Posted in theology

This is what repentance looks like: Dawn Hill in a moving testimony

By Elizabeth Prata

I don’t know this lady. A virtual friend on Facebook shared this video.

Dawn Hill repents of being a false prophet and for being part of the NAR. She urges women everywhere to discern properly, test all things, focus on Jesus Christ, and not swim in emotionalism and prophetic words that are only vain imaginations and fleshly lusts. She pleads with her audience to throw away her work, her book, and any and all of her old material. She urges women to submit to the authority of the Bible as the only sure word.

Continue reading “This is what repentance looks like: Dawn Hill in a moving testimony”
Posted in theology

Jerusalem, Jerusalem!

By Elizabeth Prata

EPrata photo

Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem.
A Song of Ascents, of David.
Psalm 122:1-9

I was glad when they said to me,
“Let’s go to the house of the Lord.”
Our feet are standing
Within your gates, Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, that has been built
As a city that is firmly joined together;
To which the tribes go up, the tribes of [a]the Lord—
An ordinance for Israel—
To give thanks to the name of the Lord.
For thrones were set there for judgment,
The thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
May peace be within your walls,
And prosperity within your palaces.”
For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will now say, “May peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.

Psalm 122-124 was my Bible reading for the day. I mulled over the peace of Jerusalem. Then I saw the news, big news. The Jerusalem Post reports on US Secretary of State Pompeo’s announcement:

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday a reversal of a long-standing US policy that passports of citizens born in Jerusalem may not say they were born in Israel.” Consistent with President [Donald Trump]’s policy, I am happy to announce US citizens born in Jerusalem can now elect to list their place of birth as either ‘Jerusalem’ or ‘Israel’ on their passports,” Pompeo tweeted. … Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017 and moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

US citizens born in Jerusalem can have ‘Israel’ on their passports

The Lord God places His name in Jerusalem, (2 Chronicles 6:6a) and His residence will be there:

At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:17).

Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain. (Zechariah 8:3).

Satan has always tried to obliterate God’s people the Jews and he will try again in the future (Revelation 12:13-14). He will not be successful, but he will wipe out 2/3 leaving only a remnant. Ultimately of course, God wins.

“On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter. And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one. The whole land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft on its site from the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses. And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security.” (Zechariah 14:8-11).

What a day that will be!

Further Reading:

I thought this was an interesting article from the Jerusalem Post, discussing a new documentary just out covering their view of American evangelicals and President Trump’s activity surrounding Israel (moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the passport identification, etc). There are several misunderstandings, likely because they focus on Pat Robertson and John Hagee, but from a biblical point of view, the assertion of Christians that most of the Jews are killed in the Tribulation haunts and upsets Jews (understandably). The article discusses this new documentary centering the Israel-American political relationship through VP Pence and President Trump:

The new documentary film ‘Til Kingdom Come on relations between Israel and Evangelical Christian communities in the US broadcast on KAN 11 on Wednesday night raised a slew of issues regarding this contentious relationship. The film brings to the forefront the tight political alliance that has developed between the Israeli political Right, including the settlement movement, and Evangelical Christians and their heavy political clout in the US, and especially with the current administration. And it also juxtaposed on the one hand the devotion and care of Evangelical Christians for Israel and the Jewish people who live there alongside the Christian doctrine in which Evangelicals fervently believe of the apocalyptic “end times” in which two thirds of the Jewish people die and the remainder convert to Christianity.

Documentary ‘Til Kingdom Come synopsis

‘Til Kingdom Come trailer


Posted in theology

Improving our public speech

By Elizabeth Prata

Our church had its first get-together, family supper last Sunday since the Covid era began. A congregant with a huge private yard and a lighted, open pole barn invited us for a picnic. It felt good to sit around and talk, the kids running free on the lawn.

I was chatting with my discipling elder and social media came up. He is on email but not much else in terms of the commonly used platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the rest. I mentioned that the state of discourse is deplorable, and how people act on it. I gave a few details, and he said that he isn’t that familiar. I said “It’s good that you aren’t”. He laughed, saying that’s what our teaching elder says, too, lol. Social media provides a wonderful platform for discourse, but it also provides a terrible public platform for anger, immorality, and all manner of other sins on display.

Continue reading “Improving our public speech”
Posted in theology

Question: Why was David a man after God’s own heart?

By Elizabeth Prata

Did you ever wonder why was David called a man after God’s own heart?

After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.’ (Acts 13:22).

But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” (1 Samuel 13:14).

A man after mine own heart – This expression is found in 1 Samuel 13:14. The connection shows that it means simply a man who would not be rebellious and disobedient as Saul was, but would do the will of God and keep his commandments. This refers, doubtless, rather to the public than to the private character of David; to his character as a king. It means that he would make the will of God the great rule and law of his reign, in contradistinction from Saul, who, as a king, had disobeyed God.” (Barnes’ Notes)

At the same time it is true that the prevailing character of David, as a pious, humble, devoted man, was that he was a man after God’s own heart, and was beloved by him as a holy man. He had faults; he committed sin; but who is free from it? He was guilty of great offences; but he also evinced, in a degree equally eminent, repentance (see Psalm 51); and not less in his private than his public character did he evince those traits which were prevailingly such as accorded with the heart, that is, the earnest desires, of God.” ( end Barnes’ Notes)

“In the Psalms, we see the heart of a penitent unveiled and in that I think we see most clearly the greatness of David the Great. If you read Psalm 51 and read it carefully and thoughtfully, that Psalm will reveal more than anything else in the history of David why David was called a man after God’s own heart. Because here it reveals the broken heart of a sinful man who sees his sin clearly.”

RC Sproul: A Man after God’s Own Heart
EPrata photo
Posted in theology

Complementarianism: Or, Being the Help-meet

By Elizabeth Prata

Question from a reader: I’ve heard the word complementarianism talked about a lot, but I’m not sure I fully understand the biblical definition of what it means. I know there are implications for marriage. And what about in the church?

All relationships are in some way hierarchical. Players submit to Coach. Employees submit to Boss. Boss submits to Corporate. Students submit to Teacher. Children submit to Parents. Sailors submit to Captain…who submits to Admiral…who submits to President/Commander in Chief. The President submits to the Constitution, and ultimately, the Voters. Congregants submit to Leaders (Hebrews 13:17).

Continue reading “Complementarianism: Or, Being the Help-meet”
Posted in theology

A loud voice told her…She heard a whisper…

By Elizabeth Prata

Ladies, if you hear a disembodied voice talking to you purporting to be God or from God, ignore it and get to your pastor for prayer as soon as possible.

Did you know that most of the cults started in the world were because a voice from the sky directed them or revealed something?

Continue reading “A loud voice told her…She heard a whisper…”
Posted in theology

The Holy Spirit Changes Everything

By Elizabeth Prata

Before the Spirit came to them:

The Pharisees loved the chief seats (Matthew 23:6)

Diotrephes loved to put himself first. (3 John 1:9)

James and John wanted to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand. Mark 10:37.

Peter denied knowing Christ. (Mark 14:72).

After the Spirit came:

Pharisee Nicodemus donated in today’s dollars $150,000 in spices to bury Christ, publicly.

James and John labored well for Christ all their lives, boldly, courageously, doctrinally.

Peter boldly preached to the Gentiles, Jews, and faced down the Pharisees, accusing them of killing the Messiah. (Acts 5:30).

We never do find out what happened to Diotrephes. Without the Spirit, all his work for Jesus is in vain and will be rejected. The Spirit makes all the difference.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We see that new-ness in the above mentioned Bible people (except for Diotrephes). We should see that newness in anyone who converts, repents, and claims Christ. Their life pattern should be ever-upward-conforming to Christ. Conversion is a Triune activity, God set the plan into motion before the foundation of the world, Jesus effected it, and the Spirit applies it.

Posted in theology

Is Beth Moore Possessed?

By Elizabeth Prata

I’ve been wondering this for a while. I have reasons for thinking it, and I mean the question with absolutely no snark, no sarcasm, and no mal-intent. Is Beth Moore possessed?

The question is sincere, but after I explore it briefly, my question also provides an opportunity to have a larger discussion about demons & possession.

Continue reading “Is Beth Moore Possessed?”