A short video/audio teaching series by Brett Jacobsen
A couple of years ago I did this brief five part video/audio series on current reformational issues for a good friend’s Jesus focused surf video (Resistance Is Futile). Although this series is only short, it does give a general overview of the current reformation and is enough to get church people thinking.
No Such Thing as a Church
Part 1- ‘No Such Thing as a Church’ shows that what many have and do call churches are in fact not.
Man Made Mayhem
Part 2- ‘Man Made Mayhem’ shows in history when and why the church dived headlong into the Dark Ages and has produced, even until our time, Dark Age Christianity.
I thought this short article by Jeff Gilbertson was an encouraging reminder to all who are willing to move ahead with Christ in this hour, that God indeed is having His way. No matter how sure we are that we’re on the right track we can still be faced with doubt when things aren’t moving as quickly as we imagined.
It is a certainty that the reformation in John the Baptist and Jesus’ time, and that in the 14th-16th century, can speak volumes to us about our current challenge of seeing biblical change in the church. Enjoy the read.
Christ the King inaugurated His Kingdom on earth with an earthshaking reformation. He completely overhauled the covenant and all the elements involved with it, transforming everything from the physical type and shadow to the celestial complete picture. This is what Jesus meant when on the cross He exclaimed “It is finished [teleo- complete, accomplished]” (John 19:30). He had ratified the New Covenant and therefore accomplished world-changing reformation into His heavenly Kingdom.
It is a sad fact of history that it didn’t take very long for a reverse reformation to begin its insidious attack on Christ’s Kingdom, drawing the majority of its inhabitants back into an inferior earthly counterfeit of the real. Of course we know that this continued down into the Dark Ages where it imbibed many crook characteristics and clearly manifested its foul fruits.
I saw this article and thought I'd post it because it is more confirmation of the same word which many of us have been speaking for some time now. Although I have written on the same topic, and from the same biblical story, I feel that this word clarifies certain aspects of the outworking of what God is doing with the church. It is important that we know that God is removing His presence from the systems of men, and that we realise why. Only then can we be part of the solution.
Gospel grace,
Bretto
by Chris Anderson
Something doesn't add up.
"These are the days of Elijah," we've heard it sung.
"These are the days of Elijah," we've heard it preached.
An excerpt from Chapter 5 in David Orton's book, "Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church"
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” 2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV
The spirit of the world in the church The spirit of the world has seduced us. We used to joke that “Jesus saves – and Jesus shaves!” But, many actually believe that the spirit of the world is Rock and Roll, spiked hair, and nose rings. Come on – let’s get real! Do you think the devil really cares where you wear your jewellery or what hairstyle you have? What he, as the master strategist, is after is the thing that controls it all - the heart. This is why the wisdom- writer exhorts to,
An excerpt from Chapter 5 in David Orton's book, "Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church"
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” 2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV
Today’s Church
The parallel between Ezekiel 8 and today’s church is clear. As the elders in Ezekiel’s day secretly practiced idolatry, so today. There is a crisis in the leadership of the Western church. But it is not a crisis for lack of skills or better techniques – it is a crisis for lack of true men and women of the Spirit. Those who, in the secret recesses of the heart, have refused to bow to foreign gods and the systems of men.
An excerpt from Chapter 5 in David Orton's book, "Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church"
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” 2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV
The Image of God
So, what exactly was the image that I was forcing on myself; and, was I sinning against the commandment:
“You shall not make for yourself any carved image…” (Ex 20: 4, 5 NKJV)?
Historically, there usually seems to be a counterfeit before, after and during real moves of God. The current reformation and the restoration of the true apostolic are in no way exempt from histories repetitious woes.
In this modern Christian setting we need to be on guard against things which pretend to be something biblically genuine, but are in fact not. It is perhaps more crucial in this season where God is re forming the structures of leadership and church. Many men and movements profess reformation. In reality they are clinging to the old ways of carnal Christendom and dressing them up with new lingo, programmes and positions.
An excerpt from Chapter 5 in David Orton's book, "Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church"
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” 2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV
Strongholds of Self-Justification Ezekiel was asked,
“…do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land’” (8:12 NASB).
PART 3 of 7 An excerpt from Chapter 5 in David Orton's book, "Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church"
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” 2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV
“Deceived by the Serpent’s Cunning”
What does all this signify? The snakes in the temple symbolise for us the activity of deceiving spirits. Paul in addressing the Corinthian church declared:
“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV emphasis mine).
An excerpt from Chapter 5 in David Orton's book, "Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church"
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” 2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV
Ezekiel’s Vision of Snakes in the Temple
A prophetic-intercessor friend recently visited a respected church in a particular city. It belonged to a reputable Pentecostal denomination, but during the worship, her eyes were opened and she saw, in the spirit, a large serpent along the length of one whole wall. And as they left the service, the carpark was swarming with writhing baby serpents.
My laptop has uploaded its last scrip and is on its way to cyber heaven. Due to this I had to get a new one as it is what I do so much of my ministry stuff on.
The Christisall ministry account has thinned out over the past season so we really can't afford one. In the light of this I thought I should throw it out there to people who may have benefited from this ministry to see if some of you may feel the Lord would have you contribute something financially to assist. If not, that's ok.
If you would like to help with computing costs you can:
My good friend David Orton’s book- 'Snakes in the temple' is a must read for any believer who has spent some time in pews and/or pulpits. Not only does it pave the way for reformation in the outworking of church life, it goes straight to the heart to remove the cancerous internal issues of idolatry and carnal Christianity. I’m sure there’s something in this book that will convict every one of us.
In this short seven part series (chapter five of the book) David opens his heart and history to expose less than holy motivations and actions which we probably all have delved in at some stage of our walk and ministry. Be challenged in the grace of God.
There are many who have jumped on the current bandwagon of preaching about the Kingdom of God. However, in my estimation there seems to be few who are truly presenting His Kingdom. A majority of Christian leaders are trying to package the Kingdom message into their constructs and systems, their paradigms, their doctrine – their kingdoms.
Ron McGatlin is one of the few who I see bringing the message of Christ’s Kingdom without squeezing it into what man is religiously comfortable with. This article is a worthy contribution to the advancement of the true Kingdom in this hour.
This says the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm [zerowa- strength], and whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jer 17:5-8)
In the conclusion of this series, the focus is not on identifying the false fruit of carnal Christendom, but rather the method of mortifying its fleshly limbs.
This says the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm [zerowa- strength], and whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jer 17:5-8)
This says the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm [zerowa- strength], and whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jer 17:5-8)
Growth- Seeking statistics and Competing companies
by Brett Jacobsen
This says the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm [zerowa- strength], and whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jer 17:5-8)
Traditions of men- Set schedules and Patterned practices
by Brett Jacobsen
This says the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm [zerowa- strength], and whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jer 17:5-8)
This says the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm [zerowa- strength], and whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jer 17:5-8)
