e-Newsletter

Volume Five, Issue Five
7/00


Volume 5, Issue 5
"DECEPTION IN THE CHURCH" Newsletter
7/00

Dear All,

I have many, many new articles on the web site, and more are added every few days.  Keep up with what is going on with all the deception in and around the church by checking our "What's New!" page regularly at:

http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/page2.html


The letter I wrote called "An Open Letter About Benny Hinn" has had a few good results.  The New Zealand A/G hierarchy (see Addendum) has disassociated itself from Benny Hinn Ministries officially, partly as a result of the information presented in that letter.  Also, the former General Secretary of the A/G churches in Australia, Phillip Powell (see Addendum), has written a book called "Benny Hinn - Unmasked".  My open letter will be included in that book.  Keep praying about this issue.  I have received NO other e-mails or letters from ANY Christian organization I sent the letter to.  I sent the letter out to most well known Christian ministries.  It is a sign of the times that so few Christians are willing to stand up for the truth and have their reputations potential damaged.  Jesus Christ went all the way to the cross for us.  What will we do to thank Him for his sacrifice?


FEATURE ARTICLE

This DITC Newsletter feature is by Mike Oppenheimer of "Let Us Reason" ministries.  Mike and I have been working together in Hawaii to bring discernment issues to the forefront.  We are hoping and praying that the next "wave" will be a wave of discernment!

Mike has been working for quite some time on an important series of articles entitled "Kingdom Triumphalism".  He has truly done a great job of research on this project.  It is an important paper for all Christians to read, as it clearly shows the state of the apostate Third Wave church at this time -- the tares among the wheat.  You can access these articles by the following links:

Kingdom Triumphalism by Mike Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason, 7/00
"In this new wave today's denominations are being enticed to come under the leadership of the new apostles and  prophets for the church to enter this dominion stage."
 

(1) The Third Wave
(2) Who has all the authority?
(3) The cleansing for the Kingdom
(4) Spiritual war-Joels army marches today
For those of you who want the actual URL links here they are:
 
 http://letusreason.org/Latrain12.htm
 http://letusreason.org/Latrain13.htm
 http://letusreason.org/Latrain14.htm
 http://letusreason.org/Latrain15.htm

Regular visitors at the DITC site know that I have a "Quote Of The Week" section on the "What's New!" page.  Often you will find quotes there by A.W. Tozer.  In fact, I have to limit Tozer quotes to every few weeks, otherwise I would probably be quoting him all the time.  The reason is that, though Tozer was dealing with the rise of liberalism in his time, he was also contending with the beginnings of neo-gnosticism in the, then fledgling, "Latter Rain" movement in Canada.  His writings reflect the battle for the authority of Scripture and the centrality of the cross against the background of a slide toward apostasy in Christianity.

I offer this short devotional by Tozer called "Self Does Not Die Without Our Full Consent" from Renewed Day By Day, July 11 as a stark reminder that pride, and especially spiritual pride, goes before a fall.  Religious "experiences" are not some kind of litmus test or spiritual barometer, nor do they prove any real spiritual "life".  It is the "fruit" of Matthew 7 ... which in context is clearly not "works" or outward displays in the eyes of men, but the message of the messenger which must always be consistent with the final authority of the revealed Word of God in Scripture. The true test of any Christian leader is whether or not they consistently teach and live sound doctrine.  As Tozer has stated in this article:

"Nothing that comes from God will minister to my pride or self-congratulation.  If I am tempted to be complacent and to feel superior because of an advanced spiritual experience, I should go at once to my knees and repent of the whole thing.  I have fallen a victim to the enemy!"

Here is the link to the full article:

http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/tozer4.html


Contend for the Faith! Preach the Gospel message, which is the power unto salvation for all who believe in Jesus Christ.  Avoid the false teachings and practices of the Third Wave, and warn others to avoid false teachers as well.  Pray for those who are doing Biblical discernment ministry today.  Pray for many people who are falling, on their way to the shipwreck of their faith.  Be merciful and truthful.  Worship God in Spirit and in Truth!

In His hands,
Sandy Simpson, missionary




ADDENDUM 5.5

Dear All,

I made a couple of mistakes with regards to Philip Powell.  I have never met him personally but have been very much impressed by his stand for the truth "down under".  I am attaching his note to me following the latest Volume 5, Issue 5 newsletter.  It will explain my mistakes, for which I am very sorry.  Thanks to Phillip who is most gracious!

In His hands,
Sandy Simpson

---

Dear Sandy:

It's always good to hear from you, my brother. May Jesus Christ be praised for the good work you are doing. We will link to you and your work as closely as we can.

Just a couple of small points - Sandy. It was the hierarchy of New Zealand AoG not the Australian which disassociated from Benny Hinn. Many people "up-over" associated NZ with OZ, but they are different countries. It would be a great break-through if the Australian AoG would follow the NZ lead as OZ more than others in this region are flying the
false banner.

Secondly I was never Director of AoG in Australia. I was the General Secretary from 1989 to 1992 during which time I saw what was happening in the higher echelons of power within AoG in this region and eventually resigned after trying to forestall what was happening.

I don't think either mistake is that important but felt I should set the record straight for the sake of on-going publicity and in order to enable you to answer any criticism which may arise from what you have circulated. Don't feel you need to publish a retraction or correction on my account. It's too petty for that.

God bless you. I'll copy this to Mike Oppenheimer and to those who are the forefront workers on our CWM Web Sites so that they are in touch with you. Presently we are most encouraged in the work and thank you and Mike for your involvement with us and for your wider based contribution to the real KINGDOM.

Sincerely yours for THE Truth,
Philip L. POWELL.

Philip & Kathleen POWELL
"The Vineyard"
1512 Waterford-Tamborine Road
LOGAN VILLAGE QLD 4207
Australia
Phone +61 7 5546 8831
WEB SITES: CWM
http://www.christian-witness.org