Pure Gold

'I desire gold - pure gold - to fill My temple', says the Lord.

By DN Hoets

Let us drive out the sacred cows from the Temple (Matthew 21: 12-17). This is the mandate of the apostolic movement and comes from heaven.
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Sacred Cow #1: SELF IMAGE - WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

Many have rightly condemned the self-esteem (possibility thinking / positive thinking, gospel of success) gospel taught by Robert Schuller and others who teach that we must love ourselves before we can love others and even God. This is the gospel backwards and will shipwreck the faith of the righteous. Religeon - dead works - is the fruit.

1. Love God
2. Love your neighbour
3. (as we) Love ourselves (self image)

Some say that we must leave our old image at the cross and then use the Word of God to develop the self image given in the Scriptures. This is accomplished by meditating on the 'who we are in Christ' Scriptures and declaring them. Is this truly Biblical? Are we to do this ourselves? Renewing our minds? This is what is taught in most Charismatic churches throughout the world. It is taught in most (if not all) Charismatic Bible schools at well.

I am confronting the mainstream teaching today.

We are IN HIM or IN CHRIST when we are born again. However, we grow deeper IN HIM or IN CHRIST if we are taught correctly and develop normally. As He increases and we decrease, we become stronger in Him through His Presence. This is not simply meditating and confessing who we are in Christ.

The error is that this is done in the flesh and is not the fruit of a deep inward turning to Jesus. We simply cannot do this in 'faith' as it taught today. Rather this is the fruit of a growing 'faith in Jesus'. As a deep abiding anointing becomes present in our lives as our hearts stay turned toward Him, abiding in Him, a saintly dignity will be present. Your self image will align with that of the Scriptures.

Too much of self and the flesh is present in this teaching of 'who we are in Christ'. We often believe BEYOND where we are spiritually. This is presumption and leads to frustration. This changes the outward man but leaves the inward man deceived. We need to discard childish ways and press on to maturity in Him. Let us cast out this sacred cow from our midst!

RESTORATION of:

1. DEEP INWARD RELATIONSHIP TO
JESUS CHRIST...

2. SOVEREIGNITY OF GOD ...

3. THE CROSS ...

Read more ...

Let us understand that only as these truths are restored to the body of Christ will she more and more be blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). This does not take place by simply appropriating this truth by faith as a past event; but rather by the restoration and growth of our faith in Him i.e. our inward walk in Him, moving from soulish (mind, will and emotion predominate) to being spiritual.

Every believer should spend time with Jeanne Guyon's classic, "Experiencing the depths of Jesus Christ," to correctly understand the process of Christian growth.

If the world only knew the living glory of His fellowship, the wonderful Presence of Jesus Christ, they would be left without words. I fear that many in the church have a form of godliness but have missed something so special - fellowship with their Lord and understanding the depths of His love, power which come from His Presence. There is something which has truly been hidden from the world and sadly from most of His saints. Some Catholic saints, centuries ago, touched on this glory. Catherine Kuhlman did too. Selah.

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Sacred Cow #2: THE ACT OF FAITH

We are often told that the first act is from us. Once we step out in faith, God will honour our faith and heal us. Similarly with respect to finances, we are told to give the firstfruits as an act of faith and the full harvest will come.

Is this Biblical?

We are to only to do this, that is "the act of faith" if we have had clear direction from the Lord. Prayer and devotion is tied in here. We act on rhema only and not on the logos. We cannot simply act on a word from a preacher unless the Spirit of God bears witness with our spirits that the word is God's word for me at that time.

When ministers of the gospel demand firstfruits or financial offerings solely on the grounds that their ministry is good ground and ignore the importance of staying before Him and responding only if prompted by the Holy Spirit they transgress. This is the sin of the Prosperity Movement. It also reveals our own spiritual condition. If we have a deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ, reverence and respect toward our sovereign Lord will always be present at all times and we will not be found asking others for finances in this manner.

The emphasis needs to shift from man to God. His sovereign dealings with us should be emphasised. We need to respectfully come before our King, honouring His wisdom, times and seasons. God initiates, Not man. We respond to His word first. Only if He prompts us to act in faith, are we to do so. What God requires is that we draw near to Him and stay or abide in Him and His love. The rest follows.

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