God – Page 12

Exploring the Cross: A Symbol of Christ’s Glory

Posted on April 17, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I designed this picture to stare at and better ponder its truths. The mental picture of it as I was reading was so vivid before my eyes I had to draw it out.

Initially I drew just the wavy line and the cross. The cross is lifted up, the sole item on the bloody landscape. To view it, all eyes must look UP. The cross of Christ is the only thing has any meaning in the world. When I was an unsaved person I rejected this notion immediately. As a saved person, by the grace of God, I am humbled to kneel and stare at this wonderful, terrible cross.

The line represents not only the hill, for the Son of Man must be lifted up, and it was a hill He died on and a hill he will return to. (Zechariah 14:4).

The line is also the dividing line of all human history. The above and below, the hell and the heaven, the line that divides before Christ’s birth and after Christ’s incarnation and is both the starting point and the ending point of all that is and all that will be.

On the day of His death the sun was darkened. This is only right, for Jesus is the Light of the world.

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until [u]the ninth hour, 45because the sun stopped shining; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. (Luke 23:44-45).

“Christ’s victory is the spectacle that holds the attention of the universe.” ~Tony Reinke, Competing Spectacles

Christ’s glory is the spectacle of all spectacles, and its power is most clearly seen in how it equips and motivates and animates our faithful obedience in all other areas of life.

Christ was not merely made a spectacle on the cross, the cross became a shorthand reference for everything glorious about Christ- His work as creator and sustainer of all things, his incarnation, his life, his words, his obedience, his miracles, his shunning, his beatings, his crucifixion, his wrath bearing, his resurrection from the grave, his heavenly ascension, his kingly coronation, and his eternal priesthood- all of his glory subsumed into his heavenly spectacle. ~Tony Reinke, Competing Spectacles

To be able to love Jesus and not hate Him any longer is the joy of my life.

We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

theology

Understanding Demonic Influence in the Gospel of Mark

Posted on April 15, 2025April 28, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

We are going through the book of Mark in our church. Our teaching pastor recently preached on Mark 5:1-20. It’s the incident of the Gadarene Demoniac. The man in the Bible had a Legion of demons in him. A Roman legion had up to 6000 soldiers. The man didn’t necessarily have 6000 demons in him, in fact it’s more likely he had around 2000, but still.

Demons are fallen angels. These are the angels who rebelled against God and followed satan. They are totally depraved, sinful, and out to do as much damage as they can on the earth to all people, but especially to God’s people.

The demons are present on earth always, but seem to have been more highly active in three great waves. They were particularly active around the time of Moses, during the Elijah-Elisha period, and when Jesus walked the earth. In the future, they will be highly active during the prophesied Tribulation period. Demons are also called ‘unclean spirits’.

In the New Testament, we read of the demons and their activity more times than one may remember. It is a big topic, especially in the Gospel of Mark. A demon became agitated when Jesus taught in the synagogue, and the man the demon was inhabiting shouted, “saying, “What business do you have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are: the Holy One of God!“( Mark 1:24).

The Gadarene legion of demons in the man called out “Jesus, Son of the Most High God.” (Mark 5:7). This title was used by both Jews and Gentiles to distinguish the one true God from the false gods. The titles the demons used to speak to Jesus, Most High God and Holy One of God are acknowledgements from the fallen, unholy angels that they know exactly who Jesus is. Even if the crowds didn’t or even the disciples.

The demons used the highest name for Jesus, they know who He is and how holy He is.

After that incident, Now when evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. 33And the whole city had gathered at the door. 34And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. (Mark 1:32-34).

‘all those who were demon-possessed’… ‘cast out many demons’. Hmm, sounds like a plague of demons were abounding. In Mark 3:14-15 there is an important verse, don’t gloss over it when you’re reading:

And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, 15and to have authority to cast out the demons.

Jesus appointed them to preach AND to show they had authority over the demons.

That is a key thought. They had authority. So did Paul. (Acts 16:16-18, Acts 19:11-12). This was to authenticate their message. Remember the demon-possessed slave girl? She had a spirit of divination, and she annoyed Paul for many days. He busted that spirit out of her. He “said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.” (Acts 16:16-18).

Do you remember that Jesus appointed 72 to go forth and preach and heal etc? They came back jubilant. Now the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!” (Luke 10:17).

The apostles, including Paul, and the 72, had been given authority by Jesus – “The Holy One of God” – to exorcise demons. And they did. Demons were busting out all over the place by those who were given that authority.

Charlatans abound in every era and in every religion. There were false prophets, false healers, and false exorcists. These exorcists roved from town to town, plying their trade. Casting out demons is mentioned in Matthew 12:27; and Mark 9:38.

Copycat exorcists, hoping to profit from the excitement created by Paul’s ministry, sprung up around Ephesus. The book of Acts records that some groups successfully invoked the names of Jesus and Paul in their exorcisms, possibly receiving financial rewards (though this is not mentioned in Acts). Source Lexham Bible Dictionary.

But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had the evil spirits, saying, “I order you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches!” Acts 19:13).

Demon deliverance was a thing. Even some who were not believers seem to have been successful at times in getting a demon out. Luke 7:21-23 shows some people pleading with Jesus to allow them into heaven, because they did miracles and works and cast out demons.

Pharaoh’s magicians were able to counterfeit some miracles- up to a point. And in Matthew 24:24 we are warned- For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Satan and his fallen demons are active and powerful.

Then the scene narrows in to one particular instance- Now we come to a funny scene.

It seems that there was a Chief Priest named Sceva who had 7 sons. Acutely aware that Paul was earning much notice with the people, these 7 brothers tried to copycat, at least where demons were concerned. These Jewish demon busters tried to get a demon out of a man. The demon inside didn’t budge but then asked the Jewish itinerant exorcists,

But the evil spirit responded and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know of Paul, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15).

Then the demon possessed man leaped on the 7 brothers and beat them up until they left the house howling, bloody, and naked.

The Sons of Sceva tried to cast the demon out but instead the demon cast the Sons of Sceva out!

You might be thinking, ‘one against seven? The odds are in favor of the brothers, aren’t they?’ No. Demons are mighty. They are angels after all, fallen and unholy, but still powerful. An angel is going to stand on the sun (Revelation 19:17). Four angels are going to stand on the 4 corners of the earth and hold back the 4 winds. (Revelation 7:1). The Gadarene demoniac was so strong he broke chains and no one could contain him.

A Christian cannot be demon-possessed. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit. We are given armor of God to protect us, (Ephesians 6:11–17) and we are supposed to resist the devil and he will flee from us. (James 4:7).

So, how are unbelievers successful in casting out demons if they do not have the authority from Jesus nor even belief in Him? Catholics are famous in secular literature for their supposed expertise in exorcisms.

Demons are real. Satan is real. However, Satan is a master trickster and the father of lies (John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:14). A demon’s ability to lure gullible human beings into its traps often exceeds our ability to detect the traps (2 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Peter 5:8). If it would serve its purpose to hide within a human body, a demon might do that. Or, if it would serve its purpose to pretend to come out on command, it might do that, too. Satan could very well participate with an unsaved exorcist in order to inflate the exorcist’s pride and boost confidence in his power over evil. Source GotQuestions

I find the topic of demons fascinating. I believe there are demons around today and inhabit unsaved people. We are not so scientifically advanced as to disbelieve the reality of satan and his minions operating on the earth, second heaven, and third heaven. But though it is a legitimate topic of study in Systematic Theology, (see links below), I think that focusing too much on demons will take our eyes off Jesus. Keeping our eyes on him through His word and prayer is the best practice. We will meet the holy angels one day, and we will see the judgment of the unholy angels. What a day that will be.

Further Resources

“Spiritism” sermon by Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Synopsis- ” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks across Scripture to help the listener understand the general activity, as well as the particular operations of evil and malevolent spiritual forces in the world. This sermon on demonology helpfully classifies the outworking of occult activity in its ancient and modern forms.”

The Doctrine of Satan and Demons: Wayne Grudem (outline)
The following is an outline from Wayne Grudem for chapter 20 of his book, Systematic Theology, dealing with Satan and Demons. There are three teachings on this chapter located elsewhere on this website.

Angels and Demons– Ligonier Ministry (23 minute video). “If we claim to believe what the Bible teaches, then we must take the existence of angels and demons seriously. In this message, R.C. Sproul turns to the teaching of Scripture on the role of these spirits and the reality of Satan.”

encouragement, rock of ages

Creation Grace: Fragility

Posted on April 13, 2025April 13, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Luke 21:33).

We think of the earth as something solid, firm, lasting forever. Some believe it has been here for billions of years and will remain for billions more. In truth, the earth is passing away as we speak, and it is no more firm than the bubbles children at a festival were trying to burst.

The fragility of life is seen in the gossamer web spoken of in Jonathan Edwards’ Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God sermon:

“Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider’s web would have to stop a falling rock.”

The fragility of our lives, of our deeds, of the very earth is no more solid than the walls of Jericho which fell without warning, (Joshua 6:20) and the Tower of Siloam, which fell without warning. (Luke 13:4). So it will be for the Great Wall of China, which seems so strong and sturdy,

CC photo, use w/attribution, **Fabien Dany – www.fabiendany.com**

Even now, it is crumbling-

The earth is fragile, cracked and quaking even as we speak-

The earth staggers like a drunken man; it sways like a hut; its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again. (Isaiah 24:20)

Our lives, our deeds, the very earth is fragile. The breath we draw is fleeting. No more substantial than the silk of a gossamer web, no more sturdy than a butterfly wing, no more lasting than a bubble ascending to some height, only to vanish in its evanescence and be no more.

Jesus lasts forever. He is the eternal, the substantial, the durably secure shelter in which we cling.

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Hide thy fragile self in Him, the Rock of Ages!

theology

Reader Q&A: Can Wolves in Christianity Truly Be Saved? (Part 2)

Posted on April 10, 2025April 11, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Yesterday I wrote about a Q&A I’d had from a reader and promised to post the other questions and answers today. Here is yesterday’s part 1- Decoding False Teachers: Types of Wolves in Christianity- Reader Questions & Answers part 1

I love when I receive questions. It encourages me because the queries show me that there are women out there who care about discernment, about Jesus, and about the purity of their walk with Him. That’s all discernment is: a process of training one’s self to have an ever more pure walk with Jesus. To learn who and what to go toward and who and what to stay away from in order to attain a more clear view of Him.

Here are the other two questions and my answers. I certainly do not have a monopoly on answers or final knowledge of the Bible. How would you have replied? What is your stance on some of these things?

Can a wolf be saved? Is there a hope for them in terms of genuine repentance, and saving faith?

I’ve often wondered this. Quite a bit, actually. Not knowing the answer and only surmising as to some notions as you’ll see below, I still do pray for the false teachers the Lord burdens my heart with.

Now, God CAN save anyone. He saved Saul the persecutor and turned him into the most productive evangelist and missionary in the history of the world. Jesus pronounced woes and invectives upon the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes (so did John the Baptist). But Sadducee Joseph of Arimathea and Pharisee Nicodemus were more than likely genuine believers by the end.

However … my personal feeling of the actual false teachers, the ones embedded in Christianity and profess to love Jesus, is no, they will not be saved. Here are my reasons:

First- Jude 1:4 seems to indicate that at least some of these false teachers were deliberately raised up for God’s reasons, and were always marked for condemnation. After all, “There must be heresies among you so that those who are approved might be made manifest” (1 Corinthians 11:19). 2 Peter 2:1 seems to indicate the same. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 says these hypocrites have a seared conscience.

At some point, Jesus turns the rebels over to their sin. (Romans 1:21). Of course, we do not know the point if and when it occurs in various individuals.

Secondly, as to the seared conscience and also remembering Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, these false teachers, if they actually had the Holy Spirit in them, they would not persist in their evil teaching ways. The Holy Spirit always points us toward truth. It might take weeks, months, or in some rare cases a year or so, but someone cannot and does not persist for 40 years as a false teacher and then suddenly repent.

Romans 1:25 says they know God, but they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

I’ve never seen a long-term, false professing Christian teacher repenting, and I’ve never heard of it. It is more likely that they are seared in conscience, hardened in heart, and being used by God as a judgment. Here is Paul Washer on false teachers. clip is 5 min, here is the beginning of it-

Washer transcript: “False teachers are God’s judgment on people who don’t want God, but in the name of religion plan on getting everything their carnal heart desires. That’s why a Joel Osteen is raised up. Those people who sit under him are not victims of him. He is the judgment of God upon them because they want exactly what he wants and it’s not God.”

God allows false teachers so that it may be manifest those who are true. There must be heresies among you so that those who are approved might be made manifest. (1 Corinthians 11:19).

Can a person truly be a wolf if they believe in and teach sound doctrine?

Let’s look at the word “believe”. The demons believed in Jesus. In fact in Mark it was demons who assigned to Jesus the highest praise name of all- the Holy One of God. Judas believed sound doctrine. The issue is, they did not submit to it. They are rebels. So we need to be careful using the term ‘believe in Jesus’.

Let’s look at the word “doctrine”: All false teachers mix truth with the false. They all twist doctrine in some way, some more skillfully and hidden and others more easily detected (Example, Beth Moore- skillfully twisting her doctrine to make it seem sound, Todd Bentley- false doctrine easily detected). So it depends on what is meant by ‘sound doctrine’. Also, new converts might believe Louie Giglio is sound or a Beth Moore but as they grow they realize their doctrine is not sound. So while soundness is soundness, our perception of it is a continuum.

No doubt, false teachers may be difficult to recognize in the moment. If we don’t have access to their personal lives, or their doctrinal compromises haven’t yet been manifest publicly in their behavior, we may find it difficult to know whether they are true. But time will tell. They will be known by their fruit — not the fruit of ministry quantity and numbers, but quality and endurance — and ultimately the quality of their own lives. ~Dave Mathis, The Surprising Truth about False Teachers

Rick Warren appeared to teach sound doctrine. So did David Platt. For a while. Billy Graham appeared to teach soundly for a long time but secretly held heretical beliefs. Ravi Zacharias appeared to teach sound doctrine, in fact was noted for it, but was living a grossly immoral secret life. Look at lifestyle as part of any assessment of a teacher of the Bible.

Apollos was a diligent student of scripture and knowledgeable, and he taught, but he did not have the full story of the new covenant, only John’s Baptism. Did his lack mean he was false? No, because his teachableness and humility when approached by Priscilla and Aquila were also indicators of his status as true teacher. He did not reject the fuller knowledge, in fact, he hastily absorbed it and went on in humility to become a noted true teacher of the Gospel.

Beth Moore knows the full story of the Bible but chooses NOT to teach it even when urged, reminded, alerted, and corrected. Romans 1:25 applies to her.

All in all, false teachers are bad. They should not be tolerated, even a little bit.

And in the Scripture they are never tolerated. They’re never tolerated as sort of partially right and needing to be helped along to the fullness of the truth, they are totally denounced, condemned to eternal damnation. ~John MacArthur, Portrait of False Teachers part 1

Conclusion

The best thing to do is to train in discernment and to:
–stay in the word frequently if not daily
–appeal to the Holy Spirit daily for help in interpreting it rightly
–pray for growth in discernment

The Lord will give these good gifts to His children, because they are aligned with HIS will.

Further Resources

Portrait of False Teachers part 1, MacArthur sermon

Lessons I’ve learned from False Teachers, Tim Challies, essay

How to Identify False Teachers if you Don’t Know the Truth, For the Gospel, Costi Hinn essay

False teachers, Just Thinking Podcast

Decoding False Teachers: Types of Wolves in Christianity- Reader Questions & Answers part 1 The End Time

theology

Prata Potpourri: Staying ‘Resolute’, Easter planning, Forming Friendships in Christ, the Nicest Show on TV, Busy-ness; More

Posted on April 5, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

The Answers for Women conference at Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter concluded. I’ve seen the photos and videos of the fellowship among the leaders, and I was much encouraged. I see the crowd of hungry women who traveled far to attend in order to receive great teaching, and I’m encouraged.

I see the crowd and I wonder if Lori Alexander The Transformed Wife, who is against women ‘learning theology’ and against women ‘teaching theology’ and against women being out in the world, would see this many women being taught by other women and would say “They are all wrong and I am right” and “Ken Ham is wrong and I am right”. I muse on the deception of sin and the spiritual harm of pride.

Stay teachable, ladies.

Lori Alexander could have written this book…

Most false teachers like Lori quote scripture, but so did the devil – and to Jesus’ face no less. Sin is so deceptive. Lori could have written this book… Meanwhile I encourage you to go to Answers in Genesis TV when the video sessions are posted and view them. The topic was staying Resolute for Christ, and many sessions taught about discernment and false movements that destroy.

Virgil Walker wrote an essay titled Don’t Mistake Activity for Obedience: Why the Kingdom Isn’t Built on Busyness.

I remember years ago, a woman who was busy at church. She was busy-busy. She was on many committees, volunteered for everything, was there every time the doors opened (this was back when we had 2 Sunday services and Wednesday night prayer meeting). She was working full time and a married mom of two, but was so busy her second job seemed like it was church. She got tired, complaining, and burned out. She later separated from her husband, divorced for no biblical reason, resisted counseling, avoided church discipline, and was eventually excommunicated. Not that busy-ness necessarily leads to apostasy, but sometimes busy-ness covers for a lack of spiritual core that true repentance gives a person when they are saved. Read Virgil’s piece…

I listened to the first session of Susan Heck’s conference at Crossway Bible Church in Kansas. The topic was Forming Faithful Friendships in Christ. Her first session focused on what it means for US to be friends with Jesus, a great first session. Mrs. Heck laid a solid foundation. The sessions, all 4 plus a Q&A, are at the church’s website. It is listed on the Sermons page, which over time the Friendship sessions will get squashed down, so you may have to scroll a bit if you are reading this months from now.

Forming Faithful Friendships in Christ by Susan Heck.

Tim Challies wrote about “The most pleasant show on television”. If you’re wondering, it’s All Creatures Great and Small, the modern reboot. Usually when I see ‘modern reboot’ it means crassness, wokeness, sexual immorality, and other pollutions. Not this time. I saw the original show in the 1970s when it first came out and I think this reboot is even better. I agree with Challies, it’s just plain nice.

Challies concludes his essay saying, “I hope the show’s success helps the studios understand that if they keep out the raunch, hold back the politics, and simply tell good stories in a compelling way, they’ll have an audience eager to watch.”

The Most Pleasant Show on Television

Owen Strachan said the same thing a few months ago with his essay, The Enchanted Realism of “All Creatures Great and Small” : An Essay on Television’s Best Show.

A few short weeks ago I recommended the CBS show Elsbeth. But this week, I became very disappointed. I love the show and Carrie Preston’s skill at bringing the character to life. The episode ‘Tiny Town’ was so good! However, the latest episode featured lesbian kissing, a throuple, homosexual kissing. AND emphasis on ‘no judgment’. One person in a polyamory ‘marriage’ had been suspected of killing another in the threesome. The police captain said he could not get his head around the notion of a threesome in marriage. “I get all I need from my one love, Claudia. Maybe people would actually be happy if they focused on one person.” That was the comment he felt he needed to apologize for, since it was “insensitive” according to the show’s script.

Sad. I do JUDGE. Tekel: You, Elsbeth, have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

Christian friends, there may be little on TV we care to consume, but there ARE a few here and there that allow for safe viewing and a pleasurable media experience. I hope All Creatures stays the course.

Mrs. Sharon Lareau at Chapter 3 Ministries has a good essay about Worry Less About Which Bible Reading Plan to Use and More About Which Bible, and she explains the Bible translations. Occasionally I see people on Twitter/X discussing their choice of translation, or a chat about their decision to change translations. I started with the NKJV because that was the Bible a friend gave me. Then I used the ESV for years, until I changed to the NASB. I use NASB and Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) interchangeably. My pastor preaches from the ESV.

The translation does matter and we should make an informed decision about which translation we read and study from. Sharon makes a recommendation and then explains the basis for her choice.

Post-Its and Bible study go together like Mac & cheese. EPrata photo

Marci Ferrell / Thankful Homemaker has some good resources ahead of Easter. She writes,

Easter is almost here, and as Christian women, we want to make sure our celebration is focused on Jesus.⁣ In today’s video, I’m sharing simple, heartfelt, and practical ways to plan a Christ-centered Easter at home—without feeling overwhelmed.⁣
⁣
Whether you have little ones, teens, or an all-adult household, I pray this episode encourages you to reflect on the beauty of the resurrection and gives you tools to point your family to Christ in meaningful ways.⁣
⁣
💌 Download My Free Christ-Focused Easter Planning Guide⁣
Includes meal prep timelines, Holy Week Scripture readings, discussion questions, and simple celebration ideas.⁣
⁣
📺 Watch Marci’s Easter video on YouTube

⁣It’s the weekend here as I write this. Green leaves are budding, birds are singing, and I have the next week off for Spring Break from school. Time to go outside and enjoy God’s green creation.

discernment, theology

The Importance of Spiritual Discernment for Believers

Posted on April 4, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Discernment is important.

Let me rephrase that.

Discernment is important.

Discernment is:

Discernment is the skill of understanding and applying God’s Word with the purpose of separating truth from error and right from wrong. ~Tim Challies

Charles Spurgeon drills down even further:

Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.

Though ALL believers must train in discernment (Hebrews 5:14), some believers are given a heightened ability to discern by virtue of possessing a gift from the Spirit.

and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:10, underline mine).

For spirit-gifted discerning believers AND all others, we must practice discernment in our walk. (1 John 4:1, Philippians 1:9-10, Romans 12:2). That means both identifying it AND acting on it. It’s non-negotiable.

Sheep, or Wolf? A Call to Discern
by Dr. Colin Eakin
Discernment: The Neglected Imperative

Where does God command believers to exercise spiritual discernment? Perhaps a better question is, where doesn’t He? The answer is Philemon. Of all the books in the New Testament, this letter of twenty-five verses is the only one in which there is no instruction for the believer to be on guard against falsehood. All remaining twenty-six books of the New Testament (and many of the Old Testament) exhort the believer, to a greater or lesser degree, to discern truth from falsehood and to act upon it.

Satan downplays the importance of discernment. How? He twists scriptures such as the ones under discussion today, two of the most abused scriptures in the Bible, plus one more-

Judge not, that ye be not judged. (Matthew 7:1)

And this one:

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. (Matthew 18:15).

And this admonition based on nothing in the Bible but bandied about as if it was:

Be nice. Jesus ate with sinners, you know.

Sadly, when I write an essay discerning a false teacher, or speaking against a false doctrine, inevitably I receive a slew of comments from women who insist I perform one or the other of the verses above. This makes me sad, because I know from such comments these women are not operating at peak Christian condition. Their insistence that I employ one or both of these verses usually reveals two things about them:

— they hold to an errant understanding of the verses above
— they hypocritically have failed to follow their own advice and ‘come to me privately’, and to ‘judge not’.

Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster. (Proverbs 10:14).

Here is my rebuttal to the commenters lobbing the most abused discernment verses:

Judge not, that ye be not judged. (Matthew 7:1).

‘Do not judge’ cannot mean ‘do not discern.’ There are calls to discern in every book of the New Testament except Philemon, and many of the Old. (1 John 4:1, Philippians 1:9-10, Hebrews 5:14, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Kings 3:9, & etc.)

So, ‘Judge not’ can’t mean do not judge, because in John 7:24 we’re told to judge. Wisdom would suggest that rather than there being an inconsistency in the Bible, there is an inconsistency in our understanding.

So if Matthew 7:1 doesn’t mean not to discern and it doesn’t mean judge not, what does it actually mean? Well, first, read the verse in context. Here is Matthew 7:1-5,

Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

It means when we do have to judge something, as in test, discern, check, etc, do not do so hypocritically, harshly, or wrongly.

Resource here: GotQuestions- What does the Bible mean that we are not to judge others?

2. Have you gone to her privately?

In this one, commenters are referring to a section in Matthew 18, where the Bible outlines procedures for church discipline. Here is the passage:

If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17 NASB)

This verse is about church discipline, when one member of a local body has sinned against another person in the local body. It is a local, internal procedure. It is not referring to our response to book reviews or other public statements false teachers have made in public.

Phil Johnson explained here, in a 2006 blog essay:

It would be a serious mistake to imagine that a private meeting is always a mandatory prerequisite before any Christian can legitimately express public criticism of another believer’s published work or public behavior. On the contrary, sometimes—especially when we’re dealing with a public and scandalous transgression—open rebuke may be warranted as a first response (cf. Galatians 2:11-14). Matthew 18:15-17 outlines instructions for dealing with private sins and personal offenses. These are not guidelines for dealing with false teaching or public behavior that might cloud the truth of the gospel or besmirch the reputation of the whole church.

Here is a link to a pdf “Editorial on Abusing Matthew 18” by Don Carson

Here is Tim Challies with an easy button version of Don Carson’s essay on Matthew 18 abuse.

3. Jesus ate with Sinners

Strangely, in a third most abused verse in the discernment world, many of them say ‘Be nice. Don’t condemn. Jesus ate with sinners.’ What they are referring to is Mark 2:16.

And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

If you think about it, you realize how massively ridiculous their statement that one should not cry out against false teachers or false doctrine is.

The only sinless person who ever lived was Jesus. Of COURSE He ate with sinners. He ate with sinners every time He ate. Jesus eating with sinners verse was about the Pharisees complaining that Jesus was eating with tax collectors and prostitutes whom the Pharisees believed were “sinners”, outcasts unworthy to be in polite society, while at the same time believing that they themselves were NOT sinners and thus worthy to grace Jesus with their presence.

Jesus ate with sinners, having compassion on them, because they were lost sheep. However, He never expected them to remain in their sin. He told the adulteress to ‘go and sin no more,’ for example. He also was very harsh with many other sinners. He whipped up a fury against the merchant greed-mongers in the temple. He called the Pharisees blind guides, fools, wicked, and greedy.

Of course we (forgiven) sinners will eat with (unforgiven) sinners because we are to be in the world. But if we see a friend involved in a false doctrine, do we eat their food but leave them with a poison in their soul? No.

Jesus, Friend of Sinners: But How?
By Kevin DeYoung

As precious as this truth is—that Jesus is a friend of sinners—it, like every other precious truth in the Bible, needs to be safeguarded against doctrinal and ethical error. It is all too easy, and amazingly common, for Christians (or non-Christians) to take the general truth that Jesus was a friend of sinners and twist it all out of biblical recognition.

Jesus was a friend of sinners not because he winked at sin, ignored sin, or enjoyed light-hearted revelry with those engaged in immorality. Jesus was a friend of sinners in that he came to save sinners and was very pleased to welcome sinners who were open to the gospel, sorry for their sins, and on their way to putting their faith in Him.

Why is it significant that Jesus ate with sinners?

It’s the biggest problem.

People ask me this all the time, “What is the greatest need in the church today? What is the most compelling need? What do you see as the biggest problem in Christianity? The biggest problem in the church?

It’s simple for me to answer that. The biggest problem in the church today is the absence of discernment. It’s a lack of discernment. It’s the biggest problem with Christian people, they make bad choices. They accept the wrong thing. They accept the wrong theology. The are prone to the wrong teaching. They’re unwise in who they follow, what they listen to and what they read. ~John MacArthur, Principles for Discernment 2002.

You can enhance your discernment through constant training, (Hebrews 5:14), prayers for wisdom, (James 1:5) and staying in the word (Psalm 119:11). Then perhaps at some point you can help advise a sister and encourage her in her discernment walk. 🙂

theology

Why ‘God Told Me’ Isn’t Biblical

Posted on April 2, 2025April 2, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I’ve been thinking a lot about the rampant issue in evangelicalism concerning “God told me.” So many men and women are running around with alleged prophecies and all sorts of messages the ‘voice’ supposedly told them.

Even more sad is the number of people that believe that God is speaking to these so-called prophets. If God is speaking now outside of the Bible, it makes the Bible INsufficient for all teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, and makes 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which says it is sufficient, into a lie.

What is the Doctrine of Sufficiency of Scripture?

That scriptural fact notwithstanding, there is another issue with the people who claim God is telling them things, whispering things, and/or promising them things outside of the Bible. The news He is allegedly bringing is never the kind that is spoken of in the Bible. Like, what kind, you ask? Well,

When Jesus was commissioning Ananais to go to Saul/Paul, Ananias balked a little, saying that Saul has been persecuting everyone all over the place. Jesus replied and told Ananias how much Paul must suffer for the sake of His name. Here is what was said,

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name.” (Acts 9:15-16).

I remember people oohing and ahhing over the testimony of HGTV’s Fixer Upper co-host Joanna Gaines. Did God tell Joanna that she will suffer much for His name? No. Was her prophecy something like this-

But the Lord said to her husband Chip, “Go, for she is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show Joanna how much she must suffer in behalf of My name.“

Somehow, suffering for the Lord is never part of the ‘prophecies’ or conversations these ladies purport to have in these conversations with God. What DID ‘Jesus’ allegedly promise Joanna Gaines?

“I hear God say very clearly, he said, ‘Joanna if you trust me with your dreams I’m going to take Magnolia further than you could have ever dreamed so just trust me.’“

Sure. Sure. It always seems like ‘God’ says he will give the lady a comfy life and make all her dreams come true.

Isaiah was a true prophet of God. God raised Isaiah either bodily or in a vision to the throne room.

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your guilt is taken away and atonement is made for your sin.” (Isaiah 6:7)

How lovely is this. It brought tears to my eyes. Isaiah was gifted with a vision of the throne room. Aghast that a worm such as he would be near the holy God, the angel flew to him and touched his lips with a burning coal and says his sins were atoned for. Isaiah lived 700 years BEFORE the cross. In heaven there is no time. Isaiah’s sins were atoned for even though on earth Jesus had not incarnated and died yet. But God’s word is SO SURE that Isaiah’s sins were atoned for even though the event had not occurred yet in our time.

But isn’t it curious how these women who claim ‘God’ comes to them never seem to have the same reaction other people in the Bible have when confronted with the presence of the actual Jehovah? Which is to cower in fear and despair that His holiness shows up the depth of our sin?

But God was not giving Isaiah this vision just to offer a tour of heaven. God had a message for Isaiah. He was calling Isaiah to be God’s prophet! What exciting personal news did Isaiah receive? It was that Isaiah was going to speak God’s word, but no one would pay attention.

Isaiah wondered how long this dire circumstance would be his calling.

Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered, “Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, Houses are without people And the land is utterly desolate, 12The LORD has completely removed people, And there are many forsaken places in the midst of the land. (Isaiah 6:11-12).

Gulp. Not so cheery is it? It is one of the most supremely majestic scenes in the Bible. And yet the news was not so personally beneficial to Isaiah, as these conversations nowadays always seem to be with the claims of conversations with God.

In this scene, all is spoken in august language, reverentially, mindful of the Holy One of Israel, the Ancient of Days whose robe filled the temple.

Now we turn to a prophecy and vision Beth Moore supposedly had. She was lifted up too! She even went farther than Isaiah in that Jesus showed her things as HE sees them, not as Isaiah sees them, which is that we are undone before a holy God. No, Beth Moore was given a peek at how Jesus sees the church, and in another dimension no less!

Beth said, “You know what He said just a few days ago? “Honey, I just want you to know we’re just beginning.”

Honey?

And it was as if I was raised up looking down on a community, as I saw the church in that particular dimension- certainly not all dimensions, not even in many, but in what we will discuss tonight, the church, as Jesus sees it, in a particular dimension. Oh, glory! That meant I had begun. Hallelujah! But He was telling me, “When this ends, we ain’t done with this. Honey, this is what we do for the rest of your life.” And He said those words to me over and over again: “Believe Me. Believe Me.”

God said ‘We ain’t done with this honey’? Really?

Sure, sure.

God told Peter when he was old, that he’d stretch out his hands and go where he did not want, a prophecy most interpret as Peter’s crucifixion-martyrdom.

Contrast this to today’s prosperity prophecies. When God speaks it’s to tell women they are enough, they are a princess, so beautiful, will have a platform, will do wonderful things. God has a wonderful plan for your life, God is going to do amazing things. It’s always centered around something pleasant for the woman, not so much about advancing God’s holy plan.

Will He do as amazing as a thing as render all Israel a desolate land? An agonizing death? A suffering life? An ignored Prophet? These were actual prophecies in the Bible.

The canon is closed. God’s new revelation ended with Revelation 22. I’m not saying God CAN’T speak now, of course He can. It’s just that He closed the Bible with a warning not to add to the book nor take away from it. He said that at the present time, He would not be speaking. It’s not a question of His ability, it’s a question of His consistency.

Think carefully about the prophecies (conversations, whispers, voices) are saying to these women (and men). The content of these conversations is inconsistent with God’s previously delivered word. The language use is inconsistent with God’s previously given word. Compare to the Bible. They all come up short, because the canon is closed and the word as given is sufficient.

Study your Bible to “hear” God’s voice. His word is God-breathed.

encouragement, theology

Understanding the Aroma of Christ in Believers

Posted on April 1, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?” (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)

This is a beautiful passage, with many layered and deep elements. First, Christ uses His believers to spread the fragrance of knowledge of Him. Christ as the ultimate fragrance. The word “fragrance” can have many nuances, each with their own evocation of meaning. ‘Odor’ evokes something unpleasant, and the word ‘smell’ is simply utilitarian. But fragrance is a perfume…that is a sweet and wonderful aroma, evoking light and sweetness, as Christ is, of course.

Second, the verse moves from Christ as the fragrance to the believers themselves as having fragrance. Any believer is in Christ and due to our spiritual union, has His aroma as well. To God, this is most pleasing.

Last, the one who is perishing smells the odor of death instead of the perfumed fragrance of Christ. Why? They are perishing.

To the perishing, the knowledge of Christ is an odor unto death. They writhe under it, flee from it. If trapped with it, they try to cover it with anything handy, air freshener, orange peels… (as a metaphor) but the smell of Christ can never be covered up. The aroma remains the same, only its effects differ upon the receiver.

In this passage, Paul was evoking a common sight, the triumphal procession. The order of the participants in the procession was standard, from the generals to the soldiers carrying the spoils, to the captives in chains. Behind them, the priests come swinging the incense bowls. The captives in chains knew they would be executed soon. What was the incense smell of victory to the victors lining the streets was the smell of death to those in chains.

How’s your aroma? Is it pleasing to God? Are you in the triumphal procession? His fragrance through us spreading everywhere the knowledge of Him? Do you pass the smell test?

theology

Prata Potpourri: Women, discernment, Piper, more

Posted on March 28, 2025May 20, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I am conferenced out. I had the wonderful privilege of attending the National G3 conference a few times and I enjoyed it. But as I age, I am finding that being in a cavernous building filled with thousands of people overwhelms me more quickly than it used to. My energy drains away faster than two shakes of a lamb’s tail.

As an older women a few years away from retirement, it seems lately that all I want to do is come home from work and sit down. Sunday go to church. Repeat. LOL. However I am also grateful for the opportunity through the wonderful invention of the internet, to be able to consume material from present day solid ministries and past ones that have been uploaded, such as at Monergism, Grace Gems, and the like.

Being careful but savvy about what to consume on social media allows a woman to develop her discernment. As long as we are in the word, studying, reading, singing, and in church worshiping, we can extend our learning by testing it with material we find online. This includes buying books and listening to music, whether through Spotify, Pandora, Youtube, or Apple.

In that vein, below are a few links offering a wealth of information about women for women.

Always wise, always measured, and with a right-heart attitude, Amy broaches the subject that many women unfortunately stumble on, hearing God’s voice: Ladies, No One Is Whispering to You by Amy Spreeman at Berean Research

Grace Sutton muses on the different states of being as an adult- singleness and marriage. Desiring one over the other isn’t necessarily making an idol nor would it be sinful. God set apart some for singleness and many for marriage. Here’s Grace working through the issue: Let Me Be Single essay at For the Church

When the blog Pyromaniacs was going, some years ago Phil Johnson wrote about women and discernment. LOL, Don’t blame the messenger: The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Discernment Divas by Phil Johnson, essay

Aussie Daniel Schricker writes and speaks about cults because he grew up in one. Here, he identifies the markers and makings of a cult, and applies the scholarly information to a well-known woman on seemingly every social media there is, The Transformed Wife, Lori Alexander. The Cult of Lori Alexander, essay by Daniel Schricker, Ph.D

With all the brouhaha of gender studies in the recent past, documentary satirist Matt Walsh published a film asking ‘gender experts’ the simple question… What is a Woman? full documentary by Matt Walsh

Great conference content coming up for women I wrote about this yesterday, we can review the sermons and talks afterward on social media, blessedly. Good stuff here!

In 2013, Sunny Shell of Abandoned to Christ ministry wrote the following essay. It was scriptural and humble. She said that consuming Piper’s material “requires more discernment than I currently possess.” She said she loved him and considered him a brother, but she couldn’t follow him any longer, not while there were so many other good ministries out there. Sunny received a LOT of push back, even though there was not an accusatory bone in the whole essay. She took it down and it stayed down for a number of years. A few years ago she put it back up.

As for me, I do not follow Piper either. His continuationism and his multi-step justification stances gave me pause some years ago as to following him or consuming his material. Never mind his lack of discernment in inviting or sharing platforms with Mark Driscoll, Beth Moore, Rick Warren etc. an issue that Sunny pointed out in 2013. Recently, Piper spoke at Pastors’ Workshop and his recorded remarks are causing consternation among the more solid theologians. Here, Ekkie points out the conundrum in a short tweet. Below, find Sunny’s humble but accurate article. Though at this time I consider Piper a brother, I do warn that he has had many confusing stances in the past and of late. Too many bones… Why I no longer follow John Piper or Desiring God ministry

encouragement, Uncategorized

The Connection Between Incense and Prayer

Posted on March 20, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

The LORD told Jeremiah to tell the people that their sacrifices of incense were not going to be received, because of their sin. He was going to send judgment instead. There is a connection between incense and prayer, I’ll explore today.

First, let’s look at the Temple and the altar of incense, called the golden altar. (Exodus 39:38).

for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD. (1 Chronicles 28:18–19).

The Lexham Bible Dictionary explains that pure incense was manufactured from equal parts of the following substances:

• stacte—oil of myrrh
• onycha—an extract from a Red Sea mollusk
• galbanum—thought to come from the gum of an umbelliferous plant
• frankincense

This mixture was seasoned with salt (Exodus 30:34–38). The LORD raised up perfumers whose job it was to produce the incense. (Exodus 30:34-38). One of the responsibilities of the priest was to keep incense burning on the altar daily. (2 Chronicles 13:11). Not to burn it was disobedience. (2 Chronicles 29:7-8).

There’s much more to the actual incense ingredients, blending, burning, and spiritual uses, but for now, let’s turn to the main idea for today- the connection between incense and prayers.

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. (Zechariah, in Luke 1:8-11)

John Owen in his commentary on Hebrews makes a distinction between the two times incense is used in the temple.

Whereas, therefore, there was a twofold use of the altar of incense; the one of the ordinary priests, to burn incense in the sanctuary every day; and the other of the high priest, to take incense from it when he entered into the most holy place, to fill it with a cloud of its smoke; the apostle intending a comparison peculiarly between the Lord Christ and the high priest only in this place, and not the other priests in the daily. discharge of their office

Incense both accompanies and symbolizes prayer. ( Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3-4). The burning of incense as a sweet smelling offering before the Lord, indicated the worshiper’s duty to present prayers or offerings that were pleasing to God (1 Samuel 2:28).

When the New Covenant came, the new way of praying came. (Matthew 6:9). No longer needing a priest to intercede, no longer needing incense to symbolize types and shadows, we now have the Spirit in us to intercede, and the resurrected Jesus next to the right hand of the Father to intercede. We can ourselves go boldly before the throne of grace.

John Owen in his commentary on Hebrews lays out four ways incense is like prayer.

1.) In that it was beaten and pounded before it was used. So doth acceptable prayer proceed from “a broken and contrite heart,” Isaiah 51:17.

(2.) It was of no use until fire was put under it, and that taken from the altar. Nor is that prayer of any virtue or efficacy which is not kindled by the fire from above, the Holy Spirit of God; which we have from our altar, Christ Jesus.

(3.) It naturally ascended upwards towards heaven, as all offerings in the Hebrew are called “ascensions,” risings up. And this is the design of prayer, to ascend unto the throne of God: “I will direct unto thee, and will look up;” that is, pray, Psalms 5:3.

(4.) It yielded a sweet savor: which was one end of it in temple services, wherein there was so much burning of flesh and blood. So doth prayer yield a sweet savor unto God; a savor of rest, wherein he is well pleased.

Owen further observes:

We are always to reckon that the efficacy and prevalency of all our prayers depends on the incense which is in the hand of our merciful high priest. — It is offered with the prayers of the saints, Revelation 8:4. In themselves our prayers are weak and imperfect; it is hard to conceive how they should find acceptance with God. But the invaluable incense of the intercession of Christ gives them acceptance and prevalency.

What an inexpressible privilege it is to pray. The curtain is parted, we may boldly approach the throne of God. He not only hears our prayer, he Himself intercedes for us when we utter groanings too weak to understand. (Romans 8:26).

Do not neglect prayer, a sweet smell of our sacrifice of praise to our Lord who hears.