Tag: bible

Posted in theology

NAR Resources from Amy Spreeman and Michelle Lesley

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

My work here involves encouragement, theology, and discernment. I have not done any discernment work on the NAR, an acronym which stands for New Apostolic Reformation. I have not felt the pull of the Holy Spirit to do so. I can’t cover everything.

However, the NAR is a deadly false movement, with sub-topics within it containing their own dangers, which demand attention and discernment from us to avoid. To that end, Amy Spreeman and Michelle Lesley have done a ton of work to alert us ladies to the errors of this movement, and I want to highlight their work on this topic since it is making such inroads to the faith.

Amy Spreeman of Berean Research collected testimonies from people who have left a NAR church. She wrote that the spiritual abuse is real, and it lingers in the heart and mind long after their church departure:

Testimonies: “Leaving the NAR Church”

At Berean Research we also see “What Your Church Needs to Know about the NAR”:

This book is also a good resource

“The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a dominionist movement which asserts that God is restoring the lost offices of church governance, namely the offices of Prophet and Apostle. Leading figures in this seemingly loosely organized movement claim that these prophets and apostles alone have the power and authority to execute God’s plans and purposes on earth. They believe they are laying the foundation for a global church, governed by them.“

At Michelle Lesley’s site we have “What is the New Apostolic Reformation?”

What is the New Apostolic Reformation?

And also from Michelle Lesley, “Top Ten NAR and Seeker-Driven Buzzwords”

Top 10 NAR* and Seeker-Driven Buzzwords

And from the pair, Amy and Michelle at their podcast, A Word Fitly Spoken an episode called Deliver Us from Deliverance Ministry with Dawn Hill

The Podcast A Word Fitly Spoken hosted by Amy Spreeman and Michelle Lesley featured Dawn Hill recently, who spoke about a growing subset of the NAR- ‘Deliverance Ministries’. It is an interesting and informative discussion-

“There’s a growing movement within the charismatic and New Apostolic Reformation camp that we’re hearing more and more about these days: deliverance ministry. If you’ve ever seen a video of someone practicing deliverance, or if you have a friend who’s dabbling in deliverance, you might wonder if it’s biblical, and if it’s OK for Christians to take part in. Our friend, Dawn Hill, joins us to explore what the Bible has to say about deliverance ministry.“

Both women have many more resources at their sites for you to explore on this important topic. I hope this helps you if you decide to research this important topic.

Posted in theology

Hypnosis: Therapy, Trend, or Spiritual Danger?

Posted on by elizabethprata

From Pagan Sleep Temples to Hypnobirthing: Nothing New Under the Sun

By Elizabeth Prata

Should a Christian undergo hypnosis to ingrain new behavior patterns and dispense with unwanted desires or actions? Isn’t hypnosis just a benign way to relax or reduce anxiety? Is it wrong to use hypnosis when giving birth? (hynobirthing). This essay explores hypnosis from a Christian point of view.

Continue reading “Hypnosis: Therapy, Trend, or Spiritual Danger?” →
Posted in theology

If God Has You Single: An Encouragement

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

SYNOPSIS

Feeling the old pressure of New Year’s dates and Valentine expectations, I contrast restless singleness with hard-won contentment in Christ. Through regret, divorce, and redemption, I urge women to trust God’s appointed season, warning that chasing marriage can hurt more than waiting.

EPrata photo
Continue reading “If God Has You Single: An Encouragement” →
Posted in God, infinite

Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide: The Word at Work

Posted on by elizabethprata

Add

The preaching of the true word of God always pierces hearts.

“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41)

Subtract

However, taking away from that word will bring condemnation to those who subtract from it:

“and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:19)

Multiply

We love God’s word so much we share it, not sparingly but liberally. To His own glory, the Lord multiplies what is needed in the sower so they can return and multiply their doing good again and again–

“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 9:10)

Barnes Notes explains, “Multiply your seed sown – Greatly increase your means of doing good; make the result of all your benefactions so to abound that you may have the means of doing good again, and on a larger scale, as the seed sown in the earth is so increased that the farmer may have the means of sowing more abundantly again.”

Divide

But make no mistake, proclamation of, living by, and protecting the word will bring division. Doctrine DOES divide.

“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” (Luke 12:51)

In efforts not to have “division” but a (false) unity based on a watered down version of the Gospel, you really have nothing. Nothing from nothing leaves nothing, said Billy Preston.

John MacArthur on doctrine dividing, from his sermon A Call for Discernment: “When you don’t even lay down clear doctrine at the level of the Gospel, where are you going to go from there? And the cry is, as one man said to me when my book on The Gospel According to Jesus came out, he said, “Your book is divisive!” You want to know something? He’s right. He’s right. Want to know something else? Doctrine divides. People say, “Oh doctrine divides … doctrine divides.” I say, “Amen, preach it, doctrine divides.” You know what it does? It confronts error. It separates true from false. It makes judgments. Today’s climate, however, of unity in the priority of relationships, that’s not tolerable.”

But here is the new math of God’s kingdom: His infinitely extravagant grace! There is no counting it and no end to it. Praise the Lord that His grace and mercies fall on us every day. I can’t add the number of times I’ve been a grateful recipient of it.

“Our Lord is great, vast in power; His understanding is infinite.” (Psalm 147:5)

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8).

Posted in theology

The Mortal Wound and the Living Lie: How AI is Destabilizing Society

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

SYNOPSIS
Technological progress invites both benefit and danger. As AI blurs reality through deepfakes and misinformation, society’s grip on truth weakens, preparing hearts for Revelation’s prophetic deception. Christians must cling to Scripture, the unchanging anchor, amid confusion, remembering only Christ conquers death and saves.

Continue reading “The Mortal Wound and the Living Lie: How AI is Destabilizing Society” →
Posted in bible, end of days. prophecy, end time, new jerusalem, temple

Built on Christ, Poured Out in Faith

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

SYNOPSIS

Paul’s declaration of being poured out as a drink offering points believers to Christ, the Chief Cornerstone. From Bethel to New Jerusalem, God builds His dwelling with living stones who steadily give themselves in faith, emptied in joyful response to His finished work.

Continue reading “Built on Christ, Poured Out in Faith” →
Posted in theology, word of the week

Are you curious about angels?

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Angels are innumerable, powerful, nonhuman beings created by God to serve His ordered purposes. Scripture portrays them as named, hierarchical spirits who worship, judge, minister, and wage warfare. Some rebelled and became demons. Angelology, the study of angels, is legitimate but requires biblical caution and careful discernment of sources.

Continue reading “Are you curious about angels?” →
Posted in theology

Balancing Shrewd Discernment and Holy Integrity

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16).

Did you ever wonder what this means? I do.

Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown Commentary says,

be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves—Wonderful combination this! Alone, the wisdom of the serpent is mere cunning, and the harmlessness of the dove little better than weakness: but in combination, the wisdom of the serpent would save them from unnecessary exposure to danger; the harmlessness of the dove, from sinful expedients to escape it. In the apostolic age of Christianity, how harmoniously were these qualities displayed! Instead of the fanatical thirst for martyrdom, to which a later age gave birth, there was a manly combination of unflinching zeal and calm discretion, before which nothing was able to stand.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 36). Logos Research Systems, Inc.

So clear! I like this comment.

The Apostolic Age has passed, but in this day and age of the Church Age, how can we do our diligence and be wise as serpents and innocent as doves?

Firstly, we need to balance shrewd discernment with holy integrity in today’s challenging world. The world is one of the deadly enemies the Bible lists, along with the devil and our flesh. (1 John 2:15-17, Romans 7:15, Galatians 5:16). The world is against us and challenges us at every turn.

Christians must recognize danger- not solely physical danger but spiritual danger from false doctrines and deceitful teachers. We should use wisdom in all our relationships, act with integrity, and avoid compromise. Wise as a serpent means we combine caution with strategic awareness in a meek, non-aggressive spirit.

Following the directive to be wise and innocent given by Jesus really involves everything He and the Apostles said to do and doing all in life with Jesus in mind: such as having a meek and gentle spirit, being holy as he is holy, not lying, loving our neighbor… And so much more.

No one said the Christian life was easy. Pursuing all these things and then balancing them properly seems impossible. But we have an aid that no one else has: the Holy Spirit! Appeal to Him each day, multiple times per day, for wisdom tinged with gentleness, with gentleness tinged with shrewd wisdom. He is a good God and ready to help those who, with pure motivations, seek to obey and love Jesus with all our heart, mind, and soul.

EPrata painting. serpent
EPrata photo: Eurasian collared dove