By Elizabeth Prata

And on that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness. (Zechariah 13:2).

By this point in 2020, given the various struggles Americans are experiencing, the promises of scripture seem all the sweeter. The more we see the evil and ugly in human hearts, the more we long for the purity and holiness of a clean earth.

And if anyone again prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD.’ And his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies. (Zechariah 13:3).

Wait… what’s this?

After the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, (Jeremiah 30:7) also known as the Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), there will be humans left alive to enter what is known as the Millennial Kingdom. It is so named because it will last for 1000 years. (Revelation 20:2-6) (cf Isaiah 11:6; 65:20).

During that time, the earth renews from the devastating judgments rendered unto the Israelites and pagans, quickly, just as it did after the Flood. Satan will be bound in the pit with his cohorts. Peace will reign on the earth and Jesus will be bodily among His people. Holiness will be paramount. Holiness and truth will be so supremely important, that as we see in the Zechariah verse, even parents will run their own relative through if they prophesy falsely.

Because of the salvation of God which has cleansed God’s people and made them love him and His truth, hatred of false prophecy will overrule normal human feelings, causing even a father and mother to put their apostate child to death (cf, Deuteronomy 13:6-9, 12-15, Deuteronomy 18-22). This is a stern reminder of how God feels about and will eventually treat those preachers who misrepresent the truth.

John MacArthur Study Bible, Zechariah 13:3

As a Christian to whom the Holy Spirit has given the gift of discernment (1 Corinthians 12:10), I feel a heightened emotional and spiritual pain when I come across false teachers. It hurts when I receive emails from women who have been ill-used by these false teachers. It is sad to have women asking questions about how to cleanse themselves from the tentacles of these insidious doctrines wrapped around them from. It actually hurts to see the corruption and lies thrown on the name and Person of Jesus, all done in His name!.

Too many people react with anger toward me and other people who point out false teachings from these false teachers. The most common comments are, that I’m not to judge, that the feelings of the (false) teacher matter, to be nice, to ignore it and Jesus will take care of the problem, or that I’m wrong and the teacher isn’t false at all.

Jesus takes His truth VERY SERIOUSLY. We see that in the Zechariah verses. We see that in many other verses. I am not advocating for parents running their children through if they prophesy falsely, of course. But the picture of hatred for lies and love of the truth is in view. We see this in the New Testament also.

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:6).

The picture is of a love of His truth so much that in comparison it seems that we’d hate our mother and father and wife and children. He is not speaking of actual hate, for that would violate the Fifth Commandment to honor thy parents (Deuteronomy 5:16).

Rather, the love of His truth must be so paramount in our eyes that by comparison, everything else fades into the background. That when we come across liars of His truth, we hate what they say and what they do. That we love our Jesus’ truth with all our strength, mind, heart and soul, and that by contrast, we strongly repudiate all that contradicts it.

If we are involved with a teacher’s teachings, we must examine ourselves to see if that they are saying is so, and if they are found to be false, we must repent of our association with him or her. The truth is just that important.

By Elizabeth Prata*

I had been reading Nehemiah 8. It is a short book in the Old Testament, and it is good. Nehemiah was the fellow who supervised the rebuilding of Jerusalem and alongside Prophet Ezra help to purify the Jewish community that had re-gathered there. Nehemiah was governor and Ezra was the priest and the scribe.

The day came when Ezra called all the adults, and all children who could understand, to come and listen to the reading of the Law. They stood and listened. The Levites were there to help them understand what they were hearing. Soon there were tears, weeping, and crushed hearts. They fell on their faces. “For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.” The people realized how far they were from God. But Ezra said not to weep, for it was a day of rejoicing. The Festival of Booths was born, and the people celebrated, giving gifts to those who had nothing, and went their way eating and drinking. It is a short chapter. I recommend reading it.

Continue reading “A proper response to the Word of God” →

By Elizabeth Prata

“One of the most wonderful statements about our Lord is that He was “full of grace” (John 1:14) and “of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace” (John 1:16). “Grace upon grace” speaks of accumulated grace—one grace following upon another. Such grace is ours each day. It is unlimited and sufficient for every need.” ~John MacArthur

The picture here is of waves on the beach. We can’t detect where one wave ends and another begins. Waves of grace simply roll in, endlessly, eternally, one connected to another. And so it is with God’s grace upon His believers. We receive endless waves of grace because our lives in Christ are of His grace and in His grace.

By Elizabeth Prata

Adam and Eve ate of the fruit they were told to avoid. This was sin. Sin is anything we think, say, or do that is against God’s law. Their disobedience is called the Fall. They fell from their lofty position of perfection and intimate, personal relationship with God into a low position of guilt and disobedience. When Adam and Eve did that, God withdrew since sin had become a barrier to walking with Him personally in the garden.

Forever after that moment, all humans born on earth (except Jesus) had an innate sin nature. Their first thought is sin and they cannot escape their own nature. Just as a lion is a carnivore by nature and would not consciously choose to change his nature to vegetarian, so humans are sinners and cannot choose to change their nature to holiness. It has to be done outside of man. God is outside of man and thus is the agent of that necessary change. Continue reading “What will happen to unbelievers upon death, and why?” →

By Elizabeth Prata

We’ve all heard this phrase. We may have even used it in Vacation Bible School with the kids, or youth camp after a poignant testimony or a lengthy musical interlude. It’s religious shorthand for the Gospel, asking someone to respond to what they have heard and to come into the kingdom of Jesus. But is it legitimate? Has the shorthand gotten TOO short?

“Asking Jesus into your heart” is a phrase that reverses the proper order of salvation. Jesus initiates salvation, not us. We don’t ask Him, He enters. We remember how He entered Saul/Paul’s heart on the Road to Damascus? It was without Paul ever ‘asking’.

In the Old Testament, too, we see that the LORD is captain of the soul, and does with a soul as He wishes. And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, (Haggai 1:14).

We see the initiation of the Lord in Lydia’s conversion, One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. (Acts 16:14)

We see the Lord active in the understanding of the scriptures in the two from Emmaus, They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32).

Paul Washer is a preacher that has much to say about the ‘asking Jesus into your heart’ mode of salvation. It’s also called ‘easy believism or The Sinner’s Prayer. Here is Washer on how to lead someone to Christ rightly, 3:14 min. Wretched: Paul Washer: How to lead someone to the Lord.

Here is Todd Friel on this topic: the specific phrase ‘Asking Jesus Into Your Heart’ is dealt with starting at 1:04
Should we lead someone in “the sinner’s prayer?”

Though the phrase is used earnestly by most people, and it started with good intentions, perhaps after a solid Gospel presentation, it has become a cliche that dilutes the meaning and power of the Gospel. The Gospel should include confession of sin, repentance, awareness of our due wrath, and the power of God alone to change our heart of stone to one of flesh.

Until the days of Charles Finney in the 1800s, such phraseology and such easy salvation was unheard of. It has led to the simplistic actions of walking an aisle and reciting a formulaic prayer, whereupon the preacher declares one saved. No one can declare one saved, except Jesus in heaven. Salvation is seen after time passes, by the life and the fruit one observes in the person. But remember there are tares mixed with the wheat, and ultimately, despite a preacher’s best sermons, right doctrine, stern Gospel presentation and eagle-eyed observation of a life of holiness, only Jesus knows if someone is actually saved.

‘Asking Jesus into your heart’ has sadly led to premature declarations of salvation and assurances of heaven, though the person was falsely converted. In this way, many people have not been truly saved, but are deceived into thinking they are.

Picture this. Lazarus is dead and in the tomb. Jesus is weeping outside. The crowd is gaping. Let’s say that Mary or Martha or one of the pharisees and teachers of Israel shouted, ‘Lazarus, ask Jesus into your heart! Ask Him’. Jesus is still outside the tomb, weeping, standing by. Can Lazarus ask Jesus? No. Lazarus is dead. He can’t do anything. (John 15:5b).

It is the same with all of us. We are dead in sin. We are unaware of our sin and our need for salvation because we are dead and blind to sin. Jesus is the Light, and when He turns on the light in our soul, then we see our sin. We go, ‘Ick! That’s gross! I AM depraved, and I DO deserve wrath and punishment!’ We then confess our sins and throw ourselves upon the mercy of the One on the Mercy Seat.

If you walked an aisle, or believed half the Gospel, that ‘Jesus has a great plan for your life and you just need him’, without the parts about sin, wrath and confession, here is an essay titled Is It Real? 11 Tests of Genuine Salvation Is It Real?

Jesus forgives sin and in no way will cast anyone out who confesses. But if you don’t think you have dealt with your sin properly, then I urge you to click on the Paul Washer link, the Todd Friel link, or the Genuine Salvation link.

By Elizabeth Prata

I’ve been watching the legal wrangling in LA County from Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, their departments, Supervisory Board, and legal team, against John MacArthur and Grace Community Church. The wrangling began late in July when pastor-teacher John MacArthur called for his congregants to return to church and worship together.

Gov. Newsom had said that there was too much COVID-19 virus circulating for people to gather in churches, or anywhere, despite the fact that many protesters had been gathering unimpeded in many other locations throughout California. And despite the fact that COVID has not proved to be as deadly as first thought. Also despite the fact that the First Amendment protects freedoms to worship. After heeding the restrictions for many months, finally on July 24, Grace Church met for indoor worship.

Subsequently, the church received vague threats that their water or air conditioning would be turned off in Grace Church should people turn up to worship. It wasn’t, but an official Cease and Desist letter was sent to the church leaders. The letter contained a threat of a $1,000 a day fine and possible arrest. The church retained legal counsel.

The church’s legal counsel replied of the Cease & Desist Letter: “It is unconstitutional for Governor Newsom and the State of California to discriminate against churches by treating them less favorably than other organizations and activities that are not protected by the First Amendment.”

The church took the issue to court and won. The Judge agreed they should be able to hold in-person, indoor services, but also asked that the congregants be willing to wear masks and try to remain socially distant until the matter could be fully heard at a scheduled time, September 4. Dr. MacArthur said yes, replying,

This vindicates our desire to stay open and serve our people. This also gives us an opportunity to show that we are not trying to be rebellious or unreasonable, but that we will stand firm to protect our church against unreasonable, unconstitutional restrictions.”

LA Times

However, the court decision and the respondent’s good faith promise was not satisfactory enough for the State or City government, and the LA Board of Supervisors took the matter to court again and again, once in an ’emergency session’ late on a Saturday night. But the Supervisors lost again and again. At one point they tried to put into place a contempt of court order with attached thousands of dollars of fines, AND a restraining order, but the judge hearing the case said that there was no court order currently in place for the church to be in contempt OF! It was dismissed. The City has not been successful in any of their varied legal attempts against Grace Community Church.

Now, the Los Angeles Department of Public Works has suddenly broken the parking lot lease the Church has held with the city for the past 45 years. The City is demanding they be evicted. In 1975, the Church leased the adjacent parking lot to the church, paying over $8,000 per month, $24,000 quarterly, almost $100,000 per year to the Department of Public Works, but this week the Department of Public Works suddenly and without cause voided the lease. You see from the Google map below that the parking lot’s size and how it is an absolute necessity.

It has been noticed that as each Government attempt to stop worship at GCC fails, the next attempt seems more and more like petty retribution and harassment of a powerful government agency against a single organization.

Legal Counsel for the Church, Jenna Ellis, replied of the eviction notice,

“In America, we have a judicial system to ensure that the executive branch does not abuse its power, and Grace Community Church has every right to be heard without fear of reprisal. The Democrats’ message to Americans is clear—if you don’t bow to every whim of tyranny, the government will come after you. The Church has peacefully held this lease for 45 years and the only reason the County is attempting eviction is because John MacArthur stood up to their unconstitutional power grab. This is harassment, abusive, and unconscionable,” Ellis added.

The Federalist

As I wrote yesterday of this COVID issue, satan is god of this world for a time, and he is allowed to put forth the deceptions as he will. In his opening to the August 30, 2020 sermon, Dr. MacArthur said, “There is no pandemic.” He was referring to the issuance of the actual numbers regarding COVID-19 by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that only about 9300 people have died from the virus from COVID alone. Six percent of deaths from the virus were healthy people with no underlying conditions. 94% of covid deaths were people in the upper age brackets (at or exceeding U.S. life span) with two OR MORE comorbidities, that could not be explicltly traced to COVID.

This was astounding news, and it rightly circulated widely this past weekend on social media. It trended Late Saturday and early Sunday on Twitter. It was eventually picked up by NBC late Sunday.

I mentioned the 6% issue yesterday in my essay, and received a harsh reaction from people who are deceived and want to maintain the fiction that death has been lurking for one and all since March when the COVID virus was first called an ’emergency’.

Nevertheless, despite the growing obviousness that COVID isn’t a widespread threat, the Governor of California has recently made more restrictions and tightened ones already in existence, including forbidding gathering for worship. Churches had attendance caps placed on them, restrictions for indoor worship such as distancing and a singing ban.

The pastors, elders and worshipers at Grace Community Church on July 24 made their decision to stand for Jesus. When Government said, do not teach in this name, (cf Acts 5:28), the people answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” (cf Acts 5:29).

If you think Caesar’s harassment, legal battle, and overt punishment and retribution against grace Church in CA won’t happen to you and your church, wherever you are in the U.S., you are dead wrong. It is already happening. It’s happening most visibly to Grace Church in CA but also in many other places in the United States.

Dr. MacArthur said that among the fabrication of numbers and deception going in with COVID, it’s obvious that part of satan’s deception is to shut down churches that preach the Gospel. “It does not surprise me that they want to shut down those who preach the Gospel, because the architects of this level of deception are not part of the kingdom of heaven. They are part of the kingdom of darkness,” he said last Sunday (Video linked below).

Get ready to make your decision. Get ready to make your stand. What will you do when they come and say, ‘You may not worship. You may not teach in the name of Jesus. You may not enter the church. You may not sing. You may not buy a Bible.’

If you believe that last threat is outlandish, please know that several authors have already remarked that their books on the biblical stance on homosexuality and homosexual conversion have been pulled from Amazon and banned from being sold as the claim of hate speech wins out over biblical truth. There is a current push in Scotland to name the Bible itself hate speech, so the notion that Bibles may become difficult to obtain here in America, and soon, is not as outlandish as previously thought, despite the Constitution’s protection of the practice of religion.

What will you do? If you have been feeding on the word of God, and are filled with Gospel truth, you will stand. If you haven’t, you won’t. Don’t think it won’t happen to you. King Saul fell. Samson fell. Even Peter denied Jesus, whom he loved and had been close to for three years! The only strength is the strength of the Holy Spirit, apart from Christ we can do nothing. We inflame that strength by feeding that fire, the fire of truth!

Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29)