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.
We live in an age where many professing Christians have itching ears that are open to all sorts of heresy. Usually when people identify certain truths which rub a little against the grain they are branded ‘unloving’ or ‘lacking in grace’. What Daryl reveals in this article is not a license for heresy hunters to have a free for all but it is a trumpet call to those who are tried, proven and called to rectify certain truths amongst God’s people. We need to grow up and stop calling Christ’s equippers judgemental when they confront wayward words and dodgy doctrines.
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 saw this article and thought I'd post it because it is more confirmation of the same word which many of us have been speaking for some time now. Although I have written on the same topic, and from the same biblical story, I feel that this word clarifies certain aspects of the outworking of what God is doing with the church. It is important that we know that God is removing His presence from the systems of men, and that we realise why. Only then can we be part of the solution.
Gospel grace,
Bretto
by Chris Anderson
Something doesn't add up.
"These are the days of Elijah," we've heard it sung.
"These are the days of Elijah," we've heard it preached.
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.
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 Image of God
So, what exactly was the image that I was forcing on myself; and, was I sinning against the commandment:
“You shall not make for yourself any carved image…” (Ex 20: 4, 5 NKJV)?
Historically, there usually seems to be a counterfeit before, after and during real moves of God. The current reformation and the restoration of the true apostolic are in no way exempt from histories repetitious woes.
In this modern Christian setting we need to be on guard against things which pretend to be something biblically genuine, but are in fact not. It is perhaps more crucial in this season where God is re forming the structures of leadership and church. Many men and movements profess reformation. In reality they are clinging to the old ways of carnal Christendom and dressing them up with new lingo, programmes and positions.
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
Strongholds of Self-Justification Ezekiel was asked,
“…do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land’” (8:12 NASB).
PART 3 of 7 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
“Deceived by the Serpent’s Cunning”
What does all this signify? The snakes in the temple symbolise for us the activity of deceiving spirits. Paul in addressing the Corinthian church declared:
“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 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 emphasis mine).
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
Ezekiel’s Vision of Snakes in the Temple
A prophetic-intercessor friend recently visited a respected church in a particular city. It belonged to a reputable Pentecostal denomination, but during the worship, her eyes were opened and she saw, in the spirit, a large serpent along the length of one whole wall. And as they left the service, the carpark was swarming with writhing baby serpents.
