that following Christ is the logical decision. And whatever you do, avoid what the apostles did when it came time to call people to obey the gospel. Don’t tell them to trust Christ and live for Him. That is too accurate. If they know how to get saved your altar call will be a success.
27. Put more emphasis on the “sinner’s prayer” then on repentance and faith. Satan will smile over your departure from Biblical instruction. We are never taught to use a ‘sinner’s prayer’ throughout the entire Bible. If you decide to use it and put more emphasis on the technique than on what we’re commanded to preach: faith and repentance you’ll certainly botch things up. A ‘sinner’s prayer’ doesn’t equal salvation, only faith in Christ and repentance toward God do.
28. Let Christians think you’re the only one who can do it right. Always leave the impression that they should only invite friends to church and never actually witness themselves. It will keep you in business and the lost unsaved.
29. Don’t let the lost know they are. Disregard subjects like Judgment Day, God’s holiness, man’s sinfulness and justice. That way the lost can continue to think they’re “good enough” to get into heaven.
30. Rely upon psychological techniques to manipulate people into responding to the altar call. Don’t rely upon the Holy Spirit or they may actually get saved.
31. Make sure you’re the main attraction. Remember the goal in botching up an altar call is for people to leave and say, “What a wonderful preacher,” instead of, “What a wonderful Savior.” Draw all possible attention to how great a speaker and person you are. Otherwise people might see Christ in your preaching and get saved.
32. Don’t focus upon Jesus. Finally, the best way to botch up an altar call is not to preach the gospel. Just get people to lift up a hand and pray a prayer with you. Resist the urge to speak of the only One who could save them.

Sometimes the best way to get a point across is to put it in a different light. You now know a few ways to botch up an altar call. Please do not employ them. Do the opposite. You may already do some of them. Don’t let pride keep you from changing and doing things in a Biblical fashion. The bottom line is how true we are to Christ and His word. Effectively reaching the lost is our purpose. Let nothing hold you back from that agenda. May God bless you as you seek to win people to Christ in Bible clubs, churches, conferences, on the street witnessing encounters, at your school, and at your workplace.

Adapted from Becoming an Emissary for God by Allen Atzbi

Rick Warren hosts presidential forum Sat. night

Jim Brown – OneNewsNow – 8/15/2008 6:00:00 AM

var addthis_pub = ‘onenewsnow’;

Tomorrow night (Saturday), White House hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain will be fielding questions from evangelical mega-church pastor Rick Warren in a presidential forum at his California church.

The “Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion” will feature each candidate talking with Pastor Warren separately for one hour. Warren says he plans to pose questions on issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, global warming, and human rights.

“Both John McCain and Barack Obama, I have known for a long time, before either of them began to run for president. They are very different,” Warren explains. “They have different philosophies of leadership, different philosophies of where government should be and should be headed – and I thought, ‘You know what, these guys will probably trust me to ask the questions that let them say who they really are.’”

Pastor Warren says he will also have Obama and McCain discuss their religious faith. ”The leader who says, ‘I’m going to take my worldview and just put it on the shelf when I make decisions,’ is either an idiot or they’re lying, because you can’t do it,” the well-known Christian author adds. “All of your decisions are based on what you value, what you believe in life. And so I think it’s important to find out what these guys really believe.”

American Family News and OneNewsNow.com will be providing in-depth coverage following the forum.

---

Do you think Rick Warren’s presidential forum this weekend

will clarify (or did clarify) for voters the theological beliefs of

Barack Obama and John McCain?

Vote in our poll

—————————————————————————————

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

SHOULD RICK WARREN DO THIS OR NOT?

SHOULD MINISTRIES GET INVOLVED?

Bondage

Bondage is not a healthy thing for any of us to be in. No matter how a person has been hurt one thing remains the same and that is PAIN. We all can identify with it, for it carries the same characteristics. But we have to be able to move forward in life, But many can’t because they have allowed this bondage thing to keep them a prisoner! It’s like a bird being in a cage if no one opens the door to the cage the bird will remain a prisoner. From what I see we can’t control how people treat us because we have no control over that person. But what we can do is learn from the pain and forgive that person and move on.

Yet so many of us find it hard to move on in life, and that is because you haven’t forgiven that person and ourselves. Yes when we forgive someone it sets us free from them, but then there is another step and that step is for us to forgive ourselves! We are hard on ourselves at times and it’s okay if we lose it every now and then or if we don’t get it right all the time. That’s just life; we learn as we go.

Now you may ask what do you do when it’s been years since the cause of the pain? Well it really doesn’t matter if it’s been recent or years ago, same thing applies, forgive and move on. And until you can do this you will always remain a prisoner and you will never be able to have healthy relationships in life because you won’t allow yourself to be set free. What I have seen is that we become so accustomed to pain and hurt that we begin to act as though it does not exist, We pretend we are okay we make excuses for it. But deep down inside that issue is still there and one day it will show it’s ugly head. And you have to decide do you want to always be a prisoner feeling unloved unhappy, not satisfied with life, miserable all the time, wishing you could be like others? Of course not you are human but who’s the blame? No one but you, only you can control this..

Let today be the beginning of a brand new start that you will no longer be a prisoner to anyone or anything. Happiness is a choice that only you can decided. Think of it like this! Do you think that the person who hurt you is losing sleep over this? He or she is going on with their life and shouldn’t you be doing the same?

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Virtuous1

Greg Messina will share his Testimony & Incredible ministry to Satanist’s.

Virtuous1 has had an emergency and cannot be on the show tonight. PLEASE keep her and her family in your prayers. She should be joining us on Sunday night instead so come by the show and listen to her testimony.

With that said we have a special guest that called in and surprised the fire out of me I must admit. Thankfully, he has “Saved the Day” and I am very happy to have him on the show tonight at 10:30PM Central time.

We will be welcoming, Greg Messin on tonights show at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/HeadingRight/Total-Deliverance

If
you have never heard Greg’s testimony you will NOT want to miss this. As an
Ex-satanist and other things, Greg now helps people see the truth behind all
these things. From the lies of satanism to the truths of UFO’s. So come join us
for this incredibly awesome show. Virtuous1 Could not be on tonight, she will be
on Sunday hopefully.

Here is a quick over view of their profile on Curs-ed Net Radio Check it out:

Curs-ed Net Breakthrough Radio

The UFO & ALIEN ABDUCTION
PHENOMENON is THE FAÇADE used by “THE BEAST”
(symbolized as a poisonous scorpion,) reflected in the holy writings
of both St. Jude & Enoch. The “wandering stars” ARE the
Fallen Angels angling for their prey – US! Curs-ed Net Breakthrough
Radio will be your source for truth within the UFO phenomenon
glorifying Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God the Father.

You can catch Greg’s show at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CursedNet

Major U.S. city officially condemns Catholic Church

FAITH UNDER FIRE
Major U.S. city officially condemns Catholic Church
Instructs members to defy ‘Holy Office of Inquisition’

---

Posted: July 15, 2008
8:48 pm Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge

A San Francisco city and county board resolution that officially labeled the Catholic church’s moral teachings on homosexuality as “insulting to all San Franciscans,” “hateful,” “defamatory,” “insensitive” and “ignorant” will be challenged tomorrow in court for violating the Constitution’s prohibition of government hostility toward religion.

Resolution 168-08, passed unanimously by the City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors two years ago, also accused the Vatican of being a “foreign country” meddling with and attempting to “negatively influence (San Francisco’s) existing and established customs.”

It said of the church’s teaching on homosexuality, “Such hateful and discriminatory rhetoric is both insulting and callous, and shows a level of insensitivity and ignorance which has seldom been encountered by this Board of Supervisors.”

Exposing False Teachers

August 6, 2008
Exposing False Teachers
Matthew 7:15-20

New Testament writers warned about false teachings that sounded good but defied truth (2 Tim. 4:3; 1 John 4:1). Believers today must still heed these warnings! Ungodly leaders subtly twist truth with such conviction that unprepared Christians can be charmed by their lies. That’s why the Bible instructs us to evaluate the message of whoever desires to lead us (Matt. 7:20).

The false teacher is deceptive. Verse 15 of today’s passage describes him as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He appears to want people to know the “real” truth about God, but his interpretation of Scripture may contain outright lies or a distorted mix of fact and error. Since wise believers study God’s Word, they can detect a “sheepskin” starting to slip. The wolf is further exposed by his personal life, which won’t be consistent with righteousness (Matt. 7:16). A close study of his decisions, actions, and words will reveal that he does not follow the Lord’s will or biblical principles.

The false teacher’s life and message are self-indulgent. His enticing ideas appeal to his listeners’ fleshly nature. In fact, he’ll often permit activities prohibited in Scripture. Some deceivers describe God’s grace as a license to live without restraint (Jude 4). Paul clearly denounces this lie, teaching that believers have died to sin and shouldn’t live in it (Rom. 6:2).

The body of Christ is expected to use Scripture as the standard against which to measure a leader’s lifestyle and words. When we seek divine truth, we are given the discernment to know a holy message from a misleading one.

FEATURED RESOURCE

The Life Principles Bible

This Bible combines the wisdom of Scripture with the principles that guide Dr. Stanley’s life and empower his ministry. Order your copy.

To see more resources from In Touch Ministries, please visit us at www.intouch.org or go directly to our bookstore at In Touch Ministries.

EVANGELICAL ENIGMA

EVANGELICAL ENIGMA

By Jon Christian Ryter

August 4, 2008

NewsWithViews.com

As the liberal voters in New Hampshire—one of the northeastern “Patriot States” where the Revolutionary War began in 1775—casually surrender their historic blood-fought liberty to communism by endorsing the most unpatriotic, un-American “citizen-of-the-world” for the office of the presidency, conservative evangelicals in the heartland of the nation are doing everything in their power to throw the election to presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Hussein Obama [D-IL]. They did so by demanding that GOP presumptive nominee Sen. John Sidney McCain [R-AZ] not pick former Gov. Mitt Romney [R-MA] as his running mate. Why? Because Romney is a Mormon. The excuse the evangelicals initially tried to use was that Romney has flip-flopped on outlawing abortion and on the issue of same-sex marriage. The allegations—at least today—are patently false as the evangelicals well know.

Evangelicals like novelist-preacher Tim LaHaye; Calvary Chapel pastor Rob McCoy; Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council; Gary Bauer, former FRC leader; anti-porn crusader Phil Burness who heads Citizens for Community Values; Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson; Don Wildmon President of the American Family Association (and Gary Glenn, president of its Michigan chapter); William Murray, chairman of the Religious Freedom Coalition; Rick Scarborough, founder of Vision America; Janet Folger, president of Faith2Action; Matthew Staver, founder of the Liberty Counsel; Rob Schenck, founder of the Faith & Action Network and an assortment of lesser known pastors from lesser known churches and advocacy groups all denounced Romney as unfit for their support—solely because he is a Mormon.

Rick Warren, ‘gay’ advocate team up to host Obama-McCain Joint appearance at Saddleback Church co-sponsored by faith group challenging ‘right’

Rick Warren, ‘gay’ advocate team up to host Obama-McCain

Posted: July 26, 2008
12:00 am Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily

Hillary Clinton greeted by Rick Warren before her speech at Saddleback Church in November (WND photo)

The upcoming joint appearance by Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain at Rick Warren’s evangelical Saddleback Church is co-sponsored by a left-leaning group led by a Unitarian-Universalist minister who once headed her denomination’s homosexual advocacy office.

Meg Riley is the board president of Faith in Public Life, whose board members include other theological liberals, including a pro-abortion Muslim leader and a Jewish rabbi, reported OneNewsNow.

The group’s stated vision hints at its challenge to the influence of the so-called religious right, saying it “envisions a country in which diverse religious voices for justice and the common good consistently impact public policy; and those who use religion as a tool of division and exclusion do not dominate public discourse.”

The blog Watchers Lamp noted Faith in Public Life offers a list of faith-based groups on its website that promote the homosexual-rights agenda.

Warren told OneNewsNow, a Christian Internet site, he’s not troubled by the association with a group at odds with his church’s conservative evangelical theology.

“Really we just are … co-hosting [the event],” Warren said, noting Faith in Public Life came up with the idea.

“Actually, we’re in total control of the format, the program, the questions,” he said. “It’s at our church; and so it’s not their event, it’s our event.”

A Real Enemy

A Real Enemy

READ | 1 Peter 5:8-9

One of the most damaging, erroneous images in our

popular culture is the cartoonish picture of a little devil.

He’s dressed in a red body suit with a pointy tail and

holding a pitchfork. Sadly, that’s the image many people

have of their spiritual enemy. But this cute little

caricature couldn’t be farther from the truth.

If we want to be victorious in our Christian lives, then

we must clearly identify our enemy. And Scripture is

clear the enemy isn’t a single little demon but an entire

union of evil spirits.

Jesus cast out demons many times in the Gospels. Over

and over again, we read about Him and His disciples

speaking with authority over multiple evil spirits.

Why do we read these accounts and praise God for His

demonstrations of power, but forget those demonic

forces are still active today?