I do believe that you would be hard pressed trying to find a true follower of Jesus Christ in our time that is not thankful that the protestant reformation occurred. For without it we would all be deeper in the clutches of Dark Age religious tyranny. We would not have a Bible in our own language, we wouldn’t know that we have direct access to God and we would still be trying to buy our way into heaven, not to mention whipping ourself to try to please Him. Yet much of the church of their time stood vehemently against the reformers.
There were a few people who asked if I had this in written form rather than just audio/video. So, after prayerfully pondering the laborious task, I felt the Lord wanted me to do so. This is such an important subject for the church because when we get this stuff wrong it causes a world of hurt to many… not to mention the dishonour to the Lord.
I’m glad I did write this and not just settle for the videos, as writting allows you to be more succinct and also gives more time to meditate as you minister. I think I received even more clarity while writing this than I had before.
One of the greatest strongholds of Dark Age Christendom in the church which has continually resisted the Lord is the pragmatically perpetrated Pastorate. It has survived every revival and reformation despite its extra-biblical foundation and justification.
Fortunately though, God is not going to wink at it any longer without promting serious scrutiny from the church body. He is gracing His church with greater clarity and more biblical revelation than in any age before; though many are slow to hear.
It is time we examine the New Testament for a truer picture of pastoral ministry instead of clinging to the strongholds of religion which continue to uphold hierarchical structures and Clerical positions at the expense of real Holy Spirit ministry.
One of the greatest strongholds of Dark Age Christendom in the church which has continually resisted the Lord is the pragmatically perpetrated Pastorate. It has survived every revival and reformation despite its extra-biblical foundation and justification.
Fortunately though, God is not going to wink at it any longer without promting serious scrutiny from the church body. He is gracing His church with greater clarity and more biblical revelation than in any age before; though many are slow to hear.
It is time we examine the New Testament for a truer picture of pastoral ministry instead of clinging to the strongholds of religion which continue to uphold hierarchical structures and Clerical positions at the expense of real Holy Spirit ministry.
The topic of ministry money is of great importance in this reformation season due to the lack of clarity and the many imbalanced views presented. On the one hand we have legalism, rapacity and mans’ kingdom building, on the other hand reactionary fear, confusion and disguised individualism. This series endeavours to present a biblical balance in the area of finances in Kingdom ministry. Surely the aim is biblical and Holy Spirit integrity and freedom in our financial support for the extension and enhancement of Christ’s great Kingdom.
Part 5 - Ministry Support and General Benevolence
Duplication and embedding of these videos is permitted as long as they are complete and a link to www.christisall.org is included.
The topic of ministry money is of great importance in this reformation season due to the lack of clarity and the many imbalanced views presented. On the one hand we have legalism, rapacity and mans’ kingdom building, on the other hand reactionary fear, confusion and disguised individualism. This series endeavours to present a biblical balance in the area of finances in Kingdom ministry. Surely the aim is biblical and Holy Spirit integrity and freedom in our financial support for the extension and enhancement of Christ’s great Kingdom.
Part 4 - Partnership and Participation in Ministry
Duplication and embedding of these videos is permitted as long as they are complete and a link to www.christisall.org is included.
The topic of ministry money is of great importance in this reformation season due to the lack of clarity and the many imbalanced views presented. On the one hand we have legalism, rapacity and mans’ kingdom building, on the other hand reactionary fear, confusion and disguised individualism. This series endeavours to present a biblical balance in the area of finances in Kingdom ministry. Surely the aim is biblical and Holy Spirit integrity and freedom in our financial support for the extension and enhancement of Christ’s great Kingdom.
Part 3 - Plumber and Prophet are both Worthy
Duplication and embedding of these videos is permitted as long as they are complete and a link to www.christisall.org is included.
The topic of ministry money is of great importance in this reformation season due to the lack of clarity and the many imbalanced views presented. On the one hand we have legalism, rapacity and mans’ kingdom building, on the other hand reactionary fear, confusion and disguised individualism. This series endeavours to present a biblical balance in the area of finances in Kingdom ministry. Surely the aim is biblical and Holy Spirit integrity and freedom in our financial support for the extension and enhancement of Christ’s great Kingdom.
Part 2 - The New House and its Levites
Duplication and embedding of these videos is permitted as long as they are complete and a link to www.christisall.org is included.
The topic of ministry money is of great importance in this reformation season due to the lack of clarity and the many imbalanced views presented. On the one hand we have legalism, rapacity and mans’ kingdom building, on the other hand reactionary fear, confusion and disguised individualism. This series endeavours to present a biblical balance in the area of finances in Kingdom ministry. Surely the aim is biblical and Holy Spirit integrity and freedom in our financial support for the extension and enhancement of Christ’s great Kingdom.
Part 1 - A Biblically Balanced New Covenant Analysis of First Fruits Giving
Duplication and embedding of these videos is permitted as long as they are complete and a link to www.christisall.org is included.
This short, seven part video series looks at a number of scriptures which show that we are not supposed to participate in earthly, sensual religion. We are surely called to submit to the royal reign of Christ in His celestial Kingdom right now in this life. Be liberated as you ponder and then apply what the Word says about being a Christ-follower and a kingdom of heaven dweller.
Part 6 - One congregation
Part 7 - Refreshed in the river- The sustenance of the Spirit
Duplication and embedding of these videos is permitted as long as they are complete and a link to www.christisall.org is included.
This short, seven part video series looks at a number of scriptures which show that we are not supposed to participate in earthly, sensual religion. We are surely called to submit to the royal reign of Christ in His celestial Kingdom right now in this life. Be liberated as you ponder and then apply what the Word says about being a Christ-follower and a kingdom of heaven dweller.
Part 3 - The Kingdom coming down
Part 4 - Unobservable and not of this world
Part 5 - The heavenly hall
Duplication and embedding of these videos is permitted as long as they are complete and a link to www.christisall.org is included.
This short, seven part video series looks at a number of scriptures which show that we are not supposed to participate in earthly, sensual religion. We are surely called to submit to the royal reign of Christ in His celestial Kingdom right now in this life. Be liberated as you ponder and then apply what the Word says about being a Christ-follower and a kingdom of heaven dweller.
Part 1 - The Mt. that can’t be touched
Part 2 - Non-geographical worship
Duplication and embedding of these videos is permitted as long as they are complete and a link to www.christisall.org is included.
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.(Ps 27:1-6)
This rather lengthy article is absolutely worth the read. George Davis and Michael Clark present Kingdom truth in clarity and without compromise. Even those of you who are outside of the external wineskins of carnal Christendom should read on and I’m sure you will be challenged and edified in Christ.
Grace and peace,
Bretto
In Ephesians 4:14 and 15, Paul sets forth a contrast of truth and deception. Truth is represented by the following words, “.[that] you may grow up into [eis] him in all things.” Deception is described by the words, “.tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive.” The words, “by which they lie in wait to deceive” take on an entirely different meaning in the Wescott-Hort Interlinear.
Would I be out of line in order if I were to talk to you for a little
while about utilitarian religion and expedient Christianity? And a
useful God? I would like to call attention to the fact that our day is
a day which the ruling philosophy is pragmatism. You understand
what I mean by pragmatism? Pragmatism means if it works it’s
true. If it succeeds it’s good. And the test of all practices, all
principles, all truth, so called all teaching, is do they work? Do they work?
A short video/audio teaching series by Brett Jacobsen
A couple of years ago I did this brief five part video/audio series on current reformational issues for a good friend’s Jesus focused surf video (Resistance Is Futile). Although this series is only short, it does give a general overview of the current reformation and is enough to get church people thinking.
No Such Thing as a Church
Part 1- ‘No Such Thing as a Church’ shows that what many have and do call churches are in fact not.
Man Made Mayhem
Part 2- ‘Man Made Mayhem’ shows in history when and why the church dived headlong into the Dark Ages and has produced, even until our time, Dark Age Christianity.
I thought this short article by Jeff Gilbertson was an encouraging reminder to all who are willing to move ahead with Christ in this hour, that God indeed is having His way. No matter how sure we are that we’re on the right track we can still be faced with doubt when things aren’t moving as quickly as we imagined.
It is a certainty that the reformation in John the Baptist and Jesus’ time, and that in the 14th-16th century, can speak volumes to us about our current challenge of seeing biblical change in the church. Enjoy the read.
Christ the King inaugurated His Kingdom on earth with an earthshaking reformation. He completely overhauled the covenant and all the elements involved with it, transforming everything from the physical type and shadow to the celestial complete picture. This is what Jesus meant when on the cross He exclaimed “It is finished [teleo- complete, accomplished]” (John 19:30). He had ratified the New Covenant and therefore accomplished world-changing reformation into His heavenly Kingdom.
It is a sad fact of history that it didn’t take very long for a reverse reformation to begin its insidious attack on Christ’s Kingdom, drawing the majority of its inhabitants back into an inferior earthly counterfeit of the real. Of course we know that this continued down into the Dark Ages where it imbibed many crook characteristics and clearly manifested its foul fruits.
An excerpt from Chapter 5 in David Orton's book, "Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church"
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” 2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV
The spirit of the world in the church The spirit of the world has seduced us. We used to joke that “Jesus saves – and Jesus shaves!” But, many actually believe that the spirit of the world is Rock and Roll, spiked hair, and nose rings. Come on – let’s get real! Do you think the devil really cares where you wear your jewellery or what hairstyle you have? What he, as the master strategist, is after is the thing that controls it all - the heart. This is why the wisdom- writer exhorts to,
An excerpt from Chapter 5 in David Orton's book, "Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church"
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” 2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV
Today’s Church
The parallel between Ezekiel 8 and today’s church is clear. As the elders in Ezekiel’s day secretly practiced idolatry, so today. There is a crisis in the leadership of the Western church. But it is not a crisis for lack of skills or better techniques – it is a crisis for lack of true men and women of the Spirit. Those who, in the secret recesses of the heart, have refused to bow to foreign gods and the systems of men.
