Our Heritage

by B. Martin

last updated - 22 September, 2007

 Preface:

Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew
them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. Hab 3:2

I am first a Christian, which means I am a follower of Christ. I am also a Baptist, which

primarily means I believe in baptizing people after they are born again. I was raised in a
Baptist church, and attended two Baptist colleges, though I don't currently attend a
Baptist church in a formal sense, yet I affirm that we who are true believers are the
Church. I don't desire that all Christians become Baptists; in fact, I do not tell people
I am a Baptist because there is much misunderstanding about the name in modern time.
As concerning the history of the Baptist denomination, much has been muddled through
the biased contortion of Scripture and of historical facts. I do expect all Christians to
be Biblical, honest, transparent, and humble before the Author of all things, the One
who holds all Truth in His hands and gives wisdom liberally to any who ask. This is how
God Himself has challenged my understanding and indeed transformed it.

This is primarily an exposé of Scripture, history, and first-hand experience. It is

primarily intended for those who ascribe to the name "Baptist," but I also invite all
those who are Christians to receive from these writings.

I must enlighten the reader to my own personal premises, or axioms. One is for
unbelievers: faith (heart-based trust) is a higher principle than reason and logic,
because conclusions of reason involve only what we know, whereas conclusions of faith
involve what we know and also what we do not know, or even can comprehend (what is
supernatural and beyond our natural understanding). We come to Truth much quicker
when we trust (have faith in) Someone who knows more than we do.

There are fundamental keys of orthodox (true) Christianity: the Promise of the
disempowerment of the Serpent through the death and resurrection of the Messiah, the
deity and humanity of Jesus (which necessitates the virgin birth of Him), the necessity
of repentance and faith (proved by fruitful works) for genuine salvation, the second
coming of Christ to judge the earth, and the inspiration of Scriptures, to name a few.
Some others are necessary to highlight for the reader. I believe God is bigger than the
Bible, and that studying it without a personal encounter and experience with Him creates
godless doctrine and dead religious form, culture, custom, ritual, tradition, theology,
dogma, constitutions, covenants, and institutions, which are, in fact, antichrist ("against
the anointed people and the Anointing"). Relationship with God and hearing His voice is a
higher principal than the Scriptures, because this is how the Scriptures came to be in
the first place. I also affirm we do not have all the answers, though we are (as the
Church) the pillar and ground of Truth. We know in part, but there is much we do not
know and His understanding is infinitely greater than our understanding. This
necessitates continual renewing of our mind, even of things which we strongly and
soulishly affirm (our traditions). If we do not leave these open to testing by Him, we
have limited ourselves to our own understanding and have departed from Him.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:
because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 Jn 4:1

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Matt 15:9

Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these?
for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. Eccl 7:10
If we do allow Him to test all that we think or believe, even our traditions and the
“former days” which we think were better, all that is true will remain. We cannot
foolishly wish for "the good-old days" or always try to return to the way things "used to
be", but must continually seek His face for transformation, renewal, and His will in all
things.
I confess Jesus Christ is Lord is the flesh, and believe I am a true Christian, and I am
not a false teacher, although some, including family and friends, have questioned or
asserted otherwise at one time and some may do so now. We (who know Jesus truly) are
the Church: this is a declaration of truth, which no man or any other power can ascribe
to us or take from us. I also affirm this axiom:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim 3:16
I believe God uses the Old Testament to teach us, as well as the New, for indeed the
Old Testament (and all of the Bible) is prophetic, foretelling future events, such as the
life of Jesus, the early Church, and also reaching into our modern day. It cannot be
contextualized or interpreted easily, merely within audiential, historical and cultural
boundaries, nor can we simply dismiss certain passages for these reasons. His Word
transcends time and space, reaching across all cultures and times. From this, I will
simply lay forth the Word, and let Him speak for Himself through His Scriptures. You,
as the reader, have a responsibility to believe the things which I write which are true
and to test them by the Holy Spirit. I have nothing to say that is of any importance
that God has not already said. Nothing I have to say is more important than the Word of
God; nothing I have is of any more value than the word of any other man, except by His
grace. I am simply a testifier and witness of the transforming power of Jesus Christ. I
have no more authority to speak than this - that I am a follower of Jesus Christ.
Nothing else gives me any more authority than His grace. I have no more authority than
any other man, except what has been given to me by grace and the Cross, through the
person of Jesus and the deposit of the Holy Spirit given as well to every other believer.
My giftings are of no more value than any other believer's. My authority is no greater
than any other's, unless it is of grace. My authority does not come from myself - my
achievements, my degrees, my effort, my status, my age, my experience, my knowledge,
my power, but it comes from my Father. I speak not on my own authority, but on His:
the same as any child of God - the same as you if you are a child of God. His authority is
greater than any other earthly authority or power, and I rest in that, and that alone as
the basis of why you should hear my words. If my words as His words, they are life and
they are power. If my words are my words, they are dead and useless. For what you do
read which is true and do not embrace, may the Lord rebuke you for being hard of
hearing.

Please note: the authorized King James Bible is used throughout (except where
clarification in the original languages is needed), not because I believe it is the most
accurate translation (for indeed I do not), but because others do believe that it is (and
some wrongfully feel it is the only inspired version), and so firmly ascribe to it, that in
love, I am catering to their needs, prayerfully not at the expense of those to whom
Early Modern English is a bit of a foreign language (may He give you the spiritual gift of
interpretation). I do believe it was one of the most accurate English translation (and
the most useful) at the time it was first published (1611) and is still useful today for
historical reasons.

As well, in the historical sections of the book, I have tried as much as possible to quote
only primary (first-hand) sources, and looked to secondary sources for information
which would guide me to first-hand sources. This is mainly to eliminate the obvious bias
and misinterpretation of historical events. I have also provided you with the notes of
these sources, for you to reference them yourself.
Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look
unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are
digged. Is 51:1
 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my
lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Ps 16:6,7

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the
promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us
should not be made perfect. Heb 11:39,40

This is not primarily written for non-Christians, though God may use it for such. It is a
challenge to all Christians, especially Baptists, to examine our roots honestly, allow the
Holy Spirit to illuminate truth, and (for all who are willing) receive the heritage which
comes from Jesus first, and secondly from those who have walked this Way before us -
our spiritual fathers and mothers. For those who will not receive this inheritance, may
He give your portion to me and those who will.

For walking for so long with Him, in need of deliverance from dead religion, with so little
understanding of such powerful truths, I wonder what else I do not know. Again I call
on Him, 'Show me the things which are impossible with me but possible with you; show
me great and mighty things which I do not know.' (Jer 33:3)
 The Necessity of Love (1 Cor 13)

To begin, the origin of the element called “love”: it comes from God. He is love, the
essence of it, the exact, pure, unadulterated expression of it. From the beginning of
time, until the present day; from before the foundations of the world, and lasting
throughout eternity, the expression of God's heart is love. "His love endures forever."
God's love is self-evident, and it does not need an object to love in order to exist. God
is love. He was love, in eternity past, before there was anything to love; He will be love
in eternity future, where all who believe in Him will share in His perfect love.
Jesus had the purest love relationship with the Father. He is one with the Father. He
loved the Father, and obeyed Him in every way, even unto death; even knowing His own
Father would forsake Him and abandon Him, He willingly loved. The Holy Spirit
expressed His love through the Son. The fruit of the Spirit is love, and Jesus' power
and authority came as a result of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son. "This is my be-
LOVED Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Jn 15:13
The greatest expression of love is indeed the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah, upon
Calvary. There is no greater love, and he laid down his life for all mankind, not just when
we were friends to him, but when we were His enemies, when we were the ones who spit
upon Him, beat Him, betrayed, denied and crucified Him.
We were the ones who shed His blood, cried out for His assassination, His murder, and
pierced His hands and side, as it is written: 'May His blood be upon us, and our children.
And so He loved us.' (Matt 27:25).
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him shall not perish, but hath everlasting life. Jn 3:16
How far will this love reach? How far can you imagine? For Paul, the worst of sinners,
because He persecuted the Church of God and put them to death, and for many like him,
it reaches. The all-consuming fire of the love of God. This fire is so immense, so
unquenchable, it overcomes his enemies, the devil and his angels, and all those who live
and practice a lie, who ultimately live in unbelief.
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy might. Deut 6:5.
This is the first and greatest commandment. The whole law is summed up in the two
greatest commands, because love is the fulfillment of the law. Not only is love a
fulfillment of the law (which is an expression of the character of God) but it is a
fulfillment of the very character of God, because God is love. So, there is no law against
love.
A love for God will naturally produce a love for Truth and a love for His Word, which are
both expressions of God Himself. As we grow personally closer to Him, His Word will be
our delight.
...thy law do I love. Ps 119:163
It also will naturally produce a love for His name.
It will also naturally produce a love for wisdom and understanding - for teaching that
comes by the Holy Spirit.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 Jn 4:8
Love originates with Him. Even the greatest commandment, and the second greatest,
"love thy neighbor as thyself" are not self-induced, religious, fear-driven or guilt-driven
commands, but are fulfilled only through the power of the Holy Spirit and the
expression of His love for us. 'We love Him, because He first loved us' (1 Jn 4:19); we
love others because He first loved loved us, we loved Him back, and then we were able to
love others. The love that comes out of anyone comes from God, and from no other
source. In fact, we cannot love without Jesus. Love is inseparable from God. Those who
do not know the Father do not have love. Love is inseparable from the Cross. Without
the blood atonement of Christ and His shed blood, our salvation is not secure and we are
still in our sins. Without His resurrection, we have no life and our hope is in vain. The
agape love of God is a sacrificing, humble, obedient Man who walked the road to Calvary
for us. God loves us with the very deepest part of His emotion. He did not simply die
because He had to, but because it is in His nature to do so. He died because He wanted
to love. God is not mechanical in that He is obligated to love like a machine is
programmed to do a certain task. His attitude toward us is love, because He is love.
Love for God is more than a mere relationship between a man and a woman. It is the
relationship stemming from:
a Savior, who has rescued my life,
a God, who is greater than I can know and imagine,
a Friend who loves me unconditionally,
a Messiah who gave His life and everything for me,
a love which far surpasses the love of a woman.

Let love be without dissimulation. - Rom. 12:9

It is not fake. It is not merely acting or pretending outwardly, for this is the false love
of the enemy and the "love" of those who are religious or do not know God.
Love one another. Do not merely love as the pagans do, who simply love those who love
them, but love those who hate you; do good to those who persecute you and despitefully
use you. It is easy to love those who love us. It is easy to do good for those who
appreciate it. It is impossible to love those who hate us, who do wrong to us when we do
good for them. It is supernatural. It is an act of the Holy Spirit.

Live a life of love. It is not merely (as some have said) "doing what's best for someone
in light of eternity," for our human expression of this may only be what we believe to be
best for them in light of eternity, which will not equal what God's intent is for us or
them, for “...neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him.” (1 Cor 2:9). Love is not merely an intellectual game,
where we try to "fit the mold" of the description in 1 Cor 13 or any other part of the
Bible, but it is a grace gift of God, totally uninitiated by ourselves, that causes us to
supernaturally like people, even those who are our enemies, who persecute or
despitefully use us. Who are the most difficult people to love - those who beat me and
spit upon me because I'm a Christian? Rather, I think it is those who spiritually and
emotionally abuse me. Those who pretend to love for a while, and then their love grows
cold. Likewise, I think I am the most difficult to love when I spiritually and emotionally
abuse others. Is it difficult to love people who spiritually and emotionally abuse me,
those who manipulate and play games with my mind, not because they truly care about
me, but because they have their own self-interests at heart? Is it difficult to love
those who want to control my life, take my money, and emotionally or sexually scar me?
It is impossible. But with God all things are possible. Persecution comes against all
those who live godly in Christ Jesus. This is expected. If we follow Jesus, they will
treat us like Jesus, even crucify us like Him. 'Love not your life, even unto death.'(Rev
12:11) Should we think any less?

Our love for all people is simply an expression of God's love for us and God's love for
them through us. This is how all the commandments are fulfilled, in these two
commands, for love does no harm to its neighbor. Can I love someone truly and not 'like'
them? I doubt it. Many people want to do great things for God to demonstrate their
extreme self-sacrificial love for Him, when He may be simply saying, "Are you even my
friend?" We cannot love someone without being their friend. It seems to me, what the
Bible describes as “love” is genuinely expressed in the word 'like' in our modern culture -
not meaning the attraction that a girl has for a guy, and sees how she looks and 'likes'
him, but in a sense a similar idea. What do people do for people they 'like'? They show
kindness toward them, friendship toward them, loyalty, and protection; they see
something in that person they admire and appreciate; they like them because they see
something attractive in them. To say 'I love someone' and not like them is
contradictory. How do I know this? This is love as it is expressed in the Bible, and it is
not something our fleshly, sinful nature likes about them, but what the Spirit generates
in our hearts toward them, that warms us to them, to bond with their hearts, to feel like
they are part of our family, and not abandon them.

With regards to self-hatred and suicide, the problem may not be in loving yourself more,
but rather, allowing God to love you. When lost in despair, darkness, and hopelessness,
God seems far away; the enemy has driven us from the arms of Jesus, and we believe his
lies. When we surrender, and allow Him to love us, we sense the warmth of His presence
once again. Sometimes the love of people just won't cut it. They can try, persist, beg,
threaten, probe, try to cheer through gifts, words, notes, songs, whatever; in the end
Jesus' love really matters. Until each person knows the reality of His love for them, and
see His hand in their life, their religion will always be a never-ending self-righteous,
works ladder, that ends in despair, and ultimately, destruction and death. 'Perfect love
casts out fear' (1 Jn 4:18). Imperfect or false love thrives upon fear, preying upon its
victims, and delighting in their destruction. It says, join with us or die! It threatens.
It is withholding, impersonal, cold, religious. It manipulates, shames, and puts others
down. Love is a choice, a passion for righteousness, for seeking the best (the
supernatural) in someone else. Love is a closeness, honesty, firmness, strength. Love is
unconditional giving without expecting a return. Love is indebtedness. Love is putting
others first and helping another. Love is seeing someone as God sees them - a creature
made in the image of God for His glory.

The burning desire of the heart of God is the salvation of all of mankind - people from
every kingdom, tribe, people, and nation - that they might worship at His feet and give
Him glory and be saved from eternal wrath and condemnation. He loves them and
doesn't want any of them to perish. Our motivation is the same if we truly love them.
If we truly love them, we will share God's grace with them. If we truly care, we won't
hold back, hide the light, and pretend we don't have the greatest gift the world has
ever known. If we love, we will sacrifice, as Jesus did - we will lay down our lives for our
brothers, and for the lost, to see them saved.

Love is a higher principle than knowledge, even supernatural knowledge, yet true love
leads us to supernatural knowledge - to know things we could never learn on our own.
Love is a higher principle than faith (believing the voice/Word of God), but true love
leads us to faith. Love is greater than the ability to speak and interpret languages,
whether earthly ones or heavenly ones, yet love leads us to seek to communicate Jesus
in whatever way we can to all of creation. Love is greater than martyrdom and helping
the poor, but love leads us to follow in Jesus' footsteps. Love is greater than healing,
but it leads us to ask for, risk, and expect healing. Jesus loves us no matter what, and
this is what allows us to take giant risks, even if we make mistakes.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not
itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is
not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the
truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all
things. - 1 Cor 13:4-7

Love is slow to burn and long-fused, kind and mild, does not boil with envy, hatred and
anger, does not brag on oneself, does not hold inflated ideas of one’s importance, does
not act unbecomingly or indecent, does not crave or pursue one’s own desires, is not
sharp, does not keep a record of wrongs, does not receive joy from injustice,
congratulates integrity, covers the faults of others like a roof, demonstrates trust, sees
the bright side, bears mistreatment bravely and calmly.

Love stands, unashamed against mockings, accusations, criticisms, debates, and dead
religion. It returns kindness for hurt, and suffers long through the painful thoughts and
words of others, and it overcomes.

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether
there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish
away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is
perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child,
I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I
became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am
known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of
these is charity. - 1 Cor 13:8-13

Love will continue on forever. One day there will be no need for prophecy, languages,
and knowledge (especially supernatural expressions of these). The end of these things
will come when "I know, even as I am known". One day faith will not be needed, because
we will see all that is unseen. And we will no longer hope, because that which we
earnestly desire will be fully manifest in us and around us (Rom 8:25). We did not "know
as we are known" after the book of Revelation was finished, after the Apostles and their
associates died, or even when the Scriptures were canonized. We will "know as we are
known" when we are perfected in His glory. Until then, prophecy, languages, and
knowledge are needed, so we can at least see dimly.

Love is the principle thing. Even though I may know huge passages of Scripture with
degrees to prove it, be able to speak 14 languages and dialects, understand human
behavior enough to figure everyone out, know all there is to know about the secular
world (totally up-to-date with all matters of human life), master every field of
knowledge (music, sports, medicine, etc.), be so in touch with the Spirit of God that
He's breathing in my ear, my prayers are so powerful it's almost as if I barely speak the
word and God answers me to move mountains, spend 6 hours in prayer a day, write a
check to break my bank and feed the poor, nail myself to a cross and set myself on fire
for the name of Jesus, if I have seen God do great and marvelous, even miraculous
things - if I have all these things and don't have love, it is useless.
Faith - the foundation of our spiritual life, trust in God's Word and what empowers
prayer, the earnest expectation that God will answer, that His promises are true, and
that what is unseen is more of a reality than what is visibly seen, even the evidence of
these things to be true.
Hope - the joy of our hearts expecting Christ to return, the strength of our souls to see
His promises fulfilled and the glory that awaits us as Christians in heaven, the confident
assurance that God is working good in the midst of tragedy, and the light that guides us
to Him.
Love - The greatest of these three is love. Can I exist without God's love? - in a sense.
Can I be affective without it? No. Then again, maybe I can't really live at all apart
from it, because His love breathes life into me again and allows me to forgive, release
bitterness, cover others' faults, find hope in trying circumstances, love when others
hurt, change, grow, and live. As I find my own heart nailed to the cross of Christ and it
bleeds from the pain of sin in this world, He resurrects me and gives me a totally new
heart, that is in fact His own.

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would
give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. Song
of Songs 8:7
I still find these verses striking.
Primarily because of the power of love. It cannot be put-out. It cannot be extinguished
or drowned. No matter how fierce of a war that rages against it, love always wins.
Always. No matter how many demons, how many armies of man, or wars that rage, or
nuclear weapons there are; no matter how many heretical views, no matter how many
offenses and wounds and separations, love will always win, because love is not afraid of
anything or anyone.

Love cannot be stopped. Maybe because we know that sex can be bought, feigned-
friendship can be bought, and certain other superficial-affections can be bought or
manipulated into existence, we struggle to. Love cannot. It's not for sale. It cannot be
marketed. It can only be freely given and freely received. Maybe because God is love.
Love is inseparable from Him and is beyond what we can materialize and
compartmentalize and distribute or control. Love is. We only love because it is given to
us freely from Him - 'we love Him because He first loved us.' (1 Jn 4:19) In fact, those
who don't know God, don't love. They can't. There are some things that money cannot
buy. Manipulation cannot buy love. In the end, when the truth is laid bare and all the
chips are down, when manipulation is involved, it loses out. For instance, when someone is
dying of an illness or old-age, people can be hired to come take care of them, help them
go to the bathroom, feed them, and clothe them. But all this can be done mechanically,
without love. Nothing can replace those who truly care, coming alongside and being
there. Just being there. Loving.

This is the Good News - no greater love than this - that Jesus Christ the Lord, the God
of all creation, laid down His life for the wicked hearts of all peoples on the earth
throughout all time, and He rose again. Love won out. His love carried Him to the cross,
into the grave, into hell, and out of the tomb. Love.

Love is what motivates people to give their lives for Jesus. Not pride; not power or
money; not fame or religion. All these will cause people to flee when their lives are on
the line. When we are so surrounded by the power of an all-consuming fire of love that
leads us to the cross, it is our joy. It is our crown. His love compels us. Nothing else
motivates us. Not fear of God's harsh expectations and over-bearing rule on us. Not
fear of people and what they will think if we don't do certain religious duties. Not
pleasure-seeking glories of the world-yet-to-come. Love. Love brings us to the ends of
the earth - the darkest places, the ugliest people, the harshest of experiences, and in
the midst of it, all we experience is Him. Love compels us to give to the poor, lay our
lives down, preach, fellowship, truly live. Even God at work is an expression of love.
Miracles are a work of love. The Father is moved with compassion for people and uses us
to reach them with His love in supernatural ways. Even if we raise someone from the
dead without love, we are nothing. A relationship that sarcastically criticizes those
outside of its own circle, even if its just a circle of one, or a circle of two, is not really
love.
Love changes our theology. Theology is merely our perspective (study) about God. When
we think we have our perspective right, He challenges it, and compels us to walk by faith.
Our perspective is never complete, because we are constantly changing by His love.

Love is all-encompassing. It is not exclusive, it does not play favorites, it does not pick-
and-choose who it wants to share love to. It is giving, free, liberal. Love for God means
a love for the Family of God, the Bride of Christ - ALL of it. It doesn't mean we just
love Jewish believers. It doesn't mean we just love Gentile believers. It doesn't mean
we just love people in our denomination, our local church, the believers in our city, or the
Christians in our nation. It means we love ALL believers, EVERYWHERE, in ALL AGES.
Can we love those who came before us? Certainly, by giving them the respect they
deserve. Can we love those who are yet to be born, in the generations to come? Of
course, by laying a foundation of good teaching and lifestyle, an inheritance that will last
for thousands of generations to come and into eternity. He desires fruit that will last.
Love that will last. Love that will endure until the end. It means loving people, even if
you don't (of yourself) like who they are and don't agree with what they have to say.

It means loving across the board - crossing barriers between denominations, cultures,
generations, races, and nations to achieve the greater purpose of God. His heart is a
love for all believers - whether young in the Lord, growing, and mature. He doesn't
favor anyone, but patiently sows into all of their lives. It leaves room for all the gifts
and leaves room for everyone to participate in the ministry to which He has called us.
Our venture is an emotional, mental, and spiritual quest to discover and experience the
height, depth, width, and breath of God's love.
 Back to the Basics

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they
which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
Jn 5:39,40

There is a difference between studying the Bible and coming to Jesus. There are
certain issues that would easily be cleared up within the Church if we did three things:
1. Asked God our questions first, instead of going to the 'experts'
2. Studied the Bible
3. Believed what It says, and believed what He says (came to Jesus)

Complaints, accusations, false-ideas, and divisions are proliferated simply because people
live outside of intimate, powerful relationship with God and are ignorant of the
Scriptures.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the
power of God. Matt 22:29
For instance, raising hands during worship - is it permissible/acceptable? Study your
Bible. What about dancing? Study your Bible. What about infant baptism, praying to
Mary or saints, charismatic gifts, percussion instruments in worship, singing new worship
songs to the Lord, having beards, whether certain passages of Scripture apply to today,
dreams, visions, hearing the voice of God.....? Study your Bible. Not just study it -
believe it. The problem with most people, is they act like children tossed back and forth
by every wind of doctrine. They trust themselves, they trust professors, they believe
"super-stars" of Christiandom, they believe the Pope, they believe their friends, they
believe tradition, they believe their pastor, they believe the world, and (God-forbid),
sometimes they believe Satan. Immature Christians believe everyone except Jesus.
Some people might have degrees, be incredibly intelligent, and extremely convincing, but
when matched with Scripture and the acid-test of the Holy Spirit, they fail. And if their
followers know and understand the Truth but don't embrace it - they are cowards, full
of pride, unwilling to admit they could be wrong.
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Tim 3:5

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but
in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. 1 Cor 2:4
 Unity in the Body, Fellowship
Receive us [open your hearts to us]; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted
no man, we have defrauded no man. 2 Cor 7:2

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph 4:3

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and
through all, and in you all. Eph 4:4

Our goal is to be "one" with everyone who is the Church, which includes many who are not
Baptists. Everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus and has the Holy Spirit is our family.
We must join with them. It is not an option. Wherever there is divorce, division, and
separation (whether physical or spiritual) among those who know Him, it is not His will.
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your
trespasses. Mark 11:26
Part of the sectarian nature of Baptist churches has stemmed from suspicion and
extreme hurts from the past by other denominations, especially with regards to
persecution. This shows that we have not completely forgiven our enemies, or those
groups who have hurt us in the past. This we must do, for if we cannot forgive others, it
shows that we also have not allowed Him to completely forgive us, and His work of
healing is not complete in us.
The other part of comes from what we call "Biblical separation".

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from
their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son
of man's sake. Lu 6:22

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you,
and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor 6:17,18

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for
evil doing. 1 Peter 3:17
 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 Jn 2:16

More often than not, those who follow after God will be separated from the rest of the
world, because they are shining a light which the world hates and those in the world
don't want their sin to be brought to light. We are blessed if we experience ostracizing
for this reason, but if we experience it because of our own selfishness, anger, criticism,
pride, and stubbornness, then we are acting foolishly. If we separate from believers
because we misjudge them, we have cut ourselves off from some necessary part of the
Body of Christ needlessly.

Itnala toshia b'kol nifrad ibkesh l'ta'aa. Prov 18:1 (Hebrew transliteration)
Literally: “He shall rail in all of reality, the parted (separated) man ; he is seeking
toward yearning (desire).”

Isolating ourselves is not Biblical or godly (1 Cor 5:10). The "world" as the Bible portrays
it, has to do with the thoughts, behavior, and spiritual nature inside of those who don't
know or follow God, especially idolatry, immorality, drunkenness and anti-Christ teaching.
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a
brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or
an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 1 Cor 5:11
It is right and Biblical to correct or sometimes remove from our close company those
who precariously deny Jesus was God in the flesh or whose character is ungodly,
rebellious, unbelieving and unyielding to His Holy Spirit (the leaven of the Pharisees,
Matt 16:6-12, Matt 18, 1 Cor 5), and to not keep close fellowship with unbelievers (2 Cor
6:14). However, our goal is not merely to oust those who we don't like or find difficult
to get along with, especially believers; we must be careful of the spirit of Diotrephes,
who wrongfully put believers out of the fellowship of the Church (3 Jn). We should
More often than not, if we are truly walking with humility before God, we will learn from
everyone who knows God and join ourselves to them. We can learn much from each
other, and we should strive for unity in our hearts and spirits in the whole Church.

There are some hurdles we must cross and ideas we must embrace to help the Church
unite:

We are the Church. It is not something that you 'become a member of' after you
believe in Jesus. You have it the moment you trust Him. No one can give it to you,
except Jesus, and no one can take that away from you. We are the Church, no matter
where we are - at work, at school, in a congregation (even if we aren't a 'member'
there), in the mall, or by ourselves. We need to eliminate individualized and sectarian
church membership, along with integrating universal Church recognition. Studying the
Bible on the subject of local church membership shows that it is really a tradition that
has no basis in Scripture. Some quote,
Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers--crowds of both men and
women. Ac 5:1
From this has been implied that there were tabs being taken. Okay, but notice, from
other passages, who is keeping track and to who they are being added:
Praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added
those being saved to them. Ac 2:47
The Lord. No one can add anyone to the Church except Him. How arrogant of earlier
church leaders to add to Scripture and assume they could keep tabs on the Church that
God is building. How foolish of us to follow in their footsteps. Much good could be done
when the Church recognizes itself as the Church, and stops threatening itself through
accepting or rejecting people based upon whether "you're a part of my church", "you're
not a part of my church". We must see the Church how God sees her and how the
Scripture portrays her. Primarily, God is bringing us to what we all long for: to live with
Jesus, to make our home with Him. To have a place where we are forever secure, never
wondering if we are accepted or welcomed, never wondering if we will suffer rejection
again, never wondering what pain we must endure of which we are unaware.

Exposing false teaching - this means false teaching as God explicitly lays out, not just
attacking people based upon our preferences. In Scripture, false teaching covers who
Jesus is (His deity, humanity, virgin birth), what the Gospel is (the death, burial, and
resurrection of Christ for the atonement of our sins), the Inspiration of Scripture,
living by love, grace, and the power of the cross in holiness, and the second coming of
Christ, among other things.

Ruthless abandonment of tradition which is not God's tradition (not clearly mandated by
His Spirit and Scripture). God is in process of continually making all things new. Often
God wants us to work in the physical realm as well as the spiritual, and often at the same
time - both in seemingly 'spiritual' things and 'temporal' things. Allow yourself the
freedom to experience God at any place and in any way that He wishes to lead you. In
other words, don't always be trying to do the right religious Christian thing, because
sometimes He may just want you to do something totally “nonreligious”, and just enjoy
Him.
Stay on the fore-front of presenting Jesus to the world. Whenever I get bored about
where the Church sits, I step out into the world and shine a light. It's bound to stir up
something, and the Church will soon follow. Don't waste your time trying to fight for
position, recognition, promotion, or so-called "ministry" within the organized church. If
God wants you to have it, you won't have to praise yourself or strive to get it. If you
know Jesus, you have a ministry. You are in the ministry. There are plenty of sheaves in
the harvest field, and if you get bored with where the church that you're a part of is at,
just step out into the world and shine a light and you will again feel the release of His
presence.

Stay in relationship with believers, and make reconciliation. Church-splits, marriage-

divorces, and unforgiveness have created huge chasms in the Body of Christ. It is no
longer an option. If they are a believer in Jesus, they are your brother or sister in
Christ, and you must get along with them. Period. Learn to love them. Make amends. Do
whatever it takes. Time does not heal all wounds; the Holy Spirit does. God has tested
the hearts of those who love Him, in spite of failed expectation, so that we learn to
trust in Him more and not in ourselves. Those who have prayed much may be offended
that God did not answer their prayers in the way they desired or thought, but God loves
us no matter what. God is in our friendships in the Body, both for the spiritual defense
of each other, and the mutual encouragement toward God.

The institutional church is not our enemy. Inevitably organization is going to happen.
Institutions will be built. The key is to allow the Organization of the Church to be led by
the Spirit of God - join the Institution that He heads up, and forsake the institution
that is or was built by people. The institutional church is not our enemy, simply because
part of the Body of Christ lies within it. If we disassociate from the "institutional
church" completely, we have cut ourselves off from part of the Body of Christ. We then
are not perfected in love. If we fear going into anything that might look 'religious' to us,
we are not perfected in His boldness and care for these people.
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the
world. Jas 1:27
Religion is inevitable. "Religion" can be used in a positive and a negative way. People who
try to be non-religious or uninstitutional often have a subtle or masked-form of religion
or organization (i.e. they become religious about being 'non-religious'). It might seem
care-free, loose, unstructured, but the structure exists in a different form. To
understand His structure, we must seek Him and ask Him for it. We must be willing to
hear what God is saying through other parts of the Body of Christ, not just a 'special
few'. Administration is a gift of the Spirit, and to move in administration and
'leadership' apart from His Spirit is to presume upon God and create human-made
organization, which can often be against His purposes. To deny organization of the Spirit
is to act in rebellion against God. Some have, in fear of looking idle, created intricate
forms of liturgy, not bothering to ask God if He wants something different, or be willing
to change in the middle of a service if He is leading in such a way. Others have in fear,
ran from such forms to the extent of not having any organization at all (seemingly).

I can see that God is solidifying this fact fundamentally: Jesus loves us no matter what.
Despite failure, despite fallen expectations, despite pain and suffering, heart-ache,
betrayal, and mistrust, woundedness and hurt, Jesus loves us. The Father loves us.
Despite our tendency toward leaning on our own understanding and religious ideas of
God, He loves us. He wants to be with us, and has been with us every step of the way.
Not a moment did He abandon us. In fact, He was tempted in all points like we are, and
was touched with the feelings of our infirmities (Heb 4:15). God has been quietly waiting
for us to be settled with His sovereign hand in His decisions of life and death and leaving
us to continue to prepare the way for Jesus return here on earth.
 The Necessity of Hearing His Voice
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the
porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by
name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth
before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice...My sheep hear my
voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and
they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John
10:2-4, 27-28

All true Christians hear His voice, because Jesus is their Shepherd. Every prophet in
history and every writer of Scripture received revelation because they heard the voice
of God. Enoch walked with God, although no Scriptures were yet written, because he
heard the voice of God and walked with it. Eternal life comes because we first hear the
voice of the Holy Spirit and follow Him. It never originates out of our own ideas, or our
own will, but out of His.

Those who hear the voice of God and do not obey it have an evil heart of unbelief, and in
fact depart from the living God.
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it
is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had
given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There
remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his
rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Heb 3:7-12
Here in Hebrews we see that hearing God's voice is a place of rest, where we cease
from our own works. Those who hear His voice stop striving, stop building their own
kingdoms, and stop "going about to establish their own righteousness" and "[submit]
themselves unto the righteousness of God." (Rom 10:3)
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same
example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than
any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and
of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all
things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Heb 4:7-13
The voice of God is in His presence, where all of our motives are laid bare before Him;
all of our agendas cease. In this world, it is work to simply arrive at such a place where
we trust. It is work to shed ourselves of our own 'goodness' and embrace nothing but
the cross of Jesus. It is work to enter into God's peace. The world and Satan hate the
voice of God, so they fight against it and want us to keep working apart from God's
grace, but we must strive to hear His voice, to wait for it, to trust Him.

There are many "Christian works" which are done out of guilt, fear, and a begrudged
obligation, which shows the works are unfruitful and are not born out of the voice of
God or the freedom of the Holy Spirit but rather out of 'Christian law'. For instance,
there is a difference between "going to church" and "fellowshipping in the Holy Spirit".
There is a difference between "tithing 10 percent" to an institution and being a
complete living sacrifice to hear God's voice for those He wants to specifically bless
financially. There is a difference between hiding God's Word in our minds and hiding
God's Word in our hearts. There is a difference between studying the scriptures and
coming to Jesus. There is a difference between the Scriptures and the Word of God,
because even Satan and his agents quote the Bible. When we are guided by the Holy
Spirit, we understand His true intent of Scripture, and it begins to interpret us, like a
mirror, instead of us trying to interpret it. Unequivocal obedience to a pastor, parents,
or other authorities does not equate to obedience to God, but rather merely obedience
to humans who have faults themselves. A church gathering which follows a routine
without seeking God for His liturgy will inevitably miss Him. There is a difference
between an "autonomous" church governed by democracy, and the Church where Christ
is King.
 Grace vs. Obeying the Torah (Law)
Yes, the mitzvot and the torah are good - not one word of it will pass away, not one jot
or tittle. They are the Word of God. I am surprised that you are so quickly deserting
the promises of God and trying to achieve your goal by human effort. Who has
bewitched you and cast a spell on you so that you would not obey the truth that comes
by believing and trusting the promise of God, not by obeying the law? Not all truth is
created equal. Love is a higher principle than prophecy. Faith is a higher principle than
reason (i.e. logic). As well, faith is a higher principle than living our lives by the letter of
the Law. Did you miss Jesus' words, which expanded upon the 10 commandments - if a
man looks at a woman with lust in his heart, then he has committed adultery; or if you
have anger or hatred in your heart toward anyone, it is the same as murder; as well, in
the epistles, it says that covetousness is idolatry? Using the Lord's name in vain means
using the authority of His name, without His authorization. In other words, if I say,
"thus says the Lord...." and God didn't say it, I am in trouble. Or "God sent me here" or
"God did this" or "in the name of Jesus" and He didn't say it, I am using His name in
vain. It is the same as godless speech (speaking, without acknowledging God in the midst
of the conversation). Did you miss what is says in James, that if you break ONE of
these commands, then you are guilty of all. The original first command was,
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Gen 2:17
It's too late - we have all eaten of that tree, for in Adam all die. We are kicked out of
the garden. It's too late for us to obey the law that was given. We could say, "I'm
sorry God, let me try again - I'll do better next time; I'll keep the 10 commands this
time. Let me back in the garden; I won't eat of that tree again" It's too late. We've
fallen from grace. All have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 2:23). We are unable
to keep them now. All that is left is a sacrifice to bring us back, and the Promise of One
(the Seed of the woman) who would crush the serpent's head. We are not freed from
the curse when we try to obey the law. When we trust the Promise, we are freed from
the curse (Gen 3:15).

The law was, as the scriptures say, a school-master to bring us to Christ. Are you still
living as a little school boy, a mere child in your Father's house, not inheriting all that He
has given to you as the full rights of a son of God? Are you acting as a slave when you
are His son and His friend? We don't achieve this inheritance through acting out the
religious law. If we were, we'd be living in Meah Sherim in Jerusalem, wearing black
hats, putting mezzuzahs on our front door, phylacteries on our foreheads, wearing long
flowing robes, seeking the highest places in the synagogue, and offering up animal
sacrifices. Do you really keep the shabbat? Do you drive a car, answer the phone, turn
on lights or any electricity on the shabbat? Because this is what Jewish people do (or
rather don't do) today to keep the shabbat. All the purpose of the commands were to
lead us to Christ, to trust and obey the promise that comes through faith and grace
(undeserved favor). Have you obeyed the law of the Spirit of life? Have you eaten of
the tree of life, or are you still trying to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil? If you think you can achieve your walk with God based upon keeping the law,
you have fallen from grace and faith, and are now walking in pride. Are you boasting of
your ability to keep the law?
For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of
God. Not of works, least any man should boast. Eph 2:8,9
Even after initial salvation, we are continually being saved by His grace, not by keeping
the law, being circumcised, and keeping Christian laws (rules Christians make for each
other to 'keep them in line'). Take a look at Abraham. Was he made righteous and
called a friend of God because he obeyed the law or was it by faith? It was by faith -
'he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.' (Rom 4:3) The law of
circumcision came afterwards as a sign of the covenant God had with him, not a
requirement for his justification and right-standing with God.

Okay, so you may say, as James does, that faith without works is dead, so if we don't
keep the law, then we don't really have faith. However, does obedience to the Holy
Spirit and the voice of God come through your own human effort, or through the
undeserved favor that lives within you, the divine Seed of Christ that is growing up in
you to bear fruit as you abide in Christ? If you are trying to maintain obedience in your
own understanding, you will not make it. You will continue to feel guilty, shamed,
condemned, and never able to meet up to God's standard. You will still continue to
struggle with lust (adultery), even though you are married. You will continue to lie (bear
false witness), even though you don't want to. You will continue to covet (idolatry), even
though you try not to. You will never feel good enough. Why? Because His standard is
too high to achieve. His expectations are not merely difficult, they are impossible. 'To
obey is better than sacrifice (keeping the law), and to harken than the fat of lambs. For
rebellion [against the voice of God] is as the sin of witchcraft.' (1 Sam 15:22) We don't
neglect the law and throw it aside, but rather, we fulfill all of the law through Christ and
trusting in His sacrifice. Period. This is how we can have boldness to enter into His
presence. Otherwise, we never become confident, but always wondering if we kept all of
the rules. If you obey the rule of faith (believing) and grace (undeserved favor) through
the cross of Christ (dying with Him) and rising with Him in His new life, then it is no
longer about you living to obey the law, but Christ living through you (who always kept all
of the law). You will fulfill all the law of God. If you love the Lord your God with all your
heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength, and love you neighbor as
yourself, then you have fulfilled all of the law, for all the law and the prophets hang on
these. His expectations are impossible, but 'with God all things are possible' (Matt
19:26). 'We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us' (Phil 4:13). 'Where
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom' (2 Cor 3:17). When you allow Christ to live
in you, you will be able to wrestle with power 'against principalities, powers, rulers in this
dark realm, and spiritual wickedness in high places' (Eph 6:12), and win. You will say to
the demon of lust, "Be gone in the name of Jesus," and the mountain will be uprooted
and cast into the sea. You will say to that wicked Jezebel, like Elijah did, 'The dogs will
lick up your blood, and eat your bones.' (2 Kngs 9:36) She will fall on a bed of sickness
before you (Rev 2:22). You will say to the religious spirits, which keep you from peace
with God, "Leave me, I don't believe in you," and you will feel a freedom you have never
felt before. You will say to a spirit of death, depression, and suicide, "Leave me in the
name of Jesus," and you will once again know His joy and life and unconditional love.

I continually affirm that morality and values without the cross and resurrection of
Jesus Christ is a false gospel, and following such values, even as a Christian, equates to
dead religion. Many charities fall under this category. All religions (except true
Christianity) fall under this category. Almost every political agenda falls under this
category. Every cult falls under this category. Even Christian churches and Christians
can move in a 'form of godliness without power' (2 Tim 3:5). Such a spirit doesn't come
from above, but is instead competitive, jealous, always trying to perform and prove
itself (Ja 3:15). We are saved by grace, apart from ourselves.

Any 'righteous behavior' that occurs apart from the cross of Christ, is, in reality, a
false gospel. Subtly, it teaches, “If we put enough carrots for good behavior and enough
sticks for bad behavior, people will be taught to be good people. If we put enough
deterrent to crime, they won't murder, rape, steal, or hi-jack planes and fly them into
buildings. If we intimidate through fear and power, wage war, and stimulate through
mammon, then the world will be okay, and we'll be safe.” LIES! I rebuke and renounce
these false Gospels in the name of Jesus Christ, and the Christians who want to play
games by siding some of the time with the world, and some of the time with the
God they profess.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto
you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Ga 1:9
 Because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with
the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for
your sake. 1 Thess 1:5
Any legal system, religious system, or governing body that ignores the cross of Christ
will be judged - because these systems either:
1. Leave guilty people in condemnation and in judgment with no hope of forgiveness
2. Pervert justice and let guilty people go free, pardoning them based upon
something less than the blood of Jesus
3. “Forgive” people of their crime when they have 'paid their dues'
4. Keep a record of past crimes, even if they are 'forgiven'
5. Some combination of the above
The 'ignoring of Jesus' pervades many other arenas of life - finance and
business, medicine and health, family, teaching, friendships, sports, etc. Jesus
isn't satisfied with 2nd place (or even tying for 1st) and will not stop until
He is the Head in all things. The Good News of the Government of God is that He
does pardon, based upon faith in the blood of Jesus and His resurrection. The
Gospel is that He can create peace and make new creatures out of terrorists and
power-mongers - the worst of sinners. He does heal. The cross of Christ is the wisdom
of God and the power of God.

Sanctification (being made holy) is also by grace, that is, it does not come out of great
effort, but out of correctly placed trust in the Holy Spirit and the voice of God - His
very Word. This is so no one can brag about his own righteousness or the works he does.
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or
by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now
made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet
in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles
among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:2-5
Many Christians live their lives by being saved by grace and then trying to perfect
themselves through good Christian works. However, salvation is a continuum of grace,
which necessitates that we always remain in a state of perpetual repentance (turning
away) from sin, and faith/trust in His undeserved grace. Some walk as though they only
need His grace when they perceive that they themselves have fallen or sinned in some
manner, even though their perception of sin is limited. However, sin is merely a
departure from His glory. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."
(Rom 3:23). In this sense, we are always in need of His grace to help us live in the glory
of His presence all the time. Others live under the shame, guilt, and condemnation of
the enemy, as though they are never completely forgiven, always in need of repentance.
This is not God's intent either.
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all
things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward
God. 1 Jn 3:20,21

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who
walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom 8:1
When we trust Jesus, we are free from shame, guilt, condemnation, and enter His grace
and glory, completely forgiven from all sins. We can boldly enter the throne of grace,
without fear, and know we are His children. (Heb 4:16)

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received
the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Rom 8:15)
 Our Biblical Heritage
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the
spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your
understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling,
and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. Eph 1:17-18

As Christians, we have a spiritual heritage that originates with God and then the people
of faith, like Abel, Enoch, Abraham, and Moses. As Christians, we become children of
Abraham. We are grafted into the Israel of God (not the Israel, which is not of God).
We become partakers of the Divine nature (2 Pet 1:4).
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise. Ga 3:29

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon
the Israel of God. Ga 6:16
We inherit everything from our Father in heaven. He Himself is our primary inheritance,
and relationship with Him is our greatest gift. We also receive from those people of
faith who have walked before us, just as Isaac received from Abraham, and Jacob
received from Isaac. The Scriptures is one article of inheritance we have received from
them, but there is so much more which is spiritual. Part of this inheritance is freedom.
Another part is hearing the voice of God and moving in the supernatural power of His
Spirit. This is clearly portrayed throughout Scripture.
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2 Cor 3:17

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to
spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into
bondage. Ga 2:4

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be
not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Gal 5:1
We are free from many things: the power and control of Satan, sin and its power,
shame, condemnation, a destiny of hell, the fear of people, etc. Worship is an arena
where freedom is portrayed. There are many ways to worship, which we can freely
express, and sometimes these come across in the Scriptures more as exhortations or
directives than merely optional or preferential.
 Praise him with the timbrel and dance Ps 150:4.

And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a
linen ephod. 2 Sam.6:14

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are
upright in heart. Ps 32:11

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands
as the evening sacrifice. Ps 141:2

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. Ps
95:6

Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the
congregation of saints. Ps 149:1
In worship, it is Biblical to worship prostrate, lift up our hands and eyes, sing, clap,
dance, shout, rave, pay homage to Him, burn incense to Him, fly banners to him, and
express creative art to Him and with Him: playing for and playing with Him through
spontaneous and planned worship. We are exalting His name, praising His works,
extolling and magnifying Him - making Him famous. We say nice things about Him,
declaring His worth and praise. We proclaim His goodness, making His praise glorious,
speaking highly and well of Him, advertising freely for Him with great variety of
expressions in worship. We rally around Him, setting on Him our focus, joining Him by
standing up for, upholding, and defending His cause. We seek His favor, to please Him.
We lift Him up, giving Him our full attention and obedience, listening and heeding,
honoring by hanging on His every Word. We want to be instructed and counseled by
Him, molded by His Spirit, mentored by the mind of Christ. We offer up no other
sacrifice than the complete sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. We pour out the blood of this
sacrifice, and lavish upon Him our love, giving Him the gifts of our lives - dying for Him,
living for Him, with whole-hearted dedication. This is our communication of love and
adoration. We earnestly desire and covet Him, studying Him, enjoying, loving, and being
excited about Him, rejoicing in Him, being glad because of Him, smiling because of Him,
finding great pleasure in Him, laughing because of Him. We are violently pursing after,
drawing near to Him, with great passion burning, consumed with Him, yearning for Him,
to dwell, live, and abide with Him. We wait for Him, seeking His face and His hand,
expecting everything from Him, waiting upon His answer. We purchase the wisdom He
gives, respecting the value of it, showing His infinite value and worth. We have
renounced all other gods, idols, and objects of worship. We will never pray to anyone but
Him. To Him alone we will chant, meditate upon, ponder and think about - setting our
focus on Him. Our covenant is with Him alone through Jesus, so we testify and witness
of Him, submit to Him in full reverance, fear, and respect, deferring to the Author of all
things. Of His blood alone we drink and of his flesh we eat, until we are filled with Him.
We swear all we have and are to Him, trusting Him alone, having full belief and faith in
what He says, uniting with Him, binding ourselves to Him. Here we take hold of Him, to
hug, kiss, hold His hand, and cling to Him, in intimacy, to walk with Him, fellowship with
Him. We admire Him in every way, sharing our hearts with Him as we hear His. With
extravagant worship, we serve and perfume His feet with our tears and our very best.
We take great pride in knowing Him, bragging about how great is our God. Baptists and
other groups in modern times have for too long excused themselves from participation in
such exuberant and creative praise, because of a fear of man, but according to
Scripture, it is our inheritance, and not necessarily always an option. Some have taken
on a false humility, not wanting to "look to proud" or "exalt themselves," but humility
simply means accepting what God says about us and doing what He asks.
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the
markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye
have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. Matt
11:16,17

Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these?
for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. Eccl 7:10
God directs us to worship Him in many ways - with loud percussion instruments and
shouting as well as quiet reverence and awe. He directs us to sing older songs but also
to worship in new, creative ways, singing contemporary (modern, new) songs to the Lord.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit directs us to dancing and other times to mourning, but those
who refuse to listen or allow themselves to worship in all these ways have, out of fear,
hardened their hearts.
Other liberal practices, which are very Biblical, have been neglected or even denounced
by some, such as fasting.
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and
then shall they fast in those days. Luke 5:35
As outlined in Isaiah 58, there is a religious fasting that doesn't please God, but there
is a holy, righteous fasting that does. The Pharisees practiced the former. Old
Testament prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus, and the early Church practiced the later.
These are the days where the Bridegroom has been taken away from us, and these are
the days to fast. The Biblical way and purpose in fasting is seen in Isaiah, and as His
Spirit direct us, we should not bypass such an important Biblical ritual.

Other Biblical practices include anointing with oil, and laying on of hands for healing and
deliverance:
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray
over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. James 5:14

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out
devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and
they shall recover. Mark 16:17,18
The wealth of God's grace is unfathomable. Faith reaches into impossibilities and
challenges our understanding (what we think or reason). This is why we must:
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Prov 3:5
He is the God of impossibilities. We cannot begin to exhaust the vault of love He wants
to unleash in this hour. Our faith in Jesus necessitates deliverance from demonic
powers, which means that we face real demons (unclean spirits) which we must cast out.
It is not an option. Through faith we are also given divine protection against every
ailment, poison, and any harmful thing. All of these are our Biblical heritage.
 The Language of Heaven
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Heb 13:8

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams,
your young men shall see visions. Joe 2:28

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 1 Jo 2:20

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of
knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another
the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to
another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of
tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one
and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. And in the
church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers,
then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help
others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds
of tongues. 1 Cor 12:7-11, 28

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall
he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my
Father. John 14:12

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Php 4:13

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm,
hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all
things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by
two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if
there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to
himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other
judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his
peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be
 comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God
is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Cor 14:1,26-33,39,40

The language of Heaven is through His Holy Spirit. It necessitated the production of
the Scriptures. It comes through many venues today, including: visions, dreams,
unctions, and prophecy. He heals people today. He delivers people from demonic
strongholds today. He gives gifts of languages (both of men and of angels) today. He
give prophetic words today. He is the God of miracles and the supernatural - of the
impossible, and we are His vessels to accomplish this ministry. Today. We do the works
of Jesus: healing, delivering, preaching, doing miracles, and we do greater works, not
because we are greater, but because He promised it.

God is working a refinement of hearing His voice throughout the whole Body of Christ to
place our expectation in Him and His desire, and not simply begging Him for what we
want. Our expectation is with Him. There is no guilt in asking God to heal; there is no
guilt in asking God to raise someone from the dead or do some miracle. In the end, we
must be settled with what God's will is, knowing that He loves us. I see that He was
working love in our hearts to love through suffering, to stand with, pray with, and
fellowship with in the Holy Spirit. God was working His unconditional love through us.

Despise not prophesyings. 1Th 5:20

Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 1 Cor 14:29

This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses
shall every word be established. 2Co 13:1

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1Th 5:21

We must be willing to take risks of faith to join God in the supernatural work He is
currently doing in the earth. This sometimes means we fail. Sometimes people don't
hear God completely or misunderstand what He is saying, but He is for us, not against us.
He wants us to hear Him. Hearing God requires the whole Body working together. We
need each other for confirmation, testing, and proving the will of God. We don't despise
prophesies, but encourage them, and wait for confirmation on what God has said.
 History of the Early Church

We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou
didst in their days, in the times of old. Ps 44:1

Few argue (and none successfully) against the legitimacy of the acts of Jesus and of the
early Apostles, except maybe a few unbelievers or false prophets. Many of their
supernatural miracles and works are portrayed throughout the New Testament as an
example for later generations. Their life, ministry, and the work of the Holy Spirit is, to
say the least, impressive. Even of Jesus it is said:
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should
be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the
books that should be written. Amen. Jn 21:25
However, even after the early apostles, their close associates and succeeding
generations continued the work of the Spirit-empowered Gospel, even long after the last
book of the New Testament was written.

Justin Martyr (A.D. 100-165), an early apologist, was born of pagan parents near
Shechem, within modern-day Israel. In his "Dialogue With Trypho", he says, “For the
prophetic gifts remain with us even to the present time," and "Now it is possible to see
among us women and men who possess gifts of the Spirit of God."1 "For numberless
demoniacs throughout the whole world, and in your city, many of our Christians men
exorcising them in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
heave healed and do heal, rendering helpless and driving the possessing devils out of the
men." 2

Irenaeus (A.D.125-200) was the bishop of Lyons (“Bishop” is from the New Testament
Greek word episkopos, translated episcopate, bishop, overseer in English), born in
Smyrna, and discipled by the apostle John. He states, "For some do certainly and truly
drive out devils, so that those who have been thus cleansed from evil spirits frequently
both believe, and join themselves to the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things
to come: they see visions and utter prophetic expressions. Others still heal the sick by
laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole. Yea, moreover, as I have said,
the dead even have been raised up, and remained among us for many years. And what

1 Justin Martyr, Dialogue With Trypho, vol. 1 of The Ante-Nicene Christian Library, ed. Rev. Alexander
Roberts and James Donaldsen (Edinburgh, England: T&T Clark, 1974), 240,243).
2 Justin Martyr, The Second Apology of Justin, vol. 1 of The Ante-Nicene Christian Library, 190.
shall I more say? It is not possible to name the number of gifts which the Church
throughout the whole world has received from God in the name of Jesus Christ...In like
manner we do also hear many brethren in the Church who possess prophetic gifts and
who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the general
benefit the hidden things of men, and declare the mysteries of God."3

Tertullian (A.D.160-240), another Church father, was a born in Carthage and believed in
Jesus in A.D.192. He writes, "For seeing that we acknowledge the spiritual charismata,
or gifts, we too have merited the attainment of the prophetic gift." He speaks of a
woman in the congregation, "whose lot it has been to be favored with sundry gifts of
revelation," experiencing visitations from angels and the Lord Himself. She knew the
secrets of peoples' hearts and was able to give answer to some of their deepest needs,
including physical healing. Tertullian says, "All her communications are examined with
the most scrupulous care in order that their truth may be probed." 4 He also writes,
"And heaven knows how many distinguished men, to say nothing of the common people,
have been cured either of devils or of their sicknesses."5 In writing to the heretic
Marcion, he states, "Let Marcion then exhibit, as gifts of his god, some prophets such
as have not spoken by human sense, but with the Spirit of God, such as have predicted
things to come and have made manifest the secrets of the heart; let him produce a
psalm, a vision, a prayer - only let it be by the spirit, in an ecstasy, that is, in a rapture,
whenever an interpretation of tongues has occurred to him. Now all these signs are
forthcoming from my side without any difficulty."6 He also practiced, like the earlier
Apostles, the custom of the laying-on of hands: "the hand is laid on us, invoking and
inviting the Holy Spirit through benediction."7

Origen (A.D.185-284) writes, "Some give evidence of their having received through this
faith a marvelous power by the cures which they perform, invoking no other name over
these who need their help than that of the God of all things, and of Jesus, along with a
mention of His history. For by these means we too have seen many persons freed from
grievous calamities, and from distractions of mind, and madness, and countless other ills,
which could not be cured neither by men nor devils."8 He also comments that any
diminuendo of signs and miracles are the result of a lack of holiness and purity among

3 Irenaeus, Against Heresies, vol. 1 of The Ante-Nicene Christian Library, 409,531.

4 Tertullian, A Treatise on the Soul, vol. 3 of The Ante-Nicene Christian Library, 188,189.
5 Tertullian, Apologetic Works, vol. 10 of The Fathers of the Church, trans. William P. Le Saint (London:
Longmans & Green, 1950), 121.
6 Tertullian, Against Marcion, vol. 3 of The Ante-Nicene Christian Library, 447.
7 Tertullian, On Baptism, vol. 3 of The Ante-Nicene Christian Library, 672.
8 Origen, Against Celsus, vol. 4 of The Ante-Nicene Christian Library, 473, 614.
the Christians in his day.

Novatian (A.D.210-280) was an elder (from the New Testament Greek word presbyteros
, translated elder, presbyter in English) of the early church in Rome. He was the
predecessor to the Cathari movement and many modern-day Baptists cite him as one of
the hallmarks of the Christian faith. Novatian writes, "This is he [the Holy Spirit] who
places prophets in the Church, instructs teachers, directs tongues, give power and
healings, does wonderful works, offers discrimination of spirits, affords powers of
government, suggests counsels, and orders and arranges whatever other gifts there are
of charismata; and thus making the Lord's Church everywhere, and in all, perfected and
completed."9

Cyprian (A.D.195-258), a bishop in Carthage, relates, "For beside the visions of the
night, even in the daytime, the innocent age of boys [innocent children] is among us filled
with the Holy Spirit, seeing in an ecstasy with their eyes, and hearing and speaking those
things whereby the Lord condescends to warn and instruct us." 10

The Didache, a brief early Christian treatise written somewhere between A.D.50-200,
contains instructions for Christian communities, and also acknowledged the legitimacy of
apostolic and prophetic ministries, giving instruction regarding recognizing false
prophets. The Shepherd of Hermes, written after the time of the first 12 apostles,
depicts supernatural revelations and visions of the author.

Ignatius (A.D.35-107), as the Bishop of Antioch and student of the apostle John, wrote
To the Philadelphians just after A.D. 100. In the letter he makes reference to a
prophetic message he spoke to them when he last visited them.11

9 Russell J. DeSimone, trans. "Novatian: The Trinity," The Fathers of the Church (Washington, DC:
Consortium, 1974), 4.
10 Cyprian, The Epistles of Cyprian, vol.5 of The Ante-Nicene Christian Library, 290.
11 Michael W. Holmes, ed., The Apostolic Fathers, trans. J.B. Lightfoot and J.R. Harmer (Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker 1989), 108.
Montanus, irregardless of the grim picture portrayed in history by his enemies, was
nonetheless defended by Tertullian and in later history by John Wesley. He ministered
during the Second Century. He and his followers affirmed the gift of prophecy and
speaking in tongues under the "possession" of the Holy Spirit. 12
Wesley wrote concerning Montaus, "I was fully convinced of what I had once suspected:
1) That the Montanists, in the second and third centuries, were real Scriptural
Christians; and 2) That the grand reason why the miraculous gifts were so soon
withdrawn was not only that faith and holiness were well nigh lost, but that dry, formal
orthodox men began even then to ridicule whatever gifts they had not themselves, and
to decry them all as either madness or imposture."13

Irenaeus (~A.D.100-200) was bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, which is now Lyon, France. He
was also a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of the Apostle John. He laments those
who "set aside at once both the Gospel and the prophetic Spirit," emphasizing that Paul,
"expressly speaks of prophetical gifts, and recognizes men and women prophesying in the
Church."14

12 William Tabbernee, 1997. Montanist Inscriptions and Testimonia: Epigraphic Sources Illustrating the
History of Montanism (Macon [GA], Mercer University Press); (North American Patristic Society Patristic
Monograph Series, 16).
13 Nehemiah Curnack, ed., vol.3 of The Journal of the Rev. John Wesley A.M., 8 vols. (London: Epworth,
1938), 490.
14 Irenaeus, Against Heresies, vol.1 of The Ante-Nicene Christian Library, 429.
 Struggles With the Institutional Church
With the officialization of "Christianity" as the state religion by Constantine in A.D.313,
much of the Church was muddled with heretical and tyrannical spirits, yet in its early
stages, some saints ("holy people") who truly knew the Lord sought to influence the
Church toward Christ.

Saint Anthony (“the Great”) healed sick people and cast out demons. "Through him the
Lord healed the bodily ailments of many present, and cleansed others from evil spirits."15

Pachomius (A.D. 292-346) was "a man endowed with apostolic grace both in teaching and
in performing miracles." Once, a he met a visitor from the West who spoke Latin, a
language Pachomius didn't know. After three hours of earnest prayer, Pachomius was
able to speak with the man in Latin.16

Athanasius (A.D. 295-373) was bishop of Alexandria in Egypt. Regarding the life and
ministry of Saint Anthony, Athanasius comments, "And we ought not to doubt whether
such marvels were wrought by the hand of a man. For it is the promise of the Saviour,
when He saith, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say to this
mountain, remove hence and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you."17
He also comments, "We know bishops who work wonders [miracles]..."18

Hilarion (A.D. 305-385) was born in the City of Gaza. Jerome, who knew him personally,
relates, "Time would fail me if I wished to relate all the miracles which were wrought by
him." Hilarion once encountered a paralyzed man: "...weeping much and stretching out
his hand to the prostrate man he said, "I bid you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
arise and walk." The words were still on the lips of the speaker when, with miraculous
speed, the limbs were strengthened and the man arose and stood firm."19

15 Athanasius (A.D. 251-356), Life of Antony, vol. 4 of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian
Church, 200.
16 Jerome and Gennadius, Illustrious Men of the Church, vol. 3 of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the
Christian Church, 387.
17 Athanasius (A.D. 251-356), Life of Antony, vol. 4 of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian
Church, 200.
18 Athanasius, Letters of Athanasius, vol. 4 of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church,
560.
19 Jerome, The Life of Saint Hilarion, vol. 6 of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church,
309, 314.
Ambrose (A.D. 240-397) was the bishop of Milan in A.D. 374. He once received the
knowledge of the location of the tombs of a couple martyrs. At this location, a blind man
miraculously received his sight.20 Ambrose himself states, "You see the Father and
Christ also set teachers in the churches; and as the Father gives the gift of healings, so
too does the Son give; as the Father gives the gift of tongues, so too has the Son also
granted it. In like manner we have heard also above concerning the Holy Spirit that He
too grants the same kinds of graces."21

Jerome (A.D. 347-420) was a Christian in Rome, who had a visitation of Christ Himself,
who instructed Him to turn away from learning worldly philosophy. He recorded the
miracles of other Christians, including one of Hilarion, who stilled a raging sea embroiled
by a violent earthquake. "Verily, what was said to the Apostles, "If ye have faith, ye
shall say unto this mountain, Remove into the sea, and it shall be done," may even be
literally fulfilled if one has such faith as the Lord commanded the Apostles to have."22

Augustine (A.D. 354-430) became the bishop of Hippo in North Africa. His later works
affirm the realities of miraculous events in his lifetime, "For even now, miracles are
wrought in the name of Christ, whether by His sacraments or by prayer or the relics of
His saints." "I am so pressed by the promise of finishing this work that I cannot record
all the miracles I know."23 We should not discount the probability of such events as
these, for the bones of Elisha (a holy man of God who was just like we are) produced
miraculous events:
And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band
of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was
let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
2Ki 13:21

20 Augustine, The City of God, vol. 2 of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, 485.
21 Ambrose, Of the Spirit, vol. 10 of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, 134.
22 Jerome, The Life of Saint Hilarion, 313.
23 Augustine, The City of God, "Concerning Miracles Which Were Wrought in Order That the World
Might Believe in Christ and Which Cease Not to Be Wrought Now that the World Does Believe," 485, 489.
Benedict of Nursia (A.D.480-547) was known for his power in prayer and in facilitating
miracles. He recounts how a wall under construction once fell on a man, but through an
hour of prayer, the young man revived and returned to his work on the wall. Maurus, a
student of Benedict, once ran on top of the water to save a young boy from drowning in a
river.24

The Cathari (also called Novations and Albigensians), whose named means "pure-ones",
thrived between the 11th and 13th centuries. They practiced what they called the
consolamentum, which was the impartation of the work of the Holy Spirit through the
laying on of hands. They sought the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit, including
speaking in tongues.25

The Waldenses began (around A.D. 1177) with a man named Peter Waldo, a wealthy
merchant of Lyons, Southern France. They were a renewal movement, and precursors to
the Reformation. Note their confession in 1431: "Therefore concerning the anointing of
the sick, we hold it as an article of faith, and profess sincerely from the heart that sick
persons, when they ask it, may lawfully be anointed with anointing oil by one who joins
them in praying that it may be efficacious to the healing of the body according to the
design and end and effect mentioned by the apostles; and we profess that such an
anointing performed according to the apostolic design and practice will be healing and
profitable." 26

Martin Luther (A.D. 1483-1586) is considered to be one of the key figures in the
Protestant Reformation. He stated in a conversation with Cochelus, "Est mihi revelatum,
(I have had revelations)." 27 He also said, "I have learned under this Spirit's guidance,"
and that he relied on the revelation of God - through the Word, but via the Spirit in a
personal manner. 28 "Often has it happened, and still does, that devils have been driven
out in the name of Christ; also by calling on His name and prayer, the sick have been
healed." 29

24 Saint Gregory the Great, Dialogues, vol.39 of The Fathers of the Church, trans. Odo John Zimmerman
(New York: Fathers of the Church, 1959), 69, 76-77.
25 Neander, General History of the Christian Church, vol.3, 590.
26 Gordon, The Ministry of Healing, 65.
27Martin Luther, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, vol.36 of Luther's Works, ed. Helmut T. Lehman
and Jaroslav Pelikan (Philadelphia, PA: Muhlenberg, 1958), 77.
28 John S. Oyer, Lutheran Reformers Against the Anabaptist (The Hague, Netherlands: Martinus
Nijhoff, 1964), 231.
29 Gordon, The Ministry of Healing, 92.
Despite Luther's conflict with the Anabaptists, he was in agreement with the
Anabaptists on many issues, yet even he said of them, that they maintain an undue
reliance upon the direct presence of the Holy Spirit, a testimony of the Anabaptists'
direct experience with the Holy Spirit.30

30 John S. Oyer, Lutheran Reformers Against Anabaptists (The Hague: M. Nijhoff, 1964), 234.
 The Anabaptists
The Anabaptists began in Zürich, Switzerland by Ulrich Zwingli (A.D. 1484-1531), Felix
Manz and Conrad Grebel. They rebelled against the Roman Catholic Church and began
rebaptizing adults who had followed Jesus, but had unlawfully been 'baptized' as
infants. They are predecessors of the modern-day Amish, Hutterites, and Mennonites,
Puritans, Quakers, and Baptists. Unlike so many of the contemporary name of Baptist, it
was not unusual for them to dance, fall under the power of the Holy Spirit and speak in
tongues.31 Felix Manz had special revelations where, once or twice in prison and
elsewhere certain epistles of Paul were revealed to him as if he had them before his
eyes. 32 Martin Bucer, a Zwinglian-type reformer, affirmed prophecy through the aid of
the Holy Spirit and the subjective, inner call of the Holy Spirit to ministry.33 The
Anabaptists were more extreme than Luther and Bucer. They insisted upon the "free
course" of the Holy Spirit in worship, yet still maintained it all must be judged according
to the Scriptures.34

One Swiss Anabaptist document (A.D. 1532-1534) explains why they didn't attend the
“official churches”. The reason for not attending the state churches is these
institutions forbid the congregation to exercise spiritual gifts according to "the
Christian order as taught in the gospel or the Word of God in 1 Corinthians 14." "When
such believers come together, "Everyone of you (note every one) hath a psalm, hath a
doctrine, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation," etc...When someone comes to church
and constantly hears only one person speaking, and all the listeners are silent, neither
speaking nor prophesying, who can or will regard or confess the same to be a spiritual
congregation, or confess according to 1 Corinthians 14 that God is dwelling and operating
in them through His Holy Spirit with His gifts, impelling them one after another in the
abovementioned order of speaking and prophesying." 35

31 Franklin H. Little, The Origins of Sectarian Protestantism (New York: Beacons, 1964), 19.
32 Horsch, The Faith of the Swiss Brethren II, 15.
See also George H. Williams, The Radical Reformation (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster, 1962), 145.
33 W. Peter Stephens, The Holy Spirit in the Theology of Martin Bucer (London: Cambridge University
Press, 1970), 178,179,190.
34 John S. Oyer, Lutheran Reformers Against Anabaptists (The Hague: M. Nijhoff, 1964), 86.
35 Paul Peachey and Shem Peachey, trans., Answer of Some Who Are Called (Ana)Baptists - Why They Do
Not Attend the Churches, Mennonite Quarterly Review 45, no. 1 (1971): 10, 11.
Pilgram Marpeck was an Anabaptist leader in central Germany. He rebukes those who
exclude the existence of divine miracles and signs. He says, "Nor does Scripture assert
this exclusion...God has a free hand even in these last days." He speaks of those who
had been raised from the dead: "Many of them have remained constant, enduring
tortures inflicted by sword, rope, fire and water and suffering terrible, tyrannical,
unheard-of deaths and martyrdoms, all of which they could easily have avoided by
recantation. Moreover one also marvels when he sees how the faithful God (who, after
all, overflows with goodness) raises from the dead several such brothers and sisters of
Christ after they were hanged, drowned, or killed in other ways. Even today, they are
found alive and we can hear their own testimony...Cannot everyone who sees, even the
blind, say with a good conscience that such things are a powerful, unusual, and miraculous
act of God? Those who would deny it must be hardened men." 36

In Germany, some Anabaptists, "excited by mass hysteria, experienced healings,

glossolalia, contortions and other manifestations of a camp-meeting revival".37

Menno Simons (A.D. 1496-1561) was a Catholic priest who joined the Anabaptist around
1535, and began the Mennonite movement. Regarding speaking in tongues, he says,
"Although Peter was previously informed by a heavenly vision that he might go to the
Gentiles and teach them the gospel, still he refused to baptize the pious, noble and
Godly centurion and his associates so long as he did not see the Holy Spirit was
descended upon them, so that they spoke with tongues and glorified God...Peter
commanded that those only should be baptized who had received the Holy Ghost, who
spoke with tongues and glorified God." 38 Jacob Hutter (A.D. ?-1536), founder of the
Hutterite movement) claimed authority from miracles in his life. The Hutterite
Chronicle contains several accounts of miraculous events. 39

One man named Martin whom authorities led across a bridge to execution in 1531
prophesied, "this once yet the pious are led over this bridge, but no more hereafter."
Just "a short time afterwards such a violent storm and flood came that the bridge was
demolished".40

36 William Klassen and Walter Klassen, ed. and trans., The Writings of Pilgram Marpeck (Scottdale, PA:
Herald, 1978), 50.
37 G eorge Williams, The Radical Reformation (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1962), 443.
38 J.C. Wenger, Ed., Complete Writings of Menno Simons (Scottdale, PA: Herald, 1965), 276.
39 Walter Klaassen, Anabaptism: Neither Catholic Nor Protestant (Waterloo, Ontario: Conrad Press,
1973), 63.
40 Thieleman J van Braght. Martyrs' Mirror (Scottdale: Herald Press, 1950), 440.
John Bunyan (1628-1688), considered to be a landmark in Baptist history, received the
entire book of "The Pilgrim's Progress", while "under the similitude of a dream".41

The Huguenots (16th-18th Centuries) are considered to be Anabaptists by some and

exhibited the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit. Thus they were called, "The French
Prophets." They affirmed, "God has no where in the Scriptures concluded Himself from
dispensing again the extraordinary gifts of His Spirit unto men."42 Even 3 year old
children prophesied and preached in French, even though they had never spoken the
language previously. One time, a 14 month old child exhorted them "to the Works of
Repentance" in a loud voice. 43 They "fell on their backs, they shut their eyes, they
heaved with the breast, they remained a while in trances, and coming out of them with
twitching, they uttered all that came into their mouths." 44 John Venett, one of them,
also was amazed that his mother could speak French, "because she never before
attempted to speak a word in that language, nor has since to my knowledge , and I am
certain she could not do it." 45 Sir Richard Bulkey, a wealthy English nobleman, tells how
he heard John Lacy, one of their leaders, "repeat long sentences in Latin, and another
refugee speak in Hebrew, neither one of whom could speak a single word in these
languages when not in spiritual ecstasy." 46

John Wesley defended the contemporary supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit to
one doubter by referencing the example of the French Prophets, "Sir, your memory fails
you again...It has been heard of more than once, no further off than the days of
Dauphin." 47

41 John Bunyan. The Pilgrim's Progress, (USA: Banner Publishing), 1973.

42 Michael P. Hamilton, The Charismatic Movement (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1975), 75.
43 John Lacy, A Cry From the Desert (London: n.p., 1708), 15.
44 Hamilton, 75.
45 Lacy, 14.
46 Cutten, Speaking With Tongues: Historically and Psychologically Considered, 55.
47 John Wesley, vol. 10 of The Works of John Wesley, 14 vols. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, n.d.), 56.
 Other Sources on Anabaptist History:

http://www.anabaptistnetwork.com/node/173

J. M. Carroll, "The Trail of Blood" or "The History of Baptist Churches From the Time
of Christ, Their Founder, to the Present Day".

Kenneth Davis. The Origins and Characteristics of Anabaptism Marc Lienhard, ed. (The
Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1977), esp. 27-41, 233.

Kenneth Davis. Current Charismatic Movements in Christianity: A Biblical, Baptistic,

Non-Cessationist Response” Northwest Evangelical Baptist Journal, June 1992.

Werner Packell, "The Origins of Anabaptism: Ascetic and Charismatic Elements

Exemplifying Continuity and Discontinuity,"

Eddie L. Hyatt, Two-thousand Years of Charismatic Christianity," (Lake Mary, FL:

Charisma House, 2002).

Walter Klaassen, Anabaptism: Neither Catholic Nor Protestant (Waterloo, Ontario:

Conrad Press, 1973), 63.

C. Arnold Snyder (Editor), Linda A. Huebert Hecht (Editor). Profiles of Anabaptist

Women: Sixteenth-Century Reforming Pioneers (SOR)

Gerald Derstine and Joanne Layman. Following the Fire.

William Klassen. The Writings of Pilgram Marpeck. [A Primary Source]

 Personal Experience
In my life I have found the most important element in my life is love. Love has meant
the difference between salvation and condemnation. Love brought me out of religious
legalism - out of persecuting some of my brothers in Christ, especially Charismatics and
Pentecostals. Love convicted me of quenching the Holy Spirit, and led me away from
blaspheming His Holy Spirit in unbelief. Love brought me out of depression and suicide.
Love drew me. When giving my salvation testimony, I like to tell about my parents'
salvation as well, because if they had not accepted Jesus Christ, I wonder if I would
have heard the message of the Gospel. My parents were both raised in social gospel (or
nominal Christian) churches, which teach, "do good, go to church, and you’ll be okay," but
my mom remembers explicitly as a little girl making a decision to accept Christ, but did
not have the nurturing to keep what she had learned and grow in understanding of the
decision she had made. Later, after my parents were married, they were attending a
Gospel outreach for the Am-way business they were in. There my parents both made a
decision to accept Christ (my mom more making assurance of her salvation). I praise God
I have been raised by godly parents in a church which preaches the Gospel. I grew up in
a Baptist church in Montana. Through the example of those around me, and by the
words I heard our pastor speak, I came to understand I needed to accept Christ as my
personal Savior while I was still young. Before Christ, I was as the Bible says: "dead in
trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1), without hope, blinded by the god of this world, the enemy
of God. I was saved on September 4, 1985, at the age of five. That day, as I was riding
in the car on the way home, I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins, and to come live
within my heart. John 3:16 was an important verse God used to bring me to salvation.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." My mom had given me a card which
personalized the meaning of that verse: "For God so loved [my name]..." The weight of
sin had tugged at my heart too long while I resisted. I resisted until that day when I
understood that if God loved me that much to send His Son to die for me, I would
accept His forgiveness and receive eternal life. As I rode home in our blue Suburban,
the joy which followed seemed to cloud-over any past horrors and dreads. I received
His free gift, and knowing I couldn't save myself by good works of going to church,
being baptized, giving money to the church, or being nice to others. I believed Jesus.
Later, I realized my need to follow my Lord and Savior in water baptism, to give a public
witness of my personal faith in Christ.

After I was saved, I began a personal devotional time and God began to speak to me.
During this time, I knew I must be called to ministry, or at least that's a decision I had
made during my early teens. As I was faced with the strains and peer-pressures of high
school, God spared me from many difficult trials and temptations, for which I am
grateful. However, He was also at work in me to bring about change - change which I
had no idea needed to be made. My passion for holiness and perfection had become a
critical, legalistic religion in my soul, suffocating pure love-relationship with God, but His
grace wouldn't leave me there. He wanted me back.

One dating relationship was significant to me in that it was a first. A first serious
relationship. I had looked ahead to both of our futures and determined mid-way in the
relationship, it wouldn't work long-term. College and future goals clouded the way, and
the break-up was messy. The years that followed in college I call "The Coming Out". In
a conservative, some-what legalistic brand of Christianity, I no longer felt on the side of
the 'holy' but the 'outcasts'. Now in these times of despair and confusion, I found
comfort in my Christian friends who were not Baptist, even some who were Charismatic.
Their level of love had always been constant and sincere, and I found myself looking to
them for answers or at least encouragement. Through this I began to question much of
what I had learned growing up and to hunger and thirst after God and His Word - the
Truth. I call it "The Coming Out" because I was coming out of my man-made religion and
experiencing the genuine relationship that had been there all along. Through depression,
despair, and frustration, some of my unnecessary standards changed, and most of all, my
heart and mind changed to a view of hope. I transferred to another Baptist school in
Pennsylvania, where I experience a deeper, more joyous walk with Christ. I then took a
semester break from school for a season of rest and to refocus. I met someone who
prophesied into my life. Then God led me to take a mission trip to inner-city San
Francisco, CA to work with Youth With a Mission for a Discipleship Training School for a
few months. After some disagreement with the leadership about ministry to Catholics in
Rome and the need to correct false teaching , the staff asked me to leave YWAM. I
had maintained such ideas as: we shouldn't worship Mary, there is no purgatory, the
Pope isn't infallible, etc., but because I did not want to compromise the Faith or our
freedom from false teachings, they insisted that I leave. I went back to Montana for a
season, and applied to go to Mozambique, Africa. After some time with Rolland and
Heidi Bakers in Africa, I went back to the states and promptly found myself working
with (and alongside) Native Americans, doing outreach to reservations in Montana and in
Canada. As fall approached, I saved up money to finish college at Israel College of the
Bible in Jerusalem, Israel. Through all these times, and even until today, I have
witnessed countless miracles, signs, wonders, and demonstrations of the power of the
Holy Spirit. I am even able to reflect upon my earlier childhood and see how He was
working, even then, in supernatural ways.
 Jesus answered and said unto them, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor
the power of God." Matt 22:29

I walked along HaRachov HaNevi’im (Prophet’s Street) in Jerusalem, next to the school I
was attending, Israel College of the Bible. Shouts of joy, beatings of drums, and loud
praise music could be heard from the chapel area. A security guard to the hospital next
door commented, with an Israeli accent, “It sounds like a party in there.” I smiled to
myself, knowing that it was a local congregation, Shemma Sasson (“Oil of Joy”), having
their weekly meeting on Saturday night, the close of shabbat. I walked into the service,
feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit and noticing people shouting to God and dancing
to the music. This was a far cry from the Baptist church I grew up in, and the other
Baptist schools I had attended, where drums were taboo, dancing was forbidden, and
prophecy was despised, but I could see Yeshua (the Hebrew name for Jesus) at work,
and I knew from Scriptures that God was pleased. I went to the dorm and wrote these
lyrics,
You are the laughter of my soul
You are the joy that makes me whole
You are the peace within my heart
You’re the only light I have right from the start.

I couldn’t have imagined that God could be this good – that laughter and joy this real
could actually be a gift from Him. I had bought into so much religion and false teaching
growing up, along with some good Biblical teaching, that it took the work of the Holy
Spirit and the study of Scripture to find the truth.

Praise him with the timbrel and dance: F401 praise him with stringed instruments
and organs. Psalm 150:4

And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a
linen ephod. 2 Samuel 6:14

As I read these passages in my parents’ house back in Montana, I stared at them over
and over. What does this mean? How can drums and guitars be ‘worldly’, if these
passages command us to praise God with such instruments? How could David dance
before the Lord if dancing is ‘worldly’ and ‘sensual’? I prayed and asked God, “God,
reveal truth to me; if this is of you and it is for today, I want to see it. Please show it
to me.” Some time later I went fishing with my dad. We stopped for lunch after fishing
at this restaurant called “Julie’s”, west of town. As we walked out the door I noticed a
little card on the public announcement board, “Davidic dance, Messianic worship”. It
listed a time and place where they were meeting – at the grange hall, west of town,
Saturday afternoon. I showed up there maybe a week later. I knew God had answered
my prayers. They danced to Messianic praise music before the Lord in a Jewish-style
dance. I joined in, as they taught some simple steps, and soon I began to feel free -
free from misunderstandings about God, free from dead religion. I had decided I would
question everything I had been taught and believe only the Bible and the Holy Spirit’s
teaching.
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
"Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." Matthew 8:17
We walked along the path with our teacher/archaeological guide Sheila to some sites in
Israel. My knee had been hurting me for some time and felt like it might be out of joint
slightly. I had been praying for a week for God to heal it, but nothing happened. As I
sat down to rest for a little bit, I questioned the Lord about the ailment and asked Him
again to heal me, because I knew that with Him all things were possible. I felt the Holy
Spirit tell me to ask Helen (one of my classmates from England) to come pray for my
knee. She gladly came over and prayed with me, laying a hand on my knee. When she
finished praying, I felt the Holy Spirit and stood (to my joy) to know that the pain was
instantaneously, completely gone. God had healed me. Again, this went completely
against many things I was taught by pastors and teachers growing up. However, I had
read over and over in the Scriptures how God promised us healing and the power to bring
healing to people who were sick. I trusted His Word and asked Him to demonstrate it to
me. He answered me in His Spirit with power: live demonstrations and experiences.

A STUBBORN PEOPLE
Back in Israel I began to feel a pull from many professing Christians in the Land. Many
Jewish people have made Aliyah into Israel (immigrated to Israel), and many more will
still. This is the Lord’s gathering of Israel back as a people for His glory. However,
everywhere I looked I saw compromise. Not just compromise, but the spirit of
antichrist. People were afraid to share about Jesus, afraid to offend Jewish people or
get in trouble for telling young people about Jesus. In fact, I found organizations that
were called ‘Christian’ that made their members promise not to talk about Jesus to
Jewish people in the land. I felt the urgency of the Gospel. I knew that bringing people
into the Kingdom of God was more important than bringing them back into the land of
Israel. I even had a dream one night where I was riding the bus. On the bus this
Jewish lady says, commandingly, “No more Jesus stuff.” Then a believer retorts, “Living
in Israel is a waste of time for believers.” In the dream it showed me how some
believers were believing the lies of Satan, to their own hurt.
And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.
And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet,
that I heard him that spake unto me. And he said unto me, Son of man, I send
thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against
me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and
thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And they, whether they will
hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall
know that there hath been a prophet among them. Ezekiel 2:1-5
As I gazed upon the faces of orthodox Jews in our area of Jerusalem and walked past
pictures of Schneerson, a false messiah, I realized how “all scripture…is profitable for
teaching…” (2 Timothy 3:16); even these words in Ezekiel were speaking to our
generation today. These people were as stubborn and rebellious as in the time of
Ezekiel, but God had sent me to speak to them. Jerusalem was dark, spiritually. I had a
dream about a big futbol (soccer) game, where all the Israelies were against each other.
Indeed, this is how the atmosphere was in Jerusalem – complete competition and strife
against one another. God’s city was clouded in fear, witchcraft, dead religion, despair,
depression, doubt, control, anger, bitterness, blood-thirst, rebellion, pride,
covetousness, suicide, lust, envy, dead ritual, human tradition, lying, drunkenness,
selfishness, and under attack.

I sat in Kirkat Tzion (Tzion Square), playing love songs and worship songs. I could feel
the presence of the Holy Spirit and I began to speak with a few people. Each time I
sang, I became more and more bold to sing whatever God wanted me to sing, even about
Jesus. It was getting late and these punk Israeli kids invited me back to their place.
They were kids in poverty, rejects from the Jewish religion, and the atmosphere was
dark. They were mostly dressed in black, but they had invited Jesus into their home.
We spoke a little bit, and they asked me to play, so I played from an Old Testament
prophet,
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they
have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and
shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Zechariah 12:10
I was singing to them, for them, and praying that God would fulfill His word.

I walked through the streets of the Old City, following the directions of a friend to get
to an Arab congregation. It was hidden back in a narrow street, almost invisible, except
for those who knew what they were looking for. I stepped into the singing and worship,
only to have eyes gaze upon me in amazement. I was the only westerner there. I sat
down and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit very strongly. I was glad to have made it
there, unhindered from the enemy. I had resisted bitterness and hatred I saw in some
people, even Christians, toward Arabs. I knew that wasn’t Jesus. Allelujah. Salaam.
Yesua. These were words I recognized. God was teaching me. A nice young Arab girl
sat next to me. As one brother began to preach about the early church, false teachers,
and the true Gospel of faith, she translated flawlessly.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to
one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge
by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of
healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another
prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to
another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the
selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 1 Cor 12:7-11
I knew God was at work in a very practical way to help the Church function. Her
interpretation was impeccable, supernatural, and a gift from God. I had experienced
this time and time again in multi-language environments. I saw it in a Spanish
congregation in Pennsylvania. I saw the Holy Spirit at work in Africa. Where the issue
of ‘tongues’ seemed to be something that the Baptist churches I grew up in preached
against, here I could see its necessity. In Africa, people told me that God had given
them the gift to speak in English, even though they had not been formally taught any
English. Their translation was incredible, and a gift from the Holy Spirit, to help people
communicate God’s Word.
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one
body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all
baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles. 1 Cor 12:12-13
In this place, as well, I had never felt as much of a struggle to take sides. I felt like
Jesus at the well with the Samaritan woman, while the disciples questioned why He was
with her. The Arabs and Jews outside the Church continued their war, while fear,
intimidation, and misunderstanding separated congregations of those who believed in
Jesus. Jewish believers would sometimes cast doubt upon Arabs as a whole for suicide
bombings and lack of support for them as a people and nation, while Arab believers would
see some exaltation of Israel and Jewishness, which was beyond Scripture, as being
arrogant, presumptuous, and an idolatry. In order for me to join both Jewish believers
and Arab believers, I had to maintain that we (i.e. Those who believe in Jesus) are the
Church. The church I had grown up in was very adamant about joining a local church
body in a formal sense (i.e. ‘becoming a member’). What I have found, however, is this is
often a means of segregating people, creating exclusiveness and isolation from
interaction with other believers in other congregations, especially where racial
segregation is involved. In researching the Scriptures, I also discovered that there is
no command to ‘join a church’, but rather a command the join ‘The Church’ and to receive
those who are of the Faith. Once a person believes in Jesus, they become part of the
Church, and no one can revoke that membership, even though some might be disciplined
for a time and not be part of the congregation. We are the Church. No one can grant us
this title or take it away from us. Churches were separated in the Scripture only by
region, (i.e. The Church of Philadelphia, the Church of Jerusalem, etc.), but not by
denomination. In fact, they were rebuked for such divisions. As a child I had heard we
should not marry outside of our race or denomination, because it was unscriptural. Later
I learned that it was actually against the scriptures to forbid marriage for such reasons,
and the former reason was actually a cover-up for racism and discrimination. Within the
Arab-believing community there was also discrimination, based upon background. In the
Arab church, it was socially unacceptable for someone who once was a Muslim, but now
believed in Jesus, to marry someone who had been raised as a Christian. In essence,
those who came to Christ later in life were treated like second-class citizens. On
another level, however, I also saw the grace of God and His desire for unity. Where
persecution exists, unity is a necessity, not an option. Believers were forced to bind
together to help encourage one another. Arabs believers would sometimes meet in the
Jewish sections of town, in buildings where Hebrew believers also met on a different
day. Even still, I learned through such extreme circumstances, the ultimate
reconciliation of Israel as a nation to God and the unity of the Church will only come
through Jesus.

DIVINE PROTECTION
As time waxed on living in Jerusalem, my spirit became more and more tense; I could
feel spiritual darkness around me. Sometimes I would have to take a break and visit
some other city just to get away from a spiritual cloud.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which
are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even
as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" Matt 23:37
I woke up to sirens and an eerie feeling. Something wasn’t right. I walked up to my
Ulpan Alef class (where we learned modern Hebrew), and Shuley, our teacher, was there,
but a few classmates weren’t. She had a look of worry on her face, along with other
students.
“There’s been a bombing.” She stated, with a thick Israeli accent. She was calling
all the students to make sure everyone was safe. One of the buses that blew up was the
route that one of our students, Jean, from Korea, rode every morning. She called again.
He answered, sleepily. He had over-slept - praise God! It showed us once again that God
was with us, protecting us, and sovereignly guiding our every step. Nevertheless, here in
Jerusalem, a city called ‘Sodom’ and ‘Egypt’ in Revelation, there was a spirit that hated
the innocent, that hated us - an antichrist spirit that wanted us dead. It led some
toward depression, and others toward suicide, and others to be slaughtered. The war
was reality – right in our back door. We watched as bombing after bombing happened in
our city. We looked on as a bus burned and body parts hung everywhere, blood staining
the streets. Nevertheless I heard the Holy Spirit speaking to me, “God is around you.
He is always with you. Do not fear. Believe. My grace is sufficient for you.”
The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that
trust in him. Nahum 1:7
The war in Israel was one thing. The war in Iraq added just the right ingredient to
make everything just a bit crazier. I had had a dream that Bush bombed Iraq secretly,
before it happened. I didn’t want the war in Iraq. I prayed that it wouldn’t happen, but
God allowed it to happen. It threatened our security in Israel, surrounded by Arab
nations, within missile range of Baghdad. It made reaching the Arabs with the Gospel
just that much more difficult when the nation in which I was born was bombing one of
their countries. Nevertheless I trusted His heart, and prayed for boldness – to not be
afraid to die, and to know that I will never die, because I believe in Him.

I also visited a Palestinian children’s school with some Arab believers from this church,
including my friend Steve, who is the only believer in his all-Muslim family. The team
performed a skit, teaching about the good Samaritan and true religion. I prayed and
secretively handed an Arabic tract to one of the children who had given me a heart-
shaped key-ring. I prayed for all these children, that Jesus would reach them amidst
the hostile world they grew up in. I dreamed I was in Ramallah, where Arafat used to
have his headquarters. I was walking down the street, where there were a lot of girls,
maybe 8-12 years old. They were prostituting themselves in their underwear as I walked
by. I felt incredibly grieved at what I saw. I met this one girl who was throwing up
cockroaches, which were crawling through every orifice in her body, all through her
system. I woke up crying and grieving for these girls. I understood that it represented
the sexual and physical abuse they were under, and the demonic oppression that lived
inside some of them who didn’t know the freedom of a Savior who loved them. I prayed
for them to be set free.
WOLVES IN SHEEPS' CLOTHING
I struggled again in classes of Jewish culture and philosophy, just as I had in ethics,
theology, and psychology classes at the other Bible colleges I had attended – in Iowa
and Pennsylvania. These classes were part of the curriculum, and sometimes mandatory
for their accreditation, but I couldn’t shake one nagging concept – these ‘great minds’
were false teachers. I studied the scriptures more and more regarding false teachers,
and I discovered that the people the world (both in Jewish and Gentile culture) reveres
as being experts, denied Jesus as the Messiah, as being Lord (or God) in the flesh, and
were really of the spirit of antichrist. What I couldn’t fathom, was, why were Christian
college professors also esteeming these individuals? Why should we listen to anything
these ‘experts’ had to say? Why weren’t we obeying the Scriptures?
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the
circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching
things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Titus 1:10,11

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that
denieth the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:22
I knew there was a true wisdom to be gained, from the Lord, and those that once
believed and those who still believe in Him. The pursuit of worldly (demonic) wisdom by
the world does not negate the value of Godly wisdom, which is humble and contained in
everyone who believes, and not everyone who studies or strives to understand and know.
The church ought to be anti-intellectual to the wisdom of this world, but wise and
receptive to the knowledge of God that comes by faith, which is foolishness to the
world. I saw many students go into debt to pay for wisdom they thought they would gain
from Bible college, but ended up in monetary bondage at the end of their schooling.
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain
babblings, and oppositions of science [knowledge] falsely so called. 1Tim 6:20
I also struggled to avoid debate, or arguing, which is of the sinful nature, because often
the Holy Spirit was speaking to me about something else, while people wanted to dispute
some finer point of doctrine. I recognized that sometimes the enemy polarizes
believers by setting them against each other to fight, when the question that he poses
doesn’t actually come from God. For instance, the question of reconciling the
sovereignty of God (predestination) and the free-will of man (choice) in salvation is
really a demonic question that in some way is fundamentally questioning the goodness of
God. God’s Spirit and my spirit were quenched listening to seemingly endless debates,
resulting from intellectual pride, so I hid in God.
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and
understanding. Prov 2:6
 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:6

Sometimes I would hear something like, “the Bible must be read from a Hebraic
understanding,” which simply became a way of undermining the ability of the Holy Spirit
of God to illumine the mind to God’s intention for Scripture, despite a lack of scholarly
understanding. I felt the pressure of Satan against the progression of the Kingdom of
God and His wisdom. He was accusing us of the things that we know, that they are false;
he was accusing us of what we don’t know – that we haven’t studied enough and aren’t
smart enough to tell these people about Jesus; he was accusing the Church that we
weren’t ‘Jewish’ enough, and needed to adapt more of the culture of the Jewish people
before we could talk to them about the Messiah; he was accusing us regarding the past –
the holocaust, the crusades, the inquisition. All these were attempts to paralyze us
from being bold and loving, and embracing and sharing God’s grace in the gift of the
Messiah with them.

I learned that knowledge puffs us, but love edifies. The greatest teachers I have
encountered didn’t charge me a cent for what they’ve had to say, nor did they beg me
for money or demand it from me. Most of learning comes from walking with Jesus. I
learned to beware of false teachers, who come to me in sheep’s clothing, but inside are
ravenous wolves; that the Holy Spirit was my teacher, and I should not put my trust in
men or women. God meant everything that He said, and I need to trust Him. I longed
for wisdom that came from God, and not from people. I longed for a Church built upon
relationship with Him. I longed for His stamp of approval, His authority, and not
authority based upon what I had done – an authority that stayed with me wherever I
went, and didn’t change depending on whether I decided to stay with one particular
group for a long period of time.

WORDS OF KNOWLEDGE

And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the
LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!
Num 11:29
I walked from my home in Pisgat Ze’ev (North of Jerusalem), into town, which took me a
couple hours. The buses had stopped running, because it was Shabbat. There were no
shops open to speak of, except one little grocery store, tucked away over by McDonald’s,
at the end of Ben Yehudah Street. I was living with a Korean pastor at the time, but I
wanted to visit these meetings I had hear about. Some elders (a presbytery) from a
church in Pennsylvania were visiting, and preaching. God was drawing me there. As I
stepped inside, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of
knowledge by the same Spirit. 1 Cor 12:8
We worshiped and sang praises to God for a while, and then they began to preach. Then
they began to preach specifically to individuals, giving them words of encouragement,
and specific words that God told them. They pointed me out of the crowd. They began
to speak things about me they could not have known, except that God had shown them.
They knew things no one else knew, except God, and exposed secrets of my heart and
encouraged me in the Lord. They told me that I came from a broken background, like a
black sheep in my family, and had been rejected by many people, who called themselves
Christians, and that many people looked at me and would shake their head and wonder if
I would make it. But God was with me, and would help me. I liked to hang back and be
hidden, but God was bringing me to the front. I would preach the Word of God with fire
and power by the Holy Spirit on the streets. I would have boldness in His presence.
This was not new to me, however, because I had experienced the same types of words of
knowledge many other times with other believers back in Montana and in Africa. I first
encountered this when I began to believe for impossible things with God, and prayed for
God to reveal truth to me, for God to do supernatural things in my life. I had believed
that all things were possible with God. I had called upon Him and He was answering me
and showing me great and mighty things which I didn’t know.

THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM

I walked down HaNevi’im toward the Old City of Jerusalem, and into at place called ‘The
Jamm’. There was loud music shaking the ground outside, and alternative, outcast kids
filtering in and out of the building. At the door stood one older kid, a security guard,
inspecting bags and people for bombs or contraband before they went inside. I
underwent inspection and filtered in. Inside a Christian band was playing, along with
some other kid, punk bands. Some of the kids started moshing. I could see their hearts
were mostly fun, with only a few exceptions of people with malicious intent. I began
joining in, along with my friend Adam, and started praying for the kids we were bumping
up against. We held out our hands to protect them as they were moshing, and also so we
could pray for them. Another night they had open mic at the Jamm. I felt very strongly
from the Holy Spirit to play some music about suicide and God’s unconditional love. He
gave me the words and I began to play. Some kids’ ears perked up and listened. The
Holy Spirit was working.

BELIEVING AND YET BELIEVING AGAIN

I still believe in love, still believe in faith, still believe in hope…

I walked with some of my friends from the Bible College to a local pub. We sat down and
had a drink, just visiting and enjoying spending time with each other. One of the girls
starts drinking more and flirting with my roommate at the time. They start dancing to
the music. I didn’t feel comfortable there and just wanted to leave. After I left, the
girl kept drinking and got drunk. I was grieved. I went back to confront her with
another friend. She became belligerent, and I just left, not knowing what to do. I felt
hurt, and I knew that Jesus felt hurt. I had done what I could to encourage her to
leave and been pushed aside. I had spoken the truth in love and been despised for it.
Her words felt like ice, like they were crucifying what was good in me. I went back to
my apartment and saw an open vision of Jesus on the cross with blood streaming down.
The devil really tried to discourage me in this situation, and tried to tell me that holding
to the truth was worthless and that it was no use correcting friends who were going
astray.

I walked with my friend Elizabeth to Consoladores de Israel, a Messianic Spanish

congregation in the heart of Jerusalem. We liked going there, because it helped us with
our Spanish, and also was a great cross-cultural experience in so many ways. Here
people greeted each other with a holy kiss, danced, and worshiped freely to the Lord.
But the devil was at work. This week was different. We received word that the pastor
was in jail for accusations against him by a little girl in the church. According to the
parents, the girl said the pastor ‘touched’ her. The pastor explained that while the
whole congregation had been worshiping, the girl fell asleep in his arms during the music,
and he had carried her upstairs to a loft area, which was a study for him and also a
bedroom. He laid her on the bed, and her dress had got caught on her underwear.
Elizabeth and I were shocked, to say the least, by the whole ordeal, and drew back for a
bit to pray and seek God about the truth. Nevertheless it led me to trust in Jesus
more, and to believe there is still grace and hope for the Church, despite whatever
battles we may face.

DANCING IN THE ENEMY’S CAMP

I went back a second time to Israel, to live, work, and love people there. I ended up
working on a Kibbutz for a time, living in hostels in Jerusalem, and traveling a bit. There
on the Kibbutz I met volunteers from around the world (South America, Europe, Korea,
and the United States).

After my initial arrival here at Daliya, I met some Koreans who professed faith in Jesus
and held worship times occasionally together - Yun, John, Yuni, Arua, and Mortin. I was
very glad for this answer to prayer. Yun, Mortin, Yuni, and Arua have recently left, but
Jesus is still here.

After some time, I met other volunteers who said they believed in Jesus as well, and
were Catholic, all from Columbia - Alex, Caesar, Sandra, and Isabel. I was waiting and
praying to see if their faith was genuine and encourage what God was doing in their lives.
While trying to extend the true Gospel to the ends of the earth, we will always face the
traditions and institutions of 'Christianity' that came before us. As we seek the wisdom
of the Lord, we will learn how to discern the purity of His doctrine and teaching and the
work of the Holy Spirit, and pray to the Lord for them to 'strengthen what remains',
instead of simply ignoring them. "...so that I may present all men perfect before
Christ." (Col 1:28). I have been praying that not only will the Lord bring His Word to
the ends of the earth, but He will revitalize and purify every single place where His
Word at any time has reached. I gave a Spanish New Testament for Isabel to read if
she wanted, and I found out later she had been reading on her own. One night, when all
the volunteers were around a camp fire, she came to me and said, "I think this week I
have been born-again." I was very surprised how she used this term, and asked her how
she knew it. She replied, "I feel like I've been flying this week, and that all my troubles
have gone." I told her, “Es la obra del Espiritu Santo (it's the work of the Holy
Spirit)”...Caesar also joined in one of our prayer/worship times and replied with tears,
"These things are so amazing to me."

Others, out of curiosity or through revelation the Lord is giving them in dreams and the
Holy Spirit's work, have asked to borrow my Bibles (to the point I have to read my own
on the internet, or work through some Hebrew Psalms)...Tsalmon is one Jewish friend
who asked me specifically if we could get together and spend some time talking about
Jesus. Ben, a German friend, asked to borrow my Bible to catch up on Jewish history in
Genesis, or the accounts of the Nativity. Stephanie also asked for a Hebrew/English
Bible to study Hebrew a little more.

Many Drews (an Arab religion) have asked about what I believe at work, and I try to be
as lovingly up-front about what we believe, and the Good News of Jesus, especially when
they ask. Music has been a powerful avenue to communicate the love of Jesus. Many of
them, Chris especially, loves to hear the music ("it's soothing," so they say), but I
usually sing worship, or other songs the Lord leads me to play.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, especially in down-time in the soap factory. The
soul and heart sometimes say what the mouth cannot, and God hears the cries of our
inner-most being.

We somehow found rides to another Kibbutz one night, where they were having a huge
party called ‘The Terminal’. There was plenty of sensual, provocative dancing, drinking,
and unspeakable things there, but I prayed. I danced to the Lord and hung out with
friends, praying and singing to Jesus over the music. The whole time I was on the
Kibbutz I kept thinking about Egypt. I knew I should visit there once my 3 month
contract with Kibbutz Daliya was over.

TRUE FELLOWSHIP

We met up in Egypt with a friend I had met in a hostel in Jerusalem, named Benjamin.
His parents were from America and France, and he was studying Arabic. When he
greeted me, I knew in the Holy Spirit that we should greet with a holy kiss (as is
customary in both French and Arabic culture to those you trust and love, also 1 Thess
5:26). We enjoyed fellowship and the presence of the Holy Spirit as we encouraged
each other. I felt a great sense of appreciation for this brother and admiration in my
heart for him.
We spent 4 hours at the border going back into Israel, as they searched our bags, asked
us questions, and basically gave us a hard time. Maybe it was because of the
Arabic/English Bible I had with me, or the Brit Hadeshot (Hebrew New Testaments) I
had, or maybe God was trying our patience. Anyway, it all turned out okay, and I still
had a visa for more than a month in Israel - praise God! Through it all, I became less
fearful about mentioning the fact I'm a believer in Jesus, even to border police. I've
found out that it really doesn't make very much difference. I will probably get
harassed anyway, so I might as well be upfront about our Savior (using of course Jesus'
wisdom: 'be as wise as serpents, as harmless as doves' - Matt 1:16).
DREAMS

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit
upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young
men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Acts 2:17

Some years previous I was attending a college in Iowa, where God was busy renewing my
mind from misconceptions I had about how He worked. I went back to my dorm room
after class at college. I felt extremely tired for some reason, even though I’m sure I’d
had enough sleep the previous night. For some time I had been open to supernatural
things of God, and had prayed that He would show me great and mighty things which I
didn’t know. I laid down on my bed and fell into REM sleep within minutes.
I dreamed I was on this beach with some friends. The scene was beautiful, and I was
touched by the majesty there. We waded out into the water, because I felt there was
something buried in the water, just off the shore. We dug and searched where I felt
something lay hidden, and we uncovered a huge treasure chest.
I awoke, startled by a phone call from one of my friends. They were taking a trip to the
Ledges State Park, not far from the school, and they invited me along. I had never been
to the Ledges before, so I was interested to see what it was like. I groggily succumbed
and rode with them to the park, still feeling a little hazed from sleeping. We walked
slowing along the path, and I kept silent while the others joked around and flirted. I
spoke with the Holy Spirit in my heart, not really with words, but just knowing that He
was there and that He loved me. We walked down a steep bank and toward some water.
I looked up, shocked. There, in front of me, was the scene I had just seen in my dream.
I ran down toward the water, praying and wondering what this was about. I peered out
into the water, curious to know what lay beneath the surface. My friends soon asked me
what I was doing. I explained I had seen this same seen in a dream that afternoon.
Doubtful, they thought maybe I had been there previously. I explained I hadn’t. Still
standing after some time, they insisted that we leave. I didn’t want to leave, until God
showed me why I had seen this before in a dream, without having visited this place
previously, and how this was possible.
Later I understood the dream meant that God was giving me a treasure – that dreams
and visions can be used by Him to reveal things of His Spirit, and even future events,
just like in the Scriptures. This confirmed to me what His Word said.
I had a dream some years later, after spending some time in Israel.
I was following this Man with a mass of young Jewish people (kids under the age of 26
I'd say) - most of them had fled from their orthodox homes and came to believe in
Jesus. We were in a big meeting hall, up in the mountains, or at least some place where
there was snow. I looked at everyone and was amazed, because there were maybe 1/2
million kids there, yet they were all somehow taken care of. I felt maybe we should be
working, or doing something, but mostly we were enjoying each other, and just sharing in
friendship, having fun. I understood that, given the situations these kids had come
from, and the oppression they had experienced, this was the perfect place for them to
be. Most all of the kids seemed to speak English, and there were older kids, as well as
young kids, and babies. With the man I had several conversations, one about how the
Mormons had about 1 million people in their camp, and we didn't have that many.

I also had a dream about an orthodox Jew named Aron who believed in Jesus. He was
maybe 3-4 years old and wore glasses. He was brilliant, maybe even a genius, and was
weeping at the treatment he would receive for believing in Jesus as the Messiah.
Both of these dreams represent God’s heart for Jewish people. He longs to save them,
deliver them, and lead them out of bondage from human tradition. He longs to feed
them, take care of them, and carry them in His arms.

SUSTAINED UPON A SICKBED

The first year in Israel I had traveled with my friend Tadashi (from Japan) into Jordan.
We went for vacation purposes after school had ended, to visit some sites in Petra, and
also to carry some Sunday school materials secretly into Amman to some Arab believers
living there. The following year I took another trip into Jordan for different reasons.

I traveled to Amman, Jordan today and met some new friends here from, guess where -
Eureka, Montana! What are the chances??? Anyway, one of them is a believer who
works with humanitarian work in Iraq and Israel, and I'm considering going to Baghdad
soon, and visit some believers there. Please pray about this for me, for obvious reasons.
On a personal note, I was sick for a day when I first arrived in Jordan, due to maybe a
combination of food poisoning and spiritual attack, but the Lord sustained me upon my
sickbed and did not surrender me to the will of my enemies (Psalm 41). Hallelujah!
Thanks for your prayers about traveling to Baghdad. After much prayer and effort,
although an opportunity for me to go to Iraq was available, I felt I should not go there
at this time. I received some warning signals from the Lord which indicated I should not
take this particular route at this time, and also, my main purpose in going was
accomplished through other means: i.e. meeting, fellowshipping, and praying with Iraqi
believers. In fact, I was able to meet 4 of them, 2 of which have been refugees in
Jordan since the Gulf War. Nonetheless I found their perspective on the war
interesting and surprising, maybe in some respects because the war is still concluding
and they might be hesitant to say anything too negative about America for fear of being
labeled as a "terrorist". Regardless, we were able to pray about the war situation and I
prayed for the Lord to begin the work of reconciliation an d forgiveness for injustices
which may have purposefully or inadvertently been executed (we will have to face this at
some point - better sooner than later). This is for certain - war and military force are
not the only means to fighting terror. As Someone great once said, "Perfect love casts
out fear (i.e. "terror")". Please continue to pray that the True Gospel of Christ's healing
and saving grace will permeate the Middle East, and not be clouded by military, political,
and individual will, and that God will bless Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, and (of course)
America.

VISITING PHILADELPHIA
And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your
peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Matt 10:12,13
I had tried to visit Turkey the first year I was in Israel. I had wanted to visit the 7
churches of Revelation, especially Philadelphia, but every time I tried it seemed to be a
closed door. The following year in Israel I received a note from an elder/friend of mine
back in Montana, “I see you in Turkey.” It was just enough confirmation that I needed
to book a ticket to Istanbul and Izmir for a couple weeks. It was smooth as butter.

I've been battling here in Istanbul for a bit. I hope to visit a congregation tonight and
some other believers here in the area. God sent me an Australian believer last night, so
I could pray with him and discuss some different things. It was a blessing.

I had some bizarre experiences while I was in Turkey. I spent most days praying,
walking the streets, and asking God what He was doing. One night I met a native Turkish
kid, who led me to an amusement park. We went on some rides for free and then an
American band from Arizona set up a stage in the middle of the park and began playing
music. I knew they were Christians by the music they were playing, but they were being
a little covert about the songs they were playing. I was praising God for them and went
up to the stage and left a Turkish Bible on the stage in front of them.
Later, I traveled on a bus from Izmir to Alashehir (modern-day Philadelphia). As I
traveled on the bus, I was the only westerner there, and I found out, the only one who
spoke clear English. I figured I would find a hostel or something in Alashehir to stay in.
As I traveled, this older woman approached me, named Kadriye Caton. She signaled for
me to follow her off of the bus once we arrived in Alashehir. I spoke broken words of
Turkish, with the help of my Lonely Planet guide, and she spoke broken words of English.
She found out I was trying to find the ruins of the Church of Philadelphia. She brought
me there.

The Church of Philadelphia is in ruins, over-run by her enemies, who love to see her in
the past, love to see her and look upon her as she is and not help her, seek to dig her up
and preserve her this way. They have set gates around her and locked her in this
downcast state, and charge money to visitors to look upon her destruction. But God is
her Helper, He will not suffer her to remain in Sheol. He will raise her up.

Kadriye invited me to her mother’s home, where they fed me, introduced me to their
son, and let me stay the night. I was impressed at God’s ability to provide for me.
Later, they took me back to their house in Izmir, where I met her daughter and stayed
a night there. As I spoke with them about Jesus by drawing pictures and using small
words I knew, I soon realized they were Muslims. Yet, with the help of the Holy Spirit,
I know I was able to share something of the Gospel with them. I also knew that God had
opened their heart to Jesus, because they had received me and shown me hospitality.

And saith unto him, "Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and
when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good
wine until now." John 2:10
One of the first times I went to a shabbat service with a Messianic congregation in
Montana, they served wine as part of the kiddush, or communion. Alcohol had been
forbidden in the Baptist church, even within their church constitution. Still, God was
challenging my religious understanding. Why would Jesus turn water into wine if drinking
wine were a sin? Why would Paul encourage Timothy to drink a little wine for his
stomach’s sake, even though he was a pastor of a church? Certainly getting drunk would
grieve the Holy Spirit, but yet again the Scriptures questioned human tradition and rules
about drinking, and helped me to understand God’s freedom. On the way back from my
second venture to Israel, I traveled to various European countries. I traveled through
Scotland in our Paddy-wagon – a small bus designated for tourists, which took us up into
the northern part of Scotland, and to some significant sites. Two of us stopped for a
quick dip in Loch Ness, even though we both had colds and the weather wasn’t that
bright either. The driver bought a small bottle of whiskey for us all to share, and I took
a little sip. I really wasn’t in the habit of drinking alcohol at all on this voyage, simply
because so many people looked at it differently – just to lose themselves and get
wasted. Yet this was one other thing in which my mind had changed since growing up.
I met up with these believers from California studying and working in Rome. Ted &
Carry-Ann - he's an artist, she's a fashion designer - both love the Lord. We visited the
Coliseum, the place of the martyrdom of many of our fathers/mothers in the faith, and
also where Paul & Silas were in prison.
As I traveled through the Vatican, I wondered what possibly could remain of Jesus and
the freedom of the Holy Spirit in such a dark and dismal place, clouded by hundreds of
years of false religion, oppression, and spiritual abuse. As I prayed, I looked upon the
art of master painters and sculptures. Here, they communicated something of the
messages of the Bible, and I realized it was a gift to humanity, to help communicate the
history of God’s work among people in the earth.

Have I seen miracles and the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit? I have received
countless provisional gifts for free: money, clothes, food, furniture (a bed, desk, and
coffee table among other things) for an apartment, and free places to stay when I
needed them. I have seen the smallest of concerns met, like fingernail clippers being
brought to me in the midst of Africa because I had a hangnail. I have seen a bathroom
door miraculously open before me, that was closed and locked before. I have had
dreams and visions which enlightened me how to pray for friends who were struggling
spiritually, or with regard to their personal relationships. I have had prophets read my
heart like an open book. I have heard people interpret English fluently without any prior
formal training. I have listened to someone speak in Korean and understood what they
were saying by the Holy Spirit. I have experienced the supernatural delivering power of
the Holy Spirit against a religious spirit, lust, depression and suicide. I have witnessed a
demon-possessed woman receive deliverance, simply through the sincere worship and
praise of the Church and demonized children and homes set-free through prayer and the
destruction of idols, charms, and talismans. I have seen witchcraft and curses broken
off of people. I have personally received healing from extreme flu symptoms in a day,
both in Mozambique and in Jordan. My lower back was healed after a serious strain and
bruising. My left ring finger was healed when it was sprained in a soap factory on the
Kibbutz in Israel. I have prayed for people whose back pain disappeared. I have seen a
small girl pray for herself and receive healing in her wrist. My girlfriend was healed of
acid reflux. My sister-in-law prophesied the exact date and weight of her new-born
baby girl. I have seen countless colds, headaches, stomach aches and other pain
disappear through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

I long for closeness, of hearing Him clearly, of facing the reality of what He says of me
and the world around - the Truth.
I long for my family to be free, and for the world to know that Jesus loves them.
 Maturity
For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even
your perfection [maturity]. 2Co 13:9

This is my prayer for you, and all the Church - that He would make all things new in your
life, and mature you in Christ. While reflecting on Christian maturity, it amazes me to
observe what most people think of when they think of a mature individual - a person with
great persuasive ability (i.e. someone who badgers and/or threatens other people into
listening to them)...someone who has many degrees and great influence...someone who has
a nice, 'stable' life, making enough money, obeying all the rules outwardly...someone who
is very adult-like, carefully distinguishing himself/herself from children and young
people...how old they are physically....or even how old they are in the Lord...
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of
hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one
teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are
become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that
useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong
meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use
have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Heb.5:11-14

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto

perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of
faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of
resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God
permit. - Hebrews 6: 1-3

Here in Hebrews, God spells it out maturity for us: training our senses, or faculties, to
distinguish between good and evil. An immature believer, may have known the Lord a long
time, but refuses to turn from certain sins, refuses to face up; instead they live in a
continual state of religious show - trying to cover their sins, instead of confessing and
forsaking them. Often, instead of living by grace, they are living by their own self-
effort, or worse yet, empowered by demonic forces. They live in a cloud of deception
and fantasy, held captive by the enemy. They refuse to take God at His Word, and often
hear the voice of God and ignore it. Instead of repenting, they walk on and pretend
nothing has happened. They refuse to take basic steps of obedience and just feel like its
okay. When mature authorities from God come into their lives, they rebel, fight-against,
and sometimes slander them. The marks of immature people, is they often look up to
immature people. They exalt people based on outward appearance, worldly-status, and
uplift those that the world uplifts - giving into false teachers and 'having itching ears'
(2 Tim 4:3). Instead of living by faith, they are living by sight, never concerned about
the spiritual realm, always thinking about the physical. Never thinking about eternity,
always thinking about their temporary existence here on earth.

The difference between an immature person and a mature believer, is that a mature
believer recognizes the plots of the enemy and avoids them. They recognizes when God
is at work and follow Him.

They are also sensitive to the Spirit of God when He convicts of sin and are quick to fall
before the cross and receive resurrection power - they live in a continual state of
repentance from sin and receiving the undeserved gifts and promises of God.

They trust God and have followed Him in the basic steps of obedience like baptism.

They recognize the authorities that God has set up (which may be different from those
that people exalt and recognize), and receive from them the power and authority God
wants to place in them (like Timothy - through the laying on of Paul's hands). They are
fulfilling their mission and destiny. They know their calling and are not afraid to step out
in faith to fulfill it.

They also foresee the future as God has laid it out, and live in light of it - believing in
things they have never seen - knowing that we shall all be resurrected and stand before
the judgment seat of Christ, and only what is done by His Spirit will withstand His fire.

I pray that the Lord will impart to you new wisdom and understanding, even beyond what
I know or understand (call unto Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty
things, which you do not know), that you would be filled with the Holy Spirit, a freshness
of His presence, and a manifestation of His power. I pray that the Kingdom of God may
flow from out of your hearts and lives, and that the gifts that God has deposited inside
you would be fanned into flame and used, the rest of your days, for His glory. That He
would give you words of knowledge and wisdom, supernatural understanding, and rest in
His Spirit. I pray for supernatural insight into the mysteries of God, namely, Christ, and
to a deeper walk with Him, a sensitivity to His voice and Spirit, and an obedience to His
will. I pray the Lord will grant you the freedom to praise Him with all your heart, soul,
mind, and strength, and to love Him with the same, to dance, shout, clap, lift your hands,
bow before Him, sing, play, worship and express freely to Him glory and honor.
That the Lord would give you everything, that He would present you holy and spotless, a
bride, adorned for her husband, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.
That you would be free from a religious spirit, spirit of doubt and despair and
oppression, and any spirit of darkness for that matter, and completely filled with His
love and light, His hope, faith, endurance, and love. Especially love. That the authority
of Christ would fill your hearts and your minds, so that in all circumstances, before all
people - rulers, worldly wise men (i.e. Ivy-league grads), witchdoctors, children,
teenagers, adults, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and any other people of this world
(including me), the wisdom and power of Christ would be made manifest in you, to
confound the wise, and shame the principalities and powers of darkness and false gods,
and make God glorious before the nations. That the character of Christ would fill your
life - especially His humility, love, power and righteousness. That in all things, you would
be unified in serving Jesus, so that the world may know, there is one Lord, one faith, one
baptism, one God and Father above His Church. My prayer is that Christ would be
formed in you - His character and humility, His power, His authority, and His wisdom,
that in all things, you would be unified in serving Jesus, so that the world may know,
there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father above His Church. That He
would present you holy and spotless, a bride, adorned for her husband, without spot or
wrinkle or any such thing.

I see a church like that of Philadelphia (Rev 3), who has an open door before them, that
God has opened and no one can shut, who have a little strength, have kept His word, and
have not denied His name, a church where the heathen around it praise God for the
marvelous things He has done, which overcomes the world, flesh, and Satan by the power
of God in Christ. I envision a church full of new, growing, and mature believers which is
so committed to God that its members find their best friends within the local
community of the church, which lives in a daily, active relationship with the other
members, zealously serving God and each other, unified by love in heart and mind. I see
a church which turns its community upside down by their love and compassion for each
other and the lost; a body which explodes with new, creative music, giving glory to God; a
body that reaches out to their relatives and unsaved friends to share with them the
power of God in Christ; a body which raises up and sends out young and old people to
share the Gospel in domestic and foreign missions, which multiplies fast enough to
reproduce bodies like itself in other cities, which trains all Christians for the ministry,
which is so reliant upon the Holy Spirit, what results is what only God could have ever
accomplished.
The purpose of this church is to glorify God by their love for Him and each other, hope
in His return, and faith in Him and His Word, through praise and worship, fellowship with
each other, prayer, the Lord’s Supper, teaching and learning the Apostle’s doctrine and
of our Lord, and sharing the Good News of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and
living out the Word of God.

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of
the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent
me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their
sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me
through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in
thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast
sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be
one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made
perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast
loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:15-23