PIC: Bethel Apostates: NAR-types Feucht & Shawn Bolz
The self-proclaimed prophet ventriloquists
Speaking audacious phoney words. From God Himself? I don’t believe them. Believers in the Church have the responsibility to test for fakes when people say they speak from God. Are they really words from God? Or are they proclaiming words of mere humans (2 Peter 1:20-21)? Do they claim falsely that their words are from God?
“…do not believe every spirit
[speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet];
instead test the spirits
to see whether they are
from God….”
– verse 1 of 1 John 4:1-3
To speak the words of God Himself
If God does not wish to speak, why make Him speak? Be very wary of proclaiming your words are from God. God is against those who do so, when God Himself actually said nothing. What are you thinking?!
Your Wobbly God
Do you think God is this feeble fabled Ancient with a beard, floating on a cloud, who wonders if He heard you right? Does He mumble to Himself,
“Oh my. Well, I guess…
I must have said that.
He, oh no, oops…
she looks so pious
and devoted to Me.
Jeepers!
I’m getting a bit forgetful here.”
– Source (yet to be written): Our wobbly God who sits on a cloud
“no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” – 2 Peter 1:20-21
The God Most High
God, the real God Almighty, will not be mocked. For many years down through the centuries of earth’s history, there have been real prophets of God, men and women specially empowered by God the Holy Spirit — to speak the words of God Himself, what He wanted to communicate to the world. They actually were given words. Words from God.
We can read them. They were recorded in the Old Testament.
Through Paul, who was both apostle and prophet, we learn a bit about this matter as he preached “in the synagogues of the Jews” (Acts 13 verse 5), on the island of Cyprus:
those among you who fear God
26 “Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation [obtained through faith in Jesus Christ]. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, who failed to recognize or understand both Jesus and the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled these [very prophecies] by condemning Him. – Acts 13:26-27
Failing to understand Jesus
The messages of the ancient prophets (accurately recorded by scribes in what are now books of the Old Testament) were “read every Sabbath” to the congregations. Yet they, the priests and peoples and rulers, “failed to recognize or understand both Jesus and the voices of the prophets“.
- Paul said, “to us has been sent the message of this salvation“. And those in Jerusalem “failed to recognize or understand both Jesus and the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath“.
- Jesus came to earth preaching and teaching for 3 years (His last three years of His 33 on earth), and He was continually proving the validity of His claims through many miracles — and yet, they “failed to recognize or understand…” Him.
Have you seen anyone lately – by His word alone (without medicine) – healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, healing lepers, curing withered limbs, or raising dead people back to life? Jesus claimed to be God – and proved it.
This failure to understand Jesus continues through to today. Are you, and your church, failing to understand Jesus? (Acts 13:26-27)
Are you listening to self-proclaimed prophets and teachers contradicting the Bible and adding supposed “new revelations”, instead of trying to understand Jesus and the Gospel? We understand God — through what God has already told us in the Bible. Why should God give you any more, if you are not even paying attention to the Words He already spoke?
You cannot make God move (2 Peter 1:20-21)
The OT, old time Prophets of God spoke forth what God had given to them to say. What they spoke forth are God’s prophecies, not words of mere humans (2 Peter 1:20-21).
Folks: we are not to say “God is saying” – when it is merely us saying…. Along with the responsibilities of being a faithful apostle and/or prophet – God gave His followers the responsibilities of wise discernment and simple examining of their words.
Testing those who say they have words from God
Followers of Jesus are given the duty of examining the words and the life of all those who say they have words from God. There are warnings for all churches throughout the Bible like here, Revelation 2:2, and this one in 1 John 4:1-3:
“Do not believe every spirit”
” ‘spirit’ [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]”
This warning especially applies to us in these last days – because the “great apostasy” is all around us. John, the disciple of Jesus, calls them “liars and impostors“. (Read 2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:7, or see both.)
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world.”
– verse 1 of 1 John 4:1-3
‘I know [a]your deeds and your toil, and your patient endurance, and that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and have tested and critically appraised those who call themselves apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives, of Christ), and [in fact] are not, and have found them to be liars and impostors”
– Revelation 2:2
A New Testament Mandate for Today
All who want to truly follow Jesus must adhere to the Gospel of Jesus. In New Testament days “followers of Christ” were the only ones called “Christians”. Now phony baloney church people still call themselves Christians, which means “little Christs”, replicas of Jesus – but they merely replicate the culture around them.
They are not replicating Christ whatsoever. Actually, their life and the beliefs they follow are heinous to Jesus! “Liars and impostors.” Read for example: Nancy’s careless and unworthy participation in communion | What false prophets are like | Examples of False Doctrines
“Follow Me”
Jesus is calling us. “Follow Me”, He said. Following Jesus means sticking to His Way. Makes sense, right? We Christians follow what Jesus taught and modeled. See:
* What Jesus wants to see in me
* Exposing a Dichotomous Heart
If we do not stick to what Jesus taught: we will inevitably start following “another gospel“. And then… we are not following Jesus at all. And if we are not following the real Jesus: What gospel are you following? And where do apostates eventually go?
they, priests and peoples,
“failed to recognize
or understand
both Jesus and
the voices of the prophets“
The Great Pretenders
What we need, is to be …getting down to God’s meaning. Churches should not follow the “[personal or special] interpretation” of a mere puny human. What in the world!?
Are you pretending your words are God’s Words? Are you pretending to have dreams and visions from God, when they are not?
You cannot make God move (2 Peter 1:20-21).
You cannot work up a “word of the Lord”. No matter how intensely you want it, no act of your own will, “act of human will”, can make God speak (2 Peter 1:20-21).
Really? You make God speak?
See: Pretending their word is God’s word | They in fact have seen nothing
Pretending puts you in the realm of being mere “liars and impostors” (Revelation 2:2). That is harsh to say, but John said it, not I.
“…no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one’s own [personal or special] interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” – 2 Peter 1:20-21 Amplified Bible
“Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I was compelled to write to you [urgently] appealing that you [a]fight strenuously for [the defense of] the faith which was once for all [b]handed down to the saints [the faith that is the sum of Christian belief that was given verbally to believers].” – Jude 3,4
Self-Proclaimed False Prophets and False Teachers
…when people say they speak from God
The Apostle John says: There is a whole lot a’ false prophesying out there. I have personally seen it being done. A whole bunch of false speaking teachers and a whole lot a’ pew-sitters are in churches (NAR type). They claim to be something they are not. Be careful! Be intolerant. Test and “critically appraise….”
‘I know [a]your deeds and your toil, and your patient endurance, and that you cannot tolerate those who are evil,
and have tested and critically appraised those who call themselves apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives, of Christ), and [in fact] are not, and have found them to be liars and impostors
– Revelation 2:2 Amplified Bible
The warning is: test all who claim to be a prophet. Test the “apostle”, and test any others in the church who claim to “have a word from the Lord”. Many passages are warning us. Don’t accept what they say as true unless they pass the test, each time they speak. Walk away and do not attend apostate churches – if they fail the test.
That prophet (in your church or from elsewhere) may actually be “one of those!” (Revelation 2:2) He or she — mayhaps “is not of God“. Have you tested them? I see and hear them on the internet and in church.
Mayhap ’tis time for you to reject that self-inflated leader (“a self-proclaimed prophet” – v4 of 1 John 4:1-3) and not accept the pew sitter who claims to have “a word from the Lord” — but are merely speaking forth their own words “made by an act of human will” (2 Peter 1:20-21).
Mere human words, “not of God“
Do you want supposed “words from God” spoken to you or over you — when they are mere human words, “not of God“? Do you want a prediction of some kind for the future — that does not happen that way? I think not. Why would you? Why would you put-up-with that false prophet?
False prophets will of course resent your questioning them. Of course! They claim authority over you. “Who are you to question such as I! (…they might say.) But we are warned to test them. As with any teaching – we are to be Berean types.
This warning goes for any “word” spoken as “a word from the Lord”, or prefaced by something as bodacious (‘impressive’) as “God has given me a word…”, or “God told me this for you.” This is being done by the “normal” person in the pew, not just the big kahunas. Good people, but not… because they are faking it.
Prefacing their own thinking 1
spirituality signaling intros
- Ezekiel 13:1-9: “from their own heart”;
- verse 5 of 1 John 1: “This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you“
The innate culture within NAR type churches is pressuring all its congregants to “get with it” and exercise Spirit gifting. They are taught to claim their spiritual gift. They are told to give it a go, just start speaking – and you will soon speak “a word from the Lord”. They are prefacing their own thinking with NAR type spirituality signaling intros, like:
“God is telling me this for you”
“God has given me a word”
“I have a word from the Lord”
False prophets and false teachers, and those who falsely claim “a word from the Lord”, are in reality mimicking (copying) what the real prophets did. They say what is said here in 1 John 1:verse 5,
* “This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you” – 1 John 1:verse 5 (AMP)
Bethel Apostates: NAR types Feucht, Johnson Jr., and Pastor Bill Johnson
They so, so, very much want this to be true of their words, as it was true for Jesus’ disciples (1 John 1:verse 5), and for Ezekiel (Ezekiel 13:1-9). NAR type church pew sitters will tell you straight-out: ‘The Lord declares’. Ezekiel says – Not so! Don’t do that.
* “saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them” – Ezekiel 13:1-9 (AMP)
This is serious stuff, folks! You can’t just say it is “from God” when it is not!
It is okay to be led of the Lord to counsel someone or to help them with what they are going through, of course (Galatians 6:1-5). But it is never of God to say it is of God when it is not of God.
God does not approve of your “vain imaginations” being declared as His words. Scripture warns that the reason you do this is because you are vain (“full of yourself”).
Their prophecy was not from God – “Woe to the foolish prophets“
If in fact they fail the test, then you know what they say was actually a fabrication from their own vain imaginations, or worse. And God says, “I am against you,” declares the Lord God (v8).”
“Woe to the foolish prophets”
Do you see your church in this passage?
Quoting Ezekiel 13:3 — “This is what the Lord [b]God says: “Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing!
it is never of God
to say it is of God
when it is not of God
“Woe to the foolish prophets…”
– Ezekiel 13:1-9…
“those who prophesy from their own inspiration“.
“who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing!“
“They see deceit and lying divination,
“those who are saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them”
“you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie”
“the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations….”.
it is never of God
to say it is of God
when it is
of your own imaginations
If you want to share a dream you had, or you are just burning to say an encouraging word, or “have an inkling”, or whatever: use your wisdom and tack and keep it inside yourself for later, or, just say it is from you. But DO NOT say your words, your dream or vision… are from God (Ezekiel 13:8-9) – unless you can verify it is from God!
Ezekiel is saying to us today: They in fact have seen nothing. References: Ezekiel 13:3; Ezekiel 13:1-9; 2 Timothy 3:16. Plus See: Words used by false teachers and About False Teachings of today.
* They heard nothing from God.
* What they say is NOT a message from God… “you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie”
* It is NOT a true revelation.
* God is NOT its source (v2).
* It is merely “made-up-words“.
“Because you have spoken falsehood
and seen a lie,
therefore behold,
I am against you,”
declares the Lord God.
9 “So My hand will be against the prophets
who see false visions
and utter lying divinations….”
– Ezekiel 13:8-9
“I am against you”
Jesus warned us there would be folks like this in churches: false prophets, false teachers, false exorcists, false miracle workers, false “word of encouragement” pew sitter types, false “word from the Lord” pew sitter types. Jesus said this about them:
15 “Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus].
Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore, by their fruit you will recognize them [as false prophets].
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’
– Matthew 7:15-23
Jesus said: they will look nice and good – “dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (v15). You can tell they are wolves if you look at their fruit: “By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus]” (v16).
And if they are wrong – what then? They just go back to “business as usual”! That is their fruit: they lie, say sorry, and then expect us to accept them, again, as “God’s anointed ones”? Think again.
“contrived doctrine and self-focus“
Part of the “fruit” of a false prophet is what they teach as doctrines from God (which are not from God). Know your Bible well enough to separate the good fruit from the bad fruit. Can you do that? See: Show me actual false teachings. 2
“by their fruit
you will recognize them
[as false prophets]” (v16)
4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 7 To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all. – 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NET
you can tell
they are wolves
if you look at their fruit
Not of God
Be if a so-called apostle, a so-called prophet, false exorcist, false miracle worker, false “word of encouragement” type, a false “word from the Lord” type… says falsely that they speak from God: they are not “in the Spirit”, but in “the flesh”.
Do not “practice deceit”
– Jeremiah 6:13
The conclusion we must make:
Their prophecy was not from God.
Their word from the Lord was not from God.
That person is a false prophet.
That pew sitter is speaking falsely for God.
That false apostle, that false prophet, false teacher, false exorcist, false miracle worker, false “word of encouragement” pew sitter type who gives a false “word from the Lord” — is not of God.
– 1 John 4:1-3 Amplified Bible
4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know and recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ has [actually] come in the flesh [as a man] is from God [God is its source];
3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God;
this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world. – 1 John 4:1-3 Amplified Bible
This is not a matter of being against some church or movement. It is a matter of:
1) closely following the Word of God in the Bible —
or,
2) willfully, carelessly, indiscriminately following false prophets.
NAR type churches even say, “God spoke through a prophet (recently), and – you know those Old Testament warnings to not be wrong… well, they are not for today. Prophets can now be wrong. It’s okay, God said.” Unbelievable. Self-serving. Some are apparently into divination. 3
According to Jesus in Matthew 7:15-23: Many in churches are self-deceived. They are on their way to Hell. So… the Bible warns you not to follow them there. I think I hear many saying now, “Yikes! I’ve got to get out of here and go find some truly Bible preaching believers!”
FOR MORE:
It is not of God to say “this is a word from the Lord” when what you say are merely your own words. “God is against you” if you practice that.
Pretending their word is God’s word
They in fact have seen nothing
Do not attend apostate churches
Are you under a deluding influence?
About being Apostate… following another gospel
Is your light actually darkness?
6 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories or myths …we were [a]eyewitnesses of His majesty [His grandeur, His authority, His sovereignty]….
18 and we [actually] heard this voice made from heaven when we were together with Him on the holy mountain.
…20 [e]But understand this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one’s own [personal or special] interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
NAR Type Churches
– Post New Apostolic Reformation Reflections
– Two NAR Organizations to Watch from hollypivec.com; Holly Pivec
– Our response to “Apostle” Randy Clark’s interview with Remnant Radio
– False Prophets: A Study in the Scriptures by Diane S. Dew
Following the Jesus who was not God
Needing something more than Jesus
The Apostle Paul’s Criticisms…being Berean types
“this salvation” (Acts 13:26-27):
The message of salvation spoken by Jesus to Paul
So, God sent His Son into the world. Do you know why?
Salvation in Christ is beyond huge
This one short verse contains the Gospel of Jesus: Acts 26:18 NASB Here it is in the Amplified version:
18 to open their [spiritual] eyes
so that they may turn
from darkness to light
and from the power of Satan to God,
that they may receive forgiveness
and release from their sins
and an inheritance
among those who have been
sanctified (set apart, made holy)
by faith in Me.’ – Acts 26:18 Amplified
Scientific visualization proofs for an Intelligent Designer – God
About Evidences for faith in Jesus
Was Jesus actually God Almighty?
Want it to know it – God’s message to us
Isaiah 30:1 Judah Warned“Woe (judgment is coming) to the rebellious children,” declares the Lord, “Who carry out a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance [by pouring out a libation], but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin”
Footnotes
- See:
– Post New Apostolic Reformation Reflections
– Two NAR Organizations to Watch from hollypivec.com; Holly Pivec
– Our response to “Apostle” Randy Clark’s interview with Remnant Radio
– False Prophets: A Study in the Scriptures by Diane S. Dew.
- Scholar James D.G. Dunn explained how he “interacts” with Scripture: “the chief formative influence should come from the text itself”
“When I turn to a theme or text, my goal is to interact with the NT (or other) texts directly, to draft an outline of what the theme or text evokes in response to questions which arise from the theme/text or in relation to it. Only then will I turn to commentaries, monographs, etc., to see what I’ve missed, or to sharpen my ‘take’ on it, or to dialogue with major alternative views.
Much as I will benefit from them, I don’t want them to be the lens through which I read the text/issue; the chief formative influence should come from the text itself.” – From an interview of Dunn by Frank Viola.
- Divination
Wikipedia: “to be inspired by a god,” is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic, standardized process or ritual.
merriam-webster.com: 1 – the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers
2 – unusual insight : intuitive perceptionchristianity.com/wiki: a corrupted seeking of spiritual knowledge
“The practicing of divination will deceive you and separate you from the wisdom of God. Christians should avoid all endeavors related to divination, including fortune-telling, astrology, witchcraft, tarot cards, and spell-casting. The spirit realm is real, but it is not harmless. As taught by Scripture, spirits that are not the Holy Spirit or angelic beings are malevolent spirits.
“Christians need not dread the spirits connected to divination; neither are Christians to inquire [for] knowledge from them. True, benevolent wisdom comes from God as said in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
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