I believe that this dream, and a number of others that I have experienced, were messages from God, to me, personally, revealing certain things that were about to take place in the professing church, or in other words, in Christendom.

It is very easy for people reading the details of these dreams to form the opinion that I base my theology and my stand against error and apostasy upon "mystical experiences of the night." However, this is not so.

My stand against the so called 'new moves of god' and the false teachings that are now firmly entrenched into the life and ministry of the churches worldwide, is based upon the Word of God. The Word of God is our yardstick, not some dream or vision that may, or may not, have come from the Lord. It is by their fruit that we shall know false teachers, that is, by their teachings that disagree with, and contradict the eternal, never changing, infallible Word of God. (See my article, "By Their Fruit You Shall Know Them" and it will become obvious to the reader as to what I base my belief's upon.)

Yours for serving the Body of Christ in Truth.

Hughie Seaborn
1st August, 1999

Dear Hughie and Colleen,

Greetings for 1997! 2,000 years since Jesus Birth! We are getting so close to His Second Coming. Praise His Name!

I am hurriedly writing down things in my mind as I will be unable to talk face to face with you. I love you immensely and I know you feel safe in that, so I can just tell it like I feel. I have bypassed your prophecy in many ways to get to what I feel are the most important issues. Criticism of leaders always worried me so I’ll begin with that.

James 3:2 "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man…." If all our spoken words were recorded for all to observe we would be in big trouble.

Your own experience of conversion and Holy Spirit Baptism - if recorded and heard by some - may cause questions to arise as to scriptural accuracy. Where are the backing scriptures for the experiences you had? The wrapping of a silk scarf? The hands on your shoulders? And others could question the validity of your ‘experiences’ after days and nights without sleep or even after consumption of alcohol.

I bring this up not because I doubt you Hughie - but when we judge others’ experiences (ie Toronto Blessing) we must put the same spotlight on our own experiences. Matthew 7:1.

One wonders if your outlook would be the same on the ‘new move’ of God if you had let the Holy spirit continue to bless you at 4.30 am on that Friday morning.

"Do not put out the Spirit’s Fire" 1 Thess. 5:19. This is a warning and command in our own lives and also in a move of God’s Holy Spirit. We have to remain open to God, allowing the Holy Spirit to change us. We must refuse our flesh the right to dictate how and when He is allowed to move. We must realise that even after a life time of serving God and obeying what He has instructed us to do - we are still "unworthy servants". Luke 17:9 & 10.

God is not our "pet" we can cage up and let out when we think it’s right. He is God and He will do what He knows is right for mankind. His ways are so different to our ways and thinking - there is unmeasurable distance between our ways and thoughts and reasoning and His. Isaiah 55 verses 8 and 9. We have to trust Him - know Him enough to trust His control over this world and His Church and then let Him be God!

Throughout my own Christian life I have had to bow the knee to His Ways even when there has not been a lot of scripture to back them (shock! Horror!).

In the 1940’s God moved in an apostolic church in WA in a ‘new’ move. The people began to sing together in tongues by the Holy Spirit. It was unknown to this congregation and very unusual. As far as they knew they were the only ones doing this unusual worship. There was only 1 vague scripture for it, 1 Cor. 14:15. This ‘manifestation’ was unusual to say the least. They could have said "We have never done it this way before" but they did not put out the Spirit’s Fire and let the Spirit have His Way. Neighbours and passing by people came and stood to listen to this "music from heaven" it was so unusual. Today we are used to this happening in most worship times.

In 1950’s a new manifestation took us by surprise - ‘slaying in the Spirit’/’prostrations’/’carpet time’ or whatever people called it. What a rude, unsanctified spectacle it was! I was one of the biggest critics. Along with other Christians we labelled it as "pushing over", "the flesh", and "falling yourself". Then I myself had a need of healing and the Holy spirit touched me - without being touched by man - I fell to the floor and rose up healed!

This once bizarre manifestation now happens regularly in our church services - it is no longer strange and God uses it to bless.

In the 1970’s the Holy Spirit brought joy back into the church. People began to ‘dance’ (jump) before the Lord in praise. To someone with my correct temperament - it was sacrilegious! I overreacted - but thankfully had enough wisdom through the past experiences to realise that if the health of the body of Christ was left to me and those like me - there would be little joy or life, certainly no enthusiasm - just spiritual indigestion caused by too much teaching.

I also realised I could be part of this move of His Spirit - not so much by displaying manifestations so contrary to my motivations but simply by not "putting out the Spirit’s Fire". When the congregation was jumping up and down it looked like a harvest of wheat ready to be harvested moving in the wind. David DuPlessis pointed out to me that on the same fields where the wind was blowing the sheaves of wheat, were other sheaves - already harvested and tied in bundles - part of the harvest and enjoying the breeze but not swaying. That released me to realise I was part of that move by not condemning it and allowing those who received great release in their lives to be free to be moved in this way.

I must add that the results and fruit of these moves of His Spirit throughout these years served to increase the body of Christ in spirituality - devotion and enthusiasm to reach the lost and see many more churches open to His Glory.

This latest move of His Spirit is HIS doing - not man’s. No matter how much we try to contain it - derail it - criticize it or condemn it - if it is of God - no man can stop it. Acts 5:37, 38. If we consistently determine to - we will spoil our own spirit. We, Hughie (people with our giftings) do not hold all the answers or the right to judge whether by our prophesies, dreams, interpretation of scripture or experience that this ‘move’ is not of God. Our God is big enough to keep His church by His power. His ministers certainly have imperfections and ‘feet of clay’ but each you mentioned have spent more time in His presence and in prayer than you and I put together for God to use them. Christ loves the church and will present her to the Father as a spotless bride. This current move has not happened in a corner but has evidenced itself in most parts of the world. Remember the Holy Spirit, although likened to a dove, is also likened to a fire, rushing wind and running water etc. John 3:8, likening Him to the wind says He blows where He wills.

At the early part of this century when the phenomenon of the Holy Spirit’s power fell on holiness groups around the world and Christians "spoke in tongues" - people travelled to other places relating what had happened and it spread like a fire. There were many questionable practices manifested at that time. Church leaders and Christians were aghast and labelled it "of the devil". People shook, rolled, jumped, laughed, cried loudly, staggered etc., and most dear folk who spoke in tongues were banished from churches by Bible quoting Christians. When I received the Baptism of H.S. in late 1949 - I was labelled as a tongue talker - full of demons.

How difficult it must be for God to restore all things to the church - Mark 9:12. Many Christians have resisted every move the Holy Spirit has made - but I believe all God wants to do is to give back to His Body what legalistic man has deleted over the ages. This current restoration is His power. The biggest objectors to a move of God are us cold hearted Caucasians. Our world view is so organised, carnal and legalistic. God forgive us for our antiseptic Christianity that annihilates every outbreak ‘in case’ its wrong!

As Bible teachers, we get puffed up believing we know it all - but we are in fact, stupid, if we believe God can be contained only in the Biblical records we have. He has not told us everything about Himself or what He will do. Just as we do not know everything Jesus did while on earth - see John 21:25. Sometimes we must be careful not to make an idol of the book - but worship the author - God. The Bible we have was written (1) that we may believe (2) in believing we may have ‘life’. John 20:30 & 31.

There are scriptures that I treat with real respect. I do not fully understand them completely, eg what is blasphemy of (against) the Holy Spirit? - but to attribute His work to the devil comes pretty close in my estimation. With that in mind and also that in the mouth of 3 witnesses every word is established - please look up these scriptures - Matthew 12:32, Mark 3:29 and Luke 12:10 and note the word NEVER. Do not put out the Spirit’s Fire! From past observations I have seen that the excesses that seem to accompany all moves of the Holy Spirit (because we have so much flesh) God sees to it that those are soon ironed out and what is pure and useful remains to help the church get on with the real commission of winning souls.

On the other hand I have sadly seen criticism destroy a Christian’s ability to love and accept others. Don’t let it creep in - you are too valuable for that! Keep an open mind and spirit to God. I observe those touched in the recent move love God more deeply than many.

The last thing I want to say (for now) was brought home to me by a YWAM girl just back from world evangelism. She said someone in the German YWAM has done extensive research into church history in Germany just prior to World War II (in 1930) a move of God began in Germany but the church leaders would not have it and stamped it out. One wonders what would have happened if they had not put out the Spirit’s Fire!

Forgive me for not answering your book but I know how much you love God and I know God loves you immensely and He has promised to lead us into all truth. Time proves things.

I felt these issues I have covered were important.

Our many prayers and blessings go with this note for a wonderful 1997 of spiritual growth and awareness.

God bless you two - you are my favourite people.

Love X X

(The letter was signed by the pastor's wife.)

"Criticism of leaders always worried me so I’ll begin with that."

Where in all of Scripture do we arrive at the belief that leaders are above "criticism"? Reference please! This idea that we are to be unconditionally submitted to the leadership of the church is not Scriptural. In Protestantism it is part of the Latter Rain, Kingdom Now and Heavy Shepherding (all related) theology. It has always been a part of the Roman Catholic church. It is also one of the chief reasons that church members are afraid to examine their position before God and are fearful of checking what their leaders say against Scripture. They have been conditioned never to question their pastor or other leaders in the church.

But, you might ask, how do you answer Hebrews 13:17, which tells us:

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."

Yes! Hebrews 13:17 does say that. But, as usual, the command has been taken out of context. It is always wise to read a verse in context with the surrounding verses to arrive at its full meaning. Also, the verse must agree with the rest of Scripture. The verse can not contradict other verses. For instance 1 Timothy 5:19 informs us:

"Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear."

Rebuke an elder??? Criticise your leaders??? Try it, my friend. I got disfellowshipped from the AOG simply for asking the pastor, in a friendly and brotherly manner, to check out some theology that was being introduced into our congregation. I did not present myself before him with a couple of witnesses and rebuke him even. Church leaders have convinced themselves and their congregations that they are beyond reproach and that no one should dare to even think about suggesting that they might be wrong in any way.

When reading Hebrews 13:17 in context, however, you will discover that there is harmony between it and 1 Timothy 5 verse 19 that we have just read. The two Scripture references support, rather than contradict, each other. We find that we should only obey and submit ourselves to leaders who themselves are in submission to the TRUTH of the Scriptures, walking according to the FAITH which was once delivered unto the saints and who are not carried away by strange doctrines. Submission to leadership is conditional, as are a great many other things found in Scripture.

These 'leaders' that I am accused of criticising, have clearly demonstrated in their teachings that they have grossly departed from the TRUTH of the Scriptures and are carried away by strange doctrines!

Jeremiah 23:32 tells us not to follow those who promote themselves as leaders and yet come with a word contrary to the Scriptures.

"Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them."

They cause the people to err, according to God, by their 'lies' and their 'lightness', their frivolity and familiarity with God. I will not willingly be a person before my God who will blindly submit to anyone who will cause me to walk away from the path that He has set before me. Nor will I be involved in the frivolities, the frothy and bubbly type of religion that these 'leaders' are promoting, being in subjection to a doctrine that tells me that I must submit to leaders, despite whether they promote sound doctrine or not. In Matthew 15:14, Jesus speaking about false teachers said:

"They be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

Blind leaders leading blind people both fall into the ditch. Can you tell me please, "Where is the ditch?" Let me answer my own question for you. This is not just any old ditch, my friends. This is speaking very emphatically about a particular ditch. The one and only ditch reserved for those who might think it right and honourable to obey their 'leaders' but who obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. See 2 Thessalonians 1, verse 8.

"For it is indeed just of God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to the afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus."

Does this frightful Scripture suggest in any way that we should not, ever, criticise leadership? This is God's warning to people who will blindly submit themselves to everything their leaders say, without being Bereans and checking that what they are being taught agrees with the Bible. Does it in any way suggest that we are to obey our leaders above what is written in the Scriptures? Whatever happened to 1 Thessalonians 5:21 which commands us to prove, or test, or examine all things? Does all things include the teachings of the leaders?

Touch Not Mine Anointed

Of course, the congregations have also been conditioned by other Scriptures that have been twisted out of context and used to bring people into bondage instead of the liberty that is found in Christ Jesus. One such being "Touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm" as found in Psalm 105:15 and 1 Chronicles 16:22.

The word 'touch' in these two verses means to violently strike, or it can mean to destroy, or kill someone. Does pointing out error in the teachings of false teachers in any way remotely suggest that we are violently striking them with our fists or perhaps even killing them? The Scripture has been grossly twisted out of context and has been used by the enemy to bring the people of God into submission and bondage.

In 1st. Samuel, Chapter 24, we read the record of David resisting the opportunity to kill King Saul while hiding in the cave of En Gedi. Saul came into the darkness of the cave not realising that David and his band of men were also in there. Instead of killing him, David cut a piece of Saul's garment and when Saul had departed away from him, he called out to him. David pointed out that he could have killed the King, displaying the piece of his garment as proof, but he didn't because he accepted that Saul was the Lord's anointed. However, that did not prohibit David from publicly rebuking the King. Consequently, Saul was convicted by the stinging rebuke and repented of his evil behaviour.

To use this Scripture the way that church leaders have in their efforts to escape accountability is grossly missleading and evil. People who have discerned error and sin in their leadership are actually in fear of retribution from God if they dare mention anything negative or attempt to bring the wrong doing to light. This is not of God, my brothers and sisters. This kind of behaviour is common to the cults and originates directly from the evil one!

Perhaps, at this point, it would be appropriate to ask the question, "Just who are the Lord's anointed, anyway?" Reading 1 John 2:20 & 27 we find something worth studying that brings a little insecurity into the lives of many Charismatic and Pentecostal leaders.

"But ye have an unction (anointing) from the Holy One, and ye know all things." "...the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."

...and again in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

"Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."

...and some more in Revelation 1:5(b)-6; 5:9(b)-10(a)

"Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

"...for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests."

The Old Testament priestly cast was abolished on Calvary and now all believers are anointed by God Who has made us to be kings and priests to Him in these last days. That includes pastors and pew warmers.

2. Extra Biblical Manifestations and Experiences

The pastor's wife challenged me in the fourth paragraph of her letter,

"Where are the backing scriptures for the experiences you had? The wrapping of a silk scarf? The hands on your shoulders?"

That's the whole point of the exercise. There are none! Due to the teaching that I received in my early Christian life, from books and tapes that I was exposed to, I readily accepted the mystical Charismatic and Pentecostal experiences as coming from God. As part of the act of submitting myself, in my ignorance and immaturity, to the recommended 'baptism in the Holy Spirit' I indeed experienced some manifestations that I now seriously question and even refute. See my article entitled "Original Letter Of Concern to Chris Brock" for some details of my experience and the "Important Note" at the bottom of the article explaining my present position.

3. God's Ways and Thoughts

Quoting from the letter we read:

"God is not our "pet" we can cage up and let out when we think it’s right. He is God and He will do what He knows is right for mankind. His ways are so different to our ways and thinking - there is unmeasurable distance between our ways and thoughts and reasoning and His. Isaiah 55 verses 8 and 9. We have to trust Him - know Him enough to trust His control over this world and His Church and then let Him be God!"

What my friend has actually implied here, despite her urging me to "know Him enough to trust His control over this world and His Church", is that we can not know God's thoughts and ways, nor can we ever know them! This is a subtle attempt at convincing us that God and His ways are unknowable to us mere humans and therefore, we should just accept what is going on in the Word of Faith, Toronto and Pensacola camps, without question, trusting His control over the world and His church. If someone declares some un-Scriptural manifestation to be revival, then we should just sit down, be quiet and let it happen, according to this understanding.

Now, I do believe very strongly that God is in control. So much so, that is, that I believe His Word is absolute Truth. I see something written in the Word of God and I know that thing is bound to happen in His appointed time. God is in control! God is certainly in control over the events of the world, but that does not mean that everyone is going to be safe and sound, walking on streets of gold in Heaven. My Bible informs me that, in the closing of the church age, there will be a great falling away by God's confessed people, into an apostasy. Many will come and present themselves before the Lord saying "Lord, Lord, look what I did in your name, just for you." But He will tell them to depart from His presence because He did not know them. And these are Pentecostal and Charismatic church goers. Look at their claimed achievements - prophesying, casting out demons, performing miracles. This is not the dry, spiritless Evangelicals. This is the 'baptized in the spirit' mob.

However, our ways and thoughts, if we are reading the Scriptures, should be in line with God's ways and thoughts. The Scripture that she has quoted from the Book of Isaiah is speaking to unregenerate people who truly were ignorant of the ways and thoughts of God. But we, the redeemed, are not unregenerate or ignorant.. Romans 12:1-2 informs us:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

The renewing of our mind comes about by studying the Scriptures and spending time with the Lord in prayer. In 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 we further read;

"The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."

Let us read the quoted Scripture verse in context. Isaiah 55:7-9 reads

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We are to forsake our ways and thoughts which are contrary to God's ways and thoughts and return to Him and have our ways and thoughts replaced with His ways and thoughts. Then we will have our minds renewed to understand and know the mind of God. (My paraphrase).

4. Too Much Teaching???

My former pastor's wife wrote in her letter to me,

"If the health of the body of Christ was left to me and those like me - there would be little joy or life, certainly no enthusiasm - just spiritual indigestion caused by too much teaching."

The catch cry of the Charismatic Movement and the so called 'new moves of God' sweeping through Christendom in these last days is that, somehow, we are able to get too much teaching. We have been encouraged by leaders to slacken off on the Word a bit and focus more on the Spirit. "For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life", we are repeatedly told.

Scripture twisting! That's the kind of teaching we certainly have had too much of. But does God say anything about being able to over indulge on His Word? Do we find any Scriptures to substantiate that too much of the Word of God will have some detrimental affect upon our spiritual well-being and our walk with the Lord. My Bible seems to suggest otherwise. It is those who are reluctant to take up the Word of God in study that are in a precarious position. What does Hosea 4:6 tell us when we study it?

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."

The only ones that I know of who have forgotten the "law of thy God" are the ones who have failed to diligently study the Book that contains it. A great multitude of professing Christians find nothing wrong with the teachings of a group of people who proclaim that Christ did not redeem us upon the Cross. That's because they simply don't know otherwise. This same group of professing Christians have no problem with Benny Hinn proudly telling how he got a special anointing and an incredible boost to his ministry from the bones of a woman who has been dead in her grave for years and that she, and another dead woman, came to him in an apparition and encouraged him in his ministry. That's because they have not been diligently studying what God has to say on the matter. And yet, most of these people will readily agree with you that the Catholics have a problem in their apparitions of Mary. We have returned to the days of Amos where we read:

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord."

We are clearly told in 2 Timothy 2:15,

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Similarly, in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we find that the Word is profitable for doctrine.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

People are being encouraged to de-emphasize doctrine so they can come together in unity, as though doctrine is a meaningless detail. What is doctrine, but the body of the truth entrusted to the saints once and for all? Doctrine divides because truth divides. The divisions created by doctrinal differences erect walls to protect God's people from error. See Romans 16:17-18.

In Jeremiah 15:16 we also read,

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation."

Jeremiah may have been filled with indignation at the mockers and the sin and corruption that prevailed around him, but he certainly was not complaining that the Word of God gave him Spiritual indigestion.

Perhaps Psalm 119:9-16 will indicate whether we can get too much teaching.

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word."

Psalm 138:2 must surely convince anyone that God's Word will not give any unhealthy side effects. For, you see, God has actually magnified His Word above His Name.

"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."

5. "David DuPlessis Pointed Out....."

David DuPlessis??? Hold the bus while I get off please!

David DuPlessis is perhaps the greatest ecumenical mover and shaker in the Pentecostal scene.

If you have no problem with ecumenism, that is, joining together in love and unity with religions that come with another gospel, for whatever seemingly noble reason (and that includes evangelizing the world for the Lord), then you might as well stop reading right now and change to another channel. We're marching to the beat of different drummers.

On a number of occasions over the years, I have heard the pastor's wife speak glowingly of Mr. DuPlessis and his achievements at bringing reconciliation, in particular, between Protestants and Roman Catholics. Ecumenism didn't seem to be too much of a problem to her. We even had Dean Braun preach from our pulpit one time, which proves my point.

As a result of his involvement with the World Council of Churches and other ecumenical programs, David DuPlessis was denounced by many of his Pentecostal contemporaries and lost his ministerial credentials with the Assemblies of God in 1962. However, he was able to retain official church membership at his home church, the First Assembly of God in Oakland, California.

As well as his involvement with the WCC, DuPlessis also became increasingly involved in establishing and maintaining a Pentecostal/Roman Catholic dialogue; working alongside Benedictine monk, Fr Kilian McDonnell. These two men served as co-chairs of the first ten sessions of the dialogue, from 1972 through to 1982.

In 1980, DuPlessis had his credentials reinstated under the direction of General Superintendent Thomas Zimmerman, who was also enthusiastically active in ecumenism and leading the AOG into unity with the Roman Catholic church.

The work and commitment of DuPlessis laid a basic framework for parallel and growing ecumenism within the Assemblies of God. Haven't people been reading their Bibles? Do they just skip over the parts that warn us of ecumenism overtaking the church in the last days? God's Word does not speak glowingly of people who lead His sheep into apostasy and a one world religion. He condemns the movement and anyone silly enough to be involved in it.

"Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." says the Lord.

For a more detailed study regarding the AOG's progression into and endorsement of the Ecumenical Movement and the World Council of Churches, read the article "The Tie that Binds: Cautionary Remarks on the Ecumenical Tendencies of the Assemblies of God" written by Matthew Shaw.

6. Conforming To Man's Opinions

Quoting from the letter, we read,

"This latest move of His Spirit is HIS doing - not man’s."

This 'latest move' was thoroughly condemned from the pulpit of our church by the pastor, who is this lady's husband. It was also condemned by their pastor son who preached one Sunday morning while he was here in Cairns visiting his parents.

The outbreak of uncontrolled laughter and other un-holy manifestations, in Cairns, first took place in a Christian Outreach Centre church across the other side of town after the visit of men who had been to Toronto. When it was learned by our leaders that some of our congregation had been over there to investigate, they came out very strongly against it and warned the congregation not to be enticed by the foolishness. They clearly denounced it, on a number of occasions, saying that it was definitely not God!

After about six months of opposing the so called 'new move', our leaders, almost suddenly, changed their position and subtle messages began to come from the pulpit that the Toronto Blessing was of God and Rodney Howard-Browne was definitely moving in God's Spirit bringing the long awaited revival that we had been conditioned to believe would sweep the world just prior to the return of Christ.

This drastic change of opinion came soon after the release of a letter written by Andrew Evans, the General Superintendent of the AOG in Australia and published under the title, Handling The New Wave, in the AOG Minister's Bulletin of April 1995. About the same time, a video entitled (as I recall) Page Two was released that showed some clips from a Rodney Howard-Browne meeting and an endorsement of his ministry by Andrew Evans. The Pastor's wife personally gave me a copy of this tape to view in the hope that I would also change my position on the Toronto Blessing. At around the same time I became aware that more and more other big names in the AOG were changing to sing the same tune as brother Andrew.

It was obvious to me, and to others, that a great deal of intimidation was taking place, aimed not just at the members sitting in the congregations, but also at leadership. Either come under the new move or be accused of resisting God Himself and fall out with the crowd.

7. The Gospel Of Gamaliel

Again, quoting from the letter, we read,

"No matter how much we try to contain it - derail it - criticize it or condemn it - if it is of God - no man can stop it. Acts 5:37-38 (38-89?). If we consistently determine to - we will spoil our own spirit."

Acts 5:38-39 reads,

"And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."

These words were spoken by Gamaliel, a Pharisee and Doctor of the Law, when the apostles were being judged by the Jewish council. The words of this portion of Scripture have been worked to the bone by promoters of the Toronto Blessing who, by their shallow understanding of them, promote that if this 'new move' is not of God it will simply fade away into oblivion. Conversely, if the 'new move' is of God it will last. Therefore, if the 'new move' lasts, then we can safely assume that it must be God who instituted it. We don't have to stand against the evil works of men because they will eventually just die a natural death anyway.

However, Gamaliel the Pharisee was an unconverted, religious sinner whom God sovereignly used to deliver the apostles from certain death when he (Gamaliel) made a foolish statement. A great many Christians quote the words of Gamaliel as though they are quoting the very words of God. They fail to realize that when they quote Gamaliel they are quoting what an unsaved man said, not what God Himself says. The Bible quotes Gamaliel but it does not approve of what he quoted. I know of a verse in Scripture that quotes a woman as saying to her husband, "Curse God, and die." Job 2:9. Do we understand these words to be inspired by the Holy Spirit as the very words of God because they are recorded in Scripture? Or do we understand them to be the words of a confused human being?

Surely any thinking person must realize that it is not reasonable to believe that if a work is not of God, "it will come to nought." Must we assume that the Jehovah’s Witnesses movement is a work of God because it is more than one hundred years old and has not yet come to nought? What about Roman Catholicism and Mormonism? Are we to assume God's divine hand upon them also for their success? Should we mention the drug trade, the pubs and clubs and the very successful pornography industry? Are we to believe that their prosperity and survival is a sign to us that they are a work of God? What foolishness! And what foolishness to believe in the unscriptural idea that we are to ignore things if there is anything wrong with them and they will come to nought of themselves.

Some will follow the words of Gamaliel, but as for me and my house, we will follow the Word of God.

8. Trying The Spirits

Again, quoting from the letter, we read,

"We, Hughie (people with our giftings) do not hold all the answers or the right to judge whether by our prophesies, dreams, interpretation of scripture or experience that this ‘move’ is not of God."

While I certainly agree that I, as an individual, do not hold all the answers, I will not subscribe to the un-Biblical belief that we are not to judge by interpretation of Scripture whether something be of God or not. God may have shown me something in a dream or a vision that warned me of some event that would transpire, but that is not what I base my stand upon. My determination to resist being coerced into joining the Toronto Blessing crowd, and my burden to sound an alarm to my brothers and sisters to do likewise, is based upon the written Word of God. "You shall know them by their fruit...." is what God has told us! Their fruit being their teaching and whether it lines up with the Scriptures.

It is sad and alarming to see a person who has sought to serve and please God, who has been in leadership and in a position to influence the lives of a multitude of people over many years, make such an erroneous statement. It just serves to show how deep the delusion prophesied for these last days has progressed. Why do I believe this lady to be deluded and espousing error? Let us 'judge' what she has said in the light of God's Word.

In 1 John 4:1, we read the following command,

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

The word translated as 'try' in the KJV comes from the Greek word dokimazo, which means to test, either literally or figuratively. Dokimazo can also be rendered as discern, examine, or prove.

So, we are to judge, or examine, the spirits behind any move to see whether they be of God or not. This is in clear contradiction of my friend's advice to me that I do not have the right to do so. Why are we admonished by God that we should thoroughly examine these moves? "Because many false prophets are gone out into the world." It is for our Spiritual safety, and the Spiritual safety of those sheep that God has entrusted into our care. False teachers have gone out into the whole world and are spreading their erroneous doctrines from nation to nation enticing the undiscerning and gullible into shipwrecking their faith.

Has God left us to flounder about in our own wisdom and opinions by which to judge these things? Has He left us without the tools by which to carry out and obey His clear command that we should test the false teachers? No, He has not! He has given us His written Word by which we may differentiate between the holy and the profane, the good and the bad, the right and the wrong. Every born-again, Blood redeemed Christian, including me, has the right to judge these moves in the light of Scripture. To refuse to do so is nothing less than disobedience to God's clear command.

How do we recognize the spirits behind these false teachers? Matthew 7:15-16 informs us and warns us,

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits."

Their fruits is not, as we have been consistently taught, their number of converts or other seemingly good achievements, but it is their teachings. Read all of Matthew chapter 7 and find the context of Jesus' statement about fruit. (For further study on the topic of the fruit of false teachers, read my article, "By Their Fruit You Shall Know Them", also on this Web site.)

Jesus was saying that he who hears these words (the Logos) of Mine and does them will be like a man who built his house upon a Rock. When the rains and floods and cyclonic winds of false teaching come against the house, it will stand. Those who do not abide in the truth of God's Word (the Logos) are about to be steamrolled by the flood of false doctrine that is descending upon Christendom in these last days.

When some teacher like Kenneth Copeland comes along and says to me and my friends that we should follow him and then he preaches a message that says that he (Kenneth Copeland) could have redeemed mankind himself, if he had only just been as well versed in the Scriptures as Jesus was, then I know that it is time to depart from that man's presence. Because I have judged that man's statement with the Word of God, in obedience to 1 John 4:1, and found that he does not understand the perfection of Christ or the Atonement, despite how many hours he may, or may not, have spent in prayer, I am entitled, by God's Word, to call him a false teacher and warn my friends to separate themselves from him.

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (that is, by stealth) shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

"And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." 2 Peter 2:1-3.

Has Kenneth Copeland denied the Lord Who bought him with His precious Blood? Yes, he has! He has made of nought the redeeming power of Christ's sacrificial death upon the Cross of Calvary. He is an enemy of the Cross of Christ and if he does not publicly repent of his teachings and recall all of his books and tapes, he will be guilty of bringing upon himself, and his multitude of ardent followers, swift destruction. Because my friends and I have judged by the Word of the Living God, we will be found safe and secure in the Rock of all ages, which is where I would also like to find my friend who wrote me the letter and her husband, my former pastor.

9. Pentecostal Monks

My friend commented in her letter,

"His ministers certainly have imperfections and ‘feet of clay’ but each you mentioned have spent more time in His presence and in prayer than you and I put together for God to use them."

If each of these 'ministers' have spent so much time in His presence and in prayer, how be it that they preach so much contrary to His Word? Since when did the amount of time spent in prayer become the criteria by which to judge whether someone is speaking truth or error? A Buddhist monk spends the better part of his life praying in a secluded monastary. Does that give him some kind of privilege to Truth? Does spending a large amount of time in prayer somehow give you, or me, the right to preach any old kind of heretical doctrine?

How does this lady know how much time each of these (Word of Faith) 'ministers' spends in prayer anyway? Even if we must concede that they do spend enormous amounts of time in prayer, then just who are they praying to that gives them the un-Biblical kinds of doctrines that they end up with? God is the God of TRUTH, not of error. It is very easy to come before the people and report that "God said this!" or "God said that!" but would God give someone a message that is clearly contrary to His Word? Not according to my Bible, He wouldn't.

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20.

I did not accuse these people of being without light. THE WORD OF GOD DID! In many recorded and written instances these people do not speak according to the Word of God. In fact, they speak and write many things that clearly contradict the Word. Jesus said in John 14:48

"He that rejecteth me and receiveth not My Words hath one that judgeth him: the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

They will have to give account before the Lord one day as to just where they did get threir fancy ideas, but they certainly won't be able to show the Lord that they got them from within the pages of His Word to us.

10. A Spotless Bride

Once again, quoting from the letter, we read,

"Christ loves the Church and will present her to the Father as a spotless bride."

In Ephesians 5:25-27 we read the Scripture referred to,

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

You will notice that in the Scripture that has been referred to, the Church is the Bride of Christ and He (Christ) presents her to Himself (Christ), not to the Father. That aside, let us find who, or what, these spots, wrinkles and blemishes are referring to.

We have been taught that in some miraculous way, the Church must be cleansed of all sin before we can expect Christ to return for her. All spots and wrinkles and blemishes must be removed. However, try as we might, we just cannot conceive of how we are all going to be righteous and sinless enough to achieve this level of perfection. And we never will while ever we continue to wrongly interpret the meanings of spots, wrinkles and blemishes to be our shortcomings and our failings to come up to the standard of perfection that we imagine we must attain to please the Lord.

In the above Scripture we find that Jesus will sanctify and cleanse His Bride by washing her in the Water of His Word. His Word, the Holy Scriptures, is the cleansing agent to sanctify and make holy! The washing of the Word removes the spots, wrinkles and blemishes. Can I please suggest that these spots, wrinkles and blemishes are the teachings that we have been receiving from false teachers and that they are not our personal shortcomings?

I am suggesting, from my interpretation of the Word of God that Jesus is going to separate His Bride from the influence of heresy, and the multitude of false teachers, just before He returns to take her to the Heavenly banquet. "Come out of her, my people!" is the call being heard. If you are truly walking with the Lord and you won't come out when you are called, then He will probably have you kicked out. However, if you are a person who is more interested in your own agenda and refuse to recognize the truth of your situation, perhaps thinking that your position in the Church excludes you from ever receiving correction, then He will probably just leave you where you are, and you will progressively move further over into the apostasy that people have been trying to warn you about.

Under the heading "Trying The Spirits" in the previous topic we read 2 Peter 2:1-3. Verse 1 informed us that "...there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies..." In verses 13-15 of the same chapter of 2nd Peter we find these false prophets and false teachers described thus,

"...Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray..."

Furthermore, we read in the Book of Jude, verses 3 and 4,

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

Again, if we continue to read down to verses 12 and 13, we will find these people described thus,

"These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."

The blemishes that the Lord is going to rid His true Church of, my friends, are the multitude of false prophets and false teachers that are in evidence among us, even today. What we see currently taking place in Christendom is a sure sign of the soon return of Jesus Christ to present His Bride unto Himself.

Isn't it amazing how 'Latter Rain' and 'Kingdom Now' proponents have misused these Scriptures to suggest that it will be our own perfection that will cause the Lord God to see us as perfect and without blemish rather than the Blood of Christ through which God sees us as holy and righteous?

"Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthian 10:12.

11. The Loophole Of John 21:25

"As Bible teachers, we get puffed up believing we know it all - but we are in fact, stupid, if we believe God can be contained only in the Biblical records we have. He has not told us everything about Himself or what He will do. Just as we do not know everything Jesus did while on earth - see John 21:25."

Support for extra-biblical experiences is now being substantiated by John 21:25 where it states that:

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

If we want to believe that hidden in this verse is license to do as we please then we might just as well discard the Bible, in its entirety, as a valid authority on all things pertaining to life and godliness. It is folly, and dangerous, to even suggest that God would omit from the canon of Scripture something that is important to our walk with Him. God has not left us to grope around in the dark. The things that were not written about Jesus were the things that were not necessary to be written about Jesus. Promoters of this message - do not delude yourself! But if you must delude yourself, please do not delude others with your grossly mistaken exegesis of the Word of God and your unbalanced perception of the character of God.

2 Peter 1:2-3 tells us,

"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue."

God has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Our knowledge of God comes through His Word - despite the verse that tells us that Jesus did many other things, that some are now twisting to mean that we have not been told some important thing. Let us be firmly established in the truth (we) now have (2 Peter 1:12) and forget about trying to substantiate extra-biblical beliefs and behaviour by acting like some magician pulling a rabbit from his hat. The Roman Catholic Church has some extra books that you can read if you are not satisfied with the cannon of Scripture.

There is today in the Vineyard, and Faith Movements a group of people who believe themselves to be 'apostles and prophets', claiming there is a 'new move of God', a 'third wave' and 'fresh revelation' coming from the throne of God through dreams and visions. These are the people through whom the Toronto Blessing and Pensacola Outpouring have come. Are we to accept the teaching of these groups, some of whom have been rejected, in the not so distant past, by the leadership of nearly every mainstream denomination, including the AOG, because of false teaching? Have these groups repented and changed their teachings? No, they have not! Are we now obliged to accept these 'ministries' on the basis of this misguided interpretation of John 21:25?

It is our duty, our command from God through the apostles, to stand in the face of adversity and soundly denounce these teachers of false doctrine. We have a calling to contend earnestly for the faith, to be merciful to those who doubt, to snatch others from the fire and save them. Will we do this as God so clearly shows in Scripture that we should, or will we follow man’s way and simply allow things to continue as they have to the point that the Gospel message is no longer relevant? The Reformation was fought over the concepts of sola Scriptura, sola fide, sola gratia, and sola Christus. Now those of us who hold to these hard won truths are considered enemies of the church by those who have added to the Scriptures their own traditions of men, and in some cases, doctrines of demons.

12. Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit!

"There are scriptures that I treat with real respect. I do not fully understand them completely, eg what is blasphemy of/against the Holy Spirit? - but to attribute His work to the devil comes pretty close in my estimation."

This has been one of the trademarks of the 'new moves' of God - intimidation and inciting fear in those resisting the 'new moves' by accusing blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The other favourite is to quote the story of the death of Ananias and Sapphira when you dare to use the faculties of your mind to evaluate by Scripture if this be of God or not.

Perhaps we should put the ball back in their court by suggesting that they could be accused of attributing the devil's work to God! The Pharisees were guilty of being unable to discern the work of the Holy Spirit. After six years of watching the progression of the foolishness introduced into the church by the likes of Rodney Howard-Browne, I will stand up and emphatically declare that the people who are promoting these 'new moves', and the people who are being ensnared by them, are unable to discern the work of the devil, even when they have been given the tools by which to discern and also when they have been warned prophetically by the Scriptures that these events would take place prior to the return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

In their haste to orchestrate God into bringing upon the whole earth their imagined end time revival, the promoters of the 'new moves' have allowed all manner of ungodly behaviour to be tolerated. The following prophetic Scripture has never been more appropriate than when Isaiah pronounced it upon the backslidden and rebellious people of Judah nearly three thousand years ago. Listen to the words of Isaiah as they speak with accuracy into the conditions of our day and allow them to bring a sound of alarm and correction.

"Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with cart ropes, to those who say, 'Let God hurry, let him hasten his work so we may see it. Let it approach, let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come, so we may know it.' Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight." Isaiah 5:18-21.

How often do we hear it promoted by this new breed of church leaders that God is doing a new thing and He is in a hurry. Don't bother checking this 'new move' out, just jump into the river of revival and go with the flow. If you waste your time analysing and investigating it, it will pass you by, we are told. God is waiting for no-one - He's in a hurry they say.

God is never in a hurry, friends. He's got eternity. But there is a one who is in a desperate hurry. His name is Satan, and he is in an awful hurry to deceive and ensnare as many of God's people as he can before his time runs out. You see, Satan knows the Scriptures. He's read the end of the Book. He is also able to interpret the signs of the times, which is more than a great number of professing Christians seem able to do. He knows his final hour has approached and his judgement is at hand, but he is not going out without a fight and doing as much damage as he can.

The battle is raging, friends. Whom will you serve? "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" and "though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him."

CONCLUSION

There are further issues that I could address in this answer to my friend's letter such as her advice to me, "Do not put out the Spirit's fire!" She is quoting from 1 Thessalonians 5:19. However if we skip verse 20 and look at verses 21 and 22 we find that God warns us to "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." and "Abstain from all appearance of evil." Is testing, examining or analysing all things in the light of God's Word identical to putting out the Spirit's fire? Obviously not, according to the above Scripture. Is abstaining from joining in with the mob and resisting the manifestations that appear evil, such as epileptic fits, acting like various barn yard animals or drunken behaviour, carried out in the house of God, the same as putting out the Spirit's fire? Again, obviously not, according to the above Scripture. If my friend wants to substantiate her claim that I am "coming close" to blaspheming the Holy Spirit or putting out the Spirit's fire then she will have to find something better than taking a stand against wrong doctrine and evil behaviour being promoted in God's house.

I am also advised by my friend to "keep an open mind and Spirit to God." That's what I do when I pray and read the Word each day. What she really means is that I should be more open to extrabiblical manifestations. Instead of fleeing from evil I should open myself up and not be so rigid and judging. But, an open mind is like an open window. If it is not screened all kinds of creatures can fly in and out. I use the Word of God as my screen. It allows access for the cool, fresh breeze of the Holy Spirit but it filters out all the creepy crawlies.

And then finally we have the story of the YWAM girl. Apparently it was people just like me who were responsible for the deaths of six million Jews. People who resisted revival, and the 'new move' of the Holy Spirit, assisted Hitler to rise to power, and history tells us the rest.

Could I please suggest, in my defence, and in defence of my friends who have the conviction to stand against the reproach that is being perpetrated in the Lord's house that perhaps the boot should be on the other foot? Anyone who has done even the most cursory study on European history during the rise to power of Hitler would have found that it was because the church leaders refused to stand against evil and wrong doctrine that millions of people forfeited their lives. The Christians who did question what was going on and attempt to stand for truth were quickly forced into conformity. Those who did not conform were quickly dealt with.

Could I also suggest that what happened during the 1930's and '40's was simply a practise run for an event that is just around the corner? The event that I am speaking of is prophesied in the Bible and reveals that there will be a great falling away from the Truth of God's Word in preparation for the rise to power of a final world dictator who will unleash seven years of absolute horror upon the whole world. This dictator, Anti-christ, will be in company with a friend, the False Prophet, the leader of a worldwide religious system, who will assist him in deceiving the gullible 'professing' Christians by performing miracles to get them on side.

A multitude of 'professing' Christians have been conditioned to accept any old subjective experience and manifestation to be proof that God is at work, because they have been taught to "have an open mind" to these things, because they have been taught that we have had "too much teaching" and not enough emphasis on the Holy Spirit, because they are fearful to examine things in case they are accused of "blaspheming the Holy Spirit", because they blindly follow their leaders without question in case they be blamed for "touching the Lord's anointed" or "criticising leaders", because they have been taught that they are unable to "know the thoughts and ways of God" and therefore, are left without any objective tools by which to judge one way or another.

As to "putting God in a box." God has sovereignly chosen to reveal Himself to us in the Bible as contained in 66 books. The Bible is totally sufficient in all matters of faith and practice. He has given us the Bible as the means by which we are to judge all matters regarding our spiritual life and Godly living. Jesus and the apostles constantly appealed to the Bible as the final court of appeal. This they often did by the introductory phrase, "It is written," which is repeated some 90 times in the New Testament. Jesus used this phrase three times when appealing to Scripture as the final authority in His dispute with Satan. I would encourage you to heed the reformer’s call to Scripture as the final court of arbitration for Church doctrine and practice - Sola Scriptura

Thus, to take our stand on His Word is in no way putting God in a box. However, it does seem to me that these teachers of the 'new moves' are more concerned that God is putting them in a box, and they don't like it and are kicking against it. They want to be free to do their own thing and notto be constrained and restricted by the clear commandments of Scripture.

Every cult has added additional revelation and information that the Bible does not mention, and these people are in danger of slipping further into cultism. Practically every issue that I have raised in this answer to my friend's letter is a sign-post of a dangerous lack of fidelity to God’s Word.

My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful. They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness. And it will be: Like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. Hosea 4:6-9.

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "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. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 7:20-27

The doctrines of the movements that are behind every aspect of these 'new moves' as well as the doctrines of the promoters of a world wide end time revival are based upon the shifting sands of false teaching and heresy. The doctrine of the Bible is based upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ and when the howling storms of adversity arrive, as they surely must, the Words of Jesus will stand forever.

The warning of the Lord is clearly being heard in hese last and terrible days. A growing number of people who hold the love of Truth above their love of man or a denomination are coming out of the foolishness and being separate. They hear the call "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

In Zephaniah 3:18, we read,

"I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden."

God is calling out a band of people who see the reproach of the solemn assembly, a group of people who are sorrowful about the blasphemy and the obscenities that are being perpetrated in the name of our Holy God, a group of people who are outraged about the Holy Spirit being blamed for the foolish manifestations that are currently allowed in the assemblies, and about the Holy Spirit being portrayed as an object of mockery in the eyes of the world.

Nobody likes a watchdog barking in the darkness of the night, but he does anyway. That's his job. I know that the Lord has called me to that task and I intend to perform it to His glory. I sincerely pray that I will not have to stand before the Lord and give account for why I did not bark when I could clearly see wolves and beasts of the field and forests devouring His flock. I will not be accused by God of having slept while His sheep were under attack. Neither will I have to answer to the Lord as to why I staggered around in a drunken stupor with a bunch of mates at 'Joel's Bar' while the sheep of His pasture were being ripped to shreds by other shepherds whose only interest in being around the flock was for what they could get out of them or how much pay they would receive from the owner. I intend to please my Master and bark like He clearly said that I should.

Isaiah 56:9-12, "All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

Hughie Seaborn
Friday, 6th August, 1999

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