(What Believers Need to Know to Keep Them Safe)

In these last days, Jesus warned of false teachers and to beware of them. We are seeing this unfolding before our eyes. But sometimes (as the devil does so well) it sounds believable, and before long, many of us are pulled into heretical teaching.  Our Lord wants to keep us safe from False Teachers. His Word is there for us for this purpose.

I was reading Acts 17 and, of course, came upon this passage of Scripture:

“These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Acts 17:11 is preached to this day to impart to God’s people a most important Truth. The Bereans had heard Paul and Silas preach to them. The Word says that these Berean Jews received the word with all readiness; but what did they do after hearing that which was preached to them?

They searched the Scriptures to verify what they had heard.

Many people today do not rely on the Word of God for Truth.  Unfortunately, they rely on the teachings of men, some of which are Biblically sound, but others have twisted the Word of God to accommodate the “Itching Ear” crowd who want to be made comfortable in church.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

“that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” (Ephesians 4:14).

Did you know that those who are trained to spot counterfeit money spend the majority of their time studying authentic bills? It’s true. They can immediately spot the counterfeit because the authentic is ingrained in their brains.

And so are believers in Christ told to study the Word of God in order to reject apostasy:

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

It’s a Spiritual Minefield Out There

What is Apostasy?

Apostasy, from the Greek word apostasia, means “a defiance of an established system or authority; a rebellion; an abandonment or breach of faith.”  This clearly shows that there is “Truth” from the Word of God; but there is also a rebellion or defiance against God’s Word.

I have seen Bible teachers of late telling their flocks that “Apostasia” means the Rapture of the church in 2 Thessalonians 2. This is clearly errant teaching, although I do not say that these teachers are doing this in a malicious manner.

This is why we should be like the Bereans -receiving teaching with gladness BUT searching the Scriptures to see if what we were told is true.

In the Greek, Apostasia always refers to a departure from a belief system; in other words a falling away from faith in the Word of God. It has never meant a “spacial departure,” which many are teaching in saying this is the Rapture of the Church.

Excerpt from gotquestions.org:

“Question: “Will there be a great apostasy / falling away during the end times?”

Answer: The Bible indicates that there will be a great apostasy during the end times. The “great apostasy” is mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The KJV calls it the “falling away,” while the NIV and ESV call it “the rebellion.” And that’s what an apostasy is: a rebellion, an abandonment of the truth. The end times will include a wholesale rejection of God’s revelation, a further “falling away” of an already fallen world.” source

Brethren, the definition of Apostasy (Apostasia) could not be more clear!

Deception of the Brethren

I receive many emails each week from the readers of my articles. It shocks and saddens me that so many are caught up in false teaching, cults, and even in a “New Age” version of Christianity.

This is not true of the majority of those who write to me. Most are very grounded in the Word and are ‘Born-Again’ believers. But the readers who do communicate with me who have become ensnared in false doctrine is very troubling.

I see this on Facebook when I publish a new article. There will always be those who find fault with my words because what I say exposes the false doctrine that they believe.

I want the reader to understand that I am very open to being corrected by the brethren – but the Word of God must reign supreme over “opinions” of men and women.

So, let’s get right into the snares and traps of False teaching.

Hebrew Roots (HRM)

Being an ethnic Jew who came to faith in Christ so many years ago, I am very familiar with this cult.  And yes – I did say CULT.

Satan’s traps, lies, and snares are everywhere, but Hebrew Roots is especially egregious to the Lord.  We know that we are saved by Grace through faith. It is the New Covenant of Grace – the better Covenant which brings life to those who believe in the finished work of Christ on the Cross, and His resurrection from the dead. When we truly believe “on” the Lord Jesus Christ (placing our faith in Him alone for the forgiveness of our sins by His shed blood) and understand that this is what saves us, we are able to discern false teaching.

Through the years, I have met many Christians who are taken with the knowledge that I am an ethnic Jew. I have spoken with many who actually research their lineage to find out if they have any amount of Jewish blood.

I have often told them that being grafted into the vine is simply the way that the Lord has made it possible for them to enter the Kingdom of God. But somewhere along the line, they have been confronted by those of the Hebrew Roots Cult.

To simplify the errant teaching of this cult, I have chosen to take the main beliefs and format them in a bulleted list. I do hope that many of the brethren will print out this article and keep it for reference.

HRM believes:

• The Church has veered far from the true teaching and Hebrew concepts of the Bible.
• That Christianity has been indoctrinated with cultures and beliefs of paganism.
• Christ’s death did not end the Mosaic Law, but renewed it.
• Understanding of the NT can only come from a Hebrew perspective.
• The teachings of Paul are not understood or taught correctly.
• The believers should walk in Torah-observance to please God.
• The dietary laws and all celebrations of the feasts of Israel should be observed by all believers.

I must insert something very important for the reader. I am in no way saying that Christians who feel led to study the history and customs of the Jewish people, and even take part in many of these, should not do this. But they must understand that observing these traditions of Judaism is not part of Salvation. This is a lie from the pit of hell. The teachings of HRM are no different from those of the Judaizers of Jesus’ day, with one exception:

Most all of the HRM leadership and followers are NOT Jews.

I have noticed that most so-called Hebrew Roots churches are not only filled with non-Jews, but the “Rabbi” over the people is not even ethnically Jewish himself! (Most of the congregations are not aware of this.)

From gotquestions.org  (On HRM)

The influence of this movement is working its way into our churches and seminaries. It’s dangerous in its implication that keeping the Old Covenant law is walking a “higher path” and is the only way to please God and receive His blessings. Nowhere in the Bible do we find Gentile believers being instructed to follow Levitical laws or Jewish customs; in fact, the opposite is taught. Romans 7:6 says, “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” Christ, in keeping perfectly every ordinance of the Mosaic Law, completely fulfilled it. Just as making the final payment on a home fulfills that contract and ends one’s obligation to it, so also Christ has made the final payment and has fulfilled the law, bringing it to an end for us all. source

The NAR Movement (New Apostolic Reformation and Dominion Theology)

We are warned by Jesus not to add or take away from His Holy Word. Perhaps the NAR Movement and Dominionists misread the Words of our Lord.  These movements thrive on extra-Biblical revelation.  The dangers of these teachings are beyond what we can even imagine.

This movement is spanning the globe at an alarming rate.

As I did with HRM, I will format this as bullet points to simplify:

• They will not refer to themselves as NAR or Dominionists.
• They have restored the offices of Apostles and Prophets from the OT.
• The leadership is comprised of the “New” Apostles and Prophets chosen by men.
• They teach that Christians MUST be involved in politics.
• They teach that God has restored the offices of Apostle and Prophets over the last 30-40 years.
• Members of this movement must obey the words of the so-called Apostles and Prophets.
• As more and more members unify behind the leaders – these leaders will be given supernatural powers of mass healings and suspend the laws of physics.
• Great wealth will come to the new Apostles, and this will enable the church to establish God’s Kingdom on earth (Dominionism).
• Belief in Grave Soaking (lying on top of a grave of a well-known Christian in hopes that knowledge will be imparted to them.
• Gold dust coming down on the congregation during worship (people believing this came from heaven).

Discerning Christians will see clearly that this is a cult. It does not even resemble Christianity from the Bible. Nevertheless, the followers of this cult are in the millions and growing every day.

Many Personal Stories of leaving the NAR Cult  <click to read

Jan Markell did a two-part series on her radio program that exposed an even more nefarious side of NAR:

Wolves Not Sparing the Flock Part 1

Wolves Not sparing the Flock Part 2

A question for the reader:  Does any of this about NAR, Dominion Theology, and HRM line up with the Word of God? (rhetorical question!)

This is the first of a series of articles that I hope to write concerning cults and false teaching.

I will cover the “Social Justice Gospel” in my next article, along with other Apostasy movements.

Brethren, I hope that this article will help someone make the decision to leave if they are involved with these false movements. I also hope that this might help a family who has a member caught up in HRM, NAR, or Dominion Theology.

Remember:  Times change, but the Word of God NEVER changes.

Beware of extra-Biblical teaching and so-called revelations.

God is God and we are NOT!

How Can I Be Saved?

Shalom b’Yeshua

MARANATHA!

Grandmageri422@gmail.com

Articles @grandmageri422.me

 

This was written in October of 2015.

I met the Messiah in 1983, and since then, my life has never been the same. It hasn’t been all wonderful. There were hurts and pain, but the difference was that I knew that the Lord was with me through everything. He became my life, and His Word, my sustenance.

I had been taught in synagogue to be very proud of my heritage as a Jew, but it meant nothing to me back then. Actually, the constant anti-Semitic remarks by kids in my neighborhood and school, fist fights in the street over being called names — I wasn’t exactly ecstatic about being a Jew. Also, the Old Testament confused me when I attempted to read it.

I also learned in the synagogue that Christians hated us, and they always had. You see, Jews look at Christianity as one unit. They have no idea about being truly born again from above — having a heart of stone being made into a heart of flesh, and God’s own Holy Spirit coming and dwelling within us. Jews look back at history and see Jewish blood spilled in the name of Christianity. It was only on this side of the Cross that I realized being a Christian had nothing to do with denomination or how ornate a church building was. None of that was important. My question to people was, “Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior?” And it was only after knowing Jesus that I appreciated and loved being a Jew.

Jews heard about people like Corrie Ten Boom, but I truly believe that they just thought of Corrie as one of a kind – a special lady. They were unable to see that it was the Lord in Corrie’s life and heart who made her into the loving woman she was, willing to sacrifice herself for the Jewish people. My people could not discern that some people were truly Christian, while most were just going through the motions.

But I think that Israeli Jews are beginning to be able to discern the Evangelicals from all others at last. They see that there are certain Christians who really love Israel. Bibi knows it, and many others too. I think this will be used by the Lord to bring more and more Jews to know Him.

Before I was saved, I had always had the feeling that the Catholics were the holy people. I suppose some of that came from their mass, which in many ways was like a service in the synagogue. Everything seemed so perfect, but I was searching for Jesus. I did go to a Catholic church to find Jesus, although that was short-lived. I did not see Him there.

AMERICAN JEWS

I have heard so many born-again believers ask why most Jews vote leftist and why most of them stand with Obama, even in 2012, after all he has said and done against Israel. The answer is not complex. I wish it were complex. The simple truth is that most Jews in America are secular Jews. They don’t believe the Bible, and many are agnostic or atheists. My own sisters do not believe in God, and they hate me for believing in Jesus. I find it interesting that my older sisters never received any instruction in Judaism, but my parents decided to send me. I am grateful that they did. I believe that the Lord’s Hand was on me all through my life.

My dad had grown up in Boston and was from an Orthodox family. He read and spoke Hebrew fluently. My mom was totally secular. Her parents had been gamblers in D.C., and Mom was regularly sent on a bus, at twelve years old, to pay off her parents’ debts. My parents met at the Jewish Community Center in D.C. at the beginning of WWII. They married soon after that.

Dad gave up his orthodox ways for Mom. So there we were, a secular Jewish family. My parents had told us that, as good Jews, we should be Democrats. It was expected. It was important. They made me believe that the Democrats were the party of compassion. I guess they missed the history of FDR sending away a ship of 900 frantic Jews from Europe wanting to come into America to escape the coming slaughter. FDR told Congress that the U.S. had enough Jews. Those Jews went back to Europe and eventually to the camps.

I guess they forgot that in the miraculous 6-day war of 1967, President Johnson (Democrat) said that Israel would stand alone if they defended themselves. He didn’t realize that God helped Israel. He didn’t care.

My dad, having had Hebrew instruction and a love for Torah, was different. He loved Israel. I remember during the 1960s, he had a picture of Nasser in our utility room — we threw darts at it. Dad loved Israel and sent money each year to them. I’m not sure if Mom knew that he did this. But Dad was still a Democrat.

When God saved me in 1983, I had been a registered Democrat. It had never occurred to me to be anything else. But as I read the Word every day, I realized that I could not reconcile the platform of the Democrats with God’s Word. I changed my political affiliation to Republican.

Mom told me in a stern voice that she could take my believing in Jesus, but she could not accept me being a Republican. She exclaimed, “I can’t believe I gave birth to a Republican!”

Before Dad died in 1997, the Lord allowed me to lead him in prayer to be saved. I had witnessed a lot to Dad when they moved to Florida for retirement. I sent him books and letters about Yeshua.

He wrote back to me that he was so proud that one of his children loved the Ten Commandments. He didn’t mention Jesus, but on his deathbed, he prayed the prayer of repentance and trusted Yeshua for his salvation.

ISRAELI JEWS

In Jerusalem, there are quite a few Orthodox Jews. They are conservative. They believe the Old Testament, and they know that God promised the land of Israel to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac. About 10% of Israel is Orthodox.

In contrast to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv is much like the majority of Jews here in America. Some of them want to split Israel and even Jerusalem for peace. They have no idea that it will not bring peace. They have no idea that it angers God when His land is divided.

And then there are the moderates, who love Israel and know the dangers that encircle them. They want to be safe. They don’t want to die. They want a strong leader like Netanyahu.

WHAT IS COMING

No person knows the time of the Rapture of the Church. But we do see the signs that this world is getting ready for something big. Anti-Semitism is at its highest point worldwide. There are wars and rumors of wars all around. There are earthquakes and all sorts of natural disasters. One of the most important fulfillments of prophecy was in 1948, when God brought His people from the four corners of the earth back to their own land.

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God” (Amos 9:13-15, KJV).

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:37-39, KJV).

I believe that those words will be among the sweetest that our Lord will ever hear.

My Jewish brothers and sisters, my prayer for you is that your eyes will be opened, and that you will understand that your Messiah came and you knew Him not. He is Yeshua (Jesus). He gave his life for you. You were hardened for a time so that the Gentiles could come into the Kingdom. You see, the plan of God was that through us (Jews) the whole world would be offered Salvation.

“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (Romans 11:26, KJV).

When the last Gentile comes in, then your eyes will be opened and you will see Him clearly. He adores you!

I don’t know why He revealed Himself to me at this time. I’m so glad He did so that I can tell you that this is TRUTH. Now do you understand why the born-again Christians love Israel so much? The Law, the prophets, and Yeshua came from the Jewish people!

What’s not to love?

I pray that many will read this and that the Lord will draw them to Himself, and they will be saved.

ISAIAH 53

“Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
 He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
 He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
 And they made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.”

My people – is that not a clear picture of the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) going to the Cross for YOUR Salvation? He came, and you received Him not. But He is coming again, and your eyes will be opened.

Am Yisrael Chai!

Shalom b’Yeshua!

HOW CAN I BE SAVED?

Grandmageri422@gmail.com

Articles @grandmageri422.me