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Henry T. Blackaby - Experiencing God Like MosesOut of the charismatic dissociation at Promise Keepers, February, 1996, came a stream of discipleship to the Baptist, Henry. T. Blackaby, who uses Old Testament models like Moses to prove that you, too, can experience God personally. However, Jesus said that the Father speaks ONLY to the Son: the Son of God is the Word of God. The Holy Spirit OF Jessus Christ speaks only what Jesus Christ in His post-resurrection state speaks. Why would an apostle have to have been personally taught by Him and seen and heard Him after the resurrection. Jesus Christ the Spirit said that Paul would have to SEE and HEAR HIM to enable Him to speak FOR Jesus Christ the only Spirit.
As a matter of fact, what Phillips has just said above concerning Henry Blackaby is just as dead-on-target for a rapidly increasing amount of evangelical notables as well. Take for example Southern Baptist megapastor Rick Warren and Word Faith mogul Joel Osteen who tell us of a regular basis what God has supposedly “said” to them personally. And Emergence Christianity icon Rob Bell is even worse because he is an open practitioner of the corrupt Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism spewed by Foster and his spiritual twin SBC minister Dallas Willard as their spurious Spiritual Formation. Apprising MinistriesDavid Lipscomb University Preaching 2008 From Denominational Imagination!
The realization of this may be what is reflected in the current mass abandonment of the exclusiveness of Christianity that is going on among Western Christians now, especially in its academic centers. Why should one insist on the exclusiveness of Christianity if all it is is one more cultural form? But let the reality of Christian spiritual formation come to its fullness, and exclusiveness will take care of itself. If the homosexual, the witch and the warlock, the Buddhist and the Muslim, can truly walk in a holiness and power equal to that of Jesus Christ and devoted followers, there is nothing more to say. But Christ himself, and not Christianity as a form of human culture, is the standard by which 'we' as well as 'they' are to be measured (Acts 17:31). Dallas Willard
"This conference proposes that WE allow the worlds imagined
in the essential biblical narratives
to dramatically shape our preaching and lives.
We believe that preaching reconstitutes biblical paradigms when it engages Scripture’s visionThe Biblical TEXT which is more than just their narratives do more than IMAGE certain facts. The Bible states explicitly that ..
- by representing what is absent
- and making present what is inaccessible
- to the end that followers of God will live into a God-shaped reality
Gen. 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,And all of the prophets by the Spirit of Christ agree:
and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Gen. 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I
will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake;
for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth;
neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IN THE PROPHETS CALLS THIS BLASPHEMY OF THE SPIRIT
Jeremiah 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you,
saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet.
............ But they said, We will not hearken.
Jeremiah 6:18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.
Jeremiah 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold,
............ I will bring evil upon this people,
............ even the fruit of their thoughts,
............ because they have not hearkened unto my words,
............ nor to my law, but rejected it.
Lipscomb is Preparing for Spiritual Formation Ministers: no need for the old fashioned teachers. See this article
Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King distort EXPERIENCING GOD for you by quoting only the promise but cutting out the part of Scripture which applies the text only to Jesus. This teaches Calvinistic Predestination and A Direct Operation of the Holy Spirit: he does not know that the NAME of the Holy Spirit OF God is Jesus Christ whom God HATH MADE to be both Lord and Christ. The Spirit OF a person is never in history defined as ANOTHER PERSON.
A Baptist critic notes that:
"I would just love Blackaby's book, if I was a pastor or religious leader that wanted to make unquestioning zombies out of my followers, so that they would do whatever I wanted them to do without question. I would order copies for every member (out of church funds), get everyone to read and study it, and make everyone feel that their spirituality, and our hopes for revival in the church, depended on their acceptance of Blackaby's teaching."
"Blackaby has built up a consistent theological system for understanding God's will, but this system is built on a foundation of false, unscriptural premises and therefore should be rejected. It is not true that God is still speaking to us today like He did to Noah, Abraham and Moses. Nor is it true that in each of our life-decisions, there is only one possible decision we can make that is within the will of God. Without continuing revelations from God, there is no way we could obey such a rigid, unscriptural concept of God's will." From
"Rev. Henry T. Blackaby is Director of the Office of Prayer and Spiritual Awakening at the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.
"The author instructs and guides the entire denomination, via official literature in the realm of spiritual growth. This book is written for Southern Baptists--some 16 million--among whom it seems to be all the rage.
"The problem is that although it is written to Christians for growth and service, it is not a Christian book; rather, it is primarily a JEWISH book. Nine-tenths of the Scripture and scriptural examples are taken from the Old Testament and the Synoptic Gospels, and applied it to the Christian From
"With God working through His servant, he or she can do anything God can do. Wow! Unlimited potential" (p. 26). Wow is right! Kenneth Copeland, Paul Crouch, Benny Hinn, and the whole Word of Faith gang of heretics would shout, "Wow!" too. Can believers create? Can they convict of sin? Can they draw men to God? This statement is a gross perversion of Phil. 4:13 (and is very similar to Manifest Sons of God doctrine). Click for More ReviewIn all of the Epistles Paul lists the resources for teaching in the assembly of Christ. The Word as it has been written for our learning is the sole resource. If Paul had thought that people could sing or speak out of their OWN spirit he would not have had so much trouble with Corinth.However, Paul did not repudiate Jesus Christ the only mediator between God and man:
for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power. Philippians 4:13LIV
I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13RSV
The Subject is how Paul is going to SUBSIST as a faithful evangelists with a GO button and and empty purse.
If you deny the subject or context Christ is apparenlty speaking to you inany sense: The next verse shows that the "all things" are the things Paul listed. He said, "I can tolerate the condition of extreme want because of Christ"---Phil 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned,
in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Phil 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound:
every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry,
both to abound and to suffer need.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Phil 4:14 Notwithstanding, ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
Phil 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, w
hen I departed from Macedonia, no church
communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
A sure test of the presence of the Spirit of Christ is that we will not steal little parts of Paul's inspired message in order to construct our new "assignment like Christ's."
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:7 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Col.3:15 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Eph 5:17 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; [Methuo in the literature is always "getting fluted down with wine.]
but be filled with the Spirit; [Word] Eph 5:18
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [Inspired Text]
and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil 4:8
Worship takes place only in our own heart.
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col. 3:16
With Grace in our hearts
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Eph 5:19
is the same as with melody in our hearts: neither are "music" but the nature of speech.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Phil 4:9 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Col. 3:17 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Eph 5:20
Blackaby and King clearly want people to believe that the old "Christ" had his dispensation and now we can do as much or more than Christ did in His time. All of this stems from grabbing isolated passages about which the writer is ignorant knowing that their readers will not know any better.
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
........... the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself:
........... but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 14:10
........... ........... Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me:
........... ........... or else believe me for the very works sake. John 14:11
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
Notice that the word "works" means an intense expenditure of energy. Those who were supernaturally empowered by Christ "leading them into all truth" would go out, preach and all but John would die for the faith.
Furthermore, they would not have "their own assignment" as a Christ but it would still be Father-Son in Spirit form doing the work:
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13
We do the ongoing work of Christ only because we dwell in God and God dwells in us to the extent we speak His Word even as Son spoke only what He heard from the Father who was in him:
Strange experience: As I was researching the book Experiencing God on the web to respond to a question, I remembered a book which I have used as a mousepad for some time. I decided to look into it to see how all "schemes" work. Then I looked at the Front page and the title was Experiencing God. I inherited this book from a Baptist aunt now dead about three years. She was heavily into the belief that God would direct her into each decision. Perhaps it runs in the family, but she would never entertain any discussion of the Bible.
This writere inherited his copy from a Baptist aunt!
Never mistake the point: the goal is not to give you the assignment of being a new Christ; the goal is to slowly get the little people to accept that the mercinary "pastor" is an apostle or prophet. Your membership of 40 years makes you a "sower of discord" if you dare question the hireling who has stolen Christ's sheep. This, associated with the Promise Keeper's program, makes the identification of a cult certain.
"You may even be a member of a denominational church, with its dogmatic confession of faith and statement of doctrine. These legalistic forms will be relics of the past in the up and coming "Postdenominational Church." Paul Cain advises that you "dump all that carnal stuff" (doctrine) and listen to what the "spirit" is saying to the churches through the Latter Rain Prophets and Apostles, who are dispensing many "new, sacred truths." Bob Jones notes that:
"I have called the best of every blood line (See Volkism) in earth unto this generation...I have elected to bring them forth in this generation...THE ELECT GENERATION...even the bloodline of Paul...of David...of Peter, James and John.
They will even be superior to them in heart, stature and love for me'...Your children will possess the spirit without measure..They will move into things of the supernatural that no one has ever moved in before--coming into the DIVINE NATURE of Jesus Christ ...
a Church that has reached the full maturity of the GODMAN! This generation is going to see the beginning of this WORLD WIDE NEW ORDER."(3)
However, John wrote:
He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal (MARK) that God is true. John 3:33
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. John 3:34
Jesus proved His nature as "Son" by speaking only what He heard from the "Father." Because God is pure or holy Spirit all that comes from Him is Spirit:
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. John 3:35
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36
Continuing: "Are you having difficulty discerning or receiving this "new revelation"? Then you have been interpreting your Bible in the "old way," comparing Scripture with Scripture, studying diligently to account for every jot and tittle and being careful to rightly divide the Word of truth.If this describes you, then you belong to the "Old Generation"
which will not enter in to "possess the land" in the Latter Rain Revival.
You may even be a member of a denominational church, with its dogmatic confession of faith and statement of doctrine. These legalistic forms will be relics of the past in the up and coming "Postdenominational Church." Paul Cain advises that you "dump all that carnal stuff" (doctrine) and listen to what the "spirit" is saying to the churches through the Latter Rain Prophets and Apostles, who are dispensing many "new, sacred truths."
Well, Paul said, and we paraphrase: "Fools do love to be fooled." And the higher the price the bigger the fool.
The following prophecy by Gwen Shaw, President of End-Time Handmaidens, is typical of this attitude: "If you can't think in a new way,
if you can't accept what I am going to do, you will burst. You will not be able to accept the expansion of this new wine. This new wine shall cause many to expand in their understanding of the ways of God. Because some are not equipped, and some are not prepared, and because of their indifference
and their critical spirit,
their wineskins shall burst." (See the Jubilee-Wineskins Connection)
If you boil new wine and put it into a sterile, fumigated wineskin it will NOT FERMENT and will not expand. Christ put His Word into clay vessels and you had better be certain that your vessel is not a cracked pot.
Consistent with the post-denominational theology which is aided greately by Blackaby's Experiencing God, the new prophet-apostles do not hesitate to lie by turning the wineskin parable upside down. The church Jesus worked on for a time is "still fermenting" and therefore their new assignment is to build a new wineskin which is, like rubber, flexible to include all denominations. However, any 12 year old kid kid knew that:
"New wine is not poured into old wineskins, or they might break, and aged wine is not poured into a new wineskin, or it might spoil." Gospel of Thomas.
In a 1991 program entitled "Manifested Sons of God," Morris Cerullo flattered his audience with the following blasphemy,
"You represent all that God is and all that God has...
Jesus was the visible expression of God. Jesus was the Son of the Living God.
Now, who are you? Sons of God... everyone say it. What is working inside of us is the manifestation.
When you look at me, you are looking at Jesus...To see Jesus was to see God. To see me is to see Jesus. Jesus knew who He was. Don't you think it is about time we know who we are?"(6)
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Col 2:9
Henry Blackaby has a book ready to go to spread the Word
THE MARK OF A CULT: YOU is not YOU but the Dominant Pastor.
Blackaby is truly humble. He notes that this power of revelation has some predictable results:
Henry Blackaby: The people of God at this church had a need for a leader. As they prayed they sensed that God put me there purposely to meet that need. I, too, saw the need and realized God could use me there. As a servant of Jesus Christ, I did not have an option to say no. I believed that the Head--Jesus Christ--could speak through the rest of the body to guide me to know how I should function in the body. I said I would do the best I knew to do.
For four years I served as Music and Education director. (p. 106)
Blackaby is not saying that the "common material" will ever have this power of HEARING or SENSING God: The task it to convince the common people that the SPIRITUAL LEADER stands in the place of Jesus Christ and "we don't take votes."
Paul gave a role and a dole of food and housing to the evangelist when He went out preaching the WORD OF CHRIST. Paul never altered that. However, it is pretty hard to SELL the free water of the Word for which we should not pay (Isaiah 55.). Therefore, to distinguish himself from the super apostles in Corinth Paul refused to take money other than free gifts from others. A true Apostle WILL SUFFER if he teaches the Word of God (John 14). If you get rich and famous then you are clearly a mercinary because Jesus did not pray for the WORLD and God HID Himself from the wise. The Sophists were skilled technicians in religious operations (lying wonders): rhetoric, singing, playing instruments which were enchantments or sorcery.
HERE IS ONE OF THE WAYS FOR THE DIRTY SHEEP TO PASS JUDGMENT ON THE SHEPHERD THEY WANT TO FOLLOW.
2Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions,
in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2Corinthians 12:11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me:
for I ought to have been commended of you:
for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
2Corinthians 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience,
in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
Acts 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people;2Corinthians 12:13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches,
(and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
2Corinthians 12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you;
and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you:
for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Another proof of the need for revelation:So, Blackaby says the Church now speaks for the HEAD Jesus Christ the only Teacher when the elders teach that which has been taught. Or if you can hallucinate the "music" concept in the School of Christ the direct command is to speak "with one mind and one mouth using that which is written for our learning" which in Romans 15 Paul calls Scripture as the only way to glorify of praise God. The High Church notion that God speaks to the church was proposed by the Church of England but was never voted as a way to define what God wants to reveal. Again, if you grasp that the ekklesia or synagogue is a School of the Word of God only you will never have any need for a new revelation. Only when an assembly becomes a cultic institute do you need to PRETEND that God wants you to do what you want to do. History calls those prophesiers, soothsayers or sorcerers. Paul called the speakers, singers and instrument players sorcerers in Revelation 18 and said that they would be (have been) cast alive into the lake of fire
2Peter 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you;
in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2Peter 3:2 That ye may be mindful
of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets,
and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
2Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers,
walking after their own lusts,
Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation,
it was needful for me to write unto you,
and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend
for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares,
who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men,
turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,
and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
JUDE QUOTES ENOCH TO PROVE THAT GOD COMES IN JUDGMENT ON THOSE WHO MISLEAD AS RHETORICIANS, SINGERS AND INSTRUMENT PLAYERS: Christ called them hypocrites in Ezekiel 33.
Jude 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying,
Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Jude 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them
of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed,
and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Jude 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts;
and their mouth speaketh great swelling words,
having men’s persons in admiration [lying wonders] because of advantage.
Jude 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words
which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Jude 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time,
who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Empaig-ma , atos, to, A. jest, mocking, delusion, LXX Is.66.4; magikês empaigmata technês
-Prospaizô , 2. abs., sport, jest, 3. laugh at, make fun or sport of, sing to the gods, sing in their praise or honour, 2. banter, tous rhêtoras
-Pl.Epin.980b Plato Epinomis, or Nocturnal Council: Athenian
[980b] and honoring the gods, with high tribute of his hymns and affluence throughout the period of his own life.
Cleinias Well spoken, indeed, good sir. Yes, may you have this consummation of your laws, after making fine sport in praising the gods and having passed a purer life, to find thereby the best and fairest end!
Then how, Cleinias, do we state it? Do we honor the gods, think you, to the utmost with our hymns, praying that we may be moved to speak the fairest and best things about them? Do you state it so, or how?
- -Empaizô A. “-xomai” LXXHb.1.10: pf. empepaikha ib.Nu.22.29:— mock at, mock, “tini” Hdt.4.134; “tina” PCair.Preis.3.10 (iv A.D.): abs., S.Ant.799:—Pass., “psukhē hupo . . sōmatōn kai pragmatōn empaizomenē” .
- Jdg 19:24 Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.
- The viol or nebel is named after VILE which can be an empty bag or a harp.
- Jdg 19:25 But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go
- illudo to play at or with any thing, to sport with, amuse one's self with, 2. To sport or fool away a thing, i. e. to destroy or waste in sport; in mal. part., to violate, abuse
The Beast in Revelation is not an animal: Isaiah and others prove that when you REVOLT against the Word of God He destroys you by "lying wonders" which speak of all of the music and theatrics to "make the lambs dumb before the slaughter." Christ in Isaiah 1 says that those who do not obey in being "washed" they will be turned over to Satan for destruction (Abaddon)
Thērion , Trag. only in Satyric drama,
2. generally, animal, ē thērion ē theos, either above or below the nature of man, Arist. Pol.1253a29, cf. EN1145a25.
Aristot. Nic. Eth. 1145a.20 it is found most frequently among barbarians, and some cases also occur as a result of disease or arrested development. We sometimes also use ‘bestial’ as a term of opprobrium for a surpassing degree of human vice
Kolax , a^kos, ho, flatterer, fawne, parasite (musicians in sacrificial temples) lisping pronunciation of korax, Ar.V.45
Goēs , ētos, ho, A. sorcerer, wizard epōdos Ludias apo khthonos” E.Ba.234 juggler, cheat,
Sophis-tēs , ou, ho, A. master of one's craft, adept, expert, of diviners, with modal words added, “hoi s. tōn hierōn melōn” [MELODY IN THE SHRINE]
3. later of the rhētores, Professors of Rhetoric, and prose writers of the Empire, such as Philostratus and Libanius, Suid.; “Apollōnidē sophistē” [Abaddon, Apollyon]
The Beast is: “hē mousikē aei ti kainon thērion tiktei”
Mousikê aei ti kainon thêrion tiktei
A. Mousikos, musical, agônes m. kai gumnikoi choroi te kai agônes ta mousika music,
II. of persons, skilled in music, musical, X.l.c., etc.; poiêtikoi kai m. andres Pl.Lg.802b ; kuknos [minstrel] kai alla zôia; peri aulous - professional musicians, mousikos kai melôn poêtês, use with singing, skilled in speaking before a mob. Melody,
B. aei always
C. kainos , esp. of new dramas, the representation of the new tragedies, (Aphrodisias dedicated to Aphrodite (ZOE); comedy, sexual love, pleasure, a woman's form of oath, Aster or Venus or ZOE.
D. Tikto mostly of the mother
E. of Rhea one of the zoogonic or vivific principles
Horace Odes 1.16
Not Cybele, nor he that haunts
Rich Pytho, worse the brain confounds,
Not Bacchus, nor the Corybants
- Clash their loud gongs with fiercer sounds
Than savage wrath; nor sword nor spear
From every kind, took lion mad,
And lodged its gall in man's poor heart.
'Twas wrath that laid Thyestes low;
'Tis wrath that oft destruction calls
On cities, and invites the foe
But with an Old Testament witness to the evil effect of Music condemned through the Spirit of Christ in the prophets (1 Peter 1:11), Christ's rejection of the clergy effort to make Him dance to their piped tunes, and Paul's direct command showing the spiritual fulfillment of the sacrificial system through offering "the fruit of the lips" and defining the "instrument" of melody to be the human heart, how is it that He forced the people to "sense" that he should be the Music Director?
In a Baptist publication, Blackaby is quoted:
Henry Blackaby: "When you study the Scriptures, look to see how God works through the Scriptures. When you learn how God has worked throughout history, you can depend on His working in a similar way with you (p. 117).
"When Rev. Blackaby omits the Pauline truth exclusively given to the heavenly Body, he traffics in Israel's legal kingdom truth, and thereby draws the heavenly Church down to Israel's earthly level.
Dr. Chafer rejects this all-inclusive thinking:
"There is no scholarly reason for applying the Scriptures which bear upon the past, the present, or the future of Israel to any other people than that nation of whom Scripture speaks. The real unity of the Bible is preserved only by those who observe with care the divine program for Gentiles, for Jews, and for Christians in their individual and unchanging continuity.
Those who would intrude the Mosaic system of merit into the Church's heaven-high divine administration of superabounding grace either have no conception of the character of that merit which the law required, or are lacking in the comprehension of the glories of divine grace (Systematic Theology IV: 12,19).
When you believe that your ambitious sensing is God's direct voice you may be guided by an unholy spirit.
And, wouldn't you know it, as Blackaby is elevated to Pastor God's speaking to YOU always gells down to God is speaking to ME:
Henry Blackaby: "When God wants to reveal His will to a church, He will begin by speaking to one or more individuals. Because of the nature of his call and assignment from God, this is often the pastor, although it may be another member of the body.
The pastor's job is to bear witness to the church about what he senses God is saying." (p. 166)
The result of this process as the opinions are nurtured and collectivized under the pastor is:
The whole body looks to Christ--the Head of the church-- for guidance. He guides all the members of the body to understand His will."
Isn't it strange that Jesus fired all of these dominant pastors and put the church under a plurality of volunteer heads of families and told them to teach the Word as it had been taught and "once for all delivered to the saints" and resist those who rebel and try to impose legalistic efforts such as ritualistic music:
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Titus 1:9
For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. Titus 1:10
One Baptist writer compares this to the Shepherding Groups which are directly connected to Promise Keepers new move on free churches. The International Church of Christ Shepherding or discipling movement is an outgrouth of the Crossroads group in Florida and the Boston Movement. Many of our latter-day shepherding-prone, dominant pastors were severely bitten by the Crossroads Shepherding bug which is re-inflamed by the PK 96 dissociation at Atlanta and the Blackaby follow-up among those almost 40,000 idle clergy:
"In other words, the pastor is to decide when God is really speaking and when He is not. This teaching may appeal to some who favor the principle of "preacher rule" or dictatorial leadership by the pastor (particularly in independent Baptist circles). It may also appeal to some charismatic and Campbellite (International Churches of Christ) groups which teach extreme forms of "discipling," "shepherding," or "accountability," in which the pastors or cell group leaders must approve all life decisions of their followers, whether major or minor. Blackaby does not [openly] teach either of these systems of leadership, but his teaching definitely lends itself to use (and abuse) by those who favor authoritative and manipulative methods of control over their followers.
[Perhaps this is the reason for the popularity of "Experiencing God weekends" in Jesuit / Roman Catholic circles?] After all, if God is still speaking today as in Old Testament times, and it is the task of the leadership to tell the people just what God is saying, this makes it a lot easier to persuade the sheep to go along with church budgets, building programs, or whatever else the leadership wishes to propose [or impose].
Henry Blackaby: "In our physical bodies we do not take votes based on majority rule, ignore conflicting senses, or choose to listen only to one sense and ignore the others. To live that way would be very dangerous.
Because a church is the body of Christ, it functions best when spiritual leaders and members share what they sense God wants the church to be and do. A church needs to hear the whole counsel of God through its spiritual leaders and members. Then it can proceed in confidence and in unity to do God's will."
Peter left a written memory and denied any person's right to private interpret or further expound: this was lef as a MARK to identify false teachers.
In the new Latter Rain or other groups claiming to have a prophetic message from God, if you question the leadership "you will see and hear strange new things going on in this church but you must not question it or you will find yourself up against God." This really happens!
Henry Blackaby: "If you know that God loves you, you should never question a directive from Him. It will always be right and best.
When He gives you a directive, you are not just to observe it, discuss it, or debate it. You are to obey it." (p. 148)
"People often ask, "did you always wait until you got a 100 percent vote? No. I knew that we might have one or more that were so out of fellowship with the Lord that they could not hear His voice...(p. 169)
Another Baptist notes that:
On pg 187 the authors state that, "The Bible is my guide for faith and practice". This is the standard phraseology of those who take the Bible to be inerrant in the areas of faith and practice (spiritual matters), but not inerrant in matters of history, chronology, origins, etc. (e.g., Fuller Seminary, American Scientific Affiliation).
In Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry T. Balckaby and Claude V. King, a multi-step program is outlined.
In Unit 1, you should look to Scripture to learn how to identify God working in the same way to you.
"With God working through me, I can do anything God can do."
Just like Jesus!
The teaching is that "God reveals Himself personally. One must depend upon the Bible for faith and practice, but one must watch to see which way God is working in a personal way. Day 2, "I can trust God to work in my life in similar ways that I see Him working thorugh Scripture." "The Holy Spirit and the Word of God will instruct you and help you know when and where God is working." Day 3 "I come to know God by experience."
We would ask: "How can you know that it is God working in you?" It might be an "unholy spirit" leading you astray if you confuse your own mental state with the voice of God.
Henry Blackaby: Day 4 & 5 When God is about to do something through you, He has to get you from where you are to where He is.
So He comes and tells you what He is doing.
There is a promise to tell you how to interpret God speaking.
The revelation becomes an invitation to join Him.
I can't stay the way I am and go with God.
He is able to do anything He pleases with one ordinary person fully consecrated to Him.
God's standards of excellence are different from man's.
Someone has said that "a half truth is a whole lie." And that is what happens over and over in this book.
The New Revelation in the Book
Henry Blackaby: Hebrews 1:1 GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son."
Period, quotation mark, end of sentence? Nope! No doubt the writers will tell you that "God's assignment was to pervert this passage so that I can make my point." However, being Bible believers we should read what the Spirit wants you to really know.
The Truth: Hebrews 1:1 GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Hebrews 1:2
Now, if you are personally getting revelations from God you may believe the writer's partial quotation of Scripture. However, if you are a "Spiritual" person you may want to hear from God -- "test the spirits" to see whether they come from God or man.
Henry Blackaby: On page 36 he notes that: First wrong teaching:
Experiencing God wants you to believe on page 36 that
Henry Blackaby: "In the Old Testament God spoke at many times and in a variety of ways. Through Jesus,
God Himself spoke to His people during His lifetime.
Now God speaks through the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will teach you all things, will call to your memory the things Jesus said, will guide you into all truth, will speak what He hears from the Father, will tell you what is yet to come, and glorify Christ as He reveals Christ to you.
The Spirit was the Spirit OF Christ speaking through the Prophets (only). God made Jesus of Nazareth to be both Lord and Christ: as Son, Jesus of Nazareth was the EXCLUSIVE Word revealed to and through the apostles just as He had through the prophets. Since Jesus didn't select and teach me directly over a period of years; and because I did not see and hear Him after His resurrection then this promise was not made to me or anyone unless they are over 2 thousand years old.
Straight from Calvin's Institutes as muddled by the Synod of Dort comes the false claim:
Henry Blackaby: Now that the Holy Spirit is given, He is the one who guides you into all truth and teaches you all things. You understand spiritual truth because the Holy Spirit is working in you.
You cannot understand the Word of God unless the Spirit of God teaches you.
When you come to the Word of God, the Author Himself is present to instruct you. You never discover truth; truth is revealed. When the Holy Spirit reveals truth to you, He is not leading you to an encounter with God. That is an encounter with God.
That means that Christ the only Spirit was INCAPABLE of revealing His Mind or Spirit (mental disposition) through the Written Word. If Gold decides whom He will speak too and CANNOT do that through the Word--a power Blackaby claims for himself--then why bother to let all of the Prophets be murdered by the Civil-Military-Clergy group for all of those centuries? The only meaning of predestination for the Gentiles is:
Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:
Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Ephesians 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men,
as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; [of Christ]
Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body,
and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
It seems that Blackaby says that Paul was just flat lying? The Gift in Acts 2:38 is that YOU now have A holy spirit when God washes awey sin from your UNholy spirit. The same Peter in 1 Peter 3:21 calls it A good conscience, consciousness or a co-perception. In 2 Corinthians 3 Paul says that then you can read BLACK text on BROWN paper.
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
1Peter 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently,
who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Peter 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify,
when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves,
but unto us they did minister the things,
which are now reported unto you by them
that have preached the gospel unto you
with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;
[Jesus in His post-resurrected Spiritual state]
which things the angels desire to look into.
2Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth
the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament;
which vail is done away in Christ.
2Corinthians 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Corinthians 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
Blackaby and King cannot help you see the Mind or Spirit of God Who is Jesus Christ the Righteous. You MUST be baptized or converted to Christ meaning "baptized by Water INTO the school of the Word of Christ."
Epi-strephô Philos., cause to return to the source of Being, tinas eis ta enantia kai ta prôta
Proteros and prôtos II. of Time, former, earlier, children by the first or a former marriage,
Prosthhen in front, before, formerly, of place and of time;
to gennêthen phusei pros to gennêsan
Genn-aô beget, bring forth, engender, call into existence
Phuo 1 Act.:--bring forth, produce, put forth, 2. beget, engender, get understanding,
Pros in the direction of
Genn-aô beget, bring forth, engender, call into existence
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR EVER AND EVER?
2Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are changed into the same image from glory to glory,
even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Peter said that included the Prophets and the Prophecies made more perfect and RECORDED for our memory: wonder why Peter bothered if we could REMEMBER what we never heard?
Peter list EXCLUSIVELY the Prophecies and Prophecies made more perfect by Jesus of Nazareth and made known as their "memory" through the record. If you deny that then you deny Christ and you are marked as a false teacher.
2.Peter.1 and 2.Peter.2.Instrumental.Music.Marks.Corruption.html
Isaiah 1 prophesied baptism as the only way to be Christ's Disciples and proves that those in revold (believeth not) are abandoned to Apollo, Abaddon or Apollyon to use musical worship to invite people to come play INSTEAD of listen to the Word of Christ.
C. Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,
and upholding all things by the word of his power,
when he had by himself purged our sins,
sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
And Blackaby says that we are past the Jesus or Son period and now perform the role of Christ. Does he claim that he was appointed heir of all things and upolds EVERYTHING by the Word of Blackaby's power.
Jesus Christ in His Holy Spirit form will reign until the end when He shall surrender that throne back to the Father. The throne of Jesus Christ will NOT tolerate the body of usurpers and blasphemers.
Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels,
as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time,
Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?
And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Hebrews 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world,
he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Hebrews 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Jesus Christ in his changed post-resurrection returned to the Father for His Spiritual "body" and returned on the day of Pentecost--as promised--and has shed forth what you see and hear: a baptism of WIND and of FIRE. The Viper race not fit to be baptized would be blown into a pile and burned up like chaff.
We are not the SEED of Abraham: we were not born of a virgin, we were not designated by God to be His SON or last spokesman for our world: the Word God speaks is His spiritual Son.
Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens:
but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord,
Sit thou on my right hand,
Acts 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,
that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified,
both Lord and Christ.
After all of the "parts" of individual apostles were completed the term "The Holy Spirit" almost dissappears from the text. Instead, the sallutations in the Epistles is to the
One God the Father in Heaven
And One Lord and the only mediator between man and God.
In John 14 the "another" Comforter is named Jesus Christ the Righteous in
1John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.
And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins:
and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus;
If you deny that God the Father and Jesus of Nazareth whom God made to be both Lord and Christ John says that you are an ANTI-Christ.
The Man Jesus of Nazareth was the ONLY AUTHORITY on earth. He died, was burried, was resurrected, was glorified and returned to the Father and received the promise of the new Spirit body from the Father. He returned--as promised--on the day of Pentecost and Shed forth that which you see and hear. The "another" Comforter or Holy Spirit would be Jesus Christ the Righteous in another form: His holy or wholly Spiritual form.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:131John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:14
All things that the Father hath are mine:
therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:15
And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments,
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him;
and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
If you deny that:
1 timothy 2:5 For there is one God,
and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus;
"Spirit" has never and can never identify a PERSON but only the mental disposition or mind of that person. If you are listening for "a" spirit to speak to you you repudiate the ONE MAN who is the only mediator. If Jesus wants you to do something you will SEE Him and HEAR Him and be able to validate your commision by signs and wonders. It is too late for medication.
If people see visions or hear voices or think that THEY are now the INCARNATE Christ please get them help! Yet, Blackaby continues corrupting the Word meaning "selling learning at retail" and is proven a false teacher because he rejects the command of Jesus to "Teach what HE commanded to be taught." Jesus of Nazareth would be with Paul in Spirit to help guide him into ALL truth: Jesus didn't fail.
The One God is manifest as Father, Son and Spirit. When the work of Jesus was finished, everything bound up in these three terms would belong to the Word in whom full Deity (Col. 2:9) dwelled. Jesus promised to return as the Comforter and
He told Paul that "I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest." We are "to hear :Him" and to demote Jesus and promote an imaginary third "person" or Divine Being Who supercedes the "assignment" to Moses, Elijah and Me may be blasphemy.
Jesus got his message from the Fater and revealed it as His Spirit Word (John 6:63) or Mind of God (1 Cor 2)
The problem with trusting "sensing the will of God" is that you sense that Jesus was promising you personally that you can speak in tongues, handle rattlesnakes, drink poison, heal the sick, raise the dead and be guided into all truth. Sure, these all go together as a package to the Apostles all of whom had been personally selected, trained and empowered on the day of Pentecost. A God who does not select certain people for certain task makes Him still the God Who does not change. He always reserved this right to Himself.
Blackaby: Does God really speak to His people in our day? Will He reveal to you where He is working
when He wants to use you? Yes! God has not changed. He still speaks to His people.Christ set up His synagogue or School (only) of His Word (only) there is nothing that can happen which changes the Word of God (His Son) as the only resource.
If you have trouble hearing God speak, you are in trouble at the very heart of your Christian experience."
Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father:
and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father;
neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son,
and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
The Bible and all trinitarians identify the Spirit of God as the "breath" of God by whom the ONE God in heaven and ONE Man Jesus Christ as the way all truth is delivered.
1John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments,
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
2Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
The Spirit OF Christ is the Spirit Who guided Jesus Christ as the SON whom God ordained to be both Lord and Christ. Only HE knows what the ONE FATHER IN HEAVEN wants to reveal as the SON. Jesus is now Holy Spirit as Son and He HAS SPOKEN through the prophets and prophecies made more perfect.
There is no historic trinitarian who ever thought of the Spirit OF God as a separated person. The NAME of the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ and in the form of Holy (wholly and pure) in that Spirit Form He speaks only what He spoke as Jesus of Nazareth whom God picked as the Seed of Abraham to fulfill all of the prophecies.
If a spirit speaks to you today: seek help.
Experiencing God implies three time
periods in which God speaks directly to someone: Old Testament, the prophets; New
Testament, Jesus; now, perhaps you.
While Blackaby gives some credit to the Word it is not as the Spirit guide Jesus came to reveal to us. Rather, the Word of God is his guide to tell him that he can, like Moses, get his own revelation. This need for a personal revelation when God has supplied us "all that pertainst to life and godliness" is a direct repudiation of the work, sacrifice and continuing works as Spirit of Jesus in whom dwelled "full Deity." Blackaby continues:
Henry Blackaby: The Word of God is our guide.
The pattern I see in Scripture is that God always gives us direction on the front end. He may not tell you all you want to know at the beginning but He will tell you what you need to know to make necessary adjustments and to take the first step of obedience. Your task is to wait until the Master gives you instructions. If you start 'doing' before you have a direction from God, more than likely you will be wrong.
A popular teaching says God does not give you clear directions. It says He just sets your life in motion. Then you try to figure out the directions using your God-given mind. This implies that a Christian always thinks correctly and according to God's will. This does not take into account that the old nature is constantly battling with the spiritual nature (Rom 7) Our ways are not God's ways [Isaiah. 55:8].
Again, the Command of Jesus Christ was to teach what HE COMMANDED to be taught: that is not YOU focused except that you by hearing the Word of God being PREACHED by being READ you will be changed into the image of Christ. Only Hyper-Calvinists of the Purpose Driven Church (cult) teach that God controls all of your actions. If you have a new baby it might be an adulterer, murderer, predestinied ot burn in heal. God, they hallucinates, was not able to make a good Japanese robot so He has to pull all of the strings and tell you what to think and do.
God gave the free water of the word in Isaiah 55. He compared it to the water cycle: if we just recycle God's word through others and our prayers God's will is done. Otherwise, we are just hallucinating:
Only God can give you the kind of specific directions to accomplish His purposes in His ways.If Blackaby claims equality with Jesus Christ don't believe him. If he gets rich and famous don't believe him.
Notice that we have the confused dispensations of the trinity of people:
- Old Testament: Really mixed up.
- New Testament: Through Jesus, God spoke during His lifetime.
- Post Resurrection: The Holy Spirit speaking directly to you.
But the name of the Holy Spirit is Jesus of Nazareth.Matt. 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father:
and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father;
neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
John 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all:
he that is of the earth is earthly,
and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
John 3:32 And what he hath seen and heard,
that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
John 3:33 He that hath received his testimony
hath set to his seal that God is true.
Jesus of Nazareth was made to be both Lord and Christ: "He was a body prepared for me." His vision and hearing was that of a Son and the Son is called the Word: God emits "breath" and Jesus articulates that into an audible Word. NO ONE ELSE was giving this direct access to the Mind or Spirit of God. Man says that he hears the testimony. Jesus said that he DOES NOT. You decide which is the liar.
John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God:
for God giveth not the Spirit by measure [Meter] unto him.
There is no meter or melody in a tuneful sense. Metron is often used to define "meter." Therefore one of the MARKS of a false teacher that his "spirit" causes him to speak in meter.
John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:
and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life;
but the wrath of God abideth on him.
The Father WITHIN has the Words; He breaths (spritit) as invisible, inaudible power; the Visible Son articulates those Words.
John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?
he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
John 14:10 Believest thou not
that I am in the Father,
and the Father in me?
the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself:
but the Father that DWELLETH IN me, he doeth the works
What we should understand is that God has always spoken through His Word and revealed His Spirit or Mind to mankind. God as the Word created and spoke the worlds into existence. God as the Incarnate Word spoke directly to the masses but revealed Himself only to the Apostles. God the Spirit continues to speak to us through His "spirit-impregnated" Words.
Unless, you are ready to claim to be the revealer - Creator for your day, you should erase all of those "fill in the blanks" where you have blasphemed.
Those who are in Christ have the Spirit or Mind of Christ as they listen to Him speak through His Spirit in His inspired and powerful words. Thereafter, this sense of lostness Blackaby expresses and which is at the soul of many Calvinists ignores that Paul said:
Henry Blackaby: After God spoke to Noah about building an ark, Noah knew the size, the type of materials, and how to put it together. When God spoke to Moses about building the tabernacle He was very specific about the details. When God became flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ,
He gave specific directions to His disciples -- where to go, what to do, how to respond.
What about when God called Abraham (Abram) and said, "Go to the land I will show you" (Gen 12:1)? That was not very specific. That required faith. But God did say, "I will show you." God always will give you enough specific directions to do now what He wants you to do. When you need more directions, He gives you more in His timing. In Abraham's case, God later told him about the son to be born to him, the number of his descendants, the territory they would inhabit, that they would go into bondage and be brought out.
The Holy Spirit gives clear directives today. God is personal. He wants to be intimately involved in your life. He will give you clear guidance for living." Experiencing God, p. 75
Neither Blackaby nor YOU are Noah or Abraham or Moses. HERE is where Blackaby is leading you into REVOLTING against God and blasphemy.
Again Blackaby retires Father and Son to a chair somewhere in heaven (the sky), dismisses their inspired message, and trusts to the Holy Spirit Who apparently sends signals like radio waves only to those whom God equipped with an antenna. Quite naturally as a Calvinist he depends upon a direct communication from God and as a believer in "believer's baptism" trusts his own experiences under the "law" to bring him into a direct contact with Christ or, as the Britannica notes, to actually become Christ. See Believer's Baptism as a Gnostic or pagan baptism.
Hast thou not heard of Miriam who claimed what Blackaby promises?
And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it. Numbers 12:2
And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. Numbers 12:4
And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. Numbers 12:5
And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. Numbers 12:6
My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. Numbers 12:7
With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? Numbers 12:8
warning: you will blaspheme if you follow this!
> For I spake NOT unto your fathers, nor commanded them
in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt,
concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: Jeremiah 7:22
> But this thing commanded I them, saying,
Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: (CENI)
and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, (CENI)
that it may be well unto you. Jeremiah 7:23
Jer 23:17 They say still unto them that DESPISE me,Despise tthe Word of God of God and using your own words is:
The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace;
and they say unto every one that walketh
after the imagination of his own heart,
No evil shall come upon you.
Blasphēm-eō , pf.A. “beblasphēmēka” D.18.10:—speak profanely of sacred things, “eis theous” Pl.R.381e; offer rash prayers2. speak ill or to the prejudice of one, slander, “peri tēs emēs diatribēs” Isoc.15.2, cf. D.l.c., ib.82; “b. kata tinos” Isoc.12.65, cf. Arist.Fr.44; “hosa eis hēmas eblasphēmēsan” D.51.3; “b. tina” Babr.71.6, Ev.Luc.23.39, etc.: abs., Phld.Lib.p.8 O.:—Pass., to have evil spoken of one, “beblasphēmēmenous” Id.Vit.p.12 J., cf. 1 Ep.Cor.10.30.3. speak impiously or irreverently of God, blaspheme, “eis ton Kurion” LXX Da.3.29(96); “eis to pneuma to hagion” Ev.Marc.3.29; eis ta theia Vett. Val.58.12; “tous theous” Id.67.20: abs., LXX 2 Ma.10.34, al., Ev.Matt.9.3.
The Prophets spoke through the Spirit OF Christ. If you speak out of your own evil, vain imagination you have blaspmened the Holy Spirit of God and it will never be forgiven.
Would Blackaby tell us about HIS visions or dreams where God instructed him to blaspheme?
And on page 77 Blackaby insists and I emphasize where my Baptist aunt emphasized in her book which may be guiding me as I speak and use it as a very good "mouse pad."
Henry Blackaby: "When God spoke to Moses and others in the Old Testament, those events were encounters with God.
An encounter with Jesus was an encounter with God for the disciples.
In the same way an encounter with the Holy Spirit is an encounter with God for you."
Jesus was born of a virgin and God made him to be both Lord and Christ. He was crucified to give value to His word: how dare any person say that YOU can be another Christ?
My "Assignment from God" is to tell you that in the:
Old Testament: The revelation was the Spirit of Christ speaking to the people in various ways (1 Peter 1:11; Revelation 19:10)
New Testament: God was in Jesus speaking and reconciling. Thomas Called Jesus My Lord and My God. God was not just speaking "through" Jesus, as far as mankind can understand, God was in Jesus and the Jesus words were God words. Paul says that the Holy Spirit is the Mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:10-16)
2Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;
and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Post Resurrection: When the invisible Spirit "Lord" spoke to the Apostle Paul He said, "I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you persecute." Paul did not recognize that any one but the apostles were the authentic speakers. Even when Paul prayed for people's enlightenment, he proceeded to teach them to enlighten them.
If you accept the first part of mis-quoted Hebrews you have to apply the rest of it to yourself:
This means that if God is speaking directly to you based upon Paul's partial quotation then
........... YOU are appointed heir of all things and
........... YOU were the Creator of all worlds!
........... Otherwise, the first part of the discourse does not belong to you.
Why would the writer use this form of distortion? It is true for all of us that once we have "bonded" to a human theology we will distort Scripture to defend it. The human theology this writer is laboring under may be foreign to your belief system.
In the Baptist form of Calvinism, a direct revelation of God to you just as He revealed Himself to Christ is consistent with the denominational doctrine. However, John Calvin's teaching didn't become "Calvinism" until much later. For instance, Calvin understood that one must "sign onto" the Spirit of Christ or receive the Words of Christ in the heart before the words written in the Bible have power. For instance, on Continuing Revelation John Calvin would refute Blackaby's direct revelation of scripture. Click for More.
Jesus' clear statements about baptism are rejected because predestinated beings are like "stones" lying on the ground with no ability to hear, believe, repent and be baptized.
For instance, in the Catholic form of the Eucharist you do literally handle Jesus Who suffers just for you and is in the presence of the bread. In the Zwinglian (Baptist) form of baptism, Christ literally comes to you and in fact you may have to become Christ so that you can die for your own sins.
It is easy for neo-Calvinists to minimize Scripture because God gives out "assignments" directly to those He chooses to give the gift of salvation. Not only can you not hear God speaking to you through His Words, it may actually be evil to believe that you can have faith on your own. Calvin connfirmed that Scripture is the "normal" rule for conveying faith but that God is not bound to the Bible:
"But they do not consider, that when the apostle makes hearing the source of faith, he only describes the ordinary economy and dispensation of the Lord, which he generally observes in the calling of his people; but does not prescribe a perpetual rule for him, precluding his employment of any other method; which he has certainly employed in the calling of many,John Calvin on the Spirit and the Word
to whom he has given the true knowledge of himself in an internal manner, by the illumination of his Spirit, without the intervention of any preaching." (Calvin's Institutes, Westminster Press, Vol. II, p. 622)
1. The temper and error of the Libertines, who take to themselves the name of spiritual, briefly described. Their refutation. (a). The Apostles and all true Christians have embraced the written Word. This confirmed by a passage in Isaiah; also by the example and words of Paul.
(b). The Spirit of Christ SEALS the doctrine of the written Word on the minds of the godly.
Now, if you are a Baptist (as are the writers of this catechism) and a neo-Calvinist then this book defines and reinforces Baptist-Calvinistic doctrine. So thouroughly is this done that the 'fill in the blanks" are not "exercises for the student." Rather, they are hand, eye, voice and ear coordinated reinforcements of the dogma taught in the text. If this was not true then breaking off a passage mid-verse would never be used. When you go through the course you have been "programmed" so thouroughly that the promoters can boast that "you will never be the same again."
If you are not a neo-Calvinistic-Baptist being discipled into that doctrine or catechized with a programmed question-answer scheme, then you may not want to use this material.
Paul's Broader Context
Taking a text out of its context is always a deliberate goal to deceive you. Paul and the other apostles considered themselves uniquely selected to be the witnesses for the once-for-all-times event of the Incarnation of God in Lord, Jesus Christ. Paul never hints that the you have power to hear God directly and always restricts revelation to the we.
You should repudiate any claim to speak for God personally or you have just blasphemed. Paul continued to speak in Hebrews. His entire emphasis, and that of the other writers, is that God became flesh once for all times; He was crucified and resurrected once for all times; He choose apostle-prophets for the last time; He endorsed their preaching by the performance of miracles (you will not be able to do that to validate your new assignment) and He remaind with the Apostles in Spirit form to guarantee their written record "once for all times delivered to the saints."
THEREFORE we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Hebrews 2:1
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; Hebrews 2:2
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which
at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; Hebrews 2:3 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders,
and with divers miracles,
and gifts of the Holy Ghost,
according to his own will? Hebrews 2:4
Conclusion: This Experiencing God Personally theology is proven by the proof text. However, the context says just the opposite: Christ and Apostle-prophets are used by God because those who have not had a face-to-face encounter do not hear God directly. Honoring the "outdated" words of Christ in person will teach that Blackaby and friends are teaching the direct opposite of what the Holy Spirit of God revealed to the Hebrews.
Furthermore, you have only one Teacher and when you forsake him for fallible human teachers you will have violated a first principle of Christianity and you will believe strong delusions. Now look again at the claim of the writer in black and then what you must claim for yourself which he didn't quote in red:
Hebrews 1:1 GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Hebrews 1:2
But then "fools love to be fooled."
Next Missed truth:
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
"The Holy Spirit of God will be your personal teacher. . . . He will be at work revealing God, His purposes and His ways to you" (p3).
It should be pretty self-evident tha if Jesus didn't say anything persoanlly to me while He was in the flesh then He will not remind me of what He didn't say after He returned as the only Comforter. Jesus said:
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. John 14:25
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,
and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26
This applied ONLY to the Apostles to whom He Revealed the will of the ONE God the Father in heaven. They must have been with Him and witnessed Him after the Resurrection.
This proves that the spoken words of God which are Spirit and Life (John 6:63) are so powerful and holy that they need to be preserved. This would preclude Christ giving me a new message which was not in the original message.
This Holy Spirit is not a substitute for Jesus: He will come in "my name." This is why when He appeared to Paul His name was "Jesus" because "The Holy Spirit" is not a name but describes the nature of God as pure Spirit. Backing up to honestly include the context we can learn who the "another Comforter" will be:
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; John 14:16 (Not diffferent but of the same type)
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:17
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:18
In John 16:13, 14 the Spirit Jesus will bring to them exactly what the fleshly Jesus spoke to them.If God planned in advance that Jews and Gentiles can be one in Christ that does not mean that God forces individual Jews to turn to Christ.
Did God create mankind and put His spirit or mental ability into us and fall so short that we are just zombies? Robots? This denies free will. Now, we might expect Calvinists (the majority) to teach this view but we would not expect it to be swallowed by those who reject Calvinism and believe, even as elders, that they believe in free will!
Does the endorsement, promotion and use of this book not say that the shepherds of the flock have rejected the perfectly-adequate Words of Christ and have converted to Calvinism and to a Charismatic form of worship? "Leading the worshipers into the presence of God with music" is one of the most powerful signs of a charismatic breakdown.,
In Unit 3 "I do not choose Him, He chooses me, loves me, and reveals His eternal purposes for my life." "I cannot know the activity of God unless He takes the initiative to let me know." God's whole plan for the kingdom depends on His direct work through the people.
There is no way to speak of predestination except in the context that God randomly selects infants to burn in hell: otherwise God has never pre-determined the actions of a single human connected to salvation.
Proof: Understand that when people use the word "predestination" in any sense they mean selected from eternity past to be saved or burned in hell. You new daughter is probably a murderess!
Total Depravity - Human beings are so affected by the negative consequences of original sin that they are incapable of being righteous, and are always and unchangeably sinful; human freedom is totally enslaved by sin so we can only choose evil. U
Unconditional Election - Since human beings cannot choose for themselves, God by His eternal decree has chosen or elected some to be counted as righteous, without any conditions being placed on that election. L
Limited Atonement - The effects of the Atonement, by which God forgave sinful humanity, are limited only to those whom He has chosen. 'Whosoever will" is limited only to those God forces to obey by INFUSING faith into them without the Word.
Irresistible Grace - The grace that God extends to human beings to effect their election cannot be refused, since it has been decreed by God. There is nothing you can do: the gospel has no power unless God has preselected you.
Perseverance of the Saints - Since God has decreed the elect, and they cannot resist grace, they are unconditionally and eternally secure in that election. That means that there is no evil you can do which will lose your salvation.
It is absolutely true that mankind could not know God until He revealed Himself. Therefore, God took the initiative by coming in the form of a man to teach what we should be doing. Does He have to do it over and over for each life? Then why did He do it one time and let his will be expressed in the lives of about 5000 men on the day of Pentecost. This will was to repent and be baptized. We can bet that the new revelation declares that every passage on baptism as expressed by every translation is just plain wrong: "While it may seem to say that Baptism is required, it might be that the passage means something else." Does God reveal Himself that way?
Henry Blackaby: In unit 4 one knows God only through experience as He reveals Himself to me. When God gives a commandment, He is not restricting me. He is freeing me. God is at work but God takes the initiative: "God must take the initiative to open my spiritual eyes." God speaks when He is about to accomplish His purposes. What God initiates, He completes.
But, not according to Jesus
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me;
and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
John 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me,
that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing,
but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me,
that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him,
may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said,
I am the bread which came down from heaven.
John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?
how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:
and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.
Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:
and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
We are invited or called out through the word of the Gospel.
Those who have not received that effective call will gather under the Babylon Mother of harlots and:
Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
God Predestinates them:
Revelation 17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will,
and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast,
until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
Revelation 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city,
which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
1Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren,
how that not many WISE men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
Luke 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee,
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that thou hast hid these things from the WISE and prudent,
and hast revealed them unto babes: even so,
Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Sophos , ē, on, A. skilled in any handicraft or art, clever, “mantis”
mostly of poets and musicians, Pi.O.1.9, P.1.42, 3.113; en kithara s. E.IT1238 (lyr.), cf. Ar.Ra.896 musical melody in a holy place
We are not called or elected to go to heaven or hell: Christ calls us or invites us to HIS school of the Word where HE supplies all of the teaching resources.
Klēt-os , ē, on,2. called out, chosen, Il.9.165.3. Invoked, Anon. ap. Suid.4. Summoned to court, PAmh.2.79.5 (ii A.D.).II. Subst. klētē (sc. ekklēsia), hē, convocation, LXX Ex.12.16, Le.23.2ē-lĭgo , lēgi, lectum, 3, v. a. lĕgo, I. to pick out, choose, elect (class.; esp. in the trop. sense; cf
I. In gen., picked, selected; select, choice, excellent: “
Absol., to choose correctly, make a proper selection: haud semper errat fama; “aliquando et elegit,” Tac. Agr. 9 fin.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirstAnd whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Titus 2:11 For the  grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Titus 2:12
 Teaching us that,
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:  denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.  we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Titus 2:14
 Who gave himself for us,
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them Repent,  that he might redeem us from all iniquity, [Lawlesness]
Lutron redeem, Luo lavo , cleanse or wash, bathe,
lave. louô, purify, tina ek tôn hamartiôn
Col. 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins,
Redemption or Remission happens ONLY after BAPTISM
even the forgiveness of sins:
 and purify unto himself a peculiar people,
zealous of good works.
and ye shall receive the gift of A holy spirit
What was the eternal Prepurpose?
Ephesians 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will,
according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
The predestinated purpose:
Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times
he might gather together in one all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
That iincludes the Jews and Gentiles in the heavenly kingdom.
Ephesians 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross,Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come,
having slain the enmity thereby:
God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law,
that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons,
God hath sent forth the Spirit "OF" his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
The writer does not like the regulative principle held sacred by all protestants in all ages: "Where the Bible speaks we speak, where the Bible is silent we are silent." As an example,
- He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved
- He that believeth not shall be damned.
"Christ issued His commandment to be baptized but does not say that he that is not baptized shall be damned." We hear it all of the time.
In other words, if Father is telling me not to "camp out" but "go into all the world and preach the gospel" He does not restrict me from getting a new assignment for a new office: The Located Evangelist (Read "Located Traveling Salesman"). Or by defining singing as a one-another method of teaching with the revealed Words of Christ, "He was not restricting me" from usurping this role and serenading the "audience" with a Musical Worship Facilitators" (Read: Manipulator.)
God restricts you from doing anything which fails to obey that commandment, which adds to or aids or replaces it.
It is easy to misuse Scripture. Listen to Paul say:
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. Hebrews 8:11
Click Here to see that it was prophesied and fulfilled that God through Jesus Christ would teach us through His Word. God would take over this teaching-Shepherding task through Jesus Christ because there was not one single man who would remain faithful to the "commandment": they all felt unrestricted.
If mankind was capable of hearing God directly without Himself in some form then He wouldn't have needed Jesus to teach, the Apostles to confirm and the Scriptures to store the once-delivered word, would He?
If the Spirit Christ decided that He could communicate His will fully through the Words in which He stored Spirit and Life (John 6:63) then to feel unrestricted is to reject the power of the Word and thereby reject the God Who spoke it.
Get Real: The only time people want God to whip up a personal will for their personal lives and reveal it through a personal, knowing, sexual-like experience is that they do not accept the commandments already revealed. They want to use God's Word through Jesus as the example of how God makes us all incarnate gods with God's power. However, they do not want to be restricted by that Word.
In Unit 11: As my church experiences Koinonia with other groups of God's people, we experience greater dimensions of God's presence at work in our world.
Koinoia love demands "doing what is in the best interest of the person." It is not a "knowing personally" or a "male bonding." If you have love for another person you will not say, "Oh, I know that God has a commandment but you know, He is not restrictive. You refuse to be baptized, that's ok, that is your unrestricted right. You speak in tongues, ok, I can live with that."
This is the God-like urge to fellowship everyone where the commandments are patterns but not restrictive. However, we can deliver food to one with whom we disagree. However, koinonia does not demand joint-participation with what we hold to be pagan rites. If you wanna sell 'em books, that's ok. However, if you have to say "I'm ok, you're ok" then you have gone beyond God's restrictive commandments.
I just don't know. If I was cursed with being a charismatic speaker or if I wanted to sell "watered wine" and tell you that God guided me to the bookstore to buy the book which claims what Scripture claims for itself, I might want to break down the walls to all book buyers, whatever their persuasion. You see, the Word has always been hated by the world; its teachers hated and persecuted, and no faithful teacher will ever find a wide audience for their books.
Breaking down the walls is the them of God's "songs." One is in Isaiah 5. When the people neglect the Word as God has given it to them, they turn to musical and charismatic practices. In return, God breaks down the walls so that all of the beasts (none spiritual people) can get inside to eat your grapes and take your inheritance.
Well, it goes on and on and on until it reaches the magical number 12.
Can we imitate Christ and Become Incarnated for My Time?
"When I want to learn how to know and do the will of God," Blackaby writes, "I always look to Jesus. I can find no better model than Him" The following is quoted as a model for us. On page 65 he abuses the words of Christ.
Not everyone can grasp that cutting Christ's words and taking what applied to God Himself in human form and then applying them to those who make it through the twelve-step program:
The black text is what Experiencing God takes out of context. We have left the red text in the reading so that, with eyes to see, you can see that these people believe that you can actually do what God can do. Beginning in John 5:17:
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Henry Blackaby: - King continue:
"To experience God personally, remember God has been at work in our world from the very beginning, and He still is at wok. Jesus indicated this in His life. He announced that He had come, not to do His own will, but the will of the Father who had sent Him (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:29; 17:4).
To know the Father's will, Jesus said He watched to see what the Father was doing. Then Jesus joined Him in that work.
Jesus was the prophesied SEED of Abraham. He was born of a VIRGIN. God MADE HIM TO BE both Lord and Christ and NO MAN hears the mind of God but the SON whom God has ordained for that purpose
"The Father loved the Son, and took the initiative to come to Him and reveal what He (the Father) was doing, or was about to do.
The Son kept on looking for the Father's activity around Him, so He could unit His life with the Father's activity."
"Jesus watched to see where the Father was at work. When He saw, He did what He saw the Father doing. For Jesus the revelation of where the Father was working was His invitation to join in the work.
When you see the Father at work around you, that is your invitation to adjust your life to Him and join Hin in that work.
Jesus said: "I and my Father are one." Jn.10:30. Jesus said that the Father SPAKE the Word through the Son using the Spirit without meter. The Spirit of God is the Breath of God. Blackaby is NOT another Jesus Christ.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jn.20:28
Of course, Scripture says that Christ was God in all of His Spiritual Glory. However, he set aside that Glory to take on the form of a human. While in that form He said "My Father and I are One" and that "if you have seen me you have seen the father" and "I have the Father with me." Paul said that:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Ph 2:10
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Ph 2:11
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Col 2:8
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Col 2:9
I suppose that Blackaby MUST believe that the fulness of the Godhead MUST dwell in him or he simply does not have a clue about the Bible.John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, F
ather, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh,
that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
John 17:3 And this is life eternal,
that they might know thee the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth:
I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
Antichrist denies that Christ (God) came fully in the flesh.
To Blackaby, Jesus is just a man like us. He had no will of His own. He had no plans. He didn't even do anything. He just watched events unfold. When He saw something He liked, Jesus just jumpted in and got on the bandwagon.
Jesus said that "Father and Son are One." That the Father was inside. The Spirit God fully indwelled the Son (Colossians 2:9). Thomas looked at Jesus and said, "MY Lord and my God." Therefore, what the Father does, the Son does because they are one.
This does not mean that I can watch the Father and do what He does because I am not God Incarnate.
To claim that anyone can, is to claim equality with Christ and this is to claim equality with God.
Now, look at what Blackaby - King did not quote and see what they really mean when they say that God has a personal "assignment" for you just as He had one for Jesus:
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. John 5: 21
Can I give life to people? No? Then this passage does not belong to me, does it?
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: John 5: 22
Did God commit judgment (pass and execute sentence) upon people? No? Then this passage does not apply to me, does it?
That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. John 5: 23
Are people to honor me even as they honor the Father? No? Then to apply this passage to me makes me a new God and that is blasphemy.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5: 24
Do people inherit eternal life as a result of believing upon me? No? Then I had better fall on my face and ask God if perhaps He might grant repentance unto me.
If this is the "assignment" God gave Jesus; and if we get a similar assignment then Blackaby gives authority to (1) be God, (2) give life to others, (3) judge others, (4) receive the honor of Christ or God (5) have skipped past judgment.
Jesus was not a "pattern" which we are to imitate. Rather, the fact that Jesus was God in the flesh is part of the Gospel message which those hearing him were to preach. The apostles never claimed any of these powers and throughout history those who claim the same power have been treated with contempt, not honor.
The Christ of God which is God at work in the World came into "a body perpared for me." Anyone who believes that they are EQUAL TO CHRIST.
Gregory Koukl notes that Blackaby misses the point:
"Obviously, that is not Jesus' teaching here. In context, these verses have to do with the divinity of Christ. He is unique as the incarnate Son of God and therefore has unique obligations, unique abilities, and a unique relationship with the Father.
"Verses 26-27 clear up any question on this score: "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man." "Son of Man" is a Messianic title from Daniel 7:13 that Jesus used often. As Messiah, Jesus has a singular role.
"This is why Jesus never directs His disciples to follow His example in this.
No subsequent writers--Peter, John, Paul, Luke--ever mention it. Why not, if this is such a vital example to follow? Because Jesus is unique in this regard. We are not to imitate those things pertaining to Jesus' divinity or His Messianic office.
Led by the Spirit?The key failure in all direct operations of the Holy Spirit is to read "Holy Spirit" each time Paul writes the word "spirit." When Paul personally experienced the Spirit presence His name was "Jesus whom you persecute." Paul was an apostle and was promised the same guidance promised to the other apostles. In our discussion about Speaking in Tongues we show that Scripture is clear that those promised direct guidance by Jesus Christ when He returned as Another Comforter (John 14:16-18) was limited to the Apostles who were trained by Jesus and were His only witnesses after the resurrection to verify His Deity.
In Romans, the conflict is not between our flesh and the Holy Spirit; it is between our flesh and our spirit. Whatever is said about our spirit in Romans speaks to our human spirit enlightened and under the control of Jesus Christ who is pure or Holy Spirit. The Mind of Christ (1 Cor. 3) is the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Christ or the Spirit of God. Spirit does not speak of a separated "person" but of the mental disposition of God Himself.
Those who are "hearing voices" directly from God should not be trusted to "deliver the Word as it has been delivered to you."
Experiencing God signs are clearly revealed in Scripture: those who listen to, believe and obey Christ's Words have the witness in themselves. Other "experiences" are the fruit of the Spirit or the fruit of Christ. A Christ-led person does not ignore the Words of Christ and substitute books which depend upon a mystical connection with mass meetings of men looking for their lost manhood. One might be "Experiencing God" if 40,000 "clergy" did not to "go out" in disobedience to Christ's command and example, understand that 'the kingdom is within you" and spend all of that time and money going into all the world and doing something like "Keeping God's commandments."
The Resource of LeadingGod Who is Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a man: Jesus. The Mind of Jesus Christ was (is) the Holy Spirit of God (1 Cor 2). The Mind of Christ was revealed to certain men prepared to see God in a face-to-face (personal) sense as Light shone in the face of Jesus.
Only those few who had such an experience or encounter with God and were selected ever revealed Scripture.
To look for new "scripture" in the face of our own human, fleshly experiences is to deny inspiration and the God Who inspired it. For instance, Paul understood:
THEREFORE we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Hebrews 2:1
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; Hebrews 2:2
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; Hebrews 2:3
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? Hebrews 2:4
To claim the same Experiencing God is to claim to be an apostle. Therefore, when you tell me that God told you to do some radical new form of worship because it is now the way to reach Him, I will just have to believe that you have had the maiden head of rationality (spirituality) ruptured beyond redemption.
John agrees. He does not give a remote hit that even those who may have known Jesus personally (that is face to face) would get a supernatural assignment. What then could they do for spiritual knowledge. John has a solution which those attempting to Experience God Personally do not and cannot have:
Did John have the Light within himself? Well, Rubel Shelly thinks so. Says that John took old fragments of poorly-remembered sayings of Jesus and filtered them through philosophy and HIS OWN PERSONAL AGENDA and then wrote. But, Old John denies that as indeed he would dare not do otherwise.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1 John 1:6
Are you ladies really teaching that YOU can become the source of Light? Can your blood cleanse from sin?
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and
........... the blood of Jesus Christ his Son (continues to) cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
THERE is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh (darkness, ignorance), but after the Spirit (light, truth). Romans 8:1
Jesus had no sin: are you greater than Jesus? Be very careful presumptious ladies, you are treading on dangerous ground and you may have already fallen and you will never get up:
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:10
After showing that Jesus Christ is the Mediator (there is only one), John wrote:
But whoso keepeth his word,
........... in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1 John 2:5
I can guarantee the most "spirit filled" that God has already revealed His will more fully than any of you every have any intention of doing.
SummaryIn all of the direct experiences with God, listed here they were all part of Christ's plan to perform both a judgmental sign against unbelievers and validation of the apostles.
None but apostles were ever "guided into all truth" because none but the apostles had a direct, fact-to-face teaching experience with Christ and therefore they were the only ones who had a memory which needed to be refreshed. When the face-to-face witnesses wanted others to remember, they wrote:
THIS second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 Peter 3:1
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4
MY little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 John 2:1
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that
........... ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3
Jude quotes Enoch who told the story of the fallen angels. They led the youth into musical worship to keep them from hearing the Word of God. By ignoring the Word and claiming to be gods they fell. And God and ten thousand of His saints will come to execute judgment almost exclusively upon the presumptious disciples of Lucifer who claim that they are gods.
In a final sense, when Lord Jesus (full Deity) wanted to speak to the churches He had John write the message and put it in a book:
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. Revelation 1:11
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. Revelation 19:9
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the pirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10
God does not speak to anyone who is not especially prepared by Him to be an apostle or prophet. Then, the purpose of the one time event is that it be recorded in a book for everyone else.
History is not kind to those who claim direct experiencing of God!
If you cannot trust the time-tested Words of Christ which you can see, how can you trust new words which no one else can see.
There were no supernatural messages from God which were not connected to the work of the apostles who held unique, never to be repeated, positions to witness to what they had seen and to be guided into all truth in order to record Scripture. Be aware that:
No man every spoke tongues outside of the arm-reach or touch of an apostle.
No woman ever spoke in tongues any where or for any reason unless it was the charismatic ecstasy of the Corinthian pagans.
That means that if you have Musical Worship Teams "leading you into the presence of God" you might want to know which god they serve as the prophets, mediators and even intercessors.
The early believers clearly understood that if they "preach any other gospel than that which had already been preached they were accursed." They also knew that if pretend-apostles or prophets remained more than two or three days "they were thieves' living off the poor and widow.
The apostle's assignment was to reveal truth and they recorded no person getting a direct revelation outside of their reach and influence. Philip received a message which seems proof-positive that his daughters were musical or poetic prophesiers but they were not prophets.
Used to be that when people started hearing the voice of God they put them away. However, direct revelations are so common in what may be the end-times that they seem to be the majority. Take comfort that Jesus never spoke to the mass meetings without speaking in parables to keep the blind blind and the deaf deaf from hearing spiritual truth.
When they rejected His power to reveal His complete will through the Spirit of Christ breathing His Words into the prophets (1 Peter 1:11; Revelation 19:10) they had "broken" the rational or spiritual (left or masculine) nature and would not, could not, ever hear the Word of God again. Their Experiencing God was singing and piping like little girls trying to hijack the masculinity of Jesus to know Him personally, intimately. A million of the mass movement died in Jerusalem, their holy place to which the Spirit of God never entered.
Conclusions: Like so many charismatic writings, this one seeks to have God repeat in the life of every believer what He did through Christ or the apostles. However, Jesus was uniquely Incarnated and you will never have the "literal" God in your literal body. You will never be a prophet or apostle.
The masses always associated with the wrong gender were ever chosen to be a true warriors of faith. True faith trusts God to do His work once for all and have, for instance, the sacrifice of Jesus work by looking back to every person who lived; and also look forward to everyone who will live. He does not have to be present in the "faith only" baptism or even make the baptized person into the personal Christ; nor does Jesus have to die and be handled by priests in the Eucharist.
By denying Christ's power to deliver His message for our dispensation we open the door to deny that Christ's blood is adequate for our "modern times."
When you see people who will not, cannot, bring themselves to preach the Word as it has been delivered to them, sing the songs as they have been revealed in a one-another teaching practice, you know that they are directly Experiencing God. He is pouring out His Spirit of wrath upon plugged ears and blind eyes. It is a supernatural sign but it has lots of Biblical parallels in every age.
They will not, cannot, ever return to the holy place where "worship is in spirit and in truth." Their spirit works on the external, the ritual and not on the mind or spirit.

domain: christianity