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TV Ministries cont. – Chapt.1-part.7 – Mailing #62 – excerpt from WORD to the Church
D. UNACCEPTABLE MINISTRIES
THE LORD SAYS: “LET YOUR WOMEN KEEP SILENCE IN THE CHURCHES, FOR IT IS NOT PERMITTED UNTO THEM TO SPEAK; BUT THEY ARE COMMANDED TO BE UNDER SILENCE, as also says the law… for it is a shame for women to speak in the church… THE THINGS THAT I WRITE UNTO YOU ARE THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD.” (1Cor. 14:34,35,37)
MAY I ASK WHO IN TBN CARES FOR THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD? CAN ANYBODY REPLY TO THE LORD?
THE LORD FURTHER SAYS: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I SUFFER NOT A WOMAN TO TEACH, NOR TO USURP AUTHORITY OVER THE MAN, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (1Tim. 2:11-14)
Ladies on TBN channels “preach, teach and usurp authority over the man” in an OPEN REBELLION AGAINST THIS WORD OF GOD! The Lord says that it is DISGUSTING TO HIM AND TO HIS SPIRIT! That there is no love for HIM or His WORD in their hearts, they love themselves and their “ministry” (Jn. 14:21,23,24// Ps. 119:158). Any person trying to serve God or His Church who was not called by God to do so offers unto Him a strange fire, he/she is engaged in an extremely dangerous activity and will suffer horrible consequences. (Lev. 10:1,2) Behold, the Lord is warning you women publicly, therefore, you shall have no excuses!
THEY PREACH AND “MINISTER” THE WORD OF GOD IN DEFIANCE OF THE WORD ITSELF!
The LORD says that they have put themselves into the place of authority where He never put them! [The Lord points to Marilyn Hickey, Joyce Meyer, Paula White, Juanita Bynum (also Jer. 23:21), and many others]. The Lord asks whether their reasoning, beliefs or devotion to serve Him is superior to His Word? The Lord also asks: Is My Word written in vain? Can any believer do what he/she “feels like doing” without any consequences? Will any responsible person at TBN or the preachers on TBN channels answer these simple questions to the Lord?
Those ladies who may believe that Apostle Paul was a “male chauvinist” are referred to Phil. 4:3. Here, the same Paul desired help for “those women, which laboured with me (Paul) in the Gospel”! So, women may also labour in the Gospel in the right way and spirit. And this verse of the Scripture was also inspired by the same Spirit of God!
The Lord says that some of these women are also striving, jumping, twisting their bodies, talking like a machine-gun or screaming their heads off as if being crazy, bringing their listeners to an emotional frenzy. [The Lord points predominantly to Juanita Bynum, Paula White and others.]
The Lord says that it is hellish and NOT of Him! They may appear as “ministers of righteousness” quoting the Bible, mentioning the NAME of the LORD, showing their zeal, knowledge and self-confidence, allowing others to publicly call them “pastor, prophet, preacher”, etc. But their end shall be according to their works. (Pr. 24:12// Mt. 16:27// Rev. 2:23; 22:12, for more details, see also pages 167-178[8]) If any of these women have true respect for the Word of God, and if they believe that the Lord had given them the ability to teach or preach, then they should direct their ability toward ladies or children, but not toward men. And they must have the right spirit within them or thus far, the Lord says, they have not known Him in His Spirit.
If they, therefore, repent, which is to say, change their ways and ministries and stop blatantly breaking the Word of the Living God, then the Lord will abundantly pardon. And if they do not repent and do not change their ways and their current “ministries”, the Lord says this to them:
“I am not mocked, what you are sowing, you shall surely reap… and you shall be thrown to outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Gal. 6:7// Mt. 7:22,23; 8:11,12; 13:41,42)
The Lord also warns those pastors, evangelists and other ministers who allow THEIR WIVES to become their “PARTNERS IN MINISTRY” that they may be committing the same grave error as is described above. Anyone who tries to “minister” to God and the Church without being called by God, is RISKING HIS/HER OWN LIFE! Your unbelief of this truth will only make it much worse for you in the Day of your Judgment, which is coming. Satan pushes women into the ministry of the Word, not the Spirit of God.
The men of God associated with TBN are called to oversee and discern all that is broadcast whether it is of the Spirit of God, or not! If they keep losing their spiritual discernment, their respect for EVERY WORD OF GOD and are becoming “modernists”, then the LORD WILL ABANDON AND REMOVE EACH SUCH “CANDLESTICK” OUT OF ITS PLACE very quickly so it would not produce more darkness than light… UNLESS THEY REPENT and change their ways. (Rev. 2:5)
Again, it may not be realized by those responsible for the programming on TBN channels that while one ministry may spiritually build up, the next “ministry” may pull it down! If a decent and highly profitable ministry of, say, Billy Graham, Charles Stanley, Jentezen Franklin, James Merritt, David Jeremiah, Adrian Rogers and many others is followed by something that looks like “Michael Jackson’s Anniversary Special”, then I do wonder what “devil” got into the programming and what spirit is “guiding” those responsible and into what? (Jn. 16:13)
All those responsible for the programming should start asking themselves this question. They all may believe that the Spirit is guiding every believer to all the truth. NOT SO! He is only guiding those believers that truly desire to see, understand and LIVE THAT TRUTH. And He is only guiding the meek to His Judgments and to teach His Ways! (Ps. 25:9) The problem may be a lack of meekness and of the fear of the Lord in those that make programs for TBN channels, otherwise, such things would not be broadcast to all the world. And while some Christian “creatures” might get entertainment, such programs bring SHAME TO THE LORD and not glory.
And when your men of God are heavily propagating and praising the film of Mel Gibson “The Passion of the Christ”, I am asking them this: Do you really believe that the Spirit of the Lord ever asked, led or inspired Mel Gibson to do this kind of film? Do you really? Since when has the Lord commissioned Hollywood to help Him on the evangelistic field? Would the Spirit of God desire us to hear of blood and see bloody scenes, massacres and similar evil when He expressly says:
“He that… stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from SEEING EVIL (including blood); he shall dwell on high…”? (Is. 33:15,16)
The Word of the Lord also says that “…whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely… think (imagine, meditate) on THESE things.” (Phil. 4:8, also Col. 3:2) Is the “bloody mess” of Gibson’s film pure or lovely? Does it fit this Word of God? Yes, or no? How will you answer? … not to me, but to the Lord?
And another Word of God says: “Turn my eyes from beholding a vanity.” (Ps. 119:37) This film is a vanity and serves no purpose for the Almighty Lord. His Spirit can even today add such to His Church as He may choose (Acts 2:41,47) and that without any gladiator scenes. Satan has been butchering people since Cain and none of it ever helped any man to turn from evil and be saved! Just as the daily murders, bloody scenes and other trash on TV screen will not bring even one soul to the Lord!
Finally, the Word says: “I would have you wise (well informed) unto that which is good, and simple (uninformed) concerning evil.” (Rom. 16:19b)
Today, our enemy is seeking to occupy the believers with evil in various ways and forms. What Israel and the world had done to Christ was the greatest evil ever imagined. The devil keeps showing his “masterpiece” to the believers and naïve leaders are praising Satan’s work by propagating it. Should then ordinary believers believe and follow such leaders and their opinions or the Word of God? What will you answer? And do not start defending your logical opinions, start defending the Word of God… for a change. The Spirit will never lead you to see or seek physical images of how Christ suffered because of your flesh and sins. But He will always lead you to see how you keep refusing to suffer and keep defending and cherishing your flesh.
The following conclusion seems to be perfectly fitting for every believer in general and for TBN in particular. It is quoted from “The Battle for Life[3]”, (page 48) and every true believer should ponder it in his/her heart:
“… there are multitudes of things done for the LORD, which are not done in the Holy Spirit. There is a whole mountain of activity proceeding from the purest motives for the LORD’s interests, but they are not the Holy Spirit’s activities. I believe the LORD is generous and gracious, and that because it is a matter of ignorance, He is patient with us, and seeks to lead us into better ways. The mistaken course may be due to want of light, and while fuller light is not available, or until it breaks in, the LORD continues alongside and gives as much blessing as He can.
But that does not mean that in the long run all that past activity is going to meet with acceptance, and prove to have been for the accomplishment of Divine ends. At some point it will break down, and those who are in it will break down, and they will have to come to a recognition of the fact that, after all, a great percentage of all that work for the LORD has not counted: and the earlier we come to that recognition the better.” …(!)
This is what the LORD says to the believers and ministers described or named above, also to those that are like unto them and are either appearing or ministering on TBN channels or through any other mass media or are in any other church:
BE ZEALOUS AND REPENT AND CHANGE YOUR WAYS, YOUR MINISTRIES, YOUR APPEARANCE, YOUR WORLDLY APPROACH. DO LESS BUT IN MY SPIRIT RATHER THAN EXPAND AND GROW BIG AND COMPROMISE MY WORD AND MINISTER FLESH AND THAT, WHICH IS EVIL IN MY SIGHT – OR ELSE, YOUR JUDGMENT IS SEALED AND YOU SHALL NOT ESCAPE. HE THAT HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS UNTO YOU AT THIS HOUR.
“I pray to You, LORD JESUS CHRIST, to uphold, maintain and strengthen the preaching of the Gospel and every decent and needful program on TBN, which fulfils at least some of Your purposes. But I pray strongly to You, oh, My Lord, and in YOUR NAME I condemn all the leaven, which is of the flesh even of the powers of evil and darkness, all that defies, abuses or neglects Your HOLY WORD on TBN channels and in any other mass media and I am asking You to destroy it! Amen.”
C. MINISTRY OF THE WORD OF GOD
In this paragraph we should consider some important and practical facts concerning the ministry of the Word as it is widely practiced in the churches, even at home groups or fellowships. This is the part where the mind and intellectual knowledge is predominant and where the HEART is barely present. It is thus a situation opposite to the one described in the Scripture and required for our Salvation.
Brother Watchman Nee was my first spiritual teacher appointed for me by the Lord. He was a true servant of God greatly blessed with many revelations, experiences and truths of God concerning the true nature of man and of his Salvation. Large parts of his teachings were about our cross and the absolute need for believers to die in their old nature and acquire the new Nature of Christ. This fact he stressed particularly to all the ministers of the Word. The book “The Messenger of the Cross[1]” contains many important truths about this topic. One quote about the teaching of the Word is particularly fitting to this place where brother Watchman says (page 86):
“In seeking truth, many come with a wrong motive. If they are not seeking to satisfy their own lust for knowing, they are preparing messages to teach others. Their basic motive is to solve mental difficulties and not to cultivate their own spiritual life. Since such is their intention, they feel quite comforted if they are able, in the end, to understand. For they can now teach others. Clearly, they are not seeking for spiritual reality.”
Then he continues with what may be shocking to many preachers of the Word and evangelists (page 135):
“Please, beware that we may even sin while saving souls. If we do not depend on God but trust in our own understanding and experience of the Gospel, we will BE SINNING AND NOT SAVING SOULS in the sight of God even if we have spent time and energy in persuading people to believe in the Lord! If instead of sensing our utter weakness and leaning entirely on the power of the Lord, we try to edify saints on the strength of our knowledge of the Bible and our excellent speech, in God’s eyes we will be SINNING WHILE PREACHING!…
The Lord does not ask if we have done well; He only examines if we have trusted in Him. Whatever is done out of one’s self will be burned up on that day at the judgment seat of Christ, and what is done out of God shall remain. The meaning of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is none other than being active OUTSIDE of God, seeking what is good according to one’s thought…”
KNOWLEDGE OR UNDERSTANDING OF BIBLICAL FACTS AND TRUTHS IS NOT SALVATION. EMOTIONS ARE NOT SALVATION. INCREASING OUR BIBLICAL KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING OR EMOTIONS DOES NOT INCREASE OUR SALVATION!
My personal experiences from my past life have all been very profitable to me. They all were prearranged by the Lord, hence, they all worked for my good whether they were good or bad, sweet or painful! (Rom. 8:28) The Lord was recreating my heart to have His understanding and with it grace, patience and wisdom. When our heart understands others, it can also dispense grace, patience and wisdom, otherwise it cannot. There is a great lack of grace, wisdom and of the fruit of the Lord’s Spirit in the Church.
Whether I was present in a congregation listening to a sermon or watching TV programs (like TBN), one important fact always emerged from the ministry of the Word that was conducted. From its beginning to its end, it was usually an intellectual or emotional exercise, or both. The congregation was expected to always understand and appreciate the preaching and be willing to do what was given to them because it was beneficial and they would be blessed. There is nothing wrong with such expectations … except that they are highly unrealistic… most of the time totally impossible!
The fruit of such a preaching is that believers gather more and more information ABOUT truth, but their HEARTS REMAIN UNCHANGED.
The heart’s content is untouched, the powers ruling therein are untouched, the heart’s thoughts and intentions are unchanged. If the hearer receives the Word in the power of his intellect and without the power of the Spirit, then “THE TRUTH REMAINS THE SAME TRUTH AND THE BELIEVER REMAINS THE SAME BELIEVER”! Nothing has really changed. But God’s Word is living (Heb. 4:12), hence, THE BELIEVER WHO LISTENS AND DOES NOT SHOW LIFE HAS NOT HEARD THE WORD OF GOD! Are we able to see this spiritual fact?
Their minds may be all for it, their feelings may be welling up in them so that they may be writing many notes in their notebooks or, perhaps, lifting hands and praising the Lord – but the CORE OF THEIR HEART IS NOT CHANGED! Therefore, whenever the Lord would test them in a real life situation, real problem, real danger, real difficulty, real devilish temptation – they would fail. I know! I was failing too… and nobody told me why. At least, I am now able to tell you why… without elevating myself. Will you listen? But even this testimony will not help you if you do not open your heart, receive it and believe it there.
[I do not say, that people should stop writing notes, rather, that they should ask the Lord to bring the notes into their blood, which is to say, into their life (Deut. 12:23) through the discipline and training of the Holy Spirit.]
THE REASON FOR SPIRITUAL STAGNATION, DEPRIVATION OR DESTRUCTION IS THAT THE MINDS OF BELIEVERS MAY BE OPENED BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE DEFINITELY CLOSED! AND SO ARE THE HEARTS OF MANY PREACHERS AND MINISTERS.
What is the result? A lot of truth may be preached, taught and heard. There may be a lot of agreement, people nodding their heads sometimes even applauding or standing up to signify the excellency of the truth preached. The people are told WHAT THEY SHOULD DO AND WHAT THEY SHOULD NOT DO! WHERE THEY SHOULD BE CAREFUL AND WHAT THEY SHOULD WATCH FOR AND WHY. The topics may be neatly divided into logical points and sub-points, each point may be clearly explained by the Scripture. The problems may be seen and understood, the Scripture given may be quite fitting, the intentions to follow it may all be there, even true sincerity may not be missing.
YET, after hundreds of sermons and hundreds of the most sincere counsels, no valuable changes seem to have happened in the lives of those believers. Many of them remain the same… if they do not become worse! They are surely more educated, they may be much more enthusiastic, but with the same spiritual inabilities. They somehow keep doing WHAT THEY SHOULD NOT DO… and they are somehow never able to start doing WHAT THEY SHOULD DO, and THEY ARE STILL NOT CAREFUL AND STILL NOT WATCHING.
In other words, theory is brilliant, practice is miserable. I am sure that many of you that are not in a “deep religious sleep” but walk with the Lord have experienced this fact very often. I also believe that we all experienced it many times without being necessarily aware of it. Why is it so? I believe that this is so because people are never told the basic truth that they should hear and which I personally have never heard preached to me either, namely, that…
…OUR ABILITY TO STOP DOING WHAT WE SHOULD NOT DO, OR START DOING WHAT WE SHOULD DO, IS OBTAINED ONLY ON OUR OWN CROSS! OUR OLD NATURE MUST FIRST DIE! IT CANNOT PERFORM ANY TRUTH PREACHED TO US FROM THE PULPITS! IT CANNOT FOLLOW THE LORD.
OUR OLD NATURE CANNOT END UP IN THE KINGDOM. IT IS THE ENEMY OF CHRIST! CHRIST WILL NEVER ENABLE OUR OLD NATURE TO DO HIS WORD, LIVE HIS LIFE! IF WE DO NOT KNOW OUR CROSS, WE CANNOT DO HIS WORD, WE CANNOT DO GOD’S WILL… AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO!
Show me the preachers who preach THIS truth and explain it and I will show you the true and fruitful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. And when the above truth is never preached and explained by the Scripture, how can the Lord build it in our hearts? It is simply never believed and the FAITH of believers has a big hole right in its middle! THIS FAITH IS SIMPLY AND COMPLETELY MISSING IN THE CHURCH!
To be continued next week in part 8
brother Hanola