WesleyGospel Ministries

This was one of Leonard Ravenhill’s favorite sermons. –J.B.

Whereas, that non-denominational charismatic churches are operating in fourfold ministry: apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers–but not fivefold ministry, which includes evangelists (Eph. 4:11).

Whereas, that Harry Potter pastors are even in the charismatic churches; and charismatic witchcraft / prophetic manipulation / control spirits are rampant within them (1 Sam. 15:23).

Whereas, that cheap grace antinomian views of salvation exist within these churches under the name of “sonship,” where only the doctrines of justification by faith alone and adoption are part of the gospel presentation, and Biblical holiness is consciously ignored (Jude 1:4). And that anyone who believes in lordship salvation has an “orphan spirit.”

Whereas, that coverings / covenant relationships / shepherding movement are all over those churches, where pastors “lord it over the flock” (1 Peter 5:3).

Whereas, that charismatic pastors are not willing to let two or three prophets speak and have their words judged, because they’re afraid of being controlled by them, all the while they continue to prophesy words to others (1 Cor. 14:29).

Whereas, that pastors tend to embrace the capitalistic idea of “competition,” with regard to other preachers, evangelists, teachers, pastors, and prophets; and get themselves isolated from other men of God, by putting themselves into a godless preacher competition, so that they have no real camaraderie with others (Philippians 2:3-4).

Whereas, that Wesleyan-holiness preaching and concentrated charismatic worship are essential for people to feel the manifest presence of God (James 4:8).

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MINISTRY RESOLUTIONS

1. Be it resolved, that God wills for non-denominational charismatic churches to operate in fivefold ministry, with special attention given to the role of the evangelist and Gospel preacher (Eph. 4:11).

2. Be it resolved, that Harry Potter and every form of occult entertainment and activity should be utterly rebuked as a real sin, as rebellion, and as the sin of witchcraft, just as much as charismatic witchcraft / prophetic manipulation / control spirits within charismatic and prophetic ministry (1 Sam. 15:23).

3. Be it resolved, that Harold Lindstrom’s Wesley and Sanctification, The Works of John Wesley, and Thomas C. Oden’s John Wesley’s Teachings, be at the center of my ministry message and response to God’s calling to preach (Mark 16:15).

4. Be it resolved, that once a church building is purchased by us, that I will study and review Richard Baxter’s The Reformed Pastor, Thomas C. Oden’s Pastoral Theology and Classical Pastoral Care Series (3 vols), and John MacArthur’s Pastoral Ministry. And that I will study to refute shepherding movement ideas by reading through S. David Moore’s The Shepherding Movement (1 Peter 5:3).

5. Be it resolved, that I not only teach but encourage two or three prophecies to come from church members every Sunday service (1 Cor. 14:29).

6. Be it resolved, that I will make it a point to preach against competition, especially against competition with other pastors. And instead I will encourage lay preachers, lay prophets, and lay evangelists to witness, preach the Gospel, and pull people into the church; and to fire them up and join them in their efforts, and develop camaraderie with them around that (Philippians 2:3-4).

7. Be it resolved, that I will make it a point to make John Wesley sermons and Charles Finney sermons the primary resources when preparing my Sunday sermons. And that I will annually teach a series on charismatic worship (James 4:8).

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Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers. –Ephesians 4:11

Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. –Mark 16:15

Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. –1 Samuel 15:23

Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. –1 Peter 5:3

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. –1 Corinthians 14:29

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. –Philippians 2:3-4

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. –James 4:8

LEARN FROM OTHERS’ MISTAKES:
NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHARISMATIC CHURCH ESSENTIALS

Matthew Green, ed. Understanding the Fivefold Ministry, esp chs. 12-17.

Harold Lindstrom, Wesley and Sanctification.

Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged (2001).

S. David Moore, The Shepherding Movement.

Jack Deere, Why I Am Still Surprised by the Voice of God.

R. Loren Sandford, Purifying the Prophetic.

Arthur Gish, Beyond the Rat Race. (against competition).

The Works of John Wesley. (esp. sermons).

Charles Finney, Lectures to Professing Christians, etc.

Don Williams, “Charismatic Worship,” Exploring the Worship Spectrum.

Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” –Mark 9:38-41

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Thomas C. Oden, John Wesley’s Scriptural Christianity (Zondervan, 1994), pp. 91-98.

John Wesley, “A Caution Against Bigotry.”

—. “The Twenty-Five Articles of Religion.”

James Beilby, ed. Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Four Views (Baker, 2012).

John Wimber, Power Healing (HarperCollins, 1987).

Francis MacNutt, Deliverance from Evil Spirits (Chosen Books, 1995).

Donald Gee, The Fruit of the Spirit (Gospel Publishing House, 2012).

—. Concerning Spiritual Gifts (Gospel Publishing House, 1972).

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Exorcisms happen among Catholics, Calvinists, Pentecostals, and charismatics. And lordship salvation, or repentant faith in the cross that produces obedience to the Bible, can be found among all of them. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). According to Wesley, mean-spirited mainline liberals that reject the supernatural are the main people to be excluded from Christian fellowship, but also anyone who rejects lordship salvation and holds to cheap grace instead. So for Wesley, Christian fellowship boils down to two binding aspects:

1. The belief in the lordship of Christ over the individual believer. This meets the requirement of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

2. The belief in the supernatural world and some amount of charismatic experiences of the Holy Spirit, especially a literal belief in the exorcism of evil spirits. This meets the requirement of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:8-10). –J.B.

Father of life draw me closer
Lord, my heart is set on You
Let me run the race of time
With Your life unfolding mine
And let the peace of God
Let it reign

Oh Holy Spirit, Lord my comfort
Strengthen me, hold my head up high
And I stand upon Your truth
Bringing glory unto You
And let the peace of God
Let it reign

Oh Lord, I hunger for more of You
Rise up within me, let me know Your truth
Oh Holy Spirit, saturate my soul
And let the life of God, fill me now
Let Your healing power
Breathe life and make me whole
And let the peace of God
Let it reign

Oh Holy Spirit, Lord my comfort
Strengthen me hold my head up high
And I stand upon Your truth
Bringing glory unto You
And let the peace of God, let it reign (Lord, I hunger)

Oh Lord, I hunger for more of You
Rise up within me, let me know Your truth
Oh Holy Spirit, saturate my soul
And let the life of God, fill me now
Let Your healing power
Breathe life and make me whole
And let the peace of God, let it reign (Lord, I hunger)

Oh Lord, I hunger for more of You
Rise up within me, let me know Your truth (Holy spirit)
Oh Holy Spirit, saturate my soul
And let the life of God, fill me now
Let Your healing power
Breathe life and make me whole
And let the peace of God, let it reign (the life of God)

And let the life of God, fill me now
Let Your healing power
Breathe life and make me whole
And let the peace of God, let it reign

And let the life of God, fill me now
Let Your healing power
Breathe life and make me whole
And let the peace of God, let it reign
Let it reign, Lord, let it reign
Let it reign, lord, Hallelujah!
Let it reign
Let it reign, ooh, ooh, ooh