WELLS Without WATER

WELLS Without WATER
-by Darren Smith.

Western Christianity has become a well with no water! What could
be worse to someone dying of thirst, than to finally come upon a
well and then discover that it has no water. I think this is a good
example of what modern religion does. It puts up a front that looks
like it has the answer to life's problems and even offers that to the
people. Yet in reality, what they get is a show designed to entertain
and get their money. The shame is that the world is thirsty and
we are supposed to have Living Water, but when they come to
drink they find only an empty well leaving them worse off than before.

2 Peter 2:15-18 addresses this very issue. By abandoning the
straight path, they have gone the way of Balaam. Is not the same
true today? The way of Balaam is the wide path. Not speaking
the Word of God but rather speaking words that profit themselves,
not giving the Living Water, but giving out something that tastes
good to the carnal Adam.

On a recent preaching trip every church I ministered at people
came forward confessing sexual sin, and not just a few but many.
Some were even in leadership positions and were counseling
people with the very same issues. The thing that brought this
out was the Word of God preached without fear and the fact that I
am very transparent about the struggles in my own life. This
happens every time that I minister, even though I don't go out
with the intent - it is just God opening up the chance for Living
Water to come and fill the people once they confess their sins
and repent.

We have a myth that's been put before the church for so long that
people are numb to the Spirit. We have been told that we can
make revival happen and that's not true. Revival only comes when
the people are broken and they get clean before God. This means
exposing the hidden sin in their life and being willing to suffer the
consequences of that sin. You can pray for revival for years, but
unless the people are willing to get clean it will not come.

So why is this such a problem? For one thing, many of the people
in leadership are bound up in this very sin. It's estimated that 70%
of pastors struggle with Pornography and the sad thing is they feel
like they can never confess, therefore, they never come clean and
Living Water cannot flow from the well that they tend. This must
be exposed so people can get free. This sin is so easy to conceal
that before long the person that is bound up in it can justify their
bad behavior. I know I have been bound by this sin and only found
freedom with deep repentance and confession.

It is the same in marriage. Many have sin in their marriage and
will not come clean so grace can heal. Instead they move into
coexistence that brings no glory to God and eventually they end
up in affairs and broken marriages are the result. The divorce rate
is the same in the church as it is in the world for this very reason.
Trust me, sexual sin is just as bad in the church as it is in the
world. Everywhere I go, this is a huge problem and I get many
emails dealing with the same thing from all over the world.

We must address this now and very publicly so people can get
free and we can see God move in His Body. 2 Peter 2:17 says
these people are springs without water. It's time we become a
well of Living Water for a thirsty world to drink from to become
whole. To do this we need to go through a purification process
by the Holy Spirit!!

Can you think of anything worse than dying of thirst and coming
upon a well and finding out that even though it looks like a well
and has the bucket to draw with, there is no water there to drink.

If you are clean, start praying that a wave of repentance comes
upon the church. If you are not clean, repent and confess and
get clean. We need the Living Water to flow through this world
and it is not God who is holding it back, it is us.

To Avoid Being an Abusive Leader

To Avoid Being an Abusive Leader by Malcolm Webber
It should be noted that most Christian leaders – as imperfect people – will probably, at some point, exhibit some of the characteristics of abusive leadership that we have noted in previous Letters. Therefore, the godly leader, knowing that he is not above this tendency, should consciously and deliberately take the following steps to avoid being abusive at all:

1. Prayer. It is hard to know our own hearts and motives. We must remain continually in prayer, asking God to expose what is really happening inside our lives and ministries.

Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, (Rom. 15:31)


2. Study the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the perfect Model of true leadership at all points.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)


3. Humility. The great antidote for abusive leadership is 1 Corinthians 3:7.

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.


4. Commitment. The godly leader must be committed to God, to his followers, and to inward reality in his own life. Especially during decision-making, he must remain unfailingly committed to truth, not allowing himself to be influenced by expediency, convenience or selfishness. The Holy Spirit will help us do this (Rom. 8:13).

… if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (Rom. 8:13)
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Cor. 3:18)


5. Awareness. The Christian leader must develop the ability to distinguish between personal issues and an organizationally-based vision in his beliefs and actions. He must be acutely aware of his own vested interests at all times and strive to crucify them if they are not consistent with the interests of the people he says he is serving.

My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. (1 Cor. 4:4-5)


6. Responsibility. The healthy leader will spend significant time and effort in assisting his followers’ development separate from his personal mission. In truth, the Christian mission is people-development (ultimately to the glory of God and the fulfillment of His will, of course).

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Eph. 4:11-13)


7. Self-evaluation. The leader should accurately and honestly assess his own contributions to both successful and unsuccessful outcomes – rather than merely blaming others. Even good leaders may tend to avoid looking at their own contribution to poor performance. Moreover, the godly leader should address follower discomfort and poor performance that are often signals for his own need of self-reevaluation – particularly in the area of communication.

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. (2 Cor. 5:9-11)


8. Continual prayer, reflection and heart breaking before the Lord. God will keep us honest and pure. The leader must conscientiously seek to catch himself any time he is tempted to take advantage of his role and power.

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. (Acts 24:16)
…We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. (Heb. 13:18)


9. Genuine accountability. Abusive leaders will often happily submit to those who they know share their views. In contrast, servant leaders will seek out balanced and honest counselors who are not afraid to disagree and to hold them genuinely accountable.

Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. (Gal. 2:1-2)

So, what specific changes do you need to make in your life and ministry? And what specific commitments can you make that will help you bring these changes to pass?

ICHABOD - The REAL REASON

ICHABOD - The REAL REASON
-by Joie Pirkey.

The Lord has been speaking to me about a number of different
issues that I have been compartmentalizing in my thoughts: the
"Insider Movement," "Seeker Sensitive," "Social Justice," the
"Emergent Church," and "Prosperity Gospel" to name several.
I have been seeing these issues as separate and distinct from
each other and have been praying about them, prophesying about
them, and doing some research as time permitted. But this past
week at the prayer group called "the House of Prayer" the Lord
began to reveal to us how each of these issues that the modern
day Church is dealing with are inter-connected in that they are
manifestations of the same foundational sin. This sin is not
allowing Christ to be the Head.

Nearly ten years ago the Lord began to speak to me about a
time of shaking that would occur in the churches in our region
here in northeast Wisconsin. He told me that He was about to
begin to remove a large number of ministers that were not
allowing Christ to be the Head of the Church. As this time of
shaking transpired the prophetic words that I was receiving
began to veer in different directions, or so I thought.

The Lord spoke to me about Church leaders pigeonholing
Christianity with Islam. He revealed that this is what a method
of missions called the Insider Movement was doing. He told me
that it was spreading quickly and then asked me to prophesy
publicly that He hates this.

He spoke to me about the Seeker Sensitive method to church
growth and ministry and how that belief system was avoiding
the cross, repentance, and the need for a savior. Seeker
Sensitive methodologists are saying that they are building
bridges to the lost. But the Lord told me that these bridges
are actually overpasses. He said that they are the symbol of
not allowing Christ to be the Head. These so called bridges
are actually overpasses to get over the cross. To overpass the
cross is to overpass Christ.

He spoke to me about something called "Social Justice". He
told me that He is not involved in this work and to stay clear of
it. He also told me not to take it into my thought life and not to
consider it regarding missions or evangelism. He said that the
way in which it is "sold" is deceptive. Assisting the poor and
repressed needs to be directed by the Holy Spirit not by the
logical deduction of man. Like the woman who poured the
expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet, the disciples rebuked her
for not selling it and giving the money to the poor, but Jesus
was pleased with her action. Giving needs to be directed by
the Holy Spirit.

He spoke to me about the Emergent Church and how at its
foundation it holds a humanistic world view. He said that people
embracing this movement are relativeizing truth.

Last night the Lord showed me that each of these seemingly
separate issues were all manifestations of the very thing He
had been speaking to me about in the beginning: Not allowing
Christ to be the Head. When men step out from under His
Headship they begin to create philosophies, methods, and
ministries out of their own ideas, logic, and flesh. This lack of
Headship has created a very weak, ineffective, and unholy church.
It has created a mongrel.

At the House of Prayer, as we spoke about these issues, I found
it difficult to address the topic without a name. We prayed about
a name and the Lord led us to the name Ichabod.

I Samuel 4:21 - And she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The
glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of God had been
captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

When the Body of Christ removes itself from being under the
Headship of Christ, it is a mongrel and the glory of God leaves
it. It is headless. Ephesians 4:14-15 speaks directly to this:

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the
waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and
by the cunning and craftiness of men..."

It is the Christian who refuses to be tossed about by new
teachings and whims and crafty ways of deceiving others,
and who chooses to simply speak the truth in love, that
matures into submission of Christ’s Headship.

But when the "Insider" deceives the Muslim with his cunning
ideas, and the politically-correct pastor misleads the "seekers"
with crafty teachings, they move themselves out from under
the Headship of Jesus Christ. Thus resulting in Ichabod and
the glory of God departs from them.

When the "Prosperity Preacher" "claims a new car" instead of
the cross he is to pick up and carry, he moves himself out from
under the Headship of Christ.

When the "Emergent Evangelist" agrees with the homosexual
that he was born with this sin and can bring it into a relationship
with Christ, he has removed himself from the Headship of Christ.

These ideas are spreading through the Body of Christ and they
are generated by man and not by God.

God has been explaining to me how these philosophies
are wrong and in what ways they are connected to the
same source, how they all result in Ichabod. What He is
asking me to do is to expose this sin for what it is, of not
allowing Him to be the Head, and to warn those who seek
to please Him to avoid these "winds of teachings." He is
asking those who have an ear to hear to pray for the Body
of Christ that is being beset by such immaturity. He is asking
us to put on the Armor of God.

Ephesians 6:11-18 - "Put on the full armor of God so that
you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For
our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this
dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realms."

He is calling us to stand firm and speak the truth in love. If
we cower back and allow these teachings to silence us, we
become advocates of not allowing Christ to be the Head. Our
voice of light is paramount in darkness. Our stand is integral
to the advancement of the Kingdom of Light. We are soldiers
called to fight against principalities of darkness, and we fight
with a sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. I am prophetically
calling you stand! To take up your cross and follow Christ as
your Head! To press on to the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus by speaking the truth in love as you grow up in all
things into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

The Irreducible Minimum of Koinonea

The Irreducible Minimum of Koinonea
Dr. Kluane Spake

"No! I won't do it!" I insisted while sitting out the outside steps pouting. I still remember how mad I was at her.

My mom told me I had to go outside and play. "All little kids play outside. You're four years old now and you have to learn to play outside."

I tried to sneak into my room to play and all of a sudden she grabbed me up and sat me on the steps outside the front door. Then, she shut the door and locked it!

Well... here I sat for a long time chanting, "No, I won't do it."

After awhile the neighbor boy came over. He lot me his name was Joey and asked if I wanted to play? Begrudgingly, I followed him to the play yard next door. We sat on the swing for awhile and then went to the sandbox area.

Joey was funny and made me laugh. Then, he said, "Close your eyes and open your mouth! I have a surprise for you."

Ohhhhhh! That sounded exciting. So, I closed my eyes and opened my mouth. Joey then stuffed a big handful of dirt in my mouth and ran away laughing.

I ran home totally disillusioned - mud dripping down my face and onto my newest shirt. I banged on the door and screamed. Distressed, my mom let me back in the house and she never made me go outdoors again. Never. I never played outside again...

----

I wonder how many Christians have had friends that have disappointed them like this?

Do you press toward continuing with them? Or do you just "move on?"

Have you longed to find someone who won't disillusion your hopes? And when they do, is there a forgiveness and an ability to continue?
How many of us go home and resist venturing out into the place of trusting someone again? How many people have you shut the door on and just quit seeing, saying,"That's it! I won't be hurt again."

Truth is, we will get hurt again and again. Still, we have to remain vulnerable and open. God has a plan for us WITH them...

In this hour of great change in the church -- we MUST allow ourselves to continue to hope in Koinonea. Ask yourself, "What's more important?" Are you just looking for hidden mysteries that nobody has preached before? Subtleties of Greek?

Scripture says that "Greater love (agape, the God kind of love) has no man (or woman, a demonstrative word without defined gender) than this, that he (or she) LAY DOWN HIS (or her) LIFE FOR HIS (or her) FRIENDS (philos)" (Jn. 15:13).

My friend, do you know this kind of love? Do you harbor unresolved conflicts and hold yourself apart and aloof? Or, will you STAND as a friend, even through great disappointment? The test will surely come...

Ask yourself, who will YOU die for? No matter what happens between the two of you?

And then ask, WHO will die for you?

Does TRUE Godly agape friendship and koinonea relationship mean that much to you?

The Lord is waiting for a CORPORATE BRIDE to come forth! A many membered BODY. WE are his Body, WE are His temple.

Do you understand that loving one another NO MATTER WHAT -- is the irreducible minimum? The bottom line is, if we don't love each other, we DON'T know God (1 Jn. 4:7-8).

Having Love for one another is the Gospel. We have no message to preach.

This is the hour to address our disappointments, get out of our house, and to go back outside - back to those whom we have shut the door upon - back to the sandbox of life - and into the hope of God manifesting His GLORY in US (plural).

The Glory won't happen by ourselves. We can't enter into this New Day alone!

Gods Heart To You

Gods Heart To You

by Lana Vawser



I am not sure who this word is for. The Lord impressed this very strongly on my heart tonight. So feel free to pass this on, and may someone be blessed by God's heart for them…..



Do not be dismayed, do not be concerned, for I am the Lord your God and am in control of all things.



I am working for your good and will never allow anything to cross your path that you cannot handle.



This is your season of faith.



This is your season of trust.



This is your season of renewal.



The ashes are being left behind.



The healing is arising.



The tears have been for but a night and now joy shall crown you in the morning.



For as rain falls to the earth and waters all that I have created, so am I releasing My Spirit upon you in greater measure that you may overflow with springs of living water.



Do not shut your eyes to Me anymore from fear.



Do not hide your heart from Me because of the past.



Do not lock yourself away inside yourself for protection, but release yourself to Me and know that I will open doors that you cannot even imagine or dream.



I am with you! I am not far away, I am not a distant stranger, but long to draw you closer to Me than ever before. I want to be your best friend. Stop hiding from Me and come to Me, let Me embrace you.



Lay aside the idols that you have held onto for so long.



Let go of the self-service and seek Me.



Let Me show you who you are.



Let Me show you who you are in Me and I am in YOU.



There is nothing that is impossible for Me.



For I see every sparrow that falls to the ground, and I even clothe the lilies of the valley, so how much more shall I provide for you?



Do not walk away from Me any longer but walk towards Me.



Do not wait at the bottom of the mountain anymore and sit wondering why you are not receiving all that those are around you.



Walk with Me, follow Me, seek Me, listen to Me and I will take you to the mountaintop.



When you reach the top you will sing My praises, you will see who I am, I am your life. You will be transformed.



Never again will you walk with the shame of your youth.



Do not give up hope.



I am hope, I am living inside you!



Lay down your walls of protection and hiding, and reach out to Me.



I am waiting….



Lana Vawser

lanavawserpropheticministries@lizzy.com.au

'CARNAL' CHRISTIANS - SAVED or NOT??

'CARNAL' CHRISTIANS - SAVED or NOT??

The following quote from Leonard Ravenhill caused the biggest
reaction yet on our Facebook page. We are now discussing it on
our new website - where ANYONE can now comment (not just
members). Here is the quote and a few of the replies-

The QUOTE:

"Get rid of this bunkum about the 'carnal Christian'. Forget it! If
you're carnal, you're not saved." - Leonard Ravenhill.

Some REPLIES:

A.M - "Well the Bible is white and black, there is no gray, either
you're with Christ or you are against Him.
"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather
with me, scatters.""

R.B - "I have enjoyed reading through all the comments regarding
this quote. In my opinion, and correct me if am wrong Andrew, but
I feel that the meaning of this quote is refing to those who habitually
live in carnality. I think that every Christian falls into carnallity from time
to time, does that make them "unsaved"? I don't think so."

L.C - "Well I don't agree on this one! The Bible speaks of carnal
"Christians"! In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 Paul is speaking to the
Corinthian BELIEVERS when he tells them he couldn't speak to
them as spiritual (one governed by the Spirit) but as carnal, mere
infants in Christ."

A.M - "If you read 1 Corinthians, Paul is rebuking them for
being carnal, not condoning it."

Olive Branch - "Without the phrase ('Carnal Christian') many so
called Christians have no way of justifying their sin."

Do you have something important that you would like to say about
this topic? Please add your comment at the following website-

http://www.JohntheBaptistTV.com/

God bless you all!

Andrew Strom.

THE HOLY SPIRIT is NOT AN "IT"

THE HOLY SPIRIT is NOT AN "IT"
-by J. Lee Grady.

We charismatics celebrate the Holy Spirit, yet our theology of the
Spirit is often off balance.

Two popular charismatic speakers stood on a stage two years ago
and decided they should demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit.
One guy pretended to throw an imaginary "fireball" at his friend,
who promptly fell over as if he had been zapped by the divine power.
Then, feeling equally playful, the guy on the floor stood to his feet
and threw the "fireball" back at his friend—who fell after the "blob"
of God hit him.

Everybody laughed and had a hilarious time at this outrageous
party. There was just one problem. The Holy Spirit is not a blob,
a fireball or any other form of divine energy that can be thrown,
manipulated, maneuvered or controlled.

This scenario happened in a charismatic church—a place
where the ministry of the Holy Spirit is presumably honored
and understood. It's incredibly sad that many of us who wear
the charismatic label have forgotten what the Scriptures teach
about the third person of the Trinity. At the risk of sounding way
too elementary, I'd like to offer this basic layman's guide to
pneumatology—the study of the Holy Spirit and how He works:

1. He is the Spirit of the Lord. He is not a force (as in Star Wars),
a magical power or an "it." The Holy Spirit is God, and we should
revere Him as God. The concept of the Trinity doesn't make sense
to the human mind. Yet Scripture reveals God as a triune being.
As theologian Norman Geisler writes: "God is one what (nature)
with three whos (persons). This is a mystery but not a
contradiction."

2. He is our Regenerator. Jesus told Nicodemus that we are
born again by the Holy Spirit (John 3:5). True conversion is the
most supernatural thing we will ever experience! When a person
puts his faith in Christ for salvation, it is the Spirit who opens the
heart and quickens divine life. He then indwells us. While this is
an invisible process, it is no less miraculous. When we are
converted our hearts cry out, "Abba! Father" because the Holy
Spirit is "the Spirit of adoption" (Romans 8:15); He gives us
confidence that we are now children of God.

3. He is our Empowerer. When we are baptized in the Holy
Spirit we are "clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49,
NASB). The Spirit who already indwells us fills us to the point
of overflowing. Jesus said the Holy Spirit's power would flow
out of us like "rivers of living water" from our innermost being
(John 7:38). This overflow releases supernatural boldness
(Acts 4:31) as well as the anointing for various gifts of the
Spirit including prophecy, speaking in tongues and healing.

4. He is the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit has access to all the
wisdom and knowledge of God. When we abide in Him, He
leads us continually into truth—causing us to grow and
mature spiritually. He wants to fill us with the treasures of
heavenly revelation. We can fully trust Him because He never
does anything to violate the Word of God. As our teacher
(1 John 2:27), He knows the difference between truth and error,
and those who depend on Him will walk in discernment and
avoid deception, pride and carnality.

5. He is our Counselor. This word is also translated "Advocate,"
"Comforter" or "Helper." The Greek word, parakletos, means "one
called alongside to help." It implies that the Spirit comes to our
legal defense when we are accused or troubled; it also means
He is a close friend who offers encouragement, consolation and
direction when we face any difficulty. He is truly a friend who
"sticks closer than a brother" (Prov. 18:24).

6. He is our Intercessor. This is probably one of the greatest
miracles of grace. The Spirit who lives inside of us "intercedes
for us with groanings too deep for words" (Rom. 8:26). Even
when we don't know how to pray, the Spirit prays the perfect
will of God. No matter what kind of dark difficulty we face, the
Spirit travails for us until we emerge on the other side.

7. He is our Unifier. Like the master conductor of an orchestra,
the Holy Spirit pulls together each individual Christian—with all
of our diverse gifts—and causes us to flow in synchronization as
one body. The Spirit distributes His gifts to individuals (1 Cor. 12:11)
and He brings about the "fellowship of the Spirit" (2 Cor. 13:14)—
a supernatural, loving harmony among believers that overcomes
jealousy, envy, strife and bitterness.

8. He is our Refiner. The Spirit took the form of a dove at Christ's
baptism, but He is often portrayed in Scripture as a fire. He is
the "refiner's fire" (Mal. 3:2-3) who purifies us of selfishness, pride
and wrong motives. The Holy Spirit is indeed the fire of blazing
holiness, and He can be both grieved (Eph. 4:30) and quenched
(1 Thess. 5:19) when we disobey His promptings.

As we prepare to celebrate the day of Pentecost in less than a
month (it's on May 23), let's meditate on all aspects of the Spirit's
work in our lives—and invite Him to fill us in a fresh way.

-This article is being discussed at- http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com

-J. Lee Grady served as editor of Charisma for 11 years. His newest
book is 'The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale'.

-SOURCE: http://charismamag.com/index.php/fire-in-my-bones/