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God is NOT pleased with Tele-Evangelism!

In various dreams, the Spirit of God has conveyed sore displeasure at the way
tele-evangelists are milking God's people, and NOT preparing them as the Bride.

A God-fearing correspondent sent me the account of a dream she had been given by the Spirit. It was startling and unsettling – a warning that it's easy to put out the fire of God!

Significantly, the dream was given to her on 17th September 2004, the night of the Feast of Trumpets. That momentous festival depicts the coming of Christ. In our small booklet The Coming of Christ I explain that the most significant coming for the Church at this time is not the Parousia (Grk), or Rapture, or Second Coming to rule the world. It's a rather invisible and intangible thing that too many dismiss or quickly forget.

It's His coming to turn up the heat in our lives – to ignite the fires of His Spirit in our hearts – and to those who reject this prompt, a devouring fire of judgement that follows in its wake.

Here is her account of that dream from God:


House on Fire!

I was a student at school. We all (my class) were in the upper room. There were many of us. Then a fire alarm sounded. We did not see any fire, but most of the students hastily left the room. Only a few students remained in the class room, including myself. I don’t know what kept the others, but I was looking for my books. I was going from desk to desk looking for my books and could not find them.

Suddenly a fire began coming through the ceiling. One of the male students started putting it out. I noticed another place where the fire began coming through the wall in front of me and ran to fight that fire. I began beating the tongues of fire with something I had in my hands.

Then I noticed that the tongues of flame I had been fighting were only forerunners of a very powerful ball of fire that was cutting through the wall. The same thing was happening at other places in the room. It was a very bright white flame resembling that of the welding rod. It could not be extinguished. So I stopped trying.

There was no fear, no feeling of danger. However, I cannot say that I or anyone else of those who remained in the room had any idea of what was going on.


Meaning of the Dream

The school building represents the Church, and we are all students of the Word of God.

The upper room and the fire coming through are meant to draw a parallel with the account in Acts 2. It symbolizes the work of 'Elijah' – the purifying fire of God’s Spirit. God has already been pouring out of His Spirit in very many places.

The fire alarm sounded. This symbolises the alarm sounded by the prophets: a warning that the Bride must get ready and put on all the garments of righteousness Jesus is presenting to her (also part of the prophets' message). Otherwise, judgement will fall, and the Tribulation will engulf the ones who want to continue sleeping (Matt 25). More is explained in our booklet The Ten Virgins.

Most of the students hastily left the room. Sadly, the majority of the Church gets scared and runs from 'new' truth. They don't want it, so they leave. They reject the prophet God sends.

Even among those who don't leave and reject the prophet's 'alarm', there is somnolence. – lack of spiritual awareness. This dear lady humbly admitted: "To my shame and reproach I must say that not one of us who did not run away were understanding what was going on. I was depicted being too busy with looking for my books (intellectual knowledge?)"

This could be an allegory of anything that can distract us. Of particular danger are people trapped by church dogma, holding complacently to what their church teaches, or those who get their 'food' from tele-evangelists' programmes, subtly 'losing the plot'.

Others were also 'doing their own thing', and later, when the fire began coming through, we were trying to put the fire out!

The dream is a wake-up call and a warning for all to stop being busy with what you are preoccupied with, and listen to God, paying attention to His Spirit and to His prophets (2 Chron 20:20) whose work is accompanied by white hot fire!

What is this white hot fire? It is the greatest, most intense purifying and miraculous power of God. It fell from the sky when Elijah ministered on Carmel (1 Ki 18:38). It followed his words:

Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God... and I am Your servant (1), and that I have done all these things at Your Word (2). Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again (3). (1 Ki 18:36,37.)

Notice the three purposes of the white hot fire:

1) To confirm the office of the prophet.
2) To confirm the accuracy of what 'he' says.
3) To turn people's hearts back in obedience to the whole will of God. Then revival can follow.

Kassahun Ayele, a prophet in Ethiopia, was given this dream recently about what is coming:

26th Aug. 2004. K. Intense lightning!
I saw the sky torn in half by the most powerful lightning. The earth shook violently. It seemed as though we were suspended in the air with nothing under our feet.

God is raising the dead to confirm who are His true servants[1] for His end-time 'Elijah' work of restoration. This is part of the white hot fire.

When 50 people arise at 'our call', after having been dead for YEARS, God is pouring out His white hot fire to give a last warning message to people in this age. Time is short! It's time to heed the prophets!

The sign of the dead being raised is to confirm that He has appointed me and my wife as prophets – because few take any notice, and even fewer heed what we have said and written to bring the people of God into God's will. Restoring Truth to those who lack it is highest on God's list of priorities. The Bride must be ready. The call is going out – the Midnight Cry. She must accept and wear all the clothes of righteousness He gives her. (See Rev 19:7,8.)


Pure Truth and True Prophets Are Rejected!

But people don't want these things! They don't want to hear 'our' message or to change their lives to accept the truths we propound in 'our' literature. And the tele-evangelists know it. They don't sound an alarm. Instead they pander to what appeals to their audiences. Ratings matter more to them than repentance.

God is furious at all this marketing and merchandising of the Gospel! To Him it's despicable!

In other articles I have exposed some of the charlatans and the devious way they operate. One is The Deceit and Cunning of Don Stewart in Newsletter 24. He is only one of many, contriving clever schemes to get hold of money. These fraudsters use various ploys to impress people that they are God's servants – when most of them are not! Once they have gained your trust, they then subject you to their clever manipulative rhetoric, to prise open your purse or wallet and extract finance from you. They give various promises comprised of half truths and lies.

These can go as far as the Catholic Church did in the Middle Ages with its pernicious Indulgences. Gullible people would part with money to buy their way out of purgatory (that doesn't exist), or to buy their dead relatives out of it, and to expiate their sins. Such promises were utter blasphemy as popes played God!

What charismatic fraudsters are doing today is little different. Using all sorts of gimmicks such as pictures of Christ that seem to 'wink' at you, pieces of cloth or paper supposedly 'anointed' with healing power, and other such demonic lies about why you need to give them your money to receive healing or supernatural power, they are making a very good living for themselves. It is utterly despicable! God hates it!

Here is some of what He says about it:

22nd Sept. 2004. M. Religious fraudsters!
In this dream, a man was fundraising. He persuaded people to sign a small amount of money to him. I saw the counterfoil of one person's donation which was made with a credit card. The person needed to hold onto it as proof of the amount they had donated. But, after he had gained their confidence, through cunning deception and clever persuasion, the man (he was a preacher) managed to get hold of this slip of paper, combine it with his copy and change the small figure to a much larger one, of several hundreds or thousands of pounds. It was wicked! He took advantage of trusting people!

Meaning: This is a picture, in allegory maybe, of how many preachers are intent on raising funds, but are ripping the people off – 'fleecing the sheep' for their own selfish ends. They don't care for the people as they should – as it is also portrayed prophetically in Jeremiah 23.

Jeremiah lamented about this travesty:

"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the Lord (Jer 23:1).

You may think that is entirely inappropriate in this context. But God doesn't. He pointed me to Jeremiah 23, and I wondered why at first.

That chapter exposes the wrong motives of 'prophets' – those who represent God before the people – and their wrong agenda, which is aimed at getting money without truly providing for donors.

Later God said more in other dreams. At the same time He also moved someone in the US to send me a video and audiotape of some recent programmes of one tele-evangelist. When the packet came I felt God's anger rise up within.

This man is Sid Roth, a very fluent, engaging speaker, who produces radio programmes called Messianic Vision, and It's Supernatural! programmes for TV. Humanly, I like him. He's a great guy, and I have a lot of respect for him. Intellectually sharp, capable and intelligent, he is very professional in his presentation and zealous for his subject. Lest some might misunderstand my negative comments which follow, I have no animosity towards him.

But what he is doing – like so many other evangelists, prophets or preachers – is unfortunately leading people into a dead end, a trap that leaves them spiritually short-changed and deformed.

Three dreams illustrated what God is saying:

30th Sept. 2004. H. Dangers of Tele-Evangelism.
I saw a small tree in a pot [depicts the tele-evangelist]. A person tried to cosy up to the tree and find comfort in the pot. The person had a turban on their head [symbolic of man-dominated religion] and became sleepy. Their face was covered with black spots [symbol of demonic influence and faults].

Meaning: The tree in this dream represented Sid Roth and his TV programme which this particular person had seen and sent us a video of. The turban is a symbol of the empty religious ritualism one sees with 'holy men' in eastern religion. It points to the fact that Sid Roth is elevated and lifted up as a 'guru' by this viewer. A psychological elevation has taken place in this individual's mind, to the point that Sid even occludes Jesus in this person's personal life.

When a man, whom you look up to, stands between you and Jesus, the closer the man is to you the more Jesus can be occluded or eclipsed from your view. Herein is the problem. A very subtle transfer of loyalties takes place, and various problems result, indicated by the demonic influences illustrated by black facial spots.

The dream conveyed one other point. The soil in the pot was spent – it no longer had sufficient nutrients to support further growth.

Now here is another dream which God gave:

1st Oct. 2004. M. Rescuing the empty video boxes.
Empty video boxes and cassette tape boxes were dangling precariously from a window ledge. They were on a small tray with nothing to hold them in place. They could have fallen off at any moment, and plummeted to the ground. I was leaning out of a window higher up [spiritual significance], trying to reach down to this small tray to rescue them. I had to be very careful. I was aware that if I wasn't careful, the boxes could have fallen down and it would have been impossible then to recover them. I was trying to bring
them into the safety of this upper floor room where I was.

Meaning: The dream came in the wake of a video which someone sent us of 3 programmes of a US tele-evangelist. As good as his messages were, there is an unseen danger. People get trapped by the entertaining, impressive things they hear, to the point that some rely upon the man and his TV prog instead of on Christ. Their lives then become an empty shell, like the video box. The spiritual substance which they need is not there, because they are relying upon someone else more than on Jesus.

Helena had a dream two days later about things for this person's benefit.

3rd Oct. 2004. H. Deformed Plants.
I saw people chopping tops off plants to make salad. These plants looked deformed and were left under the table. They were stunted because their tops had been removed and it caused them to develop a main side shoot. I took notice of one plant which had a side shoot. It was neglected.

Meaning: The dream is about the person who sent us the video of Sid Roth, and also about the effect of the tele-evangelists' marketing approach. It deters people from reaching directly upward to God (more about this later). Instead of looking completely and directly to Him, they 'grow' laterally, deflected by the man's influence.

God is also revealing here something little noticed about the way tele-evangelists operate. In order to keep their programmes going, they require large finance. This is raised by appealing to audience preference. By making appealing, captivating productions, ratings are maintained, and so is the financial response.

But that approach harms viewers. Controversial and unpopular subjects are passed over in favour of ones with immediate appeal. This leads to deformed 'plants', which represent spiritually malnourished people.

The above three dreams illustrate the problem. At the root of all that transpires is the preacher's agenda. It is based upon money considerations, popularity and acceptance in the eyes of viewers.

All this is at variance with the true prophet's agenda. His lot is the opposite – rejection, lack of popularity and consequently lack of finance.

Thus, you end up with a spiritually deformed Church. People are deprived of hearing what God has to say through His main prophets for this time.

"Oh that's not true," you might object, "Sid Roth brings on true prophets, and you get to hear what they have to say."

Only if what they say is convincing, appealing, and bolsters his position. He might bring on some of the 'prophesying prophets' – the ones gifted to be able to utter long or articulate prophecies. But the 'functional prophets' – the ones who have a function to warn the Church of where it is missing the mark of God's holiness – they won't be there, because their message is unpopular and would damage ratings.

Hence, the true 'Elijah' prophet is rejected and the pure truth he brings is not received. That's why God will raise the dead to make His voice heard. His own arm will bring salvation (Is 59:18) because men stand in the way of what He wants to do.

Another dream reviewed in Blessing or Curse? under Everyone's Busy With Their Own Agenda, reveals the root of the problem, as the title says.

When a true prophet is shut out – because evangelists follow their own agenda, not God's – God's 'Elijah' work is hindered. People are deprived of knowing what is on the top of God's priority list.


Assessing the Damage

2nd Oct. 2004. M. Repairing and re-building the walls.
This dream featured some walls, like inner partitions in rooms, made of lightweight blocks. These walls were badly built and needed seeing to. I set about to do the necessary repairs. One part of a wall near a doorway was so flimsy, the blocks were so thin and weren't tied in to the main wall and would have fallen away in due course with the comings and goings through the door. I 'keyed' in this section of loose blocks into the wall, so that they could stand firmly.

I also noticed one really huge block, between four and six feet long, composed of at least three blocks joined together as one. I was amazed to see such a huge block and wondered how it could be built into the wall!

Meaning: To do with repairing and rebuilding the walls of the Church with proper teaching. God's people need true doctrine restoring, so that they can stand strong in days to come. The flimsy thin blocks represent the spiritual state of many believers. They need strengthening by tying them in through fellowship, which is firstly with Jesus (1 Jn 1:3), and secondarily with others who have the Holy Spirit.

The large block represents the tele-evangelist. Such people have become oversized and out of proportion in God's scheme of things. They're not easy to fit into God's wall. They have become too big.

There are a number of problems spawned by the slick marketing of tele-evangelism. We have touched on some of them briefly. Let's take another look, and then address what can be done to rescue believers from harm, so they can stand firmly on their own.

The Money Motive

The tele-evangelist's approach is to impress his audience, to captivate them with the material he presents, so that he can 'hook' them.

Slick advertising and marketing techniques are used as in worldly TV presentation to hold audience interest. Once gained, the audience is channeled towards purchasing various products. These are marked up quite substantially, to ensure enough profit so that the programme can continue. It is a very expensive operation!

In Sid Roth's media presentations – and many other evangelists adopt a similar approach – 'heavy' Bible teaching is avoided. Often it is completely omitted. But where a few ministries tackle such things, it is left for the follow-up books, tapes and videos that viewers must buy. Thus deprived of depth of teaching on air, if they want to progress spiritually, they have to buy this teaching.

Can you imagine Jesus telling His audience that He's not going to teach them unless they pay up front for His messages? It's unthinkable! Only those who could afford it would have been privy to truth. In fact, it was the poor who were most receptive to His message (Matt 11:5) and it still is today.

However, with his highly priced teaching aids, the tele-evangelist is effectively denying spiritual meat to the poor. Only those who can pay up can learn the fulness of the Gospel. This is an affront to Jesus! And the result is stunted 'plants', UNDER the table, as the dream portrayed it.

Compare that with Psalm 23:5 where God's truth is laid out on the table in the presence of one's enemies. The table is the place of spiritual impartation, where you can partake of God's spiritual food. "In the presence of enemies" means that God makes His truth accessible to evil people as well as to the good. Isn't that the way it is in the Church, where the evil ones – hypocrites – co-exist with the righteous?

Supplanting Christ

Another major problem is that the evangelist is elevated, causing people to look up to him and follow him. He actually, subtly, surreptitiously, takes the place of Christ. So instead of the 'plants', which he is meant to nourish, growing vertically by him pointing believers to God, they become deformed by lateral growth, and depend upon him instead of directly upon God – because he has taken God's place.

Many people will think that I'm completely overstating it here! I'm not. That's what God reveals, but it is hard to perceive just what has taken place. This transition is so subtle many won't see it. And most won't want to see it!

But it doesn't alter facts. Consider one instance. I'll take that of Sid Roth, since he is the most recent one which I have seen (but most other charismatic tele-evangelists operate the same way).

In one TV presentation, Sid's guest speaker is a man who has been through much suffering in his life, later delivered by the power of the Spirit, and is now highly anointed by God. Sid asks him to pray for the people, which he is only too glad to do. But Sid adds that the anointing is 'transferable', and implies that viewers can 'catch' the same gifts through the prayer that Sid and his guest are making available there and then.

Do you see the subtle transition?

No longer is the gift directly from Above, but it is transmitted to you through the human mediators on your TV screen. In fact, he implies more – that you need such a prayer to receive it. You don't.

You don't need them to pray for you, or to impart anything to you from God. God will give you whatever you need directly as you lift your faith to Him, submit to Him (not to the man on your screen), and lay down your life to God (not to the man on TV). God is the Giver of all good gifts.

The man on the screen is meant to teach you in such a way that he encourages you to be dependent upon God – not upon him. However, the converse is occurring!

These men have even set themselves up as intermediaries, through whom you have to come to God if you want to receive answers to your prayers. Of course, they wouldn't say that in so many words. It's a subtle thing that most don't perceive. But it's happened. The established charismatic tradition in their prayer of agreement (see p 7) is one example. You don't need any man's agreement to receive from God. You just need to do God's will. That was Elijah's 'secret' to answered prayer. If you don't believe me read it for yourself in James 5:16-20.

Relying Upon The Man

We have met various individuals who get a 'fix' or a 'buzz' out of attending evangelists' meetings when they 'come to town', and who live from one meeting to the next, relying upon the meeting for their spiritual stability or to get 'high'. This isn't dependence upon Christ. It's dependence upon men.

One 'highly spiritual' woman whom we knew, fell away and denied her faith when her little world fell apart. God took away her husband, her income and her ambitions that were centred on this mega-evangelism stuff. When that happened, she lost faith in God. That's because her faith was not really in God. It was in men and the marketing machine that these men had established and kept well oiled.

This dear lady had visited with us. While in our home she received visions in our cellar about many wonderful things God would do there – miracles, healings, prophesying and other signs and wonders.

On another occasion, she was moved by the Spirit to intercede on our behalf. As she did so in tongues, God spoke to her about our ministry. He took her to Isaiah 61, and said that this was for us.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn... and they shall rebuild the old ruins... (Is 61:1-3, 4).

Of course, we know that the main fulfilment of that text was in Jesus, who quoted it in His home town of Nazareth. But God told this lady that it applied to us. Why would He say such a thing? Because she was 'hooked' on this deceptive mega-evangelism of the big stage names, and was following men. God wanted to deliver her so that she could accept more of His truths.

We presented the truth about Christmas to her that it is not a Christian festival. But she liked it and refused to give it up at first. Also she was not aware of the identity of Israel, but we were able to pass on that information to her, so that OT prophecies made more sense to her, being an American and knowing where her ancestors originally came from.

We also tried to present other basic truths to her such as that of the Sabbath, which is not Sunday nor an ethereal 'rest in Christ'. But it all proved too much. She preferred the fun and frolicking she could enjoy at the big stage events where men like Benny Hinn could perform and preach. THAT, she felt, was real Christianity! It felt good. It lifted her up. It gave her a 'buzz'.

Sadly, it led to her downfall. There's nothing more important than Truth and obeying it. Where God is restoring more of His Truth, that is where you should be, regardless of how few others are there! Because that is where Jesus has placed His name.

But, isn't it true that people follow, not what God says, but what they want, what they like, what appeals to their 'flesh'? And that is the very subtle deception in much of the tele-evangelism that looks so impressive, where accounts of miracles are related, where guests tell stories of the wonderful things God has done in their lives, and where they give promises to the audience that God will do equal wonders for them... which inevitably leads on to buying their products so that you can receive the miracles God has awaiting you.

It's true that God has miracles awaiting His people, as they turn to Him. But it's deceitful, cunning and dishonest to imply – albeit ever so subtly – that you need the man on your screen to pray for you, and that you need to pay him to receive your miracle.

What's the difference between that and a Catholic Indulgence? Little! Both are blasphemies. It's just that one is more discreet than the other.

Mega-evangelists on TV have taken Christ's place, and have subtly usurped Jesus' prerogatives. This is a blasphemy. It severely damages people.

We explain in the book God's Church – Whose Authority? about the universal priesthood of the believer. Every Christian is called to be guided directly by Jesus and to represent Him (1 Pet 2:5,9).

You don't need a man to 'officiate' over you. The function of the evangelist and teacher is to win souls for Christ and to teach converts how to follow Him. The evangelist is not to set himself up as a guru. He should not cause his listeners to become dependent upon him. He should not be motivated by money considerations or ratings:

Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets (Luke 6:26).

Who Should Be Dispensing Gifts?

As merely one example of what so many evangelists do, Sid Roth encourages viewers to expect to receive whatever spiritual gifts the guest speaker has who is on the show.

That's not right or appropriate. God gives gifts – they are HIS, not ours – as HE deems people should receive (1 Cor 12:11). While it is not wrong to desire gifts for the common good – and certainly prophecy is to be much desired for the upbuilding of the local church – it is not right to give the impression to new believers that they can have any gift they ask for (1 Cor 12:27-29). When they don't receive all they want, they will become disillusioned and could lose confidence in God.

I remember about 12 years ago, attending some meetings of a man with a miracle ministry. He had a very demonstrable gift. You read of it as a gift of working miracles in 1 Corinthians 12:10 and 29.

He would preach – he was a good talker, and liked to do so – and afterwards he would invite people to come forward if they needed a miracle from God. Invariably, God would 'do the business'. Some amazing things happened. Bent spines were straightened out, short legs lengthened, and any number of other miracles happened.

The danger in all this was unseen to most. As wonderful as it all was, this man didn't want any more truth. He was satisfied with the power, and so were many of those who attended his meetings. That's probably why most of them went.

One night God gave Helena a dream about him and his ministry. God portrayed him living in a metallic house. It was a big house with high windows but they were very small and let little light in. The house (representative of his ministry) was an edifice. Outside, his washing line was so high that he would have needed a ladder to hang his washing out.

All these allegories depicted the lack of truth (little light entering through the small windows), the impractical nature of his ministry (the height of the windows and that of the washing line), and the showiness of it all (the metallic house which had become an edifice).

People like that don't change. They don't want more of God. They're self-satisfied with what they've got. They don't want His righteousness so much as His power. And that is rooted in self and pride.

With such an emphasis on supernatural power it's no wonder that many people flock to such ministers for their entertainment value. The trouble is that's not the road into the Kingdom of God even though God makes the road available to them, and even though He grants them such unusual powers.

The power is two-edged like the Word. It is given to deliver but also to delude. It delivers the needy from physical oppression, to bring them to Christ. But it also deludes the disobedient. It deludes them that everything's OK. "We've got God's power so everything's OK. He is with us."

Compare that with 2 Thessalonians 2 where we are warned of the devastating effects of supernatural power to delude those who don't want to obey God fully:

...with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thes 2:10-12).

It's a stark warning!

Wherever truth is relegated to second place in importance, behind supernatural power, apostasy is just around the corner.

Power is fine so long as it plays second fiddle to the restoration of Truth and the righteousness that God wants to establish through it. But there is subtle deception in its ascendancy. When power takes centre stage above the primary work of Elijah, which is to restore truth and bring people to repentance and into harmony with God's revealed truths, something's gone awry. Satan has managed to deflect evangelists from their primary objective. They end up pleasing people, and people end up following after the ones that please them, just as the Corinthians fell prey to (1 Cor 1:12).

Paul would have much to criticise if he were here today!

Where's The Emphasis On Suffering?

One aspect in Paul's ministry stands out above many others – that of how much he suffered.

The catalogue of what he endured for Christ is listed in 2 Corinthians 11:22-33.

  • His life was a physical struggle; he had to graft and endure.

  • He was beaten with stripes (scourged with a whip) several times. To receive 39 stripes on the bare back could kill a man! It tore flesh off bones.

  • He was imprisoned more than once.

  • He constantly faced death (1 Cor 15:30).

  • Three times he was beaten with rods. Rods could break bones!

  • Once he was stoned, and was left for dead.

  • Three times he was shipwrecked.

  • At one time he was in the water for 36 hours.

  • He had constant journeys to make, along which he was in danger of being robbed, beaten and killed.

  • Threats were from his own countrymen as well as strangers. He had enemies everywhere.

  • He had to face the threat of false brethren.

  • And he continually carried the burdens of the churches, so he could add to his list:

  • Sleeplessness.

  • Fastings.

  • Cold and hunger.

  • Lack of provision from the churches.

  • Rejection and being misunderstood.

It's quite a catalogue of trouble. Yet he called such things "light and momentary afflictions" (2 Cor 4:17). In fact, he said much more. He said that such afflictions achieve for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (same verse). That strongly suggests that sufferings or afflictions, trials and tests, are a primary key to our eternal future.

Other apostles supported this truism, too:

Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude (1 Pet 4:1, NIV). Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps (1 Pet 2:21, NIV).

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (Jas 1:2, NIV).

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator (1 Pet 4:19).

It's not a popular message today, though. Tele-evangelists don't want to turn their hearers off with such a theme. They want to preach smooth things, nice things, pleasant things, uplifting things, encouraging things. The trouble is, only telling half the truth is tantamount to telling lies. No wonder Isaiah's prophecy included the word DECEIT!

This is a rebellious people, lying children. Children who will not hear the law of the Lord; who say to the seers, "Do not see", and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits" (Is 30:9,10).

No wonder the Church is adrift in a sea of error and uncertainty! The result of such unbalanced teaching is to "turn aside from the path" (Is 30:11a) and to "cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us" (Is 30:11b). They have effectively said to the prophets "Get out of the way!" (Ibid.) "Clear off! Shut up. Get out of here!"

We have received that response from all the churches to whom we have gone with God's Word! And Spirit-led ministries are among them. They only want to be Spirit-led as far as it pleases them!

Is it any wonder the Great Tribulation will catch many off guard?! A great falling away is coming!

One of the things the Spirit said to me was that whenever a man handles the Word of God, he defiles it. We have more preachers today, with more variants of the truth than ever!

Isaiah prophesied of this scene:

All tables are full of vomit and filth (Is 28:8).

He said "No place is clean!"

Not a very commendable situation! Why?

It's understandable in the Spirit-dead churches where self-will and tradition replace surrender and true worship. But in charismatic churches? How could they be under such condemnation?!

It's because of the preoccupation with power. And an emphasis that has ditched the truth about affliction that every Christian must face in the course of his duty. Read on:

They... have erred through wine, and through intoxicating drink are out of the way (Is 28:7).

Wine can be a symbol for deception, as in Revelation. But it is also symbolic of miraculous power.

Some years ago, God gave Helena a dream of Morris Cerullo drunk on power. There, God equated that metaphor with the power He had given him, but which had gone to his head. Morris was driving some horses, charging along, but drunk. Sadly, many people follow him and regard him as a prophet (which he is not, he is an evangelist), and gullibly swallow his errors. (For more on this international evangelist, read Dreams From God About Morris Cerullo.)

The 'Prayer of Agreement'

In charismatic circles, one of Jesus' most misused promises is this:

If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven (Matt 18:19).

Charismatic ministries send out letters encouraging supporters to donate finance, and at the same time, to send in written prayer requests on reply coupons. The evangelist later prays over them (often in a public ceremony on TV), ostensibly 'agreeing' with every request. The outcome is, supposedly, that God answers the requests.

This is all a farce! How can the evangelist possibly agree with thousands of prayer requests he has not had time to read? And, if he hasn't read them – and therefore can't know whether he agrees with them – his 'prayer' is merely for show, a vain performance! What if some requests are blatantly unbiblical? Should he be saying 'Amen' to what he should never sanction or agree with? Would he be held accountable in the Day of Judgement for these words if they are not righteous?

To anyone with any sense, this practice of praying over a mountain of thousands of written prayer requests is dishonest as well as farcical.

More seriously, what if the prayer request offer is a clever ruse to persuade the respondent to part with money? Like the Catholic Church did regarding 'indulgences'? As explained earlier, popes would claim that they could rescind penalties for sin upon payment. They had a 'price list' for various sins. The worse the sin was considered to be, the greater the price of the indulgence. The practice was outrageously blasphemous.

Even if the TV evangelist has no deliberate ploy to extract money from people, there is still a hidden agenda, subtly implied. It is one which links the giving of money to the promise of answering people's prayers.

Jesus was talking, in context, about internal disciplinary matters in the congregation, to restore harmony in order to be sanctified. Where two had previously fallen out after one had sinned against another, unity could be restored by following the procedure Jesus advised, and if necessary by presenting the facts before the whole church (Matt 18:15-17). In such a situation, where people can be reconciled and forgiveness shared, the prayer of agreement in the church finalises the reconciliation, which Jesus assures He will honour in heaven, even if only two people pray. Thus, the whole assembly is protected from satanic attack that can enter through disharmony.

Remember Jesus' words:

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained (Jn 20:23).

The prayer of agreement concerns spiritual discipline, not getting what you want from God.

In Summary

Here is a list of the main points regarding what is wrong with tele-evangelism:

1. God is sick and tired of religion which has a hold on people. People can be held (captivated and impressed) by the slick presentation and glossy marketing. People are more easily impressed by the performers they can see than ones they can't see.
2. This psychological hold keeps these folks in kindergarten where they are either spiritually repressed or they can't think for themselves.
3. Ministers end up being cult leaders who manipulate – even dominate – susceptible minds.
4. They stand in the place of Christ. (Even though they may be 'Spirit-led' and even though miracles occur on their programmes.) They prevent Jesus coming through more fully into people's lives because they have taken His place. It occurs ever so subtly, and not usually deliberately.
5. They fleece the sheep of money.
6. They receive (subtle) worship from them.
7. God is angry at such churches or ministries.
8. Most Christians will be engulfed in the Great Tribulation because of such spiritual travesties.
9. The spiritual is overlooked at the expense of the physical. The man who impresses, who is a 'charismatic' personality, who has the large outreach or large visible entourage, is the one whom people look up to. The outside prophet, who is the 'lone ranger', is the one who is discounted and ignored because he's seemingly alone and 'unsuccessful'.

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgement (Jn 7:24).


The Charismatic Church Shrine

Finally, here is one of many dreams which God has given about the 'charismatic church'.

24th Aug. 2002. H.  Money making venture in factory.
I saw a big factory disappear into a huge water spring which sprang up underneath the factory. After the factory had gone, the managers built a new factory on top of the water springs, and opened up its doors to people to show them inside.

They charged money for the spectacle. The directors were like shrewd businessmen. They saw this wonder as an opportunity to make money.

One of the directors befriended me. I came to see him but he turned up late and left quickly, as if he wasn't bothered about me. He didn't care for me or what I had to do. He left me stranded far away from home.


Idolatrous Structure

What this dream depicts is the wrong motive behind the modern structure that has developed as an outgrowth of what is dubbed conveniently as the 'charismatic church'.

Pursuit of money is not a valid motive behind ministry. True, godly ministry is to bring God into the lives of others; to reveal and expound His truth that sets people free when accepted and practiced (Jn 8:32); and to promote the love of Christ.

Any physical pursuits that replace these divine purposes are idolatrous substitutes. They are usurpers, as are the men who promote them.

Yet, we see church structures, programmes, ministers, teachings, worship services and way of doing things all lifted up on an idolatrous platform. They have taken the place of the pure and simple purpose of the gospel and the faith once delivered.

The Holy Spirit was poured out to bring people into an individual freedom with Christ, so they can hear from Him directly and be led by Him into all truth (Jn 16:13). But many men who call themselves 'ministers' have usurped those divine prerogatives and enslaved people to a system that has made a shrine out of what God has given.

Here is the meaning of the various parts of the dream:

A big factory: This represents the Church under human direction. It has lost its true identity and has become distorted or perverted into an edifice for human production. 'Saving souls' has become like a business with high pressure salesmen trying to bring many into churches.

Huge water spring: The outpouring of the Holy Spirit which has generated massive spiritual changes and renewal throughout the Church.

After the factory had gone: The former outpouring of the Spirit has had its heyday, and with that wane, the part of the Church which benefited from that has also waned.

The managers built a new factory: The contemporary state of the 'charismatic church' which is developing all the while to accommodate people and use what it can exploit to appeal to them and bring them through its doors.

...and opened up its doors to people to show them inside: Today, various sectors of the Church make merchandise out of the gifts of the Spirit and other spiritual manifestations (many of which are actually demonic counterfeits of the true – these are easily seen at places like the Toronto Airport, formerly Vineyard, church. This is a fleshly attempt to capitalise on spiritual manifestations – a totally wrong motivation. It is experience-based, not centred on truth and a repentance which is based on the acceptance of more of God's truth.

They charged money for the spectacle: This reveals the motive behind the behaviour. It is unseen until God reveals it. Hence this dream! 

When ministers cleverly appeal to converts to lure them into their churches, it is commonplace to find strong emphasis on giving financially to their church to support its structure.

Besides that, the 'charismatic church' also markets its publications, tapes and videos for profit – invariably with slick and attractive presentation for maximum human appeal, as in any worldly marketing approach.

Thus, this dream portrays how this part of the Church has turned the outpouring of the Spirit into a money-making enterprise. They have used spiritual manifestations to bring in money to them.

They are more concerned about money than people!

This sad fact was amply demonstrated when someone I know wrote to one of these charismatic ministries and requested some tapes they were offering on prayer. He was hard up at the time and could not afford the amount they were asking for the two audio tapes. So he sent them £5. It was all he could afford. He received a letter saying that he had not sent enough money, and that the £5 would be considered a donation unless he sent in the full price – which was high for just two tapes! (I think it was £10.)

Our friend replied, explaining his difficult financial circumstances, but the ministry policy was apparently more important to them than the person writing! He asked if he could have just one tape, but was not granted his request. The ministry didn't return his £5. Not only did they keep his money, they denied him any tape! They added insult to his injury.

That's not feeding the poor. It's abusing them! In Jesus' day the gospel was preached to the poor (Matt 11:5). It's just as well Jesus didn't charge for it, or we would not be able to afford to be saved!

Those who are in control (ministers and church leaders) have merchandised – for selfish reasons – what came from God. It has created a system to fleece people and provide entertainment for them, while the leaders make an excellent living from it. How disgraceful and vile!

God hates it!!

The word of the Lord came to me saying: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds ... prophesy and say to them 'Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds... who feed themselves. Should not the shepherds feed the flocks...?' (Ezek 34:1,2).

This prophecy, which is highly appropriate in this context, goes on to lament on the poor spiritual state of the people whom the shepherds are meant to nourish. Because of their wrong motivation and approach, God's people languish in spiritual impoverishment.

Malcolm B Heap,  Oct 2004

 

Personal Evangelism is the Way Forward!

The world is about to enter the worst time in all history, but tele-evangelists are not preparing God's people to weather the coming storms. In the impending distress, there will be no tele-evangelism as we have known it.  Personal evangelism will take its place. Are you ready? Get your running shoes on!

Another dream from God portrayed what is soon to replace the inadequacies and deceit of tele-evangelism and mega-evangelists' stage shows. It's one-on-one evangelism.

The Great Tribulation is just around the corner, and all churches which do not comply with government edicts will be shut. Effectively, the godless State will control religion and dictate what people can or can't do. It will be the time Revelation 13 refers to symbolically with the imagery of 666 and the Mark of the Beast.

Significantly again, this dream came to the same lady mentioned earlier, Mila Thompson, after she had observed the Last Great Day[2] which depicts the time when the whole world will finally be in harmony and union with God (Rev 20-22). 


The Dream

Mila (pronounced Meela) wrote:

I was in a place that resembled a huge aerodrome, but I don’t remember if there were any planes there. There were many people in that place (perhaps waiting to be evacuated?). We had received a warning (nobody told us, we just knew it) that something disastrous was going to happen soon, like a war or a nuclear attack. We were warned that in order to survive we had to “get prepared”. The knowledge of what it meant to get prepared was given to some of us. It was: “to live by faith and to be willing”. I and a few others accepted it. The transformation happened wonderfully – in one moment. I did not see any visible changes in my appearance, but I knew that I was changed, because that very instant I knew in my spirit that I could fly.

Then we – those who had been changed – began to talk to others, persuading them to get prepared too. There were no meetings held, no loud speeches made. Our work was very ordinary – we simply spoke with individuals face to face, explaining to them things. Not many would believe what we had to say. But some did.

The moment they would agree to undergo this preparation, it would have already happened. 

Those who were changed were “clothed” in a special “garment”. It was nothing extravagant, it was a simple pullover that would appear over their clothing. The pullover, however, WAS special. It was by itself changing to different shades and colours on each individual, and it glowed. 

After that we (the prepared ones) were “told” to begin storing water. There appeared to be bath tubs at different points on the field of the aerodrome, and we filled them with water. That water was also immediately transformed and turned absolutely pure. We knew it was precious.


The Meaning

God continues to warn and prepare His people for the upcoming time of tribulations. He calls us to get prepared. The preparation happens in the spirit, when we humble ourselves and completely submit to the will of the Lord. We must live by faith, be willing to accept God’s corrections, learn new truths, and undergo the changes, which God considers needed for us.

When we become “prepared”, God’s Spirit fills and marks such a transformed believer. It is depicted in the image of a simple but beautiful, glowing pullover. I think the fact that the pullovers were changing colours, becoming different on each individual, shows that God works with us individually, taking into account our personal features. We are not a no-name crowd for Him, but He knows each of His own by the name.

It seems an important detail that the work to persuade others to be transformed was also an individual work, performed by speaking with others face to face. (Done in such a manner, there is less danger for a person to develop a self-elevated attitude).

The dream portrays that not many people would listen to corrective messages. The majority of Christians are “comfy” the way they are and don’t like to be bothered about changes. 

The water is widely used in the Bible to symbolize the Holy Spirit. It is called “the living water”, “the life-giving water”, etc. There is also a parallel with the supply of oil for the lamps of the Ten Virgins in Mat. 25. Oil is another symbol for the Spirit of God.

In the parable of the Ten Virgins we find a warning, given for our time, about the lack of the Spirit in the lives of half of God’s Church. Similarly, in this dream the ones that have obeyed and been changed are told to store “water”.

Another parallel I was reminded of is the warning in the Book of Revelation (and Amos 8:11, 12) about the time to come of great famine for the word of God, when people will thirst without the living water of God’s Truth.


The Tribulation

The Great Tribulation at the end of this age – depicted by Jesus in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 – is so close now. I provide more information in our tome Understanding The Book of Revelation. Kassahun Ayele, a prophet in Ethiopia has been given many dreams about this time. Here is just one:

31st Aug. 2004. K. Government clampdown.
I was somewhere in
New York, at a meeting place with brothers and sisters whom I didn't know. I saw fear on their faces. They were scared. No one was talking. All sat in silence. Finally I asked them what was going on. One brother told me that they are in great danger from their government who have forbidden such gatherings and reading the Bible.

I told them not to be afraid, assuring them that our God is far greater than our enemies. With that I invited them to kneel down and pray. While we were praying I awoke.

It is in this climate of repression and fear that God will do His 'new thing'. Evangelism will never cease where there are people on fire by the Spirit of God. But wisdom must be used. And evangelists will reach others individually, as Mila was shown.

The question you must answer is: "Are you ready to go?" Do you know how to reach out?

While the following is available in an A5 size leaflet, I reproduce it here to answer this need.

 

Guidelines For Evangelists

Copyright © Midnight Ministries 2004

Copyright of Midnight Ministries may be waived without asking permission, if full credit is given to the source (with the address) and if the contents are not altered.

Midnight Ministries publications may also be translated into any other language without asking permission, if full credit is given to the source (with the address).

All we ask is that the translation is as accurate as possible to the meaning of the original text.

All quotations from the Bible are taken from the NKJV, the New King James Version, unless otherwise stated. NIV = The New International Version


Jesus says:
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age (Matt 28:18-20, NIV).


An evangelist in
Kenya, recently called by Jesus to 'go' with the gospel and truths of God, wrote to me about what God had given to him in a dream:

In my dream last night we were in a hall with all your representatives from all countries. In that hall there was some water with sugar cane. And some more sugar cane was there.

I, you, and some brothers were at the door with water in our hands and we were giving a piece of sugar cane to everybody who came into the hall. After an hour the hall was full with people singing and dancing with joy.

After that, I saw you Malcolm with two loaves of bread. You were giving this bread to people.

I heard a voice telling me "N, do you know that this man is a prophet of God?" I didn't answer that question

Again I heard the voice asking me the same question "N, do you know that this man is a prophet of God?" That time I answered "yes I know." And at that time you were in white clothes shining like the stars.

As I awoke I praised God for what happened and what I saw.

Here is my response to N about his dream:

About your dream of 17th April 2004. The probable interpretation follows each part.

In my dream last night we were in a hall with all your representatives from all countries.
This shows that God has called you to be a part of the outreach of Midnight Ministries, in your own area. You are included in the worldwide outreach. There are many others whom God is using in various quarters of the world.

...in that hall there was some water with sugar cane.
The water represents the Holy Spirit and the sugar cane the sweet things of God (His truths and instruction which are an exhibit of His love for all people).

And some more sugar cane was there.
Perhaps you mean a lot of sugar cane. If so, that is an allegory of just how much wonderful truth God has given this ministry to share with others in 'our' publications.

I, you, and some brothers were at the door with water in our hands and we were giving a piece of sugarcane to everybody who came into the hall.
This is a pictorial likeness of what God is doing through us, and you, in the spirit. He wants to share His truths (in 'our' publications) with others.

After an hour the hall was full with people singing and dancing with joy.
Many people will come to know God, and experience that joy of being accepted by Him, through 'our' literature being distributed by you and others.

...after that I saw you M with two loaves of bread. You were giving this bread to people.
Sugar cane does not have much food value. In fact, if you eat a lot of it, it is harmful. A lot is actually a poison to the body. It will damage teeth, and deplete the body of energy, as well as needed vitamins and minerals. Sugar is sweet, but it reduces calcium levels in the blood, and can lead to sickness, for the reasons already stated.

By contrast, bread is the staff of life. It has more food value. People need feeding properly, and very much so in the spiritual area. God is portraying 'our' teaching materials as this bread that can give people something proper to eat spiritually.

At first, the benefit you are receiving through 'our' publications is likened to sugar cane. It has immediate appeal. As you get further into devouring what is written, it will be more like bread to you and others.

I heard a voice telling me "N, do you know that this man is a prophet of God?"
If you read Prophets and Prophesying and other leaflets or articles in which the purpose of prophets is explained, you will see why God was pointing this out to you. It's not to glorify me. I am nothing. By contrast, God is everything. But the function or calling of a prophet is to deliver what God has given to him for the benefit of others. As they accept him and his message from God, they accept the One who sent him (Matt 10:39-41), and they benefit proportionately.

Where people have spurned me (my office as a prophet of God) they actually spurn God, because He has appointed me as a prophet. They fail to benefit from the message God has given through us. They are not benefited by the revelations which God has provided in His great love for you and all people.

I didn't answer that question.
This depicts your relative ignorance at that stage. You didn't know what to say, because you didn't understand why He was saying that. But...

Again I heard the voice asking me the same question "N, do you know that this man is a prophet of God?" That time I answer "yes I know."
God is showing His complete foreknowledge of how you will respond positively to what you read. Because you will accept me as a prophet of God, you accept Him and His truths that He has given us.

...and that time you were in white clothes shining like the stars.
That symbolises the wonderful righteous reward God has awaiting, not just me, but you and all who will accept Him – because of what Jesus has done for us all. [End of explanation.]


What Was The Dream For?

The dream above portrays, in outline, several facts to the recipient:

1) The man's calling from God to evangelise;

2) My appointment from God as a prophet (so that he can realise that what MM teaches is not ours as such, but inspired by God);

3) The spiritual value of our ministry's materials;

...besides all the other specific points mentioned in the explanation.

Where God gives dreams and other prophetic revelations, it is to highlight what is being overlooked, or to emphasise aspects that are not given sufficient emphasis, or to reveal what would not otherwise be grasped, or to convey knowledge and understanding that you need to take note of, to confirm and consolidate God's truth and purpose.

Humanity is consigned to spiritual ignorance until God gives His revelation. God-given dreams are a vital aspect of the prophetic work on earth which God is doing today. These are the days of 'Elijah'. Just as Elijah stood before the people as His mouthpiece for righteousness, God is restoring His righteousness among His people. Likewise, He also uses prophets today who are commissioned by Him and who speak for Him.

The dream above highlighted his need to recognise and take note of what God has given me in this ministry. That's not for my benefit, but for his, and for the good of all the people to whom God will now take him.

Need I say that it is also in your interests to heed the same admonition?

God has been preparing him through several years of learning and growth. He is ready to 'graduate' and reach out to others, sharing the truth of God with them, so that they can come to Christ and know God's love.  The dream was confirmation of his appointment, and encouragement before 'setting out'.

When you are sufficiently committed to God, and prepared, you too can 'go'. So, don't be surprised if you receive a dream or other revelation confirming what He wants to do with your life to benefit others.

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few! (Matt 9:37, NIV).


God Speaks Three Times!

Prior to that dream he had had one other. God was pointing out to him what He intended to do with his life. After he wrote to tell me what God had given him in that vision, I replied:

Thank you for relating your dream. In the explanation that follows, your description in bold is followed by 'my' explanation:

I saw you in Migori market preaching the gospel. Many people surrounded you to hear what you were talking about. I will not be there in person. The dream may depict how others will take the message to that location by taking 'our' publications there.

After that you called me to come and help preach the gospel. That is your calling, too, from Jesus. Notice Matthew 28:19-20 is a commission that involves EVERY disciple who is willing and able, not merely the first ones whom Jesus trained. You are being trained by Him though 'our' publications. If you are not familiar with this truth, read Just What Is The Work? and Witnessing For Christ.

God gave us many people. The response. God backs up those who 'go' for Him in sincerity and unselfish dedication.

On the day after that, you guided us into a very beautiful room. [This depicts the heavenly reward which Jesus promised us all in John 14:2. This will come later. First we all have to do Jesus' will on earth, as is explained in 'our' publications. They show the way to eternal glory.]

When we entered that room, Helena, Tonya and Zenya welcomed all of us with a smile and invited us to sit in beautiful chairs, then they served us with a very nice meal. We were all very glad and ate with gratitude. [This depicts how H, T and Z have all helped by their work and efforts to make this literature available to you, so that you can partake in the spiritual feast that the publications contain for those who will 'eat' what they contain.]

You took a very close look at my meal and encouraged me to eat more. Your face was shining when you did this.
When Moses came down from Mt Sinai, his face shone because he had been in the presence of God. I have been in the presence of God while writing MM publications.[3] I couldn't write them of and by myself. God moved me in what was written, hence the imagery of my face shining. My taking a close look at your meal symbolises how I have paid attention to detail in some of the particulars of doctrine which I have written about. Those are 'fine details' of the faith – to do with Sabbaths, holy days, new moon celebrations and other aspects summarised briefly in Wielding The Divine Axe – which many other Christians are not aware of.

I was surprised to see you serve a meal to so many people, and I was thankful to God and praised Him.
This depicts the many people who will benefit from what God has had us write. It will not be just a small work. Soon, after the dead are raised, it will be a worldwide work and reach MANY people! Millions!

That is the dream which God gave me three times.
Three depicts finality in God's workings. We are very close to the end of this age in relation to its overall history. There are only a few more years left; very few! It's time to get to work and to work diligently for Jesus! The Kingdom of God awaits.

Further Reading: Witnessing For Christ (£2.00)   Wielding The Divine Axe (50p)   What Is The Work? (50p)


God Prepares You

When Jesus called the first twelve to 'go' and represent Him, He trained them. They learned from Him. He showed them 'how to do it'. He also equipped them. After He taught them the truth, He gave them spiritual power to help and deliver others from spiritual oppressions.

He does the same today. He prepares you.

His intention was the perfecting and full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church)  (Eph 4:12, Amplified).

Whatever God does, He does in love for His people. That same love for others MUST be the underlying motive behind your ministry.

I have known people who 'minister' for selfish reasons. There is very little of Jesus in their work. They don't deliver people. They merely bring them into another type of bondage – bondage to them.

I have seen others who have gone out to minister out of pride and desire for self-elevation. The devil goes with them wherever they go. They lure their prey into another pit, to join them in their own darkness. It's sad.

For you – who are privileged to have this opportunity of serving the King and helping prepare those whom He has called to reign with Him in glory – it doesn't have to be like that. It certainly shouldn't!

Here are some guidelines for true ministry.

1. Get Down Into The Starting Position

If you are humble, you can start from the right foundation. It's a foundation that no one else can lay – Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone. He has shown you how:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who... made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant... He humbled Himself and became obedient to death... (Phil 2:3-8, NIV).

With that approach, you don't need to be concerned, "How will I cope? Will He provide?" Of course He will! He never fails. God will uphold the needy who fully rely upon Him. It's a promise. Notice:

On this one will I look: on him who is poor [needy] and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word (Is 66:2). For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, [but also] with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones (Is 57:15).

These are enemies of true ministry: pride; desire for self-elevation; wanting to be noticed; seeking pre-eminence, prestige or 'position', to be important; competition; hypocrisy; jealousy; resentment against others; gossiping; lying, deceit; laziness; hostility; self-seeking or egoism; and lust for power or money.

God cannot use people with such traits. They are tools of the devil.

2. Let Jesus Live In You

It's not surprising, but you can only take Jesus to others if He is in you to begin with. Too many have 'gone' on their own, fuelled by a desire for prominence or some demented motive.

There can be only one true motive for ministry in Jesus' name – Jesus Himself. Jesus said:

I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing (Jn 15:5).

However, if you are truly humble and don't think highly of yourself, then His Spirit will have found a home within, and He will be able to use you to take Him to others.

3. Love Others

Jesus showed His immense love for us all in His life and His death.

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; [so] abide in My love (Jn 15:9). If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love... (15:10). This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you (15:12).

What sort of love was this? Self-sacrificing! Serving. Caring.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends (Jn 15:13).

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you (15:14).

These things I command you that you love one another (15:17).

4. Trust Him

Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb 11:6). So, please Him by simply trusting Him.

I get letters from evangelists who haven't yet learned to trust Him. They write to me, looking to me as if I were their source of supply. I'm not. Jesus is. And when you trust Him, He'll prove it to you. He won't do it before.

You've got to put your life in His hands. When you do, you'll find out just how immeasurable is His love, how great is His foreknowledge, and how immense is His ability.

But you can only do that after you have begun to take the first steps – of laying down your life, and of accepting His humility; of giving up your ambitions, and accepting His; and of sacrificing your desires to put His first. When you start doing that, He takes control of things.

He gives you revelation – dreams, visions, words of knowledge, words of wisdom, prophetic words – whatever you need so that you know what to do, and how to do it.

As you walk, step by step, relying upon Him, He walks with you. And when you can't walk because it's impossible by human means, He carries you. But He will only do that after you have put your hand in His, like a child holds the hand of the strong Daddy he trusts unwaveringly.

5. Look To Him Continually

If you don't know what to do, ask Him. But generally, He will make His will known before you ask Him. Usually, He is waiting for us; not the other way around.

After He has shown you what He wants you to do, don't waste time. Get started immediately. Vacillation, indecision, or procrastination are weapons the devil will try and employ to thwart you.

When you get going, don't look back. Keep going. Don't give up. Work hard. And keep looking up. Keep looking to Him.

Lacks

Not surprisingly, one of the major obstacles we all face is lack. Lacks of all sorts can deter you. It may be lack in your own ability. Don't worry, Jesus makes up for that. He will strengthen you, so that your weaknesses or shortcomings don't hinder His work through you.

I have lacks and shortcomings in my personality and my abilities. We all do. But they don't have to prevent God one bit. I have found that He creates a course of ministry that He knows you can cope with. He doesn't take you into situations which would be too daunting for you. And when you think He does, you'd better get your thinking straight, because He's just about to prove to you that you can do it – with His help.

If you want to fear He'll 'frighten the living daylight out of you', like He did to Israel at the Red Sea. So, don't choose to doubt or fear. Make your decision now beforehand, that whatever situations He takes you into, you set your will to face them, regardless of what you want to do or how you feel inside, and irrespective of what you think you can do.

I never imagined that one day I would be allowing Him to write through me, to teach and help others to fulfil the highest calling in life! But that's what He's done, because I was willing to 'go', to submit to the calling He chose for me. And He will do His will with you, too, if you:

  • Rely upon Him, look to Him, and trust Him.

  • Don't trust men or fear men.

  • Don't fear the spiritual enemy or those used by Satan.

  • Work hard, persevere, and don't give up.

  • Don't look for a reward for yourself.

Money

Another major area of lack is money. The rich ministries are often the ones that have provided what their hearers wanted to hear. It's relatively easy to 'con' people, if you are a 'con' artist. But we are not in that 'game'. We are not here to massage our hearers' ears.

You are to preach the truths of God, without fear or favour, without deviating from what is right, and without compromise. Because of that you may not have a ready financial reward in this life. Money may well be in short supply. But don't worry, God does provide.

God could open the windows of heaven and pour out barrow-loads of banknotes, couldn't He? He doesn't do things that way, of course, but He could. And there are good reasons He doesn't. So, don't fret for lack of money. Just accept it and make the best use of what little you have. Use it properly, wisely, and frugally. Don't waste it.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred (Prov 15:17).

Better is the small offering of love like the widow's mite than the donation of a glutted millionaire with strings attached.

Where there is need, there can be humility, carefulness, thrift, gratitude to God, and dependency upon Him. So, don't despise the day of small things. Remember the mustard seed. Whatever God begins, begins small, but grows big in time.

I have seen evangelists get mega-thousands, only to get puffed up by it, and blow out in their exhibition of opulence and pride. They planned great campaigns to reach the masses. They strutted their stuff on stage. They preached with vigour and verve; they pranced and performed. They spent huge sums making a big splash in the sea of humanity. But the surface soon returned to normal, because the Spirit was not stirring. Their impact was like a brick thrown in a pond – short-lived and soon forgotten.

Money doesn't make success. God does.

They failed because they sought acclaim for themselves more than for Christ. They drew attention to themselves. They loved the elevation.

That's not God's way.

Do you think they will be saved? No. Learn from Matthew 7:15-23.

So, why be disappointed that He has planned something less damaging for you? If it were essential for you to always have sufficient money to do what you think you need to do, He would supply it. The fact that He doesn't is often because it would be bad for you if He did. He doesn't want to lose you, while He's saving others.

He will provide your needs, not your wants. So, learn to be wise in handling what He provides. (Some tips on this later.) But never forget, if you look to God like Abraham did, God will provide! He doesn't fail!

A man wrote to me some time ago, asking me if he could have our publications on computer disk so that he could get them printed in his own country. (It's much cheaper than sending them from here.) I was only too happy to oblige. But I had a little question in my mind. Naturally I wondered how he was going to pay for such a large operation – especially in Africa!

I waited for his inevitable request for assistance... But it didn't come! (A rare man indeed. He looked to God, not to me.) I was surprised. When I found out the reason, he said God had spoken to his heart about doing this – because he perceived that God had put an anointing upon 'our' publications; they were life-giving vectors for the Spirit.

God had also spoken to his spirit about how He would achieve this impossible task. He told him that He would cause someone to pay for it.

That's what God has done with us, time and time again. When you step out to do what God shows you to do, He makes a way. First you have to step out in faith. Like Peter stepped out of that boat, you step out into the unknown and into the area of the impossible. You just look to God and follow His directions. The better you do that, the better He can provide for you and put your mind at rest. He will give you words of knowledge, dreams, or words of wisdom to know what you need to know. And you can just get on with doing the physical aspects of your spiritual calling.

And it works out because you do.

6. Use The Publications

The man I mentioned earlier saw the spiritual value of what we have printed. He was sufficiently attuned to the Spirit to perceive. Too many are not, and they miss out on the massive possible benefits.

I have mentioned in What God Said About Midnight Ministries some things which God said to others about MM publications. One man was told by God that He has put an anointing upon 'our' writings, like He did with the biblical writings. That is because they are written by divine decree, for a divine purpose. So God 'anointed' them. In one sense, God had to, because humans just can't do such things alone.

It offends many arrogant ears to hear this. Consequently I have been accused of arrogance for the claim, even though it is what God has said to others, not specifically to me, other than by inference in dreams.

One man accused me of having 're-written the gospel'. It's a pity he can't tolerate that God would do something elsewhere, other than through him.

If he only had the humility like some others, to be willing to learn from what is written, to correct himself on his doctrinal errors, to change his concepts where they are proved wrong, and give credit to someone else for a change, then he would benefit. Instead, he regards Midnight Ministries as a threat, a subversive element, unwelcome competition, and he labels me a false prophet. All because he is arrogant, unteachable, and jealous.

By contrast, those with meekness are willing to take what is written and share it, duplicate it, distribute it, as well as learn from it. And they are blessed, really blessed in their deed. Why? Because they are spreading the anointing of the Spirit.

If you take something inspired by the Spirit – as the Holy Bible is – and pass it on to someone else who is hungry for spiritual truth, the Spirit transmits to them. It infuses them. It energises them. It teaches them.

That's just a fact of life, and it's what happens when you give or lend to other hungry hearts MM publications or leaflets. They are an avenue for the Spirit to go right inside the mind and heart of that person, and touch them, change them, convert them. That's why you should make full use of these writings, and make them the central core of your evangelism – not for my sake, but for His sake.

I don't want any 'glory'. I didn't write them, even though my fingers typed the keys. And those who are of like mind only want to get them into the hands of others, because they too don't want glory for themselves. They care for God's truth and they love people, and want to share God's truths with them, because:

If you abide in My word you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free (Jn 8:31,32).

7. Don't Look To Us For Support

What I mention here goes beyond the principles already outlined in:

Faith – Raising Our Level of Expectation,

Witnessing For Christ, and

Lessons in Faith.

So, if you have not yet read them, I suggest you do.

The first one explains how you can learn to have your level of faith raised so that you can trust God for anything. The second gives a practical explanation of this in the context of reaching out to others with God's truths. And the third gives some lessons learned from other evangelists who have gone before us, walking this faith road.

As an evangelist, called by God, not by me, you are to rely on Him for spiritual guidance and material help, not me. All I am here to do is to convey what He has given me, to you. That responsibility has cost me immensely. We have had lack of finance for years! So I appreciate your lack of money – that is virtually inevitable. Remember Jesus' words:

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few! (Matt 9:37, NIV).

The term 'workers' includes money because that's what workers produce. It's always in short supply for true servants of God.

Independent evangelists are aware of their own predicament, but few understand ours. They think we are flush with funds because of what they see us produce. Appearances can be very deceptive!

We have been in short supply – very short supply, so much so that we have jeopardised losing all, to do this work for God. Your position will be similar. God knows. So, don't worry about it. Just look to Him.

However, God, being the practical Being that He is, lets YOU find the way to pay by your own efforts. He waits until you use up all the possible means you have at your disposal before He performs a miracle to deliver you.

This happened to the apostle Paul. He had to work (1 Cor 4:12; 9:6) to pay the price for the failure and negligence of the Corinthians and other believers who were not in the will of God (1 Cor 9).

Is it right for you to ask me to support you financially? Is your calling more important than mine that I should pay you? Those who ask us for help, don't think things through. Should not I be rewarded for the service I provide to you and to other believers via our publications, as Matthew 10:10 indicates? If so, instead of you asking me for money, shouldn't I be asking you? (But I won't do that.)

Why is the Scripture turned on its head? Should it be, just because of the (wrong) perception of believers in poor countries, who think that because Britain is 'rich' compared with Africa and India, that a servant of God in Britain should be supporting Africans, or Indians? (Oh that I could!)

Those who think that have no idea what we have to do to make this work of God viable! We have SACRIFICED! So should others who want to enjoy the same spiritual benefits from God. There is no blessing without sacrifice. That's where many in Africa and India go wrong.

They look at the physical, instead of the spiritual. They don't see THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. Some don't fulfil their responsibility in giving. They expect us to do the giving, even when we have nothing. When they have nothing, they ask us. But when they have something, they don't consider helping us. It's a one way street, and that's the problem.

When they turn their motivation around and do the giving as well, then they would see the Hand of God deliver them like we have seen it deliver us. One of the first lessons you must learn is that giving is better than getting. Ironically, it is the avenue of receipt from God:

Give and it will be given to you...  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you (Luke 6:38).

The pioneering missionary of 100 years ago, C T Studd, said aptly:

Use what you have for God and don't wait for what you haven't got.

That's right. Get going. Don't wait for money. Don't wait for people. If God has called, answer His call. Of course, use wisdom, but don't let physical, material or human factors deter you.

Don't look to us, look to God. He WILL provide for you, as you learn to trust Him and follow the lead of His Spirit in all you do.

Read Witnessing For Christ, especially chapter 5 and you will see more of what I mean.

8. Don't try to set up 'your' church.

I won't say much on this topic, because it is covered in various other leaflets such as Dismantling Churches, The Last Outpouring of the Spirit, Fierce Persecution and the book Meetings With Jesus. Your task is not to form an organised 'church', but to bring people to Jesus and teach them how to follow Him without having to rely upon you or anyone else.

Encourage the formation of home fellowships.

9. Some Practical Tips

Make the Literature Central Because of Its 'Anointing'

I have mentioned that the literature we have produced should be central to your outreach. That is because of what God has revealed concerning its production. It is 'anointed' by God. I don't say that I have conveyed everything perfectly. There may be minor mistakes. But overall, certainly in the major aspects, it is without error because of God's plan for it. Being 'anointed', it carries the Spirit of God to those who are receptive. That's why I say use it. Not because of me. I am only a vehicle, like you. A carrier to take to others what God has given. Thank God for His truths! They are liberating.

OK, so what do you do? Do you photocopy as much as you can and give it away? That's up to you. You have to decide, using wisdom, if that is the right approach. If you don't have any funds whatsoever, and no means to duplicate, then you can't do that, can you?

But you could loan people items of literature and encourage them to do that with what means they have. Some will have funds to be able to duplicate. Others can copy by hand. If they really value what they read, and want it that much, they will do this. It takes some of the load off you and onto them, and it's scriptural for each of us to be industrious.

When Jesus healed people, He often asked them to DO something in order to receive. As people demonstrate by their actions whether they really want what God is offering them, God blesses them. So, they are blessed more by doing what they can, than if you did it all for them.

If you need money to make literature available, but don't have it, then the literature will have to wait, won't it? (That is, until people rally to help you. God can bring people along to assist.)

"But I thought you said, use what you've got and don't wait for what you haven't got." Yes, but you have got to use it in the appropriate manner. That's why you have to 'listen to the Spirit' to know whether God would have you use the money in such a way.

It cannot be overemphasised that the proper USE of money is pivotal to success. If you are foolish and give everything away 'willy-nilly', you will be giving things to people who don't care for truth. Maybe only a small minority will care. So it will prove to be a very expensive operation, and you will let the wicked drain you.

A man in Nigeria received a box of literature and went out giving everything away without asking God what he should do. He assumed he should just give all the publications away to anyone and everyone. Most of them were wasted.

God does not work like that. He is selective in what He does. Didn't Jesus say something even stronger? "Don't cast your pearls before pigs!"

Learn to listen to the Spirit and follow divine directives. God will speak about many things. He won't tell you what you should be able to work out for yourself. So use your mind as well. But let Him influence that.

Libraries and Lending

Why give away copies to others when you can't afford it? If they are not going to reimburse you, then lend them the leaflets or booklets. Ask them to give them back when they have finished reading them. Most people either throw the truth away or demean it.

So be wise. Don't waste precious resources. Once they are gone, they are gone. I can't get them back any more than you can.

In communist China, where Bibles are a sought-after commodity, zealous hungry believers share a Bible between them. Some may only possess one page. But they treat that page like gold. They protect it with their life, and copy it for others. Where truth is scarce and forbidden, it is much more highly prized. Treasure it and make copies for others.

Those who really want truth will pay the price to have it. Encourage the formation of home fellowships.

Should I Go Into Debt?

In this ministry, we went into debt because God showed us beforehand that we would have to. It was part of our test. He gave us a dream and prophetic words to confirm it. But for most it's not advisable. Ideally, don't go into debt, unless God definitely shows you to do so.

Listen To The Spirit

Make sure that, in listening to God, you don't follow human hunches, but are receiving correctly, with confirmation from reliable people who are submitted fully to God, or from independent witnesses.

What If I Make Mistakes?

If you make mistakes, don't worry. Just get up and carry on. We all make mistakes. And God forgives. But forgiving a mistake does not reverse the results of that mistake. If you go without because of mistakes, you can't blame God or anyone else but yourself. You have to live with the consequences until such time as God helps you out of the hole you dug.

Financial Dilemmas

If you have a financial dilemma, share it with your brothers in the faith locally, to see how you can resolve the problem amongst yourselves. When the early Church did this, they sold their possessions to provide for those with greatest need (Acts 4:34,35).

You can't look to us. All we can do is make truth-loaded literature available. For that we have paid a heavy price. So, don't add to our burdens, please! Look to God in your own situations, and as you learn the faith walk, He will show you how to cope.

More Information is provided in Witnessing For Christ, particularly chapter 5 of that, Meetings With Jesus, and also in The Bible Speaks, Vol 1, under Following God's Spirit (p 36) and Giving Up Self-Will (p 41).

In Summary

1. Be humble. Don't let wrong motivation prompt you.
2. Let Jesus live in you.
3. Love others. Have their interests at heart.
4. Trust God to provide for you.
5. Look to Him. Rely upon Him in all things.
6. Use 'anointed' publications as much as possible.
7. Don't look to us for your financial support.
8. Don't try to set up 'your' church. Teach people to be independent and to worship in home fellowships.
9. Follow the lead of the Spirit. Listen to the Spirit as you 'go'.

And God will be with you! Jesus says to you:

I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you (Jn 15:16).

Malcolm B Heap
 

[1]   For just two instances of this, read Raised From The Dead At Midnight! about two people whom David Isaac Ohuoba, by the power of God, has raised up from death in Nigeria to affirm the spiritual anointing upon the written materials of Midnight Ministries.

[2]   God's true holy days are expounded in the booklet The Festivals of God (£1.00) and their calendrical basis is explained in God's Calendar Revealed To Man (£2.00).

[3]   This is substantiated by several independent witnesses to whom God gave separate revelations. Some of these are recounted in the leaflet What God Said About Midnight Ministries (50p).
 

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www.midnightministries.org.uk