WesleyGospel Ministries

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
–Philippians 4:8 (KJV)–

According to the long version of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, she prophesied about the Protestant Reformation hundreds of years before it happened. –J.B.

CHARISMATIC CONSIDERATIONS
ABOUT DEUTERONOMY 18:20-22

²⁰ “A prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.” ²¹ You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” ²² If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.
–Deuteronomy 18:20-22 (NIV)–

The passage evidently assumes such an occasion for consulting the prophet as was usual among the pagan, e. g., an impending battle or other such crisis (compare 1 Kings 22:11), in which his veracity would soon be put to the test. Failure of a prediction is set forth as a sure note of its being “presumptuous.” But from Deuteronomy 13:2ff we see that the fulfillment of a prediction would not decisively accredit him who uttered it: for the prophet or dreamer of dreams who endeavoured on the strength of miracles to seduce to idolatry was to be rejected and punished. Nothing therefore contrary to the revealed truth of God was to be accepted under any circumstances.
—BARNES’ NOTES ON THE BIBLE, DEUTERONOMY 18:21–

Several observations here:

1. Under the Old Covenant, New Agers that spoke in the name of pagan gods were definitely supposed to be stoned to death (18:20).

2. A Jewish God-fearing prophet who failed at prediction was not necessarily supposed to be stoned to death. All he did was make a mistake at dream interpretation or something–the result there was simply not to take the guy very seriously (18:22). The death penalty was only clearly applied to pagan prophets who misguided people to worship pagan gods, or who was exposed as a manifest liar. But godly prophets that failed at prediction were just not taken seriously as prophetically gifted because their words fell to the ground: the Jews were told “do not be alarmed” in such cases, but not directed to kill the poor guy. Progressive sanctification, growth in the life of prayer, fasting, and spiritual disciplines implies IMPERFECTION, as the Westminster Confession 13.2 says. It seems wrong to teach this passage means that spiritual, godly men approximating towards hearing from the Holy Spirit, should definitely be KILLED for the smallest failings and mistakes at hearing and conveying what could possibly be God’s spoken words.

3. Rosebrough and Kozar are both Lutherans, and might be curious to know, that Thomas Boys’ Suppressed Evidence showed that Martin Luther predicted future events by dreams. The same could be said of the Scottish Reformation for over a hundred years from the time of John Knox and forward. Peters is a Baptist and might be curious to know that John Bunyan was a seer, who not only based Pilgrim’s Progress on the idea of a prophetic dream, but might have based it on an actual dream he had while in Bedford Prison. There is also a book by him called Visions of Heaven and Hell (Whitaker House, 1998). It is very similar to Bill Wiese’s 23 Minutes In Hell (Charisma House, 2006).

4. Marking and avoiding false teachers takes time; and Peters, Rosebrough, and Kozar have made a careful study of this for many years. So it’s only natural to see that they’re going to be ahead of the class in this area. I’ve always been a slower learner; and I’m glad that I’ve been able to benefit from the homework they’ve done. But I don’t think it would be right to assume that the Remnant Radio guys are being dishonest or disingenuous about charismatic leaders they’ve interviewed; or ones that I’ve posted on my blog. Although charismatics might receive prophetic gifts sometimes, this never means omniscience concerning everyone we learn about, or get a chance to meet in person.

5. A false teacher who repents of a false teaching–grace needs to be shown to such people because nobody’s perfect. Clergy sexual abuse or embezzlement on the other hand, is not only criminal, but should mean permanent disqualification according to 1 Timothy 3. Thankfully there are organizations like G.R.A.C.E. and the ECFA to safeguard these two pitfalls. –J.B.

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Dr. Wayne Grudem, The Gift of Prophecy (Crossway, 2000), ch. 1.

Dr. Jack Deere, Why I Am Still Surprised by the Voice of God (Zondervan, 2022), p. 323.

Thomas Boys’ The Suppressed Evidence (Hamilton, Adams, and Co, 1832), pp. 182-191.

Jeff Doles, Miracles and Manifestations (Walking Barefoot Ministries, 2007), ch. 7.

Thomas C. Oden, John Wesley’s Scriptural Christianity (Zondervan, 1994).

E. S. Williams, Systematic Theology (Gospel Publishing House, 1953).

For everyone who thinks its right to only qualify lukewarm, stoical pastor-teachers to be “servants” of the church payroll; and to always disqualify passionate, sin-hating, cross-bearing, rejection-laden preachers of righteousness, burning with indignation against injustice: Bible evangelists filled with the Holy Ghost! Jesus said to count the cost! Which one will you be? The lack of indignation being expressed in sermons about all these clergy sexual abuse cases is telling of the ministry culture we have today. Many pastors care more about being publicly “qualified” as gentle shepherds in their churches, while being privately disqualified as PornHub addicts, and not publicly caring at all about the lambs being slaughtered in our churches every year.
–J.B.–

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BOOKS TO SET YOU ON FIRE
TO PREACH REPENTANCE AND FAITH
WITH INDIGNATION, ZEAL, AND PASSION!

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1. The King James Version of the Bible.

2. Dr. Thomas C. Oden, John Wesley’s Scriptural Christianity.

3. —. John Wesley’s Teachings (4 vols).

4. Harald Lindstrom, Wesley and Sanctification.

5. Kenneth J. Collins, Wesley on Salvation.

6. —. The Scripture Way of Salvation.

7. Charles G. Finney, Victory Over the World.

8. —. True Submission.

9. —. True Saints.

10. —. Lectures to Professing Christians.

11. —. Sermons on Gospel Themes.

12. John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress.

13. John Wesley, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection.

14. —. Standard Sermons.

15. Adam Clarke, Christian Theology.

16. Jonathan Edwards, The Wrath of Almighty God.

17. Dr. John R. Rice, Why Preach Against Sin?

18. —. What Is Wrong With the Movies?

19. —. Adultery and Sex Perversion.

20. Dr. Hugh Pyle, The Truth About the Homosexuals.

To another discerning of spirits.
–1 Corinthians 12:10 (KJV)–

Certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.
–Luke 8:2 (KJV)–

These signs shall follow them that believe;
in my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues.
–Mark 16:17 (KJV)–

The king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou?
And the woman said unto Saul,
I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
–The Witch of Endor in 1 Samuel 28:13 (KJV)–

Take heed, brethren,
lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief,
in departing from the living God.
–Hebrews 3:12 (KJV)–

⁵ Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
–Matthew 4:5-6 (KJV)–

¹⁹ Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? ²⁰ And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. ²¹ Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
–Matthew 17:19-21 (KJV)–

⁹ When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. ¹⁰ Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, ¹¹ or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. ¹² Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. ¹³ You must be blameless before the Lord your God.
–Deuteronomy 18:9-13 (NIV)–

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WesleyGospel, “Visions and Dreams of Evil Spirits–It’s Not Just About Ideas!”

Athanasius, The Life of Antony (Paulist Press, 1979).

Gabriele Amorth, An Exorcist Tells His Story (Ignatius Press, 1999).

—. An Exorcist: More Stories (Ignatius Press, 2002).

Francis MacNutt, Deliverance from Evil Spirits (Chosen Books, 2009).

Herbert Thurston, Ghosts and Poltergeists (Burns Oates, 1953), “The Exorcism of Haunted Houses.”

John Wimber, Power Healing (HarperCollins, 1987), ch. 6: “Healing the Demonized.”

Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Occult (Thomas Nelson, 2008).

Bob Larson, Larson’s Book of Spiritual Warfare (Thomas Nelson, 1999).

Graham Twelftree, Jesus the Exorcist (Hendrickson Publishers, 1993).

—. In the Name of Jesus: Exorcism Among Early Christians (Baker, 2007).

Daniel Jennings, The Supernatural Occurrences of John Wesley, ch. 2.