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NASB | Matthew 16:6 And Jesus said to them, "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 16:6 Jesus said to them, "Watch out and be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." |
Subject: Knocked out by holy spirit |
Bible Note: After reading your replies and reflecting on the various discussions you have participated in, I have been led to conclude a few things. Firstly, you appear to operate on a fair amount of heresay and false conjecture. You are gathering much of your information from so-called "watchdog" societies. I would counsel you to begin to investigate these matters for yourself against the light of Scripture. The fact you attack Neil Anderson in the fashion you do tells me you have not read his work with any degree of objectivity, if you've read them at all. Don't take my word for it.. let me quote a well respected preacher, Chuck Swindoll, as he gives his opinion on the book I referenced. He states " A calm, practical, workable plan from Scripture that results in freedom and victory for the child of God. Neil Anderson is one of the most experienced and dependable authorities in America today". (quote from Chuck Swindoll concerning the book THE BONDAGE BREAKER) You incorrectly assert that Neil Anderson has a demon hiding behind every bush. You again assert, incorrectly, that our primary spiritual struggle is the flesh. I have first hand and extensive experience in seeing people freed from addictions and perversions that they were completely trapped in. I know of a man personally trapped in satanic ritual, homosexuality who was HIV positive. He was delivered and restored to the body of Christ. I was privelaged to be in attendance when he was cured of HIV.. and have the lab tests to prove it. If you had read the material, you would understand that Anderson asserts that the lusts of the flesh is what the lies of the enemy and his host use to cause the Child of God to be tempted and succumb to sin. The bible says this: Eph 6:10-20 This is one of the most clear and conscise statements in all of Scripture pertaining to our struggle against sin and the means to combat it. To discount the spiritual forces behind the deceptions we believe would be a grave error indeed. Anderson also states quite plainly the main weapon in the enemy's arsenal is DECEPTION.. and that the solution is to be armed with the TRUTH as laid out in scripture. Ed, I plead with you that you would discontinue your rails against people who's ministry has brought FAR more people to Christ and set them free in the truth of who we are in Christ, than you and I have. It is not fitting for the child of God to do so against his co-laborers. You are also repeatedly quoting excesses and abuses of the basic teachings as though the excesses in themselves ARE the teachings. That is no more true than the distortions brought forth by "conservative fundamentalists" that put a yoke of bondage upon people because they emphasize works over grace. I've seen as much or more spiritual abuse, guilt, and damage from those teachings as I have from charismatic or wof distortions. Yet, I would be foolish to condemn the basic tenets of the conservative fundamental orientations, as they are also based in truths of Scripture. It is only when we take them past the point of balance that they become an aberation to the truth of God. Finding that balance is the real trick, isn't it? The best illustration I can think of to clarify my point is this: How does one come to understand the severity of God's judgement and the breadth, width, and heighth of his mercy? We look at the cross. Where the terrible anger of God against sin meets the unrelenting mercy and forgiveness of God. Where the depravity of sin in man, responsible for placing God upon a tree to be mocked, tortured, and killed meets the words of Christ: "Father, forgive them.. for they know not what they do". One need not discount the severity and righteous judgement of God nor the mercies of God to the exclusion of the other.. even though without the picture of the cross it would be hard to understand how God has one foot firmly planted in both camps. So it often is with our foolish judgements and arguments in finding faults with those charged in restoring biblical truths lost to the church thru the dark ages and subsequent restoration of truths lost in that period. Lastly.. you charge me with lack of discernment. I would like you to prayerfully reconsider that accusation. Ed, I have no desire to argue with you and prove myself right and you wrong. I am sharing with you my understandings and some of my experiences. That doesn't, of itself, prove anything. It is just information for you to take and hopefully give thought to. I realize you have had to deal with the excesses and abuses of those who have twisted the basic tenets of the principles we've been discussing. I have too. I've also had to deal with tremendous shame and guilt within people that were raised in fundamental orthodox Christianity. Trust me when I say, it is just as damaging.. and in ways even MORE difficult to work through. |