Feeds:
Posts
Comments

John G Lakes Letter to Elder Brooks and His Reply

April 29, 2022 by Niels Prip

Forward

     Following are two letters written over 100 years ago, one by John G. Lake and the other by Elder Eugene Brooks in reply. We are printing them here because they present, in their substance, a problem of the Christian ministry – as well as the life of any follower of Jesus.  That problem is:  The enormous need that is latent in the life and experience of those whom God blesses and uses.  So many need to understand how to go on with God, and how to retain their life with Jesus and grow in it.  Especially in these days of what seems an almost over-emphasis – in some quarters – on great works and great gifts.  We say over-emphasis because the under-emphasis, in even some of the greatest of the leaders of our times, upon the growth in God of the daily life of the child of God.  It is a startling fact that in many cases Christians and Christian workers do not know what to do and how to proceed on and into the FULLNESS OF GOD.  This is an almost unbelievably common failure.  So many talk and teach about “prayer” who do not actually PRACTICE in their lives a vital PREOCCUPATION WITH GOD in their private lives.  Or, they gradually lose out in their walk-with-God by becoming too much involved in goings and doings and efforts to become “great,” or ‘GREATER”.  Anyone who does not realize his need of from two to four hours alone with God daily will almost surely find himself in a wilderness facing into a spiritual loss and vainness as the spirit-of-this-world opposes advance and seeks to render void the fruitfulness of their life which was begun in the wonder of the power of the HOLY SPIRIT.  These letters are offered as studies in spiritual contrasts.  They will be greatly rewarding to any who are willing to read and study and ponder and digest what is expressed in them. 

     John Lake and Elder Brooks were both mighty men of God – each in his own way and calling – as their letters clearly show. And those of us who knew them both quite intimately can add our testimony that such an estimate is true.

Letter written to Rev. and Mrs. Brooks by Rev. John Lake, June 16, 1916.

Dear Brother and Sister Brooks:

     For some days I have been moved by the Spirit to write to you.  At the time of our marriage I felt that God had really laid upon your sols the burden of my need in God.  As I moved out in faith at that time, endeavoring to trust God for physical strength and guidance and grace from heaven to accomplish His will, He richly blessed my soul and our work was accompanied by the power of His Spirit.

     While at Philadelphia the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon me for healing and wonderful healings took place.  Later we came to Spokane, Wash.  The first door God opened here, strangely, was a door in what is known here as The Church of The Truth, a New Thought body.  Their pastor was formerly a Universal preacher.  He had seen Christ through Christian Science teaching.  He was a hungry soul.  He invited me to preach at his church.  I said to him, “My message is not yours.  I preach the Christ and Him crucified.”  He replied, “Brother, preach your own message, and as much of it as you want to.  You are in the hands of the Spirit of God.”

     After the first sermon, he invited me to take one of the healing rooms in their church, and pray for the sick throughout the week.  God gave wonderful healings.  The church was mightily moved.  It was a new manifestation of the power of God to them.  I was invited to teach their weekday classes on the subject of the baptism of the Spirit.  God showed me four persons in the church at that time who would receive the baptism.  We ministered there about six months, then started our own work about Feb. 1st, 1915.

     The first lady from the Truth church to be baptized in the Spirit was a Mrs. P.  She received her baptism at the first service we conducted in our own hall.  At the close of the Sunday morning service the Spirit fell on her and she was baptized in the presence of the congregation.

     Mrs. P. told me that five years before, while in a real agony of soul, she fell on her knees and cried out for deliverance and light and help, saying, “oh God, is there no one anywhere who can bring me the light my soul needs and show me God as my spirit craves?”  And the Spirit spoke to her and said, “Yes, in Johannesburg, S. Africa.”  On the day of her baptism as she was under the power of the Spirit, the Lord reminded he that He had fulfilled His promise to her, and that I had come from Johannesburg, S. Africa in response to her soul’s call and the soul call of others who needed God.

     Another lady from The Church of The Truth was likewise baptized in the Spirit, Mrs. F.  The Spirit revealed Christ and the Blood and His cleansing power.  They have been beautiful souls, as also the other two.

     In connection with our work we maintain healing rooms, open from 10 a.m. to 4 pm. every day, where the sick and otherwise needy souls come for prayer.  We also have a hall connected with the healing rooms, where we have our week day and week night meetings.  Our Sunday services are all held in the Masonic Temple.  Sunday School in the morning, preaching at 11 a.m. and the large public service at 3 p.m.

     Our work here has been characterized with wonderful healings and many of them.  When I wrote the stories of the wonders God was performing in Africa to America the people largely said, “We do not believe it.”  Satan tried in many ways to make the world believe it was not a fact.  But our work here has been under the eye of such competent witnesses of such high character and so many of them that Satan cannot longer deny the stories of what God has done.  The news has reached all the Pacific Coast states.  People are coming, not the sick only, but teachers, particularly from among the Truth people of the Coast country, to inquire what it is and what is the difference, and what do we mean when we talk about the baptism of the Holy Ghost and how do you get it?

     During the year 1915, 8,030 persons were healed.  Mr. Westwood ministers with me in the work, and has the adjoining healing room.  Mr. S. P. Fogwill, formerly a deacon of Zion City is also with me.  He makes the calls from home to home throughout the city all day with the Ford car.  Usually we minister to one hundred persons per day, sometimes more sometimes less.

     Among the remarkable cases of healing are three of recent occurrence, which I want to give to you.  They are out of the usual order of healings and in my judgment belong to the class of miracles of creative order. 

     One is Mrs. Pn., a trained nurse, a graduate of Trinity Hospital, Milwaukee.  She was operated upon and the generative organs were removed, womb and ovaries in July last.  In November she was operated upon again for gallstones.  After the operation the bile broke loose and flowed from her body in quarts, to such an extent that death became imminent.  Indeed, during the time she was being prayed for she passed into a state of coma, apparent death, and for about half an hour there was no evidence of life, and no breath passed her lips.  Mr. Westwood was with her.  He had been with her all night.  It was about 4 a.m.  The Spirit of God took gradual possession of her being in such power that she was healed entirely of the gallstone difficulty.  Her generative organs re-grew and last month she became a perfectly normal woman.  Mrs. Pn. is now the matron of our Diving Healing Home.

     The second case is that of Miss K., a victim of glandular tuberculosis.  She was operated on 26 times and was treated by 56 different physicians and finally left to die.  One after another abandoned the case.

     In one of her operations an incision was made in the lower abdomen.  This was done in an endeavor to remove a great quantity of pus that had formed in the body.  On account of the tubercular state of her flesh the wounds would not heal nor hold stitches.  Three times she was opened and sewed up, but without avail.  The consequence was that a normal movement of the bowels could not take place.  This condition lasted for six and a half years.

     While down in the city she fainted on the street.  They were about to take her to St. Luke’s Hospital for an operation when she became conscious and refused to go.  She came to our  home and spent the night with us. We prayed for her.

     On the next day, Sunday, as she sat in the tabernacle in the afternoon service, while public prayer was being offered, she said it seemed to her as if a hand was placed inside of her abdomen and another hand on her head.  The voice of the Spirit spoke within her soul and said, “You are healed.”  She arose from her chair and became perfectly normal.

     Number three.  Mrs. L., the wife of a Main St. merchant here, fell downstairs some ten or twelve years ago, which caused a prolapse of the stomach, bowels and female organs.  She became an invalid.  After several years of operations and suffering she was attacked with rheumatics and became a helpless cripple.  When the doctors had failed, she was recommended to take bath treatments at Soap Lake, one of the hot lakes I Washington, where the water is very hot and very much mineralized. The treatments had this strange effect, that the disease left her body and centered entirely in the right leg.  A formation of bone as large as a large orange came on the inside of the right leg and the bone of the leg began to grow until the leg was 3 inches longer than the other one and the foot became almost an inch longer than the other one. 

    Her lungs had fallen through tuberculosis.  She was prayed for one day in he healing rooms and as she went out to get in the car she was amazed to discover that her lungs were raising up and her chest filling out.  She was perfectly and instantly healed of that.

     Later while I prayed for her concerning the lump on her leg, the Spirit came upon her powerfully and she burst into great perspiration, which ran down her person into her shoes.  The leg which was 3” longer than the other one at that time shortened at the rate of an inch a week and in three weeks was perfectly natural and the same length as the other.  The foot also shortened in length and now she wears the same sized shoes on both feet and her legs are of equal length. 

     God wants to do something new in connection with my work.  It is not clear to my soul yet just what it is.  Finances have been tight lately.  There has not been the usual flow of financial help.  Healings have not been so powerful for some 3 weeks.  My spirit is disturbed.  I recognize it as one of the stirrings that come to the soul previous to a change in the character of the work and ministry.  I feel the need of your prayers.  I know that God put me on your hearts.  I know I am on your hearts still and will always be, for I believe God has laid the burden of intercession upon you dear ones for my life.

     I may not always see the guidance of God as you see it, but I desire to assure you of my deep personal love for you all and of the bond in the Holy Ghost with you that is intense and powerful.  I want your prayers.

     Our work has extended into the country round abound (sic).  We now have a congregation at Bovill, Ida., another at Moscow, Ida., the seat o the state University, and another at Pullman, Wash., where the Washington Agricultural Schools are located.  We have another congregation in the north part of Spokane, aside from the central work. 

     Beloved, you know that we can trust God to apply to the soul that discipline that is necessary for its subjection to God.  As I look back over the way, though it seems hard, I can see that every step of the way has been necessary for my soul’s discipline, not only that God’s humility might reign in me, but that God’s power might be made manifest through me, and my faith strengthened in God.

     I feel I have never yet attained that place in God where I can accomplish the real life work that He desires through me.  There is a broader ministry that God wants accomplished.  I feel He has called me to it, but the way has never been opened so far, nor have I felt that my soul was really ready for it.

     I have given you a good deal of detail concerning myself, for John Lake has always been a good deal of burden to himself and I feel that I want your loving prayer and holy faith in my behalf, that the real will of God may be done in me and through me to the glory of God.  God bless you. 

     Give our love to all the dear ones.

                    Your brother in Christ,

                               (John G. Lake)

* * *

Reply to John Lake’s letter by Elder Brooks, July 1, 1916.

My Dear Bro. Lake: 

     Your long and interesting letter was received and read with much pleasure.

     We were exceedingly glad to hear from you and to know that God has been so abundantly blessing you.  I do praise Him for all He is doing in and through His people.

     We have been in a severe strain of work for some weeks spending as much as 14 hours a day at times. 

     It did seem as if your request would have to go unheeded, for we knew that a short prayer would not meet the demands in your case.  But the Lord said we were to have a 3-hour prayer for you; and in order to get it, we dismissed our usual meeting last night and called all the people in the 3 homes together and prayed for 3 hours, strong and powerful. 

     I’m sure our God has heard that cry and we believe that God will manifest the answer in the way and at the time of His choosing.

     We do not need to tell you that we love you and greatly desire that you should measure up to the Divine requirements, therefore no apology is needed for a little word of admonition.  My soul seems to sense a possible error you are making in reference to your self and work.  I do not say I am correct at this point, but I have the soul sense that you have your eyes in the wrong direction.  You say, “God wants to do something new in connection with my work.”  I do not doubt that.  But what is it?  It is enlargement?  Development?  Aggression?  Gifts and dominion?

     It may be all these or none of them, but one thing is true that if your eyes get on these, somewhere you will fail. 

     While I do not claim wisdom for these words yet I am quite sure of the correctness of the statement that no man can be used as largely as you have indicated and not be treading on most dangerous ground.  And while it is true that greater conquest, enlargement, dominion, etc. may be intended by the Lord, one thing is absolutely necessary, if these victories are to be continued and that HUMILITY, genuine, deep, lasting – shall be yours.

     You know that a man may be called and greatly anointed for a certain work and yet not be as powerful in God as some others not so greatly called.  But have you learned that the man thus largely called must find that grace and depth in God or lose his stewardship and disgrace his name and profession?  God needs certain works to be done and calls whom He will to do it, but He will sacrifice the work to save the worker – with God the worker is important, with man the work – God has His the on the man – the man has his eye on the work.  Your letter shows that you have the vision though somewhat mixed. You see God and you see your need, but you also see other things and these other things needing you.

     The real vision is to see “Jesus only” and to see nothing else.  Not Jesus and – just Jesus.  The “single eye” sees none but Jesus – the double eye sees Jesus and.

     If I could put into words the soul-sight of this you would get the idea and seek to impart it, but it is an experience and not a doctrine.  It is the absolute sufficiency of Jesus for every need and the utter uselessness of every human effort. 

     Just as long as there are things and doings in our vision Jesus cannot be so mighty.  When He alone is seen, He takes care of the things and doings. We try and fail until we are willing to give up and admit we cannot – then we may turn to Him.

     My Bro. We are absolutely useless without Him.  What if we have been used a bit when we were not recognizing Him?  That does not prove our sufficiency, but His grace.  He knew we were blind and was therefore patient.  But our blindness and folly must be exposed and we fail and then awaken to find our springs had all been in Him all the time.  It is the folly of the natural man to suppose that he is doing it until his conceit is exposed, and then finds that God made a vessel to honor because he had need, but when the vessel took glory to itself He broke the vessel that He might make it again.

     Now, you know as well as I the things I am saying.  Then why do I say them?  Just to stir up your “pure mind.” 

     But there is one thing which you perhaps do not know as well as I – the unfailing and only way to attain that desired end.  You are the one called and equipped (because of the need ) without much effort on your part.  I not being thus called must needs find at the foot of the cross what was imparted to you at the start, because of the need.  Is God unrighteous?  No, not at all.  Then sometime, somewhere you too will have to go down at the foot of the cross to retain that which has been imparted for the time of need, or you will find yourself someday the “broken vessel.”  No, I by no means indicate you should do as I do, nor by any means go the way I go – but I do say that go what way you may you have got to go on your knees.  Nor do I think you should have to spend the time in prayer that we do, for your call being different the requirement would be different.  But certain it is that if the prayer closet is neglected because of the stress of work, God will neglect the work sometime.

     We can argue ourselves out of the victory with the thought that God will excuse our declension in prayer because we are so engaged in the vineyard.  But when we turn to the life of our Lord and find Him leaving the multitude who had come to be ministered to and going off to pray, we have to admit there is no excuse left. 

     But surely I have exceeded the limitations of propriety.  I simply intended to say a few loving words by way of remembrance and lo, I have been preaching to you at a wild rate and still have not said the thing yet I desired to say, for I did wish to just hold up Jesus and make you look at Him from every angle and see how transportingly beautiful He is – how all sufficient He is – how He fills all – meets every requirement – satisfies every longing – is Himself the equipment for every service.  Oh, John Lake, there is no other need of ours in this world or that to come to Jesus.  I know I’m not making it clear – I can’t, but it is true all the same.

     It is so true that it is supreme folly to look for, desire, or be tempted with ought else.  If He is “The Way” we can’t get lost.  If He is “The Life” the devil can’t kill us.  If He is “the Truth” we can’t be deceived by lies.  What do we need beside Jesus?  If everything proceeds from Him – if all things culminate in Him – if He is the embodiment, the fulfillment and the consummation of all things why should we seek after or even think of anything else?

     No, I haven’t told you yet and now I despair of doing so, for Jesus is so infinitely wonderful that all words fade when referring to Him.  Oh, my Bro. John, I once looked for power – wanted equipment, sought usefulness – saw gifts in the distance – knew that dominion was somewhere in he future, but glory to God!  One by one these faded, and as they faded there was a form, a figure emerged from the shadows which became clearer and more distinct as these other things faded and when they had passed I saw “Jesus only.” 

     The Lord bless thee my Brother and fulfill all His purposes in thee.  Our very earnest love to you and your dear wife.

     All the saints greet thee in love.  Wife and I among them. 

     In the bonds of Christ.

                              (Eugene Brooks)

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Why Does God Delay?

January 4, 2022 by Niels Prip

I think we have all wondered, “why is He delaying His return?”. I for one am thankful that He did! If he would have come before June of 1971, I would never have seen the light! Why does He delay in bringing judgment to evil leaders? These two questions are closely related. We are told in Romans 9:22-24, “What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”.

Longsuffering is a word we don’t use much in our current culture, but longsuffering means “patiently bearing continual wrongs or trouble”. Very early in the Bible and in Jewish history we are told that “God is compassionate and gracious, longsuffering and slow to anger, abounding in love” Exodus 34:6. So the nature of God has not changed, he revealed Himself as being patient and longsuffering from the beginning, towards both sinners and saints.

It is the very fact of this nature that we are all saved. If He wanted to show His wrath and power, he could do so. But He is longsuffering with the vessels of wrath that are doomed for destruction. He endures it all, so that He might make known to us “the riches of His Glory”, we are the “vessels of mercy”. Even Peter refers to Paul’s message saying “Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters” 2 Peter 3:15. As God delays, more and more people are being saved. And the riches of His glory continue shining forth.

So, God is longsuffering with the wicked and the evil in our world, allowing “the riches of His Gory” to be shown forth in those who continue to seek Jesus, the “vessels of mercy”. And for the wicked and the evil of the world, He delays full judgment. There is a judgment though! All one must do is read Romans 1, the wrath of God is being revealed in that He is giving them over to depraved minds and dishonorable passions. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. This is a judgment; God’s restraining hand is being removed from our land. People are given over to their lusts and passions, for money and power. Yet in all of it, He continues to show forth the riches of His Glory to those who love him and seek Him. And that is a great encouragement in dark days.

Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God]. Proverbs 29:18 Amplified Bible

Selah

(see article below on The restrainer)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

What is Worship? 3

November 23, 2021 by Niels Prip

As I was driving down the road the other day, I went past a church that had the following “advertisement” on their billboard.

“Three styles of worship, one just right for you”.

I tried to call them to see what they were, but there was no answer. My guess would be that the three styles were traditional, contemporary and blended. If you do a search online, you will find more than three, here are some of the others I have found, Taize style, coffeehouse style, liturgical, etc. The list goes on. Here is a brief list of how I interpret the styles-

Contemporary means more upbeat, similar to what I call soft rock, with a full band,

Traditional means hymns and chorus’, usually with a piano,

I would guess that coffeehouse style would be an acoustic sound, with acoustic guitars, and less amplification,

Progressive style leans more toward rock and roll, full band, with lots of bass, drums and heavy amplification.

Taize style- look it up online yourself.

Again, I will emphasize that we have lost the original meaning of the great Biblical word “worship”.

A person can worship God without any of the mentioned styles, or without any instruments or music at all. I used to think about people that are deaf and dumb and think that they were missing out because they couldn’t worship God, I know that sounds absurd, but sometimes it takes the absurd to bring a point across. From what little research I have done, it appears that musical instruments really weren’t used in the church until about 200 years ago. It wasn’t allowed.

For most of us, we understand what that billboard means, and we ourselves are governed by some of those styles. Most of us, when we are looking for a church, take their style of worship as one of the most important factors in whether or not we will attend there. We equate certain styles of music as more spiritual than others. And unfortunately, it is governed by our likes and specific tastes in music.

To me it would be wise to call our music and singing something other than “worship”, we can certainly call it praise or celebration, which would be more appropriate. Why diminish our understanding of what true “worship” is?

When Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4 23“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” was he making any reference whatsoever to music and singing? Absolutely not, yet that is how we think of it.

In the Old Testament, God Himself laid out all the laws and requirements governing their “worship”, down to the smallest details. If we make “worship” into something that is governed by our likes and tastes, or our dislikes, we are in great peril. Worship is God’s requirements placed on us, not our preference in what feels good to our liking. What other Biblical word will replace the true meaning of “worship” if we lose it? What are we teaching the next generation?

Some of the most difficult times of worship in my life were not accompanied by any music or anything that felt good. Much like when Abraham went to offer Isaac, it was a time of very severe inner turmoil, as was the case in the life of Joseph. If you read that story, there were several instances where Joseph wept bitterly before he told his brothers who he was. What was he going thru? Was he tempted to get revenge? Could he get past that, as he thought of what they did to him? Giving forgiveness to those who don’t deserve it, even though they in fact are guilty, is an act of obedience and worship to God. What manner of dealing with God brought Joseph to the point where he recognized in Genesis 45:7 “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance? 8“Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God;”  In the same manner Jesus prayed to the Father, “Forgive them, they know not what they do”. These are examples of true worship, obedience to God; even though it might be at great peril to ones self.

So what is the end result? Well, we are certainly still able to enjoy the music and singing as much as we ever did. It can still be an expression of praise and adoration to Him. But, we have to understand that our music and singing is not really a necessity in worshiping God. It is a blessing that we have and maybe we put too much emphasis on it. Remember the saints in China, when they gather, cannot sing or have music, because they are in hiding. And, the deaf and dumb are not able to enjoy what we enjoy. But they can still be true worshipers of God, and even be more committed to God than we who sing. Sela!

Posted in Church in Crisis, Worship in Cirisis, Worship, Praise and Music | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

What is Worship? 2

October 28, 2021 by Niels Prip

In the December 1999 issue of Charisma Magazine, is an article on the Christian band Delirious and the future of worship in the church. Everything in the article is about how worship is changing in the church, and how it is being taken to the streets, and to venues not normally associated with Christianity.  These are all good things, because music is such a good tool to use to present the Gospel.

I remember all thru the 1970’s, I played in a Christian band that traveled regionally thru the various coffee houses in the Chicago and Milwaukee and all around the Midwest. In 1977 we did a trip to Sweden and Denmark that lasted about 6 weeks. There we were able to play in the public schools and various other venues. In a 5 week period, we played 42 times, sometimes 3 different places in a day. The thing is, we never called it “worship”. It was an expression of worship, at times, other times it was a tool for evangelism. Music is a universal language, but I fear we have become confused about what “worship” is.

Today, when someone talks about “worship”, they usually mean the music and singing. You hear phases like, “a powerful time of worship” or “I can’t wait for the worship to start” or “I love to worship”.  A lot of times, powerful worship means ear deafening music that you literally feel the vibes from. These are things I enjoy, it makes me feel good and it is fun. In a lot of ways very similar to be in a rock concert, that was fun too. Don’t get me wrong, nobody likes music better than I do. You can ask my wife! I usually go to sleep with a headset on. I have been a musician for over 50 years, and have been involved with Christian music since 1971.

What really concerns me here is this. We are losing the true meaning of one of the great biblical words, and that word is “worship”. It has been redefined to mean less than what God intended for it to mean, and if we continue on this course, it will weaken the church and the body of Christ.

In Genesis 22, it says the following.   1And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.  2And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 3And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. 4Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

This verse in Genesis is the first mention of the word “worship” in the Bible. Usually that means that it sets a precedent or understanding of what that word ultimately means. Here it is easy to see a few things clearly. God was testing Abraham, and in that test, Abraham would obey and give sacrificially.

In Genesis 18 1And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground…

The word “worship” in Genesis 22 is the same Hebrew word “bowed” in Genesis 18. So we have a basic understanding of “worship” from just these few verses. A bowing prostrate, in obedience and sacrifice unto the Lord, in all things. Even in tests and trials as great as those of Abraham.

The New Testament says the following In Matthew 2   7Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” 9After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.

One thing is very clear in all of these verses, there wasn’t any music being played or songs being sung, it was more solemn and more reverent. Has the modern church lost those things? If we lose the original meaning of “worship” and the importance of that word in our modern church, we are at great peril. Worship involves humble obedience and sacrifice in our lives in all circumstances, in times of wealth and in times of poverty, when we have plenty or when we have little. When we have trials and are tested of the Lord, that is when our worship is shown. It is how we live when no one sees us, day to day, walking with him.

Now out of that walk with the Lord, music can be used as a great way of expressing our joy and adoration for Him. Worship can be expressed thru music and thru praise, but we must never confuse worship, with music and praise. They are two different things. True worship is of the utmost importance, outward expression thru music is a privilege. I know missionaries in China, when they meet together with believers, they can’t sing or have music because they are in hiding, but they still worship the Lord. When you speak of “worship” with them, they don’t think of music and singing.

The future of “worship” in the church is in the past, in the foundational teaching and understanding of a great biblical word.

Jeremiah 6   16 Thus says the LORD,

“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,

Where the good way is, and walk in it;

And you will find rest for your souls.

Blessings,

Niels Prip

Posted in Church in Crisis, Worship in Cirisis, Worship, Praise and Music | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment »

The Restrainer

October 13, 2021 by Niels Prip

2 Thessalonians 2:6 “And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end, by the appearance of His coming”.

There are a lot of different thoughts on who the “restrainer” is. For me, the bottom line is that whoever he is, God controls him, God controls the restraining. We can see examples of this in the Bible.

In the case of Job, God restrained the devil by putting a hedge of protection around Job. When God and the devil discussed Job, God told the devil that you may touch all that he has, but you cannot touch Job, again God restrained the devil. The next discussion they had, God told the devil you can touch his body, but he had to “spare his life”. Again, restraint.

In the case of Jesus, there was a time when the crowd was going to throw Jesus off a cliff, but he miraculously passed thru the crowd, it was not his time yet. God restrained the evil. Yet when he was standing before Pontius Pilate, Pilate told him, ““Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above”. As in the case of Job, God restrained the evil crowd but did not restrain the evil of Pilate. God is in control of all things. He “sets the boundaries for the seas”.

In Romans 1, God them over to a depraved mind, and they became filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them. The restraining hand of God was removed, and God gave them over to a depraved mind.

I see this happening in our nation, God’s hand of restraint is being removed in all areas of our society. All you have to do is read the news, whether a newspaper or the internet. The morals in our nation are fading fast. The church itself is becoming powerless and becoming more conformed to this world. May we seek God for guidance, that we may be able to stand in these evil days, and be separate from this world, holy unto Him. Lord help us, we ask for Your mercy.

Posted in Church in Crisis | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

What Is Worship?

October 4, 2021 by Niels Prip

Today, when people say worship, they usually mean music and songs. But if you read the first Biblical account of the worship, it is in Genesis 22:5, “Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the boy will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.” The story is quite frightening, and there was no music or songs associated with the event. There is a thing called the Law of First Mention. The “law of first-mention” is the principle in the interpretation of Scripture which states that the first mention or occurrence of a subject in Scripture establishes an unchangeable pattern, with that subject remaining unchanged in the mind of God throughout Scripture.

In Abraham’s case, obedience and sacrifice, and love of God were the main elements of his worship. May we never lose that true meaning. I have friends who are missionaries in China, in the underground church where they can’t worship the way we worship, with loud music and singing. Because if they were heard, they would be exposed and possibly go to jail. Their worship is true worship, in spirit and in truth, not dependent on music. We are blessed in America because we don’t have those limitations. We can use music as a form of praise and worship, but it must never replace true worship, worship that is in spirit and in truth.

Hebrews 12:28 -29-“Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.”

Posted in Church in Crisis, Worship in Cirisis, Worship, Praise and Music | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments »

Prophetic Mediocrity

March 13, 2012 by Niels Prip

Prophetic Mediocrity

Wouldn’t it be nice if when someone spoke a prophetic word in a meeting, the elders of the church would pause and judge what was said?  Maybe even write down the “word” to see if it comes to pass. If they were unsure about the word that was given, that could be the grace given, it would be written down for a season, to see if it was God or not. And if it proved to not be God, an elder would stand up and say, “We were not sure if this was God, but now sufficient time has passed, and we now are confident that it was not God”, or “We are now confident that it was God”.

Instead, when you hear a “word”, you rejoice because it is a “pleasant word”. After all, you want a pleasant meeting, not wanting anything in a meeting that might cause people to not come back to your church. Pleasant “words” are nice, but if it is not God, and you put God’s name on it, it is vile, something of human origin. There is a fine line between what is spiritual and what is from the soul. And that is one thing that the charismatic church has still not learned in all these years.

I have seen this for over 40 years. I saw it 40 years ago, I saw it along the way and I even see it today. Do you despise the truth? Are you afraid of it? Don’t you want to hear from God? You say you do! Don’t you want to know whether a word is from God or not? All those years I always heard the same lame excuse “that people are learning to be prophetic, speaking a word, and we are not opposed to that or opposed to it being a little messy”.

Don’t get me wrong, a mess is alright, if it is cleaned up with accountability and judgment by the elders. You can’t leave the mess, or it will start to pile up. It is fine for someone to learn being prophetic, but to do so without accountability is madness. Without judging what is said, you set them up for failure, thinking something is from God when it is not from God. You then train the church to not know the difference. That is what you train them in, mediocrity. They will never learn to discern what is God or what is from the flesh. All pleasant things will be assumed to be from God, what peril you are in!

Hebrew 5:12-14 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Is This The Time To Be Taking Money?

October 23, 2011 by Niels Prip

It is an interesting story, the story of Elisha and Naaman the leper. Naaman reluctantly went and dipped seven times in the Jordan River and was healed because there was a prophet in Israel. He also realized that there was only one God, the God of Israel.

When Naaman offered Elisha a gift, Elisha told him “As sure as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing”. After Naaman had left, Elisha’s servant Gehazi went after Naaman and lied to him in order to get a gift of silver and clothes. When Gehazi returned, Elisha confronted him because in his spirit he knew what Gehazi had done. It did not fare well for Gehazi when Elisha asked him in 2 Kings 5:26-27 “Is it a time to take money and to receive clothes and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants? Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence, a leper as white as snow”.

The story speaks for it self, Carl Keil, a German theologian in the 1800’s says this in his commentary on II Kings-

“Was this the time, when so many hypocrites pretend to be prophets from selfishness and avarice, and bring the prophetic office into contempt with unbelievers, for a servant of the Lord to take money and goods …that he might acquire luxury and goods for himself.

What a rebuke! A rebuke our so-called modern prophets should heed with all their marketing strategies, their endless books, DVD’s, expensive conferences and material. Well did Micah tell of their error! Micah 3:11 “Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, her priests instruct for a price. And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD saying, is not the LORD in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us.” It is a stark realization that today’s so-called prophets have many followers, and there is pride in the fact that they claim that the Lord is in their meetings and in their “words”. Micah clearly rebukes them and exposes their error. In like manner, our modern prophetic movement needs rebuking!

The world is in dire times, economic collapses, rising unemployment and homelessness, more and more people are hurting. We live in a world where people need Jesus, the need the true Gospel. Where will they hear it? Will we bring them into a church that is wrought with error and mixture? Where are the true prophets of God? Is this the time to for making money? There are several instances in the Bible where some of the greatest prophets rejected money. Where are they now? These days it’s almost always all about the money.

My encouragement is this, hold those accountable who claim to speak for God.  If their “words” do not come to pass, confront them! If they do not line up with scripture, confront them. Speak to your leaders about this. We only do a disservice to God and the body of Christ if we do not do so! Discernment is a gift of the Spirit; and we are encouraged to seek greater gifts. If you only speak in tongues, seek interpretation that all may benefit, if you have interpretation, seek discernment, if you have discernment, use that gift; if you have discernment, continue to desire the greater gifts.

Posted in Church in Crisis, False Prophets, Prophetic Mixture | Tagged , , | 1 Comment »

Modern Day Money Changers by David Ravenhill

September 21, 2011 by Niels Prip

Modern Day Money Changers

I’m convinced that the carnal, cunning, conniving, crooked crooks that Jesus drove out of the Temple are still among us today. These modern day moneychangers are forever devising new and deceptive doctrines to defraud God’s people out of His/their money. These masters of deceit have now set up their changing tables throughout the Christian television industry.

I’m absolutely certain that if Jesus returned today He would walk into the vast majority of these television studios and overthrow the cameras, lights, monitors, and soundboards. He would unplug the microphones and scatter the makeup colors around as He went about destroying the stages and backdrops.

Several years ago now, a nationally know prophetic voice was told by the Lord, “I’m sick and tired of the prosperity message”. If that was true then, how much more today. As far back as 1986, the top seven media evangelists took in over 750 million dollars. Now with the increased manipulation of ‘seed faith teaching’ that amount has no doubt been dwarfed by comparison.

Only a few days ago I was appalled as I watched and listened as Pastor Steve__________ zealously twisted and distorted the Scriptures to his own advantage. This ‘brother’ dared to distort the most sacred truth of all Scripture. He used The Day Of Atonement, that day when Jesus Christ the Lamb of God shed His blood for the sins of the world, to teach that how we give financially determines how God will respond to us throughout the coming year. My blood boiled as I listened. This ‘brother’ had finally crossed the line and was now on the verge of blaspheming the atoning work of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, not to mention lining his own pockets with the proceeds. He might as well have been selling indulgences by inferring that God’s favor toward us was based on our giving rather than God’s unmerited grace and forgiveness through the gift of His Son. What made matters worse was that this same ‘charlatan’ was the guest of one of the nation’s best known charismatic personalities. Within a day or so he was teaching the same message on a local Christian telethon. Neither the evangelist nor the network sought to correct his aberrant teaching – after all, the show must go on and that takes money, so how you raise it doesn’t seem to matter anymore.

Why does almost every single Christian program have to end with some type of ‘seed faith teaching’? If these men and women of faith really believed what they taught, they would practice what they preach and teach; after all what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Imagine how shocked you would be if your favorite televangelist and covenant partner were to send you a check in their next mailing for the amount of $1,000.00 with a personal note telling you he/she just wanted to sow into your life. Perhaps then I could believe that these men/women really believe and practice what they teach. Not only that, but they would never have to appeal for money again as God’s return to them would result in a hundredfold increase. At least that’s what they would have us to believe.

On a recent ministry trip to the Northwest, I was told by a pastor friend that his church had received a call from a well known and anointed teacher in the Body of Christ. The caller was asking them for a contribution towards the purchase of a jet for their ministry. What a far cry from what the Apostle Paul taught when he prefaced his teaching on ‘sowing and reaping’ with these words; “For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality.” (II Cor. 8:13-14) Many pastors measure their success in terms of numbers –the larger the church the more successful their ministry. Itinerant ministries, not being able to brag about size, seem to fall for the notion that having one’s own jet is how success is determined. (Once it was the Rolex watch) By the way, if you love and appreciate this fine teacher, pray that he won’t get the desires of his heart – it will only lead to the leanness of his soul.

This is one man’s attempt to appeal to the Body of Christ. Stop pandering to these moneychangers. These men and women live like kings while spending your money to buy mansions and jets for themselves. They dine in the finest restaurants, wear the latest designer fashions and then have the audacity to tell you that you can live the same way as long as you give to their ministry.

I opened my Bible the other day to Zechariah’s wonderful prophecy concerning the first coming of Jesus, our great and glorious King. Listen to his words; ‘Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt the foal of a donkey.’( Zechariah 9:9 ) What a far cry from the televangelist who comes high and mighty and traveling on his own jet!

If you are as sick and tired as I am about this waste of God’s money, then for heaven’s sake STOP SUPPORTING THESE PEOPLE. Give your money to your local church. There are tens of thousands of needy missionaries who barely have enough support to keep themselves alive. They are laboring long and hard under some of the most difficult and trying conditions. They would rejoice at the thought of an extra $10-30 dollars a month support. These are the real heroes of whom the world is not worthy. Help put these MONEY LOVING TELEVANGELISTS OUT OF BUSINESS and SAVE ANOTHER MISSIONARY FROM EXTINCTION.

Together we can make it happen. Please forward this to as many people as you know.
Thanks.

David Ravenhill

Posted in Church in Crisis | Tagged , , | 1 Comment »

The Peril of Prophetic Mixture

March 19, 2011 by Niels Prip

A look at 1 Kings 13 gives us very disturbing look at the way prophetic mixture can function. It is interesting to note, that it is those who listen to and take heed to prophetic people who function this way, are the ones who will suffer the most harm. The young prophet certainly erred in listening to the old prophet and sinned by not obeying what God had told him to do, it cost him his life. But what was it about the old prophet that convinced the younger to err?

 

Well, it says that the old prophet lied to the young prophet. He was also empathetic to the younger because he recognized the prophetic calling, since he too was a prophet. Not only that, but we see from the story that the old prophet did hear from God as well, pronouncing God’s judgment on the younger for his disobedience. This is a classic example of “mixture”. Mixture is functioning by your own spirit, soul or desires, and being able at times to also function by the Holy Spirit. Prophets who function this way have a divided heart towards the Lord. There is usually a mixture of motives as well, a pure motive toward God and His word would not allow for this “mixture”.

We now live in a day where prophetic mixture is heartily embraced, where the making of money is now the central part of most prophetic ministries. We see men forsaking their wives and children for other women, and then with their new wives, continuing on in the ministry like nothing happened. Some of these ministers have even been caught in sexual and  even in homosexual sin. Most of these men are still in the ministry, and are widely accepted.

The most disturbing thing of all is that many people still heartily continue to embrace them. Why? Well there are many reasons, to name a few; there is a lack of discernment and a lack of common sense. In many circles there is a lack of leadership, a lack of Biblical instruction. There is new emphasis being put on the prophetic, and on signs and wonders. There is a new emphasis on having a “desperation” for God; and a “desperation” for God is a good thing, as long as we are also “desperate” for truth, purity, virtue and holiness. Unfortunately, “desperation” can cause us to give up on discernment and common sense, and lead us to error.

There are many today, who would gladly follow the old prophet from our story, claiming all the way that “He heard from God”, not caring that he was a liar.  We can be so “desperate” for God that we don’t care about a person’s character or personal life, as long as he gives us a word. A recent case is the minister who had an affair with a staff member. He divorced his wife and abandoned his responsibility to his children. He has supposedly repented, and been restored to the ministry, with his new wife at his side, all because everyone thinks that he has some special anointing from God. If you choose to follow such a man, you will open yourself up to the same lack of character. One day, when life is hard, as you try to be a good husband and father, some pretty little girl will come along and temp you, and you also will be able to justify leaving your wife and family too. Because you will have learned that from someone operating in prophetic mixture.

Maybe God’s slaying of the young prophet was a mercy. If God did nothing, the younger prophet would have learned that character didn’t really matter, that obedience didn’t matter. That is was OK to lie occasionally like the old prophet. That it was OK to function apart from the Spirit, to function out of one’s soul or desire.

There has been much grace given to the prophetic movement over the years, all in the name of allowing men and women to learn to function in the gift. But because of the lack of discernment, we have embraced mediocrity. We have embraced prophetic mixture!

to be continued…

Posted in Church in Crisis, False Prophets, Prophetic Mixture | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »