Deception has seeped into the church since its founding and it seems to be intensifying as we get closer to the Lord’s return.

For example, at the time that this review was being written a church that calls itself Pentecostal has added a psychic medium to their staff who claims to commune with the dead.

When the disciples asked Jesus what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age, he immediately replied to watch that no one deceives you. In three more verses in Matthew 24, Jesus mentions the word deceive.

Not only did the Lord give warnings about deception, but Paul, Peter, and Jude wrote much on this subject.

In this well-documented and well-researched book, Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt (D. Min. Regent University) writes a compelling treatise on deception, which the Bible says will be prevalent in the latter days.

Taking the scriptures to heart, Hyatt sounds an alarm. Believers need to be serious about not falling into deception.

When reading this small, but powerful work, one gets the feeling that the author is grieved at the deception, from the flesh and from the devil, that has infiltrated the church. He is greatly concerned that there is such a great fascination with miracles and a lack of discernment by many modern charismatics. He wonders if many will embrace the Antichrist who will come with his signs, wonders, and false miracles. Hyatt presents a number of ways that we can test the spirits to see if they are indeed of God.

In the third chapter, Hyatt provides five warning signs from a document entitled “Confessions” written around 1560 by Anabaptist leader, Obe Philips, to show how a prophetic movement can go astray. He believes that the material in this paper is very important as it contains information that will help us avoid tragic mistakes, which can be detrimental to the believer and a move of God.

All five are very important, but two stand out. Warning sign #1: “When Prophecy is Used to Enhance the Status of a Movement or an Individual.” Hyatt reminds us that “Satan plays on human ego and pride” and that we must humble ourselves before the Lord. He makes an important point by writing that the ultimate goal of prophecy is to point people to Jesus.

Warning sign #5: “When Prophecy Becomes a Replacement for the Scriptures and Common Sense.” Hyatt stresses the importance of the guidance of God’s Word, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). He also quotes Methodist leader John Wesley as one “who saw many unusual spiritual manifestations” and who said, “Try all things by the written word, and let all bow down before it.”

Salt of the earth

When we season food with salt, the salt is invisible (I hope). Yet, invisible salt makes a noticeable difference in a dish. Similarly, as salt of the earth, Jesus’ followers influence and inspire the world, even when our presence is not visible. What difference are we making in the world?

Light of the world

City set on a hill

Jesus calls the community of faith; the universal Church; the Body of Christ to be a model city. When we truly rise to the call of Christ, we become a model city before the watching world – a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden.

The local congregation is called to be a city set on a hill – a city within the city wherein we are called.

Wow, are we really being a model city? Or, are we patterning after the city?

I am deeply moved by the Sermon on the Mount. I deeply desire to participate in what it means to be salt, light and a full participant of the city on a hill, as Jesus teaches. 

Image: Atharva Lele

Image: Gabriel Barletta

In a world where darkness encroaches, Christ calls us to bear witness in a very public way – unseen and seen.

The world desperately needs salt, light, and a city set on a hill. Jesus is calling for us to bear witness in this way.

Come Holy Spirit. Help us!

Blessings,

Dr. A

Craig S. Keener speaks about his new book, Spirit Hermeneutics: Reading Scripture in Light of Pentecost, with Eerdman’s Publishing.

How do we hear the Spirit’s voice in Scripture? How do we move from exegesis to Spirit-guided application in our lives and communities? In Spirit Hermeneutics biblical scholar Craig Keener addresses these questions, carefully articulating a dynamic, experiential, Spirit-guided reading of Scripture.

Pastor Mina did not come from a Christian home; she was raised in a Hindu family. She was a devout Hindu and every day she worshipped the gods of Nepal in search of peace. During this time she was also plagued with many sicknesses. The turning point in her life came about as a result of reading a gospel tract. Though she had been married for years, she did not have any children. The tract that she read spoke about Abram and Sarah. At the end of the tract there was a prayer to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and she prayed that prayer and gave her life to Christ. Subsequently the Lord blessed her with a child.

At the time that she came to the Lord Nepal did not have religious freedom. The country was largely Hindu and Christianity was not viewed in a positive light, it was seen as a Western religion. It was dangerous to carry a Bible in public and if the police saw a person with a Bible, that person would be in trouble with the authorities. Pastor Mina and a few other Christians used to worship the Lord in a dark underground room. The Lord gave her great strength at this time.

After coming to faith in Jesus she felt deep in her heart that that Lord was calling her to ministry. It was very difficult for her to do ministry in Nepal because she was a woman and also because the community that she lived in was for the most part Hindu. The members of her household were the only Christians in the community. She began her ministry by sharing her testimony and the gospel message. Her sharing resulted in the planting of a church, actually in the planting of several churches.

In Chitwan district, which is located in central Nepal, she started four churches. One of these churches now has more than 100 people who attend. After staring churches in the Chitwan district she felt that the Lord called her to start a church in a remote area of Nepal called the Makawanpur district. Working in this area at that time was challenging because Nepal was going through a civil war and the area was a central place for terrorist activities. Male pastors were not able to go to this area at that time, but the Lord spoke to Pastor Mina and told her to go there. The men pastors were surprised at all she was doing and were very supportive of her ministry.

While the Lord blessed Pastor Mina’s ministry it was not without its difficulties; she suffered persecution in a number of ways. False reports were spread about her and she had to go before the local authorities. Many times people threw stones and broke the windows of the church because they did not want her or the church in the community. People also chased her from the village because they were Hindus and did not appreciate what she was doing in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. One time a man came to her at night, a large crowd with him. He took a knife and put it to her throat and said that he was going to kill her. She told him that she was not afraid to die; the man then pushed her away. Pastor Mina gives the Lord the glory that she was saved from such attacks. In the midst of everything the Lord gave victory and the church was established in the community.

Pastor Mina’s ministry has been challenged by persecution but it has also been marked by power. In her ministry she has witnessed some of the same things that the early church in the book of Acts did, namely supernatural healing and deliverance. In fact, these supernatural works have contributed to the growth of her ministry. The following are examples of these supernatural works.

First there is the case of a twenty year old woman by the name of Janita who was paralyzed from birth. Her parents had taken her to most of the doctors in Nepal and had also offered sacrifices to the Hindu gods for her healing, all to no avail. Pastor Mina visited this young woman in her home, shared the gospel with her and prayed for her. The next week this young woman walked to church. This surprised all who knew her because she had been in bed for the past twenty years.

The second example concerns three girls named, Pramila, Rita and Sunita, who were in bondage to evil spirits and were unable to talk for three years. Pastor Mina heard about them and went to visit them in their village. She prayed for them and they were delivered. This resulted in the whole village coming to know Christ. This miracle has been a great testimony among all of the Hindus. These girls are now sharing their testimony and leading others to Christ.