Her brother, Brad, is 60+ and may not have much time left, unless the LORD should intervene.  His wife Judy is a a believer and an intercessor and is still believing God for a miracle. Let’s believe with her.

Her sister’s (Terri) son, Phillip, turned 29 in October of last year. He has had undiagnosed cancer for 7-9 years.  It has manifested as tumors. The tumors are generated by a hormone. They can’t give him chemo or radiation, but there is a hormone shot they can give him ($1200 a month) The hormone injection could extend his life for as much as 10 years.

So, please pray for wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of God. That the Lord will bring certain and sure salvation with His peace to both. Also, pray for all the family members and that this situation will be used to the Glory of God!

They both live in California and we are believing the Lord for His provision as Becky will be flying to be a testimony and a light of hope to her family.  We thank you for your partnership in prayers and support!

Blessings!

Jerry

“Lighter of Burning and Shining Lamps Until He Returns!”

” that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man”

I’m posting a prayer I have developed this past year for ME (my copyright is that you have the right to copy).  Its not the only thing I petition heaven for as many of you are regularly in my conversations with Jehovah!  I’ve often thought why do I pray for myself, it seems so very selfish!  Why isn’t something changing? God, do you hear me?

Yet, I knew that in order for me to be strengthen in my inner man I needed to ask for help!

Hallelujah! Revelation has come to my soul…He hears me…He told me so! Yes, He does talk to us!  AND that is the fruit of intimacy with our Bridegroom, King and Judge! He loves to hear our hearts and He will and does share His heart with us!

Our conversations with the LORD can be much like they are with others: when one is speaking the other is thinking about what they are going to say next instead of slowing down to listen.

The issue of “being still and knowing He is GOD” is simple but not easy.  I would close my eyes and  hear the rush of thoughts competing with the voice of the LORD!  Sometimes I would finally quite down and fall asleep.  What heavenly peace! There have been moments where I sensed I had broken through the gates of heaven into His Throne room but alas, it was time to get back to life.

It took me almost a year to understand the importance of writing all the “tasks” or “distractions” from prayer  down during my time before the LORD and then laying them aside.

My prayer for you is that you will being the journey of regular/daily prayer. Write down things you would like to talk to the LORD about. Organize your list.

Here comes the the secret to prayer:  SCHEDULE IT! Your prayer times will perish (vanish) if you don’t first SCHEDULE IT!

We All Need to Strengthen the Inner-man!

My Prayer****

FATHER, release the spirit of the fear of God into my heart. Release the lightning and thunder from Your Throne to strike my heart (Rev. 4:5) with Your majesty, that I might live in awe before You.

Release Your presence and holy dread that makes me tremble before You. Unite my heart to your Heart and Word and cause me to delight in the fear of God.

ABBA, strengthen my spirit with ENDURANCE that I may do Your will with ZEAL and DILIGENCE and that I not quit pursuing the deep things of God. Lord, give me Your zeal as You gave it to Phineas and David and my beloved Jesus!

Impart endurance for FASTING. Direct my heart into the endurance in which Jesus walked so that I may have the strength to follow through in my commitments to God even when times are difficult.

FATHER, pour out Your love into my heart by releasing the influences of the Spirit to give me revelation of Your love for me, that it may overflow in love back to You and to others. ABBA, I cannot love others as you do without the revelation of how God loves God.  Would you impart to me this truth that I might be salt and light and a true witness.  Give me strength and discernment and direction into Your Heart for all my decisions and actions that my life will glorify you.

FATHER, allow me to comprehend Jesus’ love for me and to abide in it. Let His seal upon my heart fill me that I will love you with all my heart my soul my mind and my strength.

ABBA, help me to comprehend what is the width and length and depth and height of your love by experiencing the affections of Christ.  Let me abide in your love!  Let me see and love myself through Your eyes that I might daily thank you for who I am to You.

ABBA… let this love we have increase day to day for all eternity!

FATHER, let me see the light of Your glory. I want to encounter YOU.  Grant me Holy Spirit encounters (dreams, visions, angelic visitations, manifestations of light, fire, wind) as You gave to Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, John and Paul, LORD, they were all men, just like me.  Please show me your glory!!  Lift up the light of Your countenance upon me that I migt see you in all truth.  Lift me up in the spirit and bring me to Your holy hill.  Open my eyes that I may see you!

ABBA, strengthen me so I may maintain a life in Your word with desire for it. When I lose this focus, send Your word to deliver me as You did for the saints at Ephesus, Sardis and Laodicea.  Alert me when I need to recommit my schedule and priorities to live as a person of one thing who regularly sits at Your feet, as Mary of Bethany did. Lord, let me recognize business, guilt and despair for what they are and to submit them to you and ask for help to overcome them that I may maintain fervency in my relationship with you.  Stir my heart to be in Your presence and to behold the beauty of the LORD!

FATHER, strengthen me to walk in a way  worthy of my highest calling and to escape all compromise that I might stand before You victorious in full obedience.  Help me to be faithfull unto all the fullness you have for me!  Cause me to be sober and alert that I will be prepared to escape the entrapments of sin.  Let me not be found taking your grace for granted.  Keep me from compromise so that I may walk blameless in body, soul and spirit!  Strengthen my heart that no offence may enter in. Create in me a clean heart.  Give me a steadfast spirit that I might guard my steps and walk in purity. Grant that I will have resolve to set nothing impure or wicked before my eyes.  Search my heart and reveal any secret faults that I might cling to and deliver me from evil.  And let not my heart be anxious.

ABBA, set a guard over my lips. Free me from defensive, angry and foolish speech. Let me restrain my conversation with man so that I might not trespass against my neighbor.  Let me not stumble in my words.  Let the words I speak be acceptable to you. Holy Spirit quench any unwholesome speech and let no corrupt words come from my mouth.  Let me be known as one who speaks life and only those words that bring edification.  Let me speak grace to those you bring into my life.

JESUS, I want to learn from You how to walk in lowliness. I commit to take Your yoke of humility and lowliness of heart in my life in my attitudes, speech, and actions. Give me wisdom on how to carry my heart in humility. Let me do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit and let me learn the mind of Christ!  Teach me to esteem others.

FATHER, give me insight into Your Word, will, and ways. Give me wisdom on how to live before You that I may walk in intimacy (union) with You.  Kiss me with the kisses of your word that I will have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in all knowledge of you and your will for my life.

ABBA, give me insight that I may walk under the Spirit’s leadership, that we may partner together, in every issue in my life including my finances, schedule, emotions, circumstances, physical body (diet, health), relationships (in the home, office, ministry), my future, fears, addictions, etc. Give me new spirit-filled ideas in each area of my life.

Let me know the secrets of Your heart…what You are thinking and feeling.. Show me Your ways…teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth…

I ask for insight into Your end-time purposes for eternity, the New Jerusalem, the judgment seat of Christ, and hell.  Give me, Lord, skill to understand Your mysteries even in the last days.

FATHER, strengthen my heart with supernatural peace and joy that overpowers fear and anxiety that I would not sin. Guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus! Fill me with hope and joy and peace that I may walk in confidence and the power of the Holy Spirit!

Ok, so I’ve prayed this prayer over a year and sometimes I look at the way I lived my life at the end of the day and wonder what happened?  The question is: “What would have happened if I hadn’t prayed these prayers?”

PRAYER

SCHEDULE IT!

****If you would like all the scripture references for this prayer check out this link FELLOWSHIP.

This is a copy of our Forerunner Partners Newsletter which we send out via regular US MAIL.  If You would like to find out more about joining the Forerunner Partnership Team  CLICK HERE

CLick on cover to read more

Support my son’s ministry and buy a copy for your self and all the youth you know.  Would make a great present for birthdays etc.

http://www.holyculture.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Inner_Session200.jpg

InnerSeed

Hope City’s impact on the KC inner-city is getting ready to explode.  2010 will bring God’s power to the streets in the fullness of  His LOVE!

Hope City is a prayer and justice organization addressing inner-city dilemmas such as: Homelessness and hunger; the ravages of drug and alcohol addictions; prostitution; as well as other areas of social and spiritual oppression.  We are committed to the reconciliation and restoration of individuals and families into core moral values, vision and the fullness of God’s design for each life affected.

You can help me to keep my focus on this ministry by becoming a Financial Partner with a one time gift or a monthly commitment.  For more information  Click here.

Becky and Jerry...IN ACTION!!!

The LORD wrapped up Becky and I like “two peas in a pod” to share our testimony and the message planted in our hearts, “Contend ing For The Fullness of God In Our Lives”.   Side by side, we ministered in the LORD by the power of unity, through the Holy Spirit, as “two became one” in Him.  God gave us favour over the skies as we rarely saw inclement weather behind the steering wheel of our 5,000 mile road trip which allowed us to minister to over a hundred people from the wells of anointing of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City.

Prayer and Prophetic Gathering

We want to thank those who prayed, prophesied, and invested in our time of ministry, then sent us on our way to Aaron (my son) and Ashley’s (our new daughter-in-law) wedding.  I was honored to officiate the blessed occasion!!!

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Our first stop was in Colorado Springs, Colorado on November 1st.  We were treated like royalty by the Danyow’s with a delicious dinner and a jammy bed.  We had an opportunity to get caught up on years gone by and on our vision for our road trip. It is good to know that our brother and sister in Christ are being salt and light to those their lives touch.

Las Vegas, Nevada

When we arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada we were hosted by a dear friend, Elsa Cascos.  Our brief visit gave us an occasion to reunite with our friends from Word of Grace (The Turner’s, Jerry Rimmer, Stevo, Kitty Sprout) on Tuesday night and to meet Pastor Ruben and his wife Lilliana. We swapped stories from over a decade of being disconnected with our friends and then blessed our loved ones with prophetic words and prayers.  What an incredible night of body building and fellowship!  Hopefully we will get some pictures to share from this evening.

Mi Casa Su Casa...Becky and Elsa in her home

On Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 (the day the “awakening” broke out with the IHOU students at chapel) Becky and I shared for the first time together, literally, like a tag team at Comunidad Cristiana De Las Vegas.  Pastor Ruben graciously allowed us to minister to the congregation after he lead an IHOP style worship which left us tenderized before the LORD.  After sharing our message we ministered to approximately a dozen couples though our testimony on reconciliation and then began prophetic ministry with anyone who wanted to receive.  Becky and I were actually watching the LORD do His work through our almost blind faith.  We were astonished to observe the tears and joy expressed while we stepped out in obedience.  After working with the couples we prophesied over individuals and then the Youth Group as a whole.   Pastor Ruben, who reminded us how well he knew his congregation, gave us some great feedback on the sweetness of God’s words to the brothers and sisters of Comunidad Cristiana and testimonies of healing, deliverance and encouragement for many.  We were there until 11:30 pm.

Earlier that day (November 4th), Rick and Debbie Newman (close friends and ministry companions from Sonrise Christian Fellowship:1992), treated us to a fabulous lunch and a heartfelt time of reunion, full of fond memories.  Then it was off to dinner with my brother Casey and his wife Barbie.  They shared with us pictures and stories from their vacation to Ireland….with no blarney…for sure.

We shared a glorious lunch with Pastor Ruben the next day (recapping the previous evening’s ministry time), before we visited my ailing step-father, Paul, and drove to Yucca Valley, California.

Yucca Valley, California

g-g-boys Kayden & Skyler

G-G-PA & Skyler!!

We stayed with our daughter Christy and her husband Austin in their RV while intermittently bouncing our two GGBOYS (Great Grandsons) on our knees, smiling with glee at their expressions of wonder.  Of course this means we were able to see some of our other grandchildren, Ashley,  Nicole, Torrie, Joshua and Kevin on leave from the Marines.

Desert Hot Springs, California

Friday evening we joined our prayers with Bo and Stephanie Handran in a home fellowship group that meets at Don and Jean Snook’s home in Desert Hot Springs, California.  After we prayed and worshiped, Becky and I were blessed again to share the message on our hearts and prophesy over those in attendance.  It was another late night filled with the fullness of the LORD for all!

Twentynine Palms, California

Saturday, we drove out to Twentynine Palms to have lunch with the Perez Family.  What a joyful time of communion in the LORD.  Patrick and Roxanne had exciting news about a move they may be making and we were blessed to hear a worship song their son Kellen wrote that was inspired by a poem from our website (www.jerrypquinn.org)  We left the Perez family with encouraging words both to and from them.

Later than evening Tony and Betty Salto dropped by to fellowship with us at our daughter Christy’s house in Yucca Valley.  We caught up on what is happening in the LORD with the Spanish Congregation, Centro Cristiano Para La Familia.  Pastor Tony really has a burden to see an Acts Chapter 2 assembly with those God has given him to minister to as well as teaching them to be prepared for return of the Lord!

Morongo Valley, California

We attended a worship service at The Church of the Lighted Cross in Morongo Valley by invitation from Bo Handran and then Don Snook asked us to come to the 6pm gathering.  The Snook’s were among others who expressed an interest in coming to Onething09 in December.  It was another great evening “Contending for the fullness of God” as we met Pastor Bob Firl and his wife Sandy who asked if we could come back and spend two or three months to bring fire and light to the Morongo Basin. Please pray for open doors if this is God’s will.

Turlock-Elk Grove, California

We left the next morning for Turlock, California and then up to Elk Grove to visit briefly with Becky’s family.

Portland, Oregon

The next day, Tuesday, we rolled into Portland, Oregon.  For the next several days we were caught up in a whirlwind of wedding preparations which included family time with my brother Casey, his son (my nephew, Ryan) and my sister Kelly. There is also a story about an alleged “vehicle theft” turned “that which was lost, was found” tucked in here but you will have to petition me for more info on this event.  Then on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at about 3:30pm I presented for the first time

Aaron  &  Ashley

Quinn

joined as one before God and man!

VISION

HOPE CITY OUTREACH...Food, Worship & the Word

Our heart is to work with “Hope City” an inner-city outreach to prostitutes, the homeless, the addicted and the abused in Kansas City.  I will be serving at a men’s home in the mornings which will include daily prayer meetings and ministry.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Provision to move into a house before Christmas

Provision to move what we have in storage from California to Kansas City

Provision for a vehicle

FINANCIAL PARTNERS

Both Becky and I will be seeking staff positions until our financial partnership base reaches enough to maintain our monthly budget of $2500.  A monthly commitment to our ministry allows us to establish and maintain a budget as well as frees us to exercise our gifts to bring healing and deliverance to many.  For more information on how to become a financial partner you can go to our website OneCloud Ministries: www.jerrypquinn.org/financial-support-information.

YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS

A large part of our calling is prayer so email us and let us know what to pray: jer4jesus1@gmail.com

Serving By His Grace For His Glory In His Love

Jerry & Becky Quinn

“Lighter’s of Burning and Shining Lamps Until He Returns!”

An Inductive Bible Study

In Matthew 24 how would you define those to whom Jesus is speaking?  What is their relationship to Jesus?  How are we different and how are we similar to those Jesus was speaking to?

Why does Jesus say in Matthew 24:25 , “See, I have told you beforehand” in context to the text?  How does this warning apply to you as a believer today?

In Matthew 24:29-31 how many times and when does the Son of Man appear in heaven and gather His elect?

Acccording to Acts 1:9 how did Jesus ascend to heaven?

In Acts 1:11 what do the two angels say about the return of Jesus?

In Matthew 24:30 how does the scripture describe the way Jesus returns? Does He say He will do this once or twice?

How does 1 Thes 4:15-18 harmoize with the teaching of Christ regardig his 2^nd Coming?   Based on the text how would you support a precedent for more than one return?

In Rev 1:7 who sees the Lord return?

According to Matthew 24:30 who sees the Lord return?  Who is gathered up to Him?  How many gatherings does this text speak of?

How many Day’s of Christ does the text in 2 Thes 2:1-3 mention in relation to the coming of the Lord and the gathering of the saints?

What two events must take place before the Lord returns?

1 Cor 15:52  says that when the LAST trumpet is blown that the dead shall be raised and we shall be changed.  In the book of revelation 11:15  the seventh trumpet is the last  trumpet before Christ returns.  Compare these two sections of scripture.  How would you justify a second secret coming of Christ based on the text?

I googled and found this Link to stats:  http://www.baptist.ca/church/files/Functional%20Structures/the_bridger_generation.pdf which represent the stats regarding 4%…

There is a failure in the church…The failure is its washed down Gospel that promotes tolerance to the degree that we do not hold fast to that which is good.  We live in the days of so much tolerance inside the “church” that we call “good evil and evil good”. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Isa 5:20 This includes me as I identify myself with the “church”!

The point is that the “Bridger Generation” has no moral compass to make judgments regarding leadership of a country.  As believers of Jesus Christ as our LORD and SAVIOR, we must hold the scriptures and its teachings to be true.

For instance (one of many), killing babies can be found no where in the bible as something God tolerates or delights in. (period)  In fact God’s says He will require blood for the killing of the innocent.  Today our nation as well as many other nations of this world (who will all answer to God) stand in judgment of “innocent” blood on our hands. (In more than one way).

God’s love may tell us to turn the other cheek but it does not tell us to TURN OUR BACK ON HIS WORD for the sake of tolerance. We have confused being persecuted with being tolerant, for instance we hold fast and proclaim His truth in “turning the cheek” to be the point of being tolerant. Not the same thing at all! A true and faithful witness speaks the truth in love and would even exercise judgment by their VOTE.  For some reason the “church” has not taught that God judges nations as well as individuals. From Genesis to Revelation God judges the nations.  Most of all we need to cast our vote inside the booth of our conscious before the LORD and do the right thing.

A country’s laws say a lot about it’s moral compass.  I don’t believe we should need a law against abortion.  I believe we should live our lives in such a way that abortion isn’t needed. However, a nation that turns it back on the “killing of innocent babies” sets itself to be judged by our God who judges nations and has since nations were born.

We have become a people that are more concerned about their pocketbooks than what is good and what is evil, a people who have removed their hearts from God and His love.

So we talk about the injustices in our country and is the earth.  Even if you feed every poor person in the world they could “gain the world but lose their soul”.  We need the understanding that each of us stand before God with the condition that says He is other than us. condemned in our sins without the work of Cross.  We have all sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.  If we feed the body but do not call the soul out to repent then we do an injustice to the eternal condition of that soul.  When we feed the poor as a doorway to feed their spirit with the Gospel of the Kingdom then we have done the work of the Father.  But to feed to poor to say we are all equal then we forget that a full stomach does not save.  Humanistic justice could care less if God is glorified only that a guilty conscious of greed is temporarily soothed only to become greedy again.

I think it is very interesting that in Minnesota a tornado strikes the cross on top of the building where “homosexuals” were being welcomed into leadership as ordained to do the will of God. In the following link we see that LUTHERANS VOTED 66.6% (666) IN FAVOR OF HOMOSEXUAL ORDINATION In the article is it clear that God does judge this the nations and the world with plagues, weather patterns, disease, etc.  It is all in the bible. We are foolish to think WE control the weather patterns of this world. We are very prideful as least to say we do!

True change is the change of our hearts before God not some sweeping change dictated by an individual or a political party.  It is realizing the wretchedness of our condition without the LOVE of God! A people given to God and His ways is a state that is governed by God and so the converse it true. How shall we separate the two: by becoming a Godless nation.

Bottom line is that I personally as a believer have to repent because I have not cried out to God to change my heart as well as the hearts of this nation in regards to His ways. And even as I do today I see the error of my way and my contribution to the condition of this country before our Maker.

The Prophets of God didn’t have a “we, they” cry unto the LORD, they cried unto God with “repentance” in their hearts and identified with the sin of their nation (even if they were walking in purity).  This is what happens when we have seen great revivals like the 1st and 2nd Great Awakenings.  Another Great Awakening is coming to this earth it is the final Awakening called the end-time harvest.  There is also coming the Great Falling Away where many who have proclaimed to believe will become offended towards God and turn their backs on Him.

This is also another indicator that the return of Yeshua is soon. (no date predicted) Just soon or sooner than MOST think!

God’s Kingdom does not and will not have a political bone in its structure.  It will have no need of two or more parties.  He will reign in truth, righteousness and peace!  Until then we exercise by our vote judgments regarding what earth should be like until Heaven comes to earth as it says in the Book of Revelation and throughout scripture.

When we pray “Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy Kingdom come, They will be done ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN” Then we proclaim a Kingdom, a state, a nation, if you will, that does the will of the father because of our Love of HIM.

Let us love in good deeds and works of righteousness….let us exercise God’s judgments in our abilities to vote.

For the record I can no longer identify with any “party” only with the judgments of God.  Obviously that will make it difficult to choose in the days ahead.  So I am left with much study (of the word of God) and much prayer to cast judgment according to the will of God.

We are living within the Last Generation before the Messiah returns. Let us all seek to understand the “times and the seasons” as Christ commanded us to do! Jesus said to “Watch and pray!” many times.  The Great deception is coming upon us.  It is real, as real as unemployment!

Another interesting verse in the bible: “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1Pe 4:17

Christ the Lamb has been slain but it is Christ the Lion who is coming next.

Serving By His Grace For His Glory In His Love Until He Returns!

with love,

Jerry

Our God is the All consuming Fire.  His fiery love in not neutral in its effects upon our hearts.  When we come into this Fire, we do not remain the same.  His jealous love burns away all the things within us that are not everlasting and purifies all that will remain forever.  There are places in each of our minds that stand in oposition to the truths of His love and His character. These areas of accusation stand agaist thetrue knowledge of His heart. When we purposefully labor to daily set our hearts before this God of raging desire, He burns away the false understandings and imparts living knowledge of Himself.

a quote from Deep Unto Deep by Dana Candler

I.  Jesus warned about false prophets and cults

A.   When Jesus taught on the end times, He warned us to beware of false teachers who could gain a large following, thus starting new cults. A cult is a group with an unusual devotion to one leader and his set of beliefs that are not found in Scripture (as affirmed in historic Christianity).

⁴ Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many…11 Manymany…24 False christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Mt. 24:4-5, 11, 24) false prophets will rise up and deceive

B.   The conflict in the end times will be a battle for truth. Satan’s weapon will be deception and our defense will be love for the truth. This battle will focus on defining who Jesus is and how we are to love Him. We must love God on His terms. Our love for God must be expressed in allegiance to Jesus and the Bible. The Spirit exalts Jesus by guiding us into all truth about Him.

¹³ The Spirit of truth…will guide you into all truth…He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (Jn. 16:13-14)

C.  Truths about Jesus that offend humanists include His right as God to establish absolute standards to which the nations will be held accountable to Him for. Second, Jesus is the only way of salvation. Third, Jesus possesses the wisdom and love to judge sin in time and eternity.

D.  Paul warns us of a falling away in the end times that can be avoided by loving the truth.

³ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (Jesus’ return) will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin (Antichrist) is revealed…9 according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth. (2 Thes. 2:3-10)

E.   Love for the truth is more than adherence to it. We take a firm stand for it regardless of what it costs us. Loving truth requires that we commit to accept any new ideas as long as they are substantiated in the Scripture regardless of how different they are from our religious background.

F.   Some will fall away in the end times as people pay attention to doctrines inspired by demons.

¹ Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy… (1 Tim. 4:1-2)

G.  Paul spoke about false teaches who would start cults by drawing people after themselves. He admonished the elders to be alert to this (1 Tim. 1:3-11; 4:1-8; 6:2-7, 20-21; 2 Tim. 3:1-17).

²⁹ For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. (Acts 20:29-31)

H.  Peter warns of the dangers of false teachers who deny the main tenets of our faith. They can be detected most easily by their covetousness and immorality (2 Pet. 2:9-14; Jude 8-10).

¹ There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord…2 Many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed (ridiculed). 3 By covetousness they will exploit (manipulate) you with deceptive words…14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin…They have a heart trained in covetous practices…18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness… (2 Pet. 2:1-18)

I.   False teachers do not hold to the main and plain doctrines of Scripture. They pervert the teaching about the grace of God by either legalism or lewdness. Legalism seeks to earn the grace of God. Lewdness reduces the message of grace to receiving forgiveness without turning from our sin. The true grace message inspires us to deny lust and empowers us to walk godly (Titus 2:11-12).

⁴ For certain men (false teachers) have crept in unnoticed…ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny…our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 4)

J.   We must accept the main historical Christian doctrines which include:

K.   See the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Westminster’s Confession for more references

II.   Seven Characteristics of Cults

A.   If a group embraces one of these characteristics, then they are a cult or have cult tendencies.

B.  #1 They oppose critical thinking: Vs. people thinking for themselves

1.  Cults teach: Their members must accept what they believe without challenging their doctrines. They do not want their members to think critically for themselves.

2.  The Bible teaches: We must all challenge each teaching that we hear by the light of Scripture. Loyalty to a ministry involves challenging it with humility. Do not believe a teaching that you cannot see with your eyes in your Bible. Think for yourself and do not quickly accept ideas. Do not say, “Our leaders say…” but rather say, “The Bible says…”

C.   #2 They penalize people for leaving their cult: Vs. helping them do God’s will for their life

1.  Cults teach: People will be judged by God or will lose God’s best if they leave. Rejection, shunning and warnings of judgment are given. People are taught to make lifelong commitments to the group and/or to seek permission to join another ministry.

2.  The Bible teaches: The first concern of a leader is for what is good for the people under them. Therefore, leaders are to help them succeed as they seek to follow God’s will for their life, regardless if it means joining another ministry. The foundational value is that God owns the people, not the leader or the group in which they serve.

D.   #3 They emphasize special doctrines outside of Scripture: Vs. loyalty to the Scripture

1.  Cults teach: Cults emphasize the special revelations of their “anointed” leader who presents himself as having unique insights that no one else has.

2.  The Bible teaches: We must emphasize supremacy and infallibility of Scripture as the final authority of truth. We matt emphasize the main and plain themes of Scripture as the love Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle, prayer, reading the word, winning the lost, healing the sick and serving others, etc.

E.   #4 They seek inappropriate loyalty to their leaders: Vs. seeking to connect people to Jesus

1.  Cults teach: Cults require loyalty to the leaders instead of to Jesus. Faithfulness is defined as supporting the leader instead of obeying Jesus. This loyalty is expressed in forbidding them to correct the leader (who does not freely admit his faults or errors). They warn the people to “not touch God’s anointed”.

2.  The Bible teaches: Our first loyalty and connection is to Jesus. We serve together with weak and broken leaders who do not have all the answers and who are in need of insight and correction from others.

F.   #5 They dishonor the family unit: Vs. insisting on the biblical priority of the family unit

1.  Cults teach: The children are taught to be more loyal to the leaders than to their parents. The women are taught to be more loyal to the leaders than to their husbands and the husbands are taught to accept this as normal behavior.

2.  The Bible teaches: The first relational priority of commitment is to one’s marriage, children and parents. The sanctity and identity one’s family is far more important than the ministry in which they are involved.

G.   #6 Lack of biblical boundaries in behavior: Vs. sexual purity and personal ownership

1.  Cults teach: Cults emphasize special revelations that especially allow their leaders to cross biblical boundaries in areas of immorality. They usually insist on owning the money and property of their members who “join the community”.

2.  The Bible teaches: Sexual purity and private ownership of finances and property. In Acts 4, the disciples laid their money and property at the apostle’s feet as a one-time free will offering, not as a permanent economic arrangement.

H.   #7 Separation from the Church: Vs. promoting a culture of honor towards the whole Church

1.   Cults teach: Cults criticize and exclude the larger Body of Christ and claim to be the only ones truly saved. They separate from the wider Church with an elite spirit.

2.  The Bible teaches: We love God by loving the whole Church that is so dear to Him. We are to cultivate a culture of honor in our midst that emphasizes blessing other ministries without criticism and a spirit of inclusion without elitism.

III.   How to Discern a False Prophet or Teacher

¹⁵ Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits….17 Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit…20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Mt. 7:15-20)

A.   Jesus compared false teachers to wolves because they are dangerous in their effect on people and deceptive in how they influence people. A wolf is a natural enemy of sheep who can not defend themselves. A wolf disguises himself as a sheep by claiming to uphold the Scripture.

B.   Jesus changed his metaphor from wolves among sheep to fruit on trees. We may not immediately discern a wolf, but it is clear if edible fruit is on a tree. We must know or test fruit in a teacher’s life. There is a moral and a doctrinal test. Sound doctrine and holy living are the sure fruit of a good leader. It is not possible to examine fruit from a distance. Thus, Jesus is not exhorting us to become critical of others as a self appointed “heresy-hunter”.

IV.  How to Avoid Deception

We can all avoid deception by loving the truth (2 Thes. 2:10), by growing in our relationship to Jesus as we regularly read the Bible, set our heart to obey it, stay in relationship with others with a teachable spirit that receives the truth without defensiveness, and by serving the truth by witnessing to unbelievers as well as ministering to the needs of others.

¹⁹ Holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. (Col. 2:19)