WesleyGospel Ministries

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death. –John Wesley, Journal for May 24, 1738

This is why the Methodist Episcopal Church got started. It’s called the Aldersgate Experience. The reference to the disciples on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24:32 is not the result of rational and deductive Bible study, pulled from its historical context, in order to produce an exegetical teaching about the author’s original intent, for the student of religious history and theology. All of these ideas about Bible interpretation almost assume an anti-experience presupposition. How are people viewing the Bible? How are they using it? It’s almost like if cessationists can’t teach the Bible as an inspirational world history book to a class of high schoolers, without any appeal to personal spiritual experience, then they might as well not teach the Bible at all. Because the Bible is really just meant to be classroom material, not a divine guidepost for experience of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is then deistically reduced to just a history book. It’s not like a spiritual manual or anything. To charismatics, the Emmaus Road is simply a point of reference for experience of the Holy Spirit. The idea is that if the Holy Spirit has produced a similar experience like this for Christians before, it is reasonable to assume or even have faith in God that the Holy Spirit can produce experiences like that for other Christians today. The same could be said about Romans 5:5, 8:16, Psalm 39:2-3, and Jeremiah 20:9. A person might call this eisegesis if they want to, or throw out a number of other vocab words and phrases to try to invalidate it, but at the end of the day the same truth remains: they are using the Bible with the assumption that it has absolutely nothing to say about personal experience of the Holy Spirit! That should be enough to give anyone pause.

—

THE SPIRIT ITSELF BEARETH WITNESS with our spirit,
that WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
–Romans 8:16–

Did not our HEART BURN WITHIN us while He talked with us on the road,
and while He opened THE SCRIPTURES to us?
–Luke 24:32 (NKJV)–

I was mute with silence,
I held my peace even from good;
And my sorrow was stirred up.
MY HEART WAS HOT WITHIN ME;
While I was musing, THE FIRE BURNED.
Then I spoke with my tongue.
–Psalm 39:2-3 (NKJV)–

I said, “I will not make mention of Him,
Nor speak anymore in His name.”
BUT HIS WORD WAS IN MY HEART LIKE A BURNING FIRE
Shut up in my bones;
I was weary of holding it back,
And I could not.
–Jeremiah 20:9 (NKJV)–

HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE.
–Matthew 3:11 (NKJV)–

There appeared to them divided tongues,
AS OF FIRE, and one sat upon each of them.
–Acts 2:3 (NKJV)–

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I COULD WISH YOU WERE cold or HOT. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor HOT, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
–Revelation 3:15-16 (NKJV)–

With the spirit of every true believer, by A TESTIMONY DISTINCT FROM that of his own spirit, or the testimony of a good conscience. Happy they who enjoy this CLEAR AND CONSTANT.
—Wesley’s Explanatory Notes, Romans 8:16–

That same Spirit, the Spirit of adoption; that is, the Spirit who witnesses this adoption; which can be no other than the Holy Ghost himself, and certainly cannot mean any disposition or affection of mind which the adopted person may feel; for such a disposition must arise from a knowledge of this adoption, and the knowledge of this adoption cannot be given by any human or earthly means; it must come from God himself: therefore the αυτοτοπνευμα must have reference to that Spirit, by whom alone the knowledge of the adoption is witnessed to the soul of the believer…In our understanding, the place or recipient of light and information; and the place or faculty to which such information can properly be brought. This is done that we may have the highest possible evidence of the work which God has wrought. As the window is the proper medium to let the light of the sun into our apartments, so the understanding is the proper medium of conveying the Spirit’s influence to the soul. We, therefore, have the utmost evidence of the fact of our adoption which we can possibly have; we have the Word and Spirit of God; and the Word sealed on our spirit by the Spirit of God. And this is not a momentary influx: if we take care to walk with God, and not grieve the Holy Spirit, we shall have an abiding testimony; and while we continue faithful to our adopting Father, the Spirit that witnesses that adoption will continue to witness it; and hereby we shall know that we are of God by the Spirit which he giveth us.
—The Adam Clarke Commentary, Romans 8:16–

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.
–John Wesley–

The inward witness, son, the inward witness,
that is the proof, the strongest proof, of Christianity.
–Samuel Wesley–

—

1. The sum of all this is: The testimony of the Spirit is an inward impression on the souls of believers, whereby the Spirit of God directly testifies to their spirit, that they are children of God. And it is not questioned, whether there is a testimony of the Spirit; but whether there is an direct testimony; whether there is any other than that which arises from a consciousness of the fruit of the Spirit. We believe there is; because this is the plain natural meaning of the text, illustrated both by the preceding words, and by the parallel passage in the Epistle to the Galatians; because, in the nature of the thing, the testimony must precede the fruit which springs from it and because this plain meaning of the word of God is confirmed by the experience of innumerable children of God; yea, and by the experience of all who are convinced of sin, who can never rest till they have a direct witness; and even of the children of the world, who, not having the witness in themselves, one and all declare, none can know his sins forgiven.

2. And whereas it is objected, that experience is not sufficient to prove a doctrine unsupported by Scripture; — that madmen and enthusiasts of every kind have imagined such a witness that the design of that witness is to prove our profession genuine, which design it does not answer; — that the Scripture says, “The tree is known by its fruit;” “examine yourselves; prove your ownselves;” and, meantime, the direct witness is never referred to in all the Book of God; — that it does not secure us from the greatest delusions; and, Lastly, that the change wrought in us is a sufficient testimony, unless in such trials as Christ alone suffered: — We answer, 1. Experience is sufficient to confirm a doctrine which is grounded on Scripture. 2. Though many fancy they experience what they do not, this is no prejudice to real experience. 3. The design of that witness is, to assure us we are children of God; and this design it does answer. 4. The true witness of the Spirit is known by its fruit, “love, peace, joy;” not indeed preceding, but following it. 5. It cannot be proved, that the direct as well as the indirect witness is not referred to in that very text, “Know ye not your ownselves, that Jesus Christ is in you.” 6. The Spirit of God, witnessing with our spirit, does secure us from all delusion: And, Lastly, we are all liable to trials, wherein the testimony of our own spirit is not sufficient; wherein nothing less than the direct testimony of God’s Spirit can assure us that we are his children.

3. Two inferences may be drawn from the whole: The First, let none ever presume to rest in any supposed testimony of the Spirit which is separate from the fruit of it. If the Spirit of God does really testify that we are the children of God, the immediate consequence will be the fruit of the Spirit, even “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, fidelity, meekness, temperance.” And however this fruit may be clouded for a while, during the time of strong temptation, so that it does not appear to the tempted person, while Satan is sifting him as wheat; yet the substantial part of it remains, even under the thickest cloud. It is true, joy in the Holy Ghost may be withdrawn, during the hour of trial; yea, the soul may be “exceeding sorrowful,” while “the hour and power of darkness” continue; but even this is generally restored with increase, till we rejoice “with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

4. The Second inference, is, let none rest in any supposed fruit of the Spirit without the witness. There may be foretastes of the Spirit without the witness. There may be foretastes of joy, of peace, of love, and those not delusive, but really from God, long before we have the witness in ourselves; before the Spirit of God witnesses with our spirits that we have “redemption in the blood of Jesus, even the forgiveness of sins.” Yea, there may be a degree of long-suffering, of gentleness, of fidelity, meekness, temperance, (not a shadow thereof, but a real degree, by the preventing grace of God,) before we “are accepted in the Beloved,” and, consequently, before we have a testimony of our acceptance: But it is by no means advisable to rest here; it is at the peril of our souls if we do. If we are wise, we shall be continually crying to God, until his Spirit cry in our heart, “Abba, Father!” This is the privilege of all the children of God, and without this we can never be assured that we are his children. Without this we cannot retain a steady peace, nor avoid perplexing doubts and fears. But when we have once received this Spirit of adoption, this “peace which passeth all understanding,” and which expels all painful doubt and fear, will “keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” And when this has brought forth its genuine fruit, all inward and outward holiness, it is undoubtedly the will of Him that calleth us, to give us always what he has once given; so that there is no need that we should ever more be deprived of either the testimony of God’s Spirit, or the testimony of our own, the consciousness of our walking in all righteousness and true holiness.

—

John Wesley (1954 film), 38:11.

John Wesley, “The Witness of the Spirit,” Part II, 5.1-4.

—. The Journal of the Rev. John Wesley (Kershaw, 1827), vol. 1, pp. 97-98.

Richard J. Foster, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home (HarperCollins, 1992), p. 133.

Jim Goll, Wasted on Jesus (Destiny Image, 2000), p. 164.

Richard Rolle, The Fire of Love (Penguin, 1995).

So the Pharisees said to one another,
“See, this is getting us nowhere.
Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
–John 12:19 (NIV)–

Yeah!

He’s coming back
He’s coming back for me and you
He’s coming back
He’s coming back for me and you
He’s coming back
He’s coming back for me and you

Tell him brother
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Yes, it’s the low down, the showdown, brothers ready to throw down
No need for us to go down, the truth is what we know now
That we have life through my Lord Christ Jesus
No one can love you more than to do the things that He did
So give Him your pass so that He can start to mold ya
Full fledged, dedicated, hardcore, Christian soldier
Spiritual war, it’s a spiritual bout
And we’re the first ones in P.O.D. and we’re the last ones out

He’s coming back for me and you, yeah
He’s coming back!
He’s coming back for me and you! Yeah!
He’s coming back!
He’s coming back for me and you

–P.O.D., “Coming Back”–

Jehovah’s Witnesses are a cult founded by the false prophets Charles Taze Russell and Joseph Franklin Rutherford, both of whom used their religious influence to embezzle millions of dollars for themselves, live in mansions, and drive luxury cars. The preoccupation with this group is similar to that of the dispensationalists, with it being focused heavily on the theme of the end times and the return of Christ. The main difference with general Left Behind believers is that the JWs have a greatly disappointing track record of date-setting the year that Jesus will return. This has happened at least five times in JW history: 1914, 1915, 1918, 1925, and 1975. Each year Jesus did not come back as the JW leaders predicted; and each year that another disappointment occurs, they keep pushing the year of the Second Coming forward, like a carrot and stick strategy, to keep the organization going. (48:33). The Bible is not emphasized in the lives of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the words of the Watch Tower Society are, with the Bible cast underneath it in terms of spiritual authority. If only JWs would read their Bibles more, they’d realize that Jesus himself spoke against date-setting about the Second Coming: “ABOUT THAT DAY OR HOUR NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels in heaven, NOR THE SON, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). Not even Jesus knows when the Father will send him back to the earth. But the leaders of JWs claim that they do know; and they use these false claims to control their followers. The other false teachings that JWs push in addition to their flagrantly erroneous date-setting:

1. The Bible can’t be understood without Charles Russell’s Studies in the Scriptures.

2. Discouraging marriage and family life in some cases. (50:14).

3. Demonization of all Christian denominations (antichrist spirit). (53:20).

4. Unquestioning obedience to the JW dictatorship (the Governing Body).

5. The JW Bible translation was assisted by a spirit medium in séances.

6. Jesus was created by God before everything else was. He is not one with God, but is actually the incarnation of the Archangel Michael! This is a form of the Arian heresy, which was condemned at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. (25:57). This goes against clear Scriptures that proclaim the deity of Christ and his oneness with God the Father (John 1:1-3, 14; 5:18; Colossians 2:9; John 20:28; Isaiah 9:6; John 10:30; Matthew 1:23).

7. Only upper class JWs will go to Heaven for eternity; all lower class JWs live on earth for eternity.

8. JWs have to earn their salvation by door-to-door witnessing and Kingdom Hall meetings. Many, many hours a week must be spent this way without question. THOUSANDS OF HOURS! JWs live with a constant sense of guilt for not doing these good works enough. This is reinforced by turning in time reports to their leaders. (30:38).

9. JWs are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit-directed organization. (33:00).

10. There are many unbiblical man-made rules that JWs are supposed to follow. They are not allowed to vote, run for office or get involved with politics at all, serve in the military, celebrate holidays, join the YMCA, sing the National Anthem, say the Pledge of Allegiance, accept blood transfusions, participate in sports, birthday parties, go to school dances, say anything critical of the Watch Tower Society, or associate with ex-JWs. JW children in public schools are not allowed to play with non-JW kids. (33:39).

11. Sexual immorality, unethical business practices, and even gay sex happens among JW leaders. (36:44).

12. JWs have an above average rate of mental illness due to the threat of excommunication. (37:51).

This video shows that Fundamentalist Mormon doctrine goes against the Ten Commandments and the Gospel in the following ways. Mormonism teaches…

1. Polytheism and various occult practices like spiritism.

2. Idolatry of human beings.

3. Murder – the blood atonement doctrine.

4. Adultery – by calling it polygamy.

5. Pedophilia against teenage girls – by also calling it polygamy.

6. Racism against black people.

7. Jesus is Satan’s brother.

8. All Christian denominations are abominations.

9. The Book of Mormon is a scripture in addition to the Bible; and even corrects the Bible.

10. Religious actions, rituals, and ceremonies earn people favor with God.

Therefore, anyone who persecutes the fundamentalist Mormon cults; or the larger group called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is helping the kingdom of God to expand. To legally prosecute the Mormon hierarchies is not to persecute them for any kind of righteousness, but is an effort to stop religiously flavored devil worship, murder, sexual immorality, pedophilia, racism, and blasphemy against the Word of God and the cross of Christ. These people are criminals in plain sight! –J.B.

I tell you the truth
No one can enter the kingdom
Unless he is born again
Unless he is born again (John 3:3)
How can this be (John 3:4)

People give life to their
Children but only God’s
Spirit can make you
Into a child of God (John 3:6)
Don’t be surprised (John 3:7)

Take me underneath the water
Take me on under there (Matthew 3:15, John 3:5)
Take me underneath the water
Take me on under there
Take me underneath the water

No one has gone up
Except the Son of Man
Who came down from the heavens
Who came down from heaven (John 3:13)
Only believe (John 3:15-16)

Just as the snake was lifted up
People who looked were healed
Jesus the Son was lifted up
So we all could be healed (John 3:14)
Don’t be surprised

Take me underneath the water
Take me on under there
Take me underneath the water
Take me on under there
Take me underneath the water
I will die to me by being baptized (Matthew 20:22)
All things new old things gone
I have realized (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Let’s get wet take me under that water

God loved the world so much
That He gave His only Son
So that all the ones He made
Could believe and be saved (John 3:16)

Take me underneath the water
Take me on under there
Take me underneath the water
Take me on under there
Take me underneath the water
I will die to me by being baptized (Matthew 20:22)
All things new old things gone
I have realized (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Let’s get wet take me under that water

–Disciple, “Underneath”–