Author Archives: Dr. Mike

-God is Moving in Jena, Louisiana

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God is moving in a unique way among the folks of Jena, Louisiana. The small town of 3,000 became famous last year for racial tensions in the High School. Now the gym in the very same school is filled every night with an on-going revival that began Feb. 17 at Midway Baptist Church in Jena. It was supposed to be a 4 night revival but now it has moved into its fourth week and has spread into at least eight churches including the controversial high school.

This is primarily a ‘Baptist’ town with over 17 Southern Baptist churches and a few more independent Baptist churches thrown in for good measure. Interestingly, the whole thing started in a church that didn’t even have a pastor! one participant, Pat Taylor of First Baptist commented:

“To me, it’s a difference in the atmosphere, a better difference, I think the difference is that a spiritual change is taking place in the community…. I think this all is God-breathed.
When it’s God-breathed, that means God is in control. It’s God’s Spirit who brought all this about; we can’t anybody brag about it. We [at First Baptist Jena] prayed for a year and a half for a revival, and He starts it up where they don’t even have a pastor. There’s no sense of competition. There’s a sense of excitement, a sense of awe.”

Repentance and reconciliation seem to be the major themes of the move.  

-Hagin’s Warning to the Prosperity Movement

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J. Lee Grady recalls an interesting event from the past this week in his Fire in My  Bones article for March 7, 2008.

Apparently in 1999, Kenneth Hagin Sr. called many of the leaders of the prosperity movement’ together to read some of them the riot act. He warned them that some were distorting his teachings but more importantly distorting the Bible. He was hoping to bring correction to the movement he had founded before he passed on.

Here are some of the points he was addressing that was also covered in his last book-  The Midas Touch:

1. Financial prosperity is not a sign of God’s blessing. Hagin wrote: “If wealth alone were a sign of spirituality, then drug traffickers and crime bosses would be spiritual giants. Material wealth can be connected to the blessings of God or it can be totally disconnected from the blessings of God.”

2. People should never give in order to get. Hagin was critical of those who “try to make the offering plate some kind of heavenly vending machine.” He denounced those who link giving to getting, especially those who give cars to get new cars or who give suits to get new suits. He wrote: “There is no spiritual formula to sow a Ford and reap a Mercedes.”

3. It is not biblical to “name your seed” in an offering. Hagin was horrified by this practice, which was popularized in faith conferences during the 1980s. Faith preachers sometimes tell donors that when they give in an offering they should claim a specific benefit to get a blessing in return. Hagin rejected this idea and said that focusing on what you are going to receive “corrupts the very attitude of our giving nature.”

4. The “hundredfold return” is not a biblical concept. Hagin did the math and figured out that if this bizarre notion were true, “we would have Christians walking around with not billions or trillions of dollars, but quadrillions of dollars!” He rejected the popular teaching that a believer should claim a specific monetary payback rate.

5. Preachers who claim to have a “debt-breaking” anointing should not be trusted. Hagin was perplexed by ministers who promise “supernatural debt cancellation” to those who give in certain offerings. He wrote in The Midas Touch: “There is not one bit of Scripture I know about that validates such a practice. I’m afraid it is simply a scheme to raise money for the preacher, and ultimately it can turn out to be dangerous and destructive for all involved.”

The movement started out with a sound observation made by Hagin that “God was not glorified by poverty and that preachers do not have to be poor.”  However, some of the excesses and greed within the movement bothered even ‘Dad Hagin’ before he died in 2003. Unfortunately his warning went largely unheeded.           

-Have Faith in God’s Ability to Lead

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This is today’s devotional from Charisma mag.” Bread of Heaven“, you can sign up to receive daily devotionals here. I found this message from Wesley Campbell to be a particular blessing—enjoy!:

Have Faith in God’s Ability to Lead

Today’s message is from Wesley Campbell.

Pastor John Arnott recently told me an encouraging story. He met an Indian pastor named John Babu who asked Arnott to come and speak at his churches in Madras, India. Babu’s testimony is most interesting.

Years ago he was dying of a liver disease, and there did not appear to be any hope left. As a Hindu, Babu went to the Hindu temple to seek help from the many thousands of gods in which they believe. But nothing had been working.
Finally in desperation he looked up and prayed piteously, “Surely there is one of you up there who can help me. Please heal me, and I will serve you forever.” His reasoning was like the Athenians who had an altar with the inscription, “To the unknown God.” Afraid of missing a deity, Babu invited any god to answer his prayer for healing.

In an instant Jesus appeared to him in the midst of the Hindu temple and said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Lovingly Jesus reached out and touched his body. Immediately Babu was healed.

In gratitude and worship, Babu became a follower of Jesus Christ. He has since gone out and started more than five hundred churches.

Today we have Christians telling other Christians to be careful when praying at the altar for the filling of the Holy Spirit. “You never know which spirit will fill you or answer your prayer,” they warn. We need to have more faith in God’s ability to lead us than fear of Satan’s power to deceive us, especially when our prayers are directed to the one true God!

TODAY’S PRAYER:
Lord, forgive me for living as if the devil has more power than You do.

-2007: A Year of ‘Inconvenient Truth’ for the American Church

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2007 was one of those years which will live in infamy in the American Christian community. I will not dredge up and detail all the negative stuff that happened in the American Church. The year began with all of us looking and hoping for revival but soon it became obvious that the Lord had different plans for year 2007. 

Everything and everyone in the church that could be shaken was (well maybe not everything yet). Major leaders were exposed, many were brought down, and many obviously should have been. Major ministries brought under investigation. Ministers that should have probably resigned didn’t. The Church was embarrassed in a major way or at least should have been.

Response: Let truth reign. The church should never be afraid of the truth but welcome it. It should never hide from the truth but delight in it. Sometimes it was very hard to delight in some of the truth that was exposed about us in 2007.  However, the Gospel is still true and our Lord is still “the Truth, the way, and the life.”

Praise the Lord even for the inconvenient and embarrassing truths that rained upon the American church in 2007.

-2008: The 10 Best Predictions for the New Year (or Any Year0

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I found this list of predictions for the new year over at Revival Journal. This is the best ‘prophetic’ look at 2008 that I have seen yet:

10 Predictions for 2008

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.

Merry Christmas! May the Blessings of the Lord be Upon You and Yours this Christmas.

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THE CHRISTMAS STORY:

The Christmas story is found in Matthew (1:18-2:18) and in Luke (1:26-56, 2:1-40). However, Isaiah should never be ignored: 

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  (Is. 7:14clip_image002) 

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  (Is. 9:6clip_image002[1])

Matthew gives us the story largely from the perspective of Joseph, including the dreams that he had and his family genealogy.   In this gospel the ‘Kingship’ of Jesus is the major topic.  Starting with the Davidic Kingly genealogy through Joseph and the coming of the Magi (Wisemen) who are looking for the new king.  Also King Herod’s reaction is in Matthew.

The events in Luke are given to us from Mary’s view.  The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and announces the coming of the child.  Mary’s genealogy is also given in Luke (3:23-38), she was also a descendent of David, but not in the ‘Kingly’ line.  Chapter 2 begins with the Christmas story that everyone is familiar with:

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

May the Blessings of the Lord be Upon You and Yours this Christmas.

-The Christmas Season: Responding to The Holy Spirit

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Sunday was the beginning of Advent on the church calendar, but the stresses of the holiday season started couple of weeks ago at Thanksgiving. Have you noticed how the Devil tries to ruin every good thing that Christians have.

I will not get into all the history of how the 25th was chosen for celebrating the birth of our Savior, regardless of the historical background, it has been a season to remember that God sent his Son to the earth to save us.

We can choose to respond to the Holy Spirit and make this season a memorable one and a blessed one for our family and friends, or we can participate in the ‘spirit of the age’ and become part of the tensions and commercialism around us that seem to bring arguments, over spending, and division.

I always get in trouble with my wife and adult children for giving too much stuff to the grandkids and spoiling them. Probably will again since that brings me a lot of joy and my grandchildren like it too.

Nevertheless, this season for me and my family, we will serve the Lord, and I pray that the Holy Spirit will rescue us from the secular ‘spirit of Santa Claus’ which dominates this season.

-J.P. Moreland Shakes Up Evangelical Conference Talking About ‘Bibliolatry"

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Talbot Seminary professor J.P. Moreland shook up the recent Evangelical Theological Society conference in San Diego by telling attendees that evangelicals were ‘over-committed’ to the Bible and disregarded other ‘extra-Biblical’ forms of guidance from God. During his address, Dr. Moreland pointed out that evangelical scholars and the movement, as a whole, many times reject:

…guidance, revelation, and so forth from God through impressions, dreams, visions, prophetic words, words of knowledge and wisdom. …

We shut that down because of charismatic excesses, because of abuses, we fear teaching people how to use it. We think its all going to be Benny Hinn or something like that.

Comments: As you can well imagine, his address sparked considerable controversy and response from those who were there and hundreds of comments on the Internet.

What is really shocking, this comes from a major professor from Biola University’s Talbot Seminary. A school which started out and remains squarely in the dispensational camp. Many of its ‘big guns’ in the past have been especially critical of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements.

I have read a number of articles and books by J. P. Moreland in the past and have always found his works to be particularly good in the area of apologetics. We should not look for him to become a Charismatic or a Pentecostal anytime soon, but neither is he a card carrying cessasionalist. He seems to be far more open to the ‘gifts’ than I had ever supposed.

J.P Moreland is a very careful Biblical apologist and philosopher. What’s important here, while his address was about how evangelicals treat the Bible, it is tantamount to admitting that there is really no Biblical basis for the cessasionalist tendencies that have dominated so much of the American evangelical community.

Now what we need is a Charismatic or Pentecostal leader of similar influence reminding Charismatics and Pentecostals to balance out our spiritual gift with balanced Bible study.

I believe we will see a balance when revival comes.

-Why Muslims Convert to Jesus?

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I am way behind in my reading right now. Yesterday at lunch I read an great article in the October issue of Christianity Today: “Why Muslims Follow Jesus“. It was all about why Muslims convert to Christianity. Over 750 former Muslims filled out an extensive questionnaire on that question.

The number one response was:

-The example of Christians that they knew

Followed by a number of responses that Charismatics and Pentecostals will appreciate and understand:

-Answered Prayers

-Healing

-Deliverance from the demonic

-Visions and dreams

It should be noted here that some of the greatest differences between Christianity and Islam involves the Holy Spirit and Spiritual gifts. There is no Holy Spirit or Spiritual Gifts in Islam.

The only practitioner of healing and miracles, according to the Koran, was Jesus the Prophet. Muhammad never performed any miracles or healing. This is why Muslims are open to seeking Jesus when they need healing and deliverance.

Finally, it was the Gospel message itself, the assurance of forgiveness and Salvation, and the proclamation of the ‘Love of God’ through Jesus that was of primary importance to the converts. There is no certainty of salvation in Islam and according to the Koran, one can never be assured of Allah’s forgiveness or love. He forgives who he wills and punishes whom he choses (2:284).

Praise God and rejoice all you Christians! Any time I look at Islam I am thankful for the faithfulness of our God through Christ Jesus. Our Father does love us and loved us before we even knew him, and He sent his Son into the world for our salvation. Praise the Lord!

-Should Christians Pray Against Their Enemies?

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Are ‘imprecatory prayers’ justified? Should Christians pray against their enemies?

The following story has been bothering me ever since I read it. It was posted by the LA Times Online sometime in August, unfortunately the link no longer works.

The Rev. Wiley Drake, Pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park, California, asked his congregation (August) to pray an ‘imprecatory prayer’ against the leaders of an opposing organization. He listed Psalm 109 as a reference.

The Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington-based group had asked the IRS to investigate the tax-exempt status of Drake’s congregation because the Pastor had sent out a letter supporting Gov. Mike Huckabee for President on a church letterhead.

All heck broke loose when the Pastor asked for ‘imprecatory prayers’ against the AUSCS and it somehow became public knowledge. Even those who profess to have little or no faith in God were offended and became upset with Rev. Drake, which is surprising to me. It has became the subject of numerous news articles including an article in the LA Times which sought out responses from several religious leaders and scholars, who came across with mixed opinions.

Comments: One of the more interesting things that you run into when you are going through the Psalms in the Bible are the prayers of David asking God for justice and to take action against his enemies. I have always appreciated the candor of David and his ability to talk truthfully about his feelings with God. I have always thought that it is a good example for all of us.

However some of things that David prays for should also be shocking to Christians especially in light of the teaching of Christ to pray for our enemies:

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matt. 5:44clip_image002)

I have no problem praying against the real enemy, Satan and all of his minions and plans. However, I hope and pray for everyone to find Jesus, even those I disagree with and those who consider me their foe for some reason.

I guess what bothers me about this story, the Christians here (the Pastor and his congregation) come across as unforgiving and seeking retribution rather than bearing a positive testimony of Christ and hoping, praying, and expecting for the best. For me, to pray against a bunch of people in an organization is tantamount to performing a curse and way to close to witchcraft. Am I wrong?

Personal Testimony:

Here’s a personal story: On one occasion I was bothered by one of my business rivals who had obviously stepped over the line and personally cost me over $2,000. I was driving down the road praying and calling upon the Lord for justice and as I remember, I felt justified to pray against the person and cried out that judgment should be upon him since he had ‘moved the stakes’ and violated his contractual obligations.

Immediately the Spirit spoke to me and told me to retract it or I would be under the same curse and judgment since the company that I represented had years before broken their word with this man.

Immediately a huge truck pulled into my lane and I miraculously avoided a major accident (I took that as a warning).

Then the Holy Spirit asked me to pray for blessings to heaped upon him. That was one of the hardest things I have ever done. However, I have personally prospered ever since and my rival not so much. So the Lord Himself took care of it.