This is a pretty cool story.  It helps explain why I am so adamant with my support of continuist doctrine.

After having our son at the end of 2000, we wanted another child.  We got pregnant on our honeymoon so we assumed that having another was not going to be a problem.

A real low point in my walk ensued after 2 miscarriages and a chemical pregnancy in 2002.  My wife and I desperately wanted another baby.

My church co-hosted a Rodney Howard-Browne conference in November 2002.  Before the beginning of the 5 days of meetings I prayed and fasted that God would use Rodney in our healing.  I have seen Rodney pray for people

who wanted children and always asked them how many they wanted.  So before the first meeting, my wife and I decided on a number and were ready for our time.

On about the third day off meetings Rodney called out all kinds of ailments (he said that he could not remember doing that before) and one was difficulty having children.  I knew that was for us.  When he came to us he asked us how many children we wanted.  After answering, he prayed for me and I instantly went out.  He then prayed for Tracey at length.  If you have been to his meetings, you know that he rarely goes beyond “Fire!” when praying for people But he prayed for Tracey for a few moments.

To make a long story short, about 8 1/2 months later, we sent out this postcard:

That was five years ago!  The Lord gave us her name which is another story all together.

Sure, you could say that it was mear coincidence that Rodney prayed for us and we had a successful pregnancy a little less than 9 months later.  But you could also give glory to God that He still heals.

So happy birthday princess!  Not only have you been a delight to live with, you are a walking example of God’s love for your mother and I.

Is it just me or does MediaShout really, really, really like to lock up the computer that it is on?

Fortunately there are people out there to help Jesus decide who is really of God and who is not.  As they comb through every ministry that bears fruit that they do not, they are uncovering errors that we should be aware of.  Here is their latest finding:

Dear brother,

Thank you for sending us the questionable document. We are always glad to examine any teaching materials that may adversely affect the Church. We do think that this material is dangerous and certainly want to warn the Body of Christ concerning its subtle false doctrines. Our analysis is as follows:

The document:

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name€™s sake.
Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

We weren€™t given the name of the author of this document, but it is quite clear that is part of the contemporary, humanistic €œgospel€ of self.

The first thing we would point out is that this is a €œpositive confession.€ Our research shows that this idea was never heard of in the Church before the metaphysical cults introduced it in the late 19th century. This author has obviously been influenced by these cults.

Secondly, note the €œaffirmation€ that he will not want. This is clearly that €œgospel of greed€ €“ the prosperity gospel. Whoever wrote this probably is a follower of these dreadful prosperity preachers. Sorry you couldn€™t come up with the author so we could do a background check on him or her. Even without the author€™s name, it€™s still pretty clear who influenced this individual.

Then the author affirms himself to be perfectly led by the Lord. This is the dangerous delusion of elitism. Many of these groups feel they are the only true Christians. They are the only ones who really represent the name of the Lord. You can see the tremendous spiritual pride lurking behind this, I€™m sure.

Our author tells us that he walks through the shadow of death. Obvious Christian Science influence here. Denying the reality of matter and evil. This is indeed a pernicious error. This is also practiced by denying the reality of sickness. Sickness, evil and death are mere illusions. Very dangerous!

Notice the references to €œgreen pastures€ and €œstill waters.€ The cults always resort to metaphoric symbols and encourage their victims to visualize. This, of course, opens their minds up to demonic influence. Note also that a life of ease and blessing is pictured, very appealing to the flesh. Seldom do these people ever talk about taking up our cross and following Jesus.

The author now mentions restoring the soul. We see two possible references to dangerous teachings here. Firstly, the teaching of restoration. This is false teaching that suggests that the Church isn€™t all God wants it to be. Of course, that is unacceptable. We have the Bible; we need nothing beyond the Scriptures. And then secondly, there could be a suggestion of the teaching of inner healing. We have a paper on this error available if you should so desire.

I will fear no evil; for you are with me. Notice the big €œI.€ Bold, arrogant, egotistical statements like this are common among these groups. Totally devoid of humility. I think you can see the obvious, humanistic bent.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Clearly the error of the authority of the believer is being implied here. Taking the place of God and assuming that mere sinful men can actually wield the rod of God. To say this is presumptuous is mild. This is the €œlittle gods€ error. These false teachers never have a due regard for the sovereignty of God.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. The archangel Michael did not dare to bring an accusation against Satan, but these types of teachers boldly mock the Devil. This suggests an unhealthy preoccupation with €œspiritual warfare.€

You anoint my head with oil. The height of arrogance. So many today claim they are the anointed of the Lord and no one should question their teachings and activities. I€™m sure this author, whoever he is, considers himself to be one of God€™s €œspecial€ anointed ones.

My cup runs over. Another allusion to prosperity. A €œpositive confession€ of abundance. Decidedly derived from Unity or one of the other metaphysical cults.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. No suffering, no trials, no difficulties in life! This is not the Bible gospel. These teachers hold out the promise of problem-free living and then bilk those who listen to them of their finances to support their extravagant life-styles. What a mockery of the cross.

I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. Actually this type of teaching doesn€™t belong in the Church at all. This gospel of greed, positive confession and trouble-free living certainly isn€™t based on the Bible.

Thank you for sending us this example of heretical teaching. We advise you to steer clear of this teacher. Although it may have a veneer of Biblical sounding ideas, it is clearly imported from metaphysical and New Age teachings.

Sincerely,
Anonymous

ht: steve hickey

I have been thinking about things like direction and legacy recently.  It leads me to a question,  If your ministry continued in the direction it is going, where would it lead?  Are you comfortable with that answer?

I understand the Macedonian call, that temporary diversion from the main call.  But it should be noted that Paul was responding to a prophetic directive in his trip there.  It could be argued that the immediacy of that revelation superseded the ultimate call to bear witness in Rome.  In the end, Paul was still doing the work of an Apostle and in Macedonia was becoming a martyr.

What are you becoming?  Here are a couple thoughts to consider as you answer that question:

• When you first got right with God, you probably had a ministry dream.  Most likely, that was the call of God on your life.  Have you allowed that dream to die?
• Are you contending for anything non-fellowship related right now?  I mean, a new building or more teachers or a new worship leader does not count.  I am talking about contending for a gift of healing, or faith, or open doors, or greater revelation, or compassion.
• Has anything significant happened in your personal walk in the last year?  Where does that say you are headed?
• Do you think you have more to teach than to learn?

Ministry success is no indicator of Christian excellence.  I have seen great men languish in mediocre ministries because some people are out of their ministry call.  But those men were great because of the growth they were constantly showing in their walk and when they found their place, they took off like a rocket.

Ministers without hunger who settle for mediocrity will fail in every endeavour.

Some churches say “You never know what may happen in our meetings” and then pretty much the same thing happens that happens everywhere else.  When we say that we mean it.

I don’t even know how to write this post.  We had a bar-b-que for the 4th of July.  It was a great time.

I had planed it to be a time of fellowship but my folks think everything is an outreach so they invited lots of lost.  And believe it or not, the people they invited invited people.

Right after I got there to set up a couple muslim guys came who were high as a kite.  About an hour later they said they would be right back, walked into the bushes, and never came back. (believe it or not, more came later)  This was about the least interesting thing that happened.

There were lots of others who came for the first time.  I promise you there are bigger churches but there are none cooler than The Mission.  The visitors asked several times if this is really a church before agreeing to come back.  That’s what we strive for.

I want to give a big shout out to all of you who invited folks.

I also want to thank those of you who attempted to break up that large brawl that ended the day.  I was a little embarassed and I know the cars that refused to drive by for fear of attack wish it had not happened but that is the fun of reaching this community. I see salvations.  But as a community, we get to see God uncover our need for Him and His transforming power.

In the end, we made contact with more lost people.  Some lost people have found a way to reconnect with God.  And I have one more experience to put in my “Adventures with God” book.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
“As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.”

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

We had our first salvation at our second preview service.

I have this theory that every person represents a people group.  If you touch a person with the Gospel, it is possible to touch their whole realm of influence.  So when someone gets saved, we encourage them to immediately begin to work out their testimony and start inviting people to The Mission.

With Marcela, we went a step farther.

Marcella was a polite girl who seemed to be attentive during the word.  In all outward appearances, her life was really good.  But like everyone who is away from God, things were not so great beneath the service.  During the ministry time I walked up to her and asked if she was ready to get saved.  She responded and got free of something.  I did not know what.

Since Marcella was only connected to the person who invited her to The Mission, I know she had a realm of influence that had not been touched.  She was having a little trouble getting any of her friends to come to our meetings so we decided to bring the meeting to them.  We decided to made her baptism an outreach.  We had the baptism at her house and she invited her friends to “support” her at her.

We had a time of worship (above) then she gave her testimony.  Marcela told her family, friends, and new church family about her battle with sin, depression, and an eating disorder.  Through her tears she told about how her friend invited her to church and immediately she knew she was supposed to go.

She told about how at the end of the preview service, during the ministry time, she cried out to God and told Him, “I know you brought me here for a reason, please bring it to me.”  That very moment is when I walked up to her and challenged her with the Gospel.  The anointing was so thick in the room and there was barley a dry eye in the place.

After that I got up and shared the Gospel.  I preached about a risen Savior who forgives sin and fills with power.  I then gave an altar call right there in the living room.  I asked who was ready to give their life to Jesus and go down in the waters of baptism as a public declaration of faith.  One of her friends came forward.

We went out to the pool and I added him to those getting dunked.  I spent a few minutes with him and he shared how God had been preparing him for that moment.

The last person I baptized was Marcela.  She gladly affirmed that she had accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and proclaimed to all in attendance that she was going to follow Him.  After she came up out of the water, I made one last invitation to those in attendance for salvation.  That is when I spotted her.

Marissa is Marcela’s sister.  Her face was bright red and she was crying her eyes out.  Right before our eyes she was being convicted of her need of a Savior.  She could barely contain herself.  Her heart was being rent for the Lord.  It was not because I am a great preacher or anything else in the natural.  The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters of baptism and people were being touched.  This girl needed Jesus and she happened to be where He was.  When the lost get around the anointing they cannot help but see their need for forgiveness.

She came into the pool and I talked to her for a few minutes, lead her in a prayer of salvation and declared the forgiveness of sins.  She was crying, and I wanted to run around the block and rejoice.

I prayed for her, laid hands on her, did a little housecleaning and dunked her in the waters.  When she came up I asked how she was feeling.  She said, “I feel free!”

Glory to God.

I talked to her a little bit and asked her sister to come back into the pool.  I prayed for them together and at the same time, they both got baptized in the Holy Ghost! Glory to God!

I hate to say it but a baptism in the middle of your Sunday morning or Wednesday evening service is not a public declaration.  Take people to their hood, gather their friends, let them declare the good things God has done.  Then take the risk of putting yourself out there and have an altar call.  You may be supprised how many people have been praying for God to bring an answer to them.