More John Bevere Quotes
compiled by Sandy Simpson, 5/23/06
Bevere on the subject of discernment ...
John Bevere : "I am so tired of criticalness being called discernment. Do you want to know true discernment? Paul said "That your love may abound in all discernment." When you are willing to die for somebody that is when you are actually discerning them. Jesus could call the Pharisees hypocrites and snakes because he went to the cross and died for them. So the next time you are quote "discerning" about somebody ask yourselves the question could you die for them? If you can`t say yes, you're critical because the love of God is to lay down your life for them, and discernment is rooted only in love. Got it?" (John Bevere, The Christian Channel Europe "The Messenger" 26/3/98)It is true that Christians need to speak the truth in love among brothers in the Faith (Eph. 4:15). Conversely, and not taught by Bevere, Christians are also to mark, avoid and reject the divisive ones, heretics (Rom. 16:17, Tit. 3:10). Apparently Bevere wants to major on discernment among those who call themselves believers to the exclusion of rejecting heresy from the wolves in sheep's clothing. But what Bevere teaches that is false teaching is that it is wrong for Christians to be "critical". The Greek word from which we get the English word "critical" is kritikos. Strongs says it means discerner, relating to judging, fit for judging, skilled in judging. The Bible clearly teaches that Christians are to learn to discern.
KRITIKOS -- TO DISCERNAnother word for discern in Greek is diakrisis. It means discerning, discern, disputation, a distinguishing, discerning, judging. This word is used in the context of commanding Christians to use critical discernment in the following passages:
For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge [kritikos] the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Cells called erythrocytes are stored in the red marrow of big bones, like the femur and the tibia. On the outside there is the bone and on the inside there is the marrow. But in between there is an area where, even with a microscope, it is very difficult to tell where the bone ends and where the marrow begins. The Bible says that the relationship between soul and spirit is like that. Take prophecy: Was that from someone's imagination, or was it God's Spirit speaking through their spirit? It is very difficult to tell the difference. Man is a three-dimensional being. You can separate a body from a soul; but you cannot easily tell where the soul ends and the spirit begins. When people say, "The Lord showed me this" and "God told me that," it is difficult to know if it is someone's imagination or God's Spirit speaking to their spirit. The mind is a good servant, but a dangerous master. Many people are caught up with things not overtly demonic, but they are prophesying from the futility of their own mind. We are called to kritikos -- to discern between the soulish and the spiritual. The Word of God enables us to separate the bone from the marrow, the spiritual from the purely soulish. (Jacob Prasch, Judge Not?, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/judgenot.html)
1 Cor. 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning (diakrisis) of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.1 Cor. 12:10 is the same type of discernment that John speaks of in 1 John 4:1.
Heb 5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern (diakrisis) both good and evil.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test (dokimazo) the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.Dokimazo means prove, try, approve, discern, allow, like, test, examine, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals, to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy. Dokimazo is used in these verses commanding Christians to use critical discernment.
Lu 12:56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern (dokimazo) the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern (dokimazo) this time?I could go on and on with word studies having to do with discernment, testing, approving and judging. All of these examples from the Bible teach the mature believer to discern, test and judge and NOT let go of their critical reasoning faculties. John Bevere would do well to read up on this subject. Here is one good article to begin a word study on this subject:
Lu 14:19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove (dokimazo) them: I pray thee have me excused.
Ro 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain (dokimazo) God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Ro 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove (dokimazo) what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1Co 11:28 But let a man examine (dokimazo) himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove (dokimazo) your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Ga 6:4 But let every man prove (dokimazo) his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Eph 5:10 Proving (dokimazo) what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Php 1:10 That ye may approve (dokimazo) things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (dokimazo) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Th 5:21 Prove (dokimazo) all things; hold fast that which is good.
Judge
Not?
by Jacob Prasch
Not only is Bevere teaching Christians not to be discerning by calling people who use discernment "critical", he is actually programming them to be like non-believers in the world which highly esteems the virtues of "tolerance". But, most importantly, with heretics like Bevere the underlying purpose for the continual harping on the subject of "don't judge" is to brainwash people into submission to their false teachings and false "move of the Spirit".
Mature Christians do not defend false teachers and heretics. They are to mark and avoid false teachers (Rom. 16:17). They are to reject heretics (Titus 1: 13), those who lay error alongside truth by secretly introducing destructive heresies (2 Pet. 2:1). Christians are to be light and salt by telling the truth, thus we are to point out who heretics are by name so that people will not listen to them just as the prophets and Apostles did (Lev. 10:1-2; Num. 16; 1 Kings 22:11, 24-25; Jer. 28:15-17, 29:31-32; Eze. 8:8-11, 11:1-13; Matt. 23; 1 Tim. 1:19-20; 2 Tim. 4:14; Gal. 2:11-13; 3 John 9-10; Rev. 2:20, etc.). Christians are told by the Holy Spirit in the Bible, through John, that if we love the Lord we will demonstrate that by obeying His commands (1 John 3:24; 5:3; John 15:10, etc.). One of the often repeated commands of the Lord is to get away from false teachers and false prophets (1Co 5:11-13; 1 John 4:1, Rev. 18:4; Rom. 16:17; Titus 1: 13; Eph. 5:11; 2 Thes. 3:6; 2 Tim. 3:5,7; 2 John 10, 11; Titus 3:10; 2 Cor. 6:17, etc.). Read the following articles on how to be a Berean (Acts 17:11) to learn why we must stand for the Truth against blasphemy and heresy today. Please have your Bible handy to look up all the references given.
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/booklet/booklet.html
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/discerntestjudge.html
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/letstakealook.html
Bevere on alleged manifestations of the Holy Spirit ...
John Bevere talks about waves of God's presence would come in, “children couldn't cry, scream, or shake any longer, another wave of God's presence would come and raise the intensity to another level. At times I could only drop my head on the podium because of the heaviness of God's presence. “I watched one young girl, no more than seven years old, wring her hands profusely as though they were on fire. Her uplifted face was bathed in tears as she cried out. You could sense God on these children so strongly that the ushers did not touch them after initially helping them. They just stood, watched, and cried” (p.6 A Heart Ablaze, John Bevere)I stood watching these same kinds of manifestations in Brownsville meetings and I cried also. Not because it was the Holy Spirit but because little children were being brainwashed and some even demonized by false prophets and heretics by the laying on of hands. The Brownsville adherants were pointing towards people laying on the ground writhing, screaming, kicking, laughing uncontrollably, making animal noises, and even vomiting and saying "The Holy Spirit is all over that person". But my Bible is clear about these manifestations as well as those Bevere describes as having experienced himself ... these are not the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth and of self-control, but people exhibiting a lack of the fruit of the Spirit of self-control and also of clear demonization. Because people like Bevere, former associate pastor at Benny Hinn's church in Orlando, FL, have allowed the devil free reign in their churches because of their disobedience in allowing and promoting false prophecy and occult practices, they are now driven by another spirit, the spirit of the power of the air, the "Zeitgeist". The continued "fruit" of that spirit is lies, deceit, false prophecies, continued dabbling in occult practices like slain in the spirit, and teaching things they ought not to teach. Bevere is a heretic and we need to pray for his deliverance because he has clearly had demonic episodes as has his mentor, false prophet Benny Hinn. For proof of Hinn's dabbling in the occult, get our video on the subject here:
Bevere on the Rapture ...
In a videotaped message entitled The Coming Glory John Bevere proclaims: Listen…the greatest…eh…eh…I get so frustrated when people start talking about, “well we're going to be raptured” and, they kind of have the attitude of “I can't wait to get out of this mess.” Look, do you think God's brought us through all this wilderness just to get us out? Do you think He's put us through all this training just so He could fly us away? There's been a reason. A reason. And we're on the brink of it. I believe we're on, we're on the brink of it. (John Bevere, Videotaped message: “The Coming Glory”, (Orlando, Fla.: John Bevere Ministries)Bevere holds to the idea, as many others in the Kingdom Dominion camp, that the greatest revival, God's glory, is soon to appear. Yet Scripture teaches instead a great apostasy (falling away) and the man of sin will appear who will be a counterfeit Christ. Dominionism is heresy because it denies that Jesus Christ will come back bodily to earth to rule and judge. Dominionism has the Church ruling on earth instead of Christ, and takes away the blessed hope of the resurrection for believers. Strict Dominionism/Manifest Sons of God doctrine even teaches that Christians will be glorified here on earth. The above quote simply illustrates that mockers will come in the end times denying the coming of Christ for His church (2 Pet. 3:3-4). When Jesus Christ comes to gather His elect, it will not be for the purpose of "flying us away" but to rescue us from the wrath of God. It may well be that we will have to endure the lead up to, part of, or the whole Tribulation period, but God will not allow His elect to suffer His wrath (1 Thes. 1:10, 5:9) but rather keep us from it (Rev. 3:10). The word for Tribulation is thlipsis meaning tribulation, affliction, trouble, anguish, persecution, burdened, a pressing, pressing together, pressure. To be sure the Tribulation will also be a time of judgment on the ungodly, but it will also be a time of persecution and testing for those who believe. But God will keep His saints from His wrath and to mock that hope (Titus 2:13) is false teaching.
Bevere on the subject of authority ...
John Bevere teaches that one should submit to authority of all kinds and that by doing so one is protected by God, even IF/WHEN the authority has made a mistake. This is not true, at least not true most of the time. This can actually lead to spiritual or marriage abuse and the person being abused will believe they are the ones in error! So I would have to say that this teaching is dangerous, especially if taken alone without any sort of balance. If you insist on reading this book, then read others on spiritual abuse and how it can happen. (Review, "Under Cover: The Promise of Protection Under His Authority" by John Bevere, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785269916/103-5336298-6842245?v=glance&n=283155)This is not a biblical teaching. We are to submit to authorities, both inside the Church and in the world, as long as what they ask us to do is not in conflict with God's commands (1 John 2:1, 5:2). We are to obey the laws of the land (1 Pet. 2:13-16) "but as the servants of God" (1 Pet. 2:16). We are to submit to the authorities in the Church (Heb. 13:17), but they are also not to lord it over people (Mark 10:42-45), and we are to be Bereans (Acts. 17:11) and test what they teach (1 Thes. 5:21, 1 John 4:1, 1 Cor. 10:15), and reject them if they are heretics (Titus 3:10). Again, Bevere is brainwashing Christians into not testing leadership in the churches so that false apostles, prophets and teachers may gain control of people and their money. This is a hallmark teaching of Third Wave heretics. Other reviews of this Bevere book echo his false teachings:
The message of this book is a very dangerous message for Christians. It promotes a very unhealthy view of how a believer is to submit to authority in the church. Very little actual Biblical support is used to support this message. Instead, John Bevere uses many personal experiences to build his support for the message of Under Cover. These examples have an emotional pull to them and can be very convincing to individuals. However, there is a great danger in this message. As believers, our covering is the Lord Jesus Christ. In his book, Mr. Bevere points people to look at their pastor as their covering. This is serious error and has the potential to shipwreck people's faith. My recommendation would be to not read this book, or, if you are compelled to read it, be sure to balance the message of the book with what the scripture says. (Review, "Under Cover: The Promise of Protection Under His Authority" by John Bevere, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785269916/103-5336298-6842245?v=glance&n=283155)This Undercover book is nothing but heresy. I read the Bait of Satan, it was a good book. Where did this come from? Page 147 shows without a doubt this false teaching. Bevere says that God "told him" that He (God) never intended for His people to get all they needed from His Word. And that we must have pastors tell us what to do. The veil was torn in two when Christ died on the cross, and we are not in the Old Testament where we have to have a priest go into the temple for us. We can all come boldly to the throne of Christ. No where in the New Testament do pastors have any more authority than anyone else. ... But in Americanized christianity, the "pastor" has been put on a throne that the Word does not establish. Pastor means shepherd, and maybe John Bevere and others who hold pastors as little gods should read in Jeremiah and Isaiah what God said about shepherds who lead His people in to false teachings. Sadly, the people who followed the false shepherds were themselves destroyed. God did not spare them from their ignorance. We are all responsible for our own salvation, with fear and trembling. As a pentecostal person, I am very disappointed with this book. It is heresy. (Review, "Under Cover: The Promise of Protection Under His Authority" by John Bevere, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785269916/103-5336298-6842245?v=glance&n=283155)
Bevere on being deceived ...
"The deceived take comfort in a knowledge of a God they simply do not possess." (John Bevere, Drawing Near, pg. 87, Nelson)This quote perfectly describes John Bevere's demonstrated lack of knowledge of God and His Word. You cannot "possess" knowledge of God by getting hands laid on you by Benny Hinn, John Bevere or any other false teacher. That is Gnosticism, which is what Third Wave heretics like Bevere advocate continually. You get knowledge by digging into the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:15-16), and by asking God to give you wisdom (James 1:5) through the Word and the Holy Spirit who is a Christian's teacher (John 14:26). Bevere and other Third Wave heretics like him are on a religious ego trip because of the Gnostic manifestations they have experienced, yet they show clearly those manifestations have not benefited them in knowing God or His Word. This is demonstrated by their multitude of false teachings.
Bevere on the character of God the Son ...
"Do you realise the Son of God who has the Spirit of God without measure was restrained from doing any mighty works? Do you realise that? That's amazing to me... The reason is, He didn't come the way they expected Him to come... Many times God will send you what you need in a package you didn't want. Can you give double honour to that package that you didn't necessarily want?" (John Bevere, Under Cover Pg 111-112, Leaders Guide)Jesus Christ is said by Bevere to "have the Spirit of God without measure". This is an inaccurate and misleading statement about God. Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man, therefore Jesus Christ isn't just filled with the Holy Spirit, He is One with the Holy Spirit in the Trinunity of the Godhead. This again shows that Bevere is a Word-Faith heretic because the teaching of Word-Faith is that Jesus Christ was born a man and only received the Holy Spirit when He was baptized by John. Therefore when a Christian is baptized they can be everything and do everything Jesus Christ was. This is what Bevere's mentor Benny Hinn has taught over and over again:
"Don't tell me you have Jesus. You ARE everything He was, and everything He is and shall be." (Benny Hinn, TBN)Paul Crouch also stated the same thing:
"Do you know what else that's settled then tonight? This hue and cry and controversy that has been spawned by the devil to try to bring dissension within the body of Christ that we are gods. I am a little god. I have His name. I am one with Him. I'm in covenant relation. I am a little god. Critics be gone! (You are everything that He is.)" (Paul Crouch, "Praise the Lord" program, July 7, 1986).The second part of this heresy is that Bevere claims Jesus Christ was "restrained from doing any mighty works". I'm not sure what Bevere views as "mighty works" but I don't think that calming storms and walking on water are a "restraint" on the part of God. Jesus Christ was not "restrained" but rather in everything He submitted Himself to the will of the Father (Luke 22:42, Heb. 5:6-8, John 5:19-21). The teaching on submission is an extremly important teaching about the character of Christ, which should also translate into a pattern for the character of the believer. Bevere clearly does not understand the concept of submission, just as the other blasphemous Word-Faith teachers don't while they command God and claim they can declare things into existence.
Bevere on "restoration" ...
Restorationism: A Prophetic Timeline ... On Sunday morning, April 21st, at New Life Christian Fellowship in Kelowna Lance Wallnau of the CNET team presented a teaching. He outlined the standard Restorationism timeline. I'll quote directly from John Bevere's new book "The Fear of the Lord," where John uses the same outline. "Come, let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; and on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight." Hosea 6:1-2. This passage is a prophetic Scripture describing God's refinement of His church in preparation for His glory. He has torn but He will heal. A day with the Lord is a thousand years (2 Pet.3:8). It has been two full days (two thousand years) since the resurrection of the Lord. We are on the verge of God's reviving and restoring His glory to His temple. The third day speaks of the thousand year reign of Christ when He will live and reign in our sight. Hosea gives further instruction about how to live and what to pursue as we prepare for His glory. (p.123) "Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning: He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth." 6:3. To John Bevere and the Restorationists, "we are rapidly approaching the latter rain of God's glory" p.115. John believes that the Lord has revealed to him the truth of the connections noted above. John would readily admit that the interpretation he brings to Hosea 6 is based on a spiritual interpretation of the Word rather than a literal one. (The Tabernacle of David and the Latter Rain: Hype or Hope? By Len Hjalmarson, http://www.nextreformation.com/wp-admin/general/tabernacle1.htm)Bevere's "understanding" of this passage has nothing to do with the context. Hosea is clearly a passage about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and has already been fulfilled. Jesus Christ HAS revived us, saved us, and has raised us up by being the Resurrection and the Life. This is not talking about any "refinement" of the Church. Jesus Christ is not restoring glory to His temple. He is saving and changing individual people through sanctification, and building His Church. He has already accomplish what is prophesied in Hosea by His death on the cross and ressurection, thus becoming our Salvation. There is no "latter rain" of God's glory, except in the Millennium. Prior to the Tribulation and Millennium it will be a time of apostasy leading to the short lived kingdom of the antichrist, and this is the age we presently live in. This Bevere teaching is clear Dominionist/MSOG fantasy, and is dangerous heresy as well.
Bevere on "prophetic ministry" ...
There is the prophetic ministry of promise born of the will of the Father and there is the prophetic ministry born of flesh and the will of man. Though both are conceived through a genuine desire to fulfil God’s plan and promise, the one birthed by flesh must be maintained by flesh while the one birthed by the Spirit will be sustained by the Spirit. Flesh reproduces flesh and therefore speaks directly to the desires of man. Spirit reproduces spirit and therefore speaks forth the desire of God (John Bevere, Thus Saith the Lord, p.4).Any "prophetic ministry" that is not truly prophetic is not just a prophetic "ministry born of flesh", it is false prophets giving false prophecy from their imagainations.
Jeremiah 14:14 Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.Today the main role of a "prophet" is to exegete, pull out what God is saying, from the written Word. Jesus Christ speaks to us through His Word (Heb. 1:1-2) to instruct and edify the Church (1 Cor. 14:31). The modern prophet does not rely on his own interpretations (2 Pet. 1:20). The Holy Spirit speaks through the living written Word, which we are not to go beyond (1 Cor. 4:6), and out of that comes the guidance of the Lord for the Church. As a prophet elaborates upon the Word, prophecy for the church today often comes forth. The Lord can and still sometimes does speak through dreams and visions (Acts 2:17). But, again, dreams and visions must be tested by the Scripture (1 Thes. 5:21). The written Word is our highest authority because the Holy Spirit breathed the words through men--the very Word of God (2 Tim. 3:15-16). I would also add that you can be sure that those who give themselves the title of apostle or prophet today, blowing loudly their own horn loudly before men, are false apostles and false prophets (2 Cor. 11:13, Mark 13:22). It is clear, from the above, that Bevere does not understand this concept.
Bevere is endorsed by C. Peter Wagner, "foundational apostle" of the International Coalition of Apostles and the New Apostolic Reformation ...
Why is there such an emphasis on apostles, prophets and prophetic ministry? According to Ephesians 4:11-15, all five of the ascension gifts of Christ (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) are needed to equip and perfect the saints. However, several hundred years ago some theologians started teaching that apostles and prophets were no longer a valid, active ministry within the church, and that even their very existence ceased after the establishment of the first-century church. For the last 20 years, God has been restoring the reality of apostles and prophets as being active and vital today. Jesus said, "I will build My church" (Matt. 16:18). He is still in the process of building His church. Apostles and prophets are major builders within the church, and are actually foundational ministries upon which the building takes place (see Eph. 2:20). 1 Corinthians 14:4 states that "he who prophesies edifies [builds up] the church." Therefore, we see that the ministry of prophesying is one of God's strategic tools for building His church in power, that the "gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18, KJV). For further reading on this subject, Creation House has the following books available on its Web site, www.creationhouse.com: Prophetic Etiquette by Michael Sullivant, and Thus Saith the Lord? by John Bevere. (C. Peter Wagner, http://www.globalharvest.org/index.asp?action=pastorprophets)Those who are quick to point out that John Bevere has no connection to the Latter Rain, New Apostolic movement are sorely mistaken. This the the type of teaching that is reiterated by people like Bevere over and over again in order to brainwash their followers. There is no such thing as an "foundational" apostles or prophets in the Church today. Rather than go into that whole issue, read this article and look up the Scripture references:
Why
Were The Grace Gifts Of Servant Leadership Given?
Ephesians 4:11-13, Study #6, by Sandy Simpson
For more information on the agenda of the New Apostolic Reformation, read that section of the site. For a video series on the NAR, go here:
The New Apostolic Reformation - What is it and where is it going?
Bevere has ties to Word of Faith, the Toronto Blessing, etc. ...
John Bevere [as well as his wife] has written articles for ‘CHARISMA’ magazine. He has spoken at meetings for Ulf Ekmann, in company with John Avanzini and Marilyn Hickey and he earlier shared a conference in 1996 with John Arnott [of ‘Toronto Blessing’ infamy]. (http://www.takeheed.net/news18.htm)
Bevere is apparently not forthcoming with his ministry credentials ...
As far as I know, Bevere has a B.A. in mechanical engineering from Purdue, and has no seminary training whatsoever. In addition, he twists Scriptures to fit what he wants to say---heavy on submission to authority, and heavy on tongues. I have talked to John Bevere Ministries and they were quite evasive about Bevere's resume, and couldn't even tell me where he got his Biblical training. As far as my personal information, IF I had a public ministry---I can guarantee that my financial records would be open to the public for close scrutiny. This is part of the witness to the world: to be above reproach; to be transparent with both resume and finances. I would not allow myself to be introduced at churches and speaking engagements as "reverend" when I don't hold that degree. Bevere's book UNDERCOVER states that we are like horses that must be broken; basically that one should submit to a pastor EVEN IF HE IS WRONG; that we need permission from the pastor to leave that church for another, and so on. We are neither horses nor under such heavy authority that we cannot make choices for ourselves! God has given us great brains and free wills---with which we can study the Scriptures for ourselves, confront error the way the Bereans did, and generally uphold God's Word as we share with others. God did not intend for us to submit to controlling pastors who are in error, but to make choices for ourselves! Confront error with love and truth---there is no mediator between the Father and us, save Jesus Christ! BTW I am a public school teacher with a master's degree, certified to teach in four separate disciplines at the K-12 level, and I have worked hard to make $57,000 a year. In addition, I am paying off my student loans faithfully. In 2003 (Bevere) paid himself $203,000 salary, and I'm not sure how much his wife's and his oldest son's salaries were. No, the Apostles hadn't gone to seminary, though I suspect that they (like all Jewish men of the time) had learned their Torah well. The Apostle Paul was a learned man, speaking many foreign tongues as well as being a citizen of Rome. Are we not supposed to "study to show thyself approved?!" In today's world that probably means college and seminary, studying Biblical languages, as well as Old and New Testament themes, evangelism and church management. Having a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, picking up dry cleaning and running people to the airport does not qualify one for public ministry. Where is the substantial Biblical study one should have behind a ministry? (Nina, http://www.factnet.org/discus/messages/3/18755.html?1142619133)
Bevere has dubious friendships with other heretics ...
John Bevere and his wife lisa are friends with one of worse pastor impersonators Robb Thompson of Family Harvest Church where they preach regularly. Look at the Family Harvest thread, and you will see the same mode of bad stewardship operations expensive jewelry, excessive salaries, over five (cosmetic operations) for pastors wives, daughters and staff, $5,000 suits, collection of $30,000 Rolex's, $100k- $500k cars, $3 Million houses airplanes etc..These cult pastors push heavy CONTROL submission to authority. They preach gag orders, no questions, never disclosing financial information etc.. The worse is preaching CULT fear SHEPHERDING gestapo type tactics. They state you are not under Gods protection if you leave. They have to preach this FEAR doctrine in order to CONTROL the people and their money. FEAR not Faith is their motivation. They preach beyond the Bible that you are CURSED if you don't give to them. The BIBLE STATES otherwise. Gal 3:13 says Jesus set us "free from the Curse." Giving is a Godly principle but only to GOOD STEWARDS. Planting money (seed) in bad ground will yield no harvest for others or yourself, only the con-trol pastor. Godly pastors of successful ministries having reasonable salaries and open financial statements is fine. The Bible is clear about not being a minister for "filthy Lucre" and "financial gain". These other abusive people are not ministers or pastors but impersonators. Many of them with FAKE doctorates from Internet diploma mills. True ministry office(s) of the teacher and pastor is one who walks in love and like a good shepherd, cares for and hangs out with the sheep. Not these aloof authority fear spouters. "You shall know them by their fruit"... God doesn't yield this kind of bad fruit. Read the Family Harvest thread and you will find all the same things along with good information to combat these SPIRITUAL ABUSES. Don't throw away God or Church because of these few abusers. There are GOOD PASTORS who make 50-100k plus per year. Their churches are thriving, open to dialogue, wonderful loving spiritually FREE places, with good spiritual food and Romans 8:14 teaching people to be "LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD," and not some man. People and families are being saved, set free, maturing in the word. (http://www.factnet.org/discus/messages/3/18755.html?1142619133)More to come ...
