Why Do Christians Still Seek Signs and Wonders?

Wow, I just want to say I'm amazed by the response I've gotten since writing about out involvement with the NAR movement.  If you haven't read it yet, here are all the links.  So far it's reached almost 9,000 people and it makes my heart happy to know that many were warned but also makes me sad because many of them shared with me the heartache and damage it also did to their families.  I'm still getting messages to this day how many it has hurt and affected.  Even more frustrating, the one common thing I'm hearing is this spirit behind it causes depression, anxiety, and even severe panic attacks!  Well, I'm sick and tired of satan (little "s") having a field day on my home so this is how I'm fighting back.  Exposing his LIES.

Another website picked up my story HERE.

Man, can I be honest?  One day my foster daughter walked in the room and said, "Ever since we left NAR movement, the house has just been sad."  She's right. It's like a cloud settled over our home.  A cloud of oppression.  We walk around the house, we pray, we declare righteousness, peace.  We rebuke satan when he tries to come back around and settle in. We fight in prayer every day, send curses back to hell that are spoken against us by well meaning Christians.  But it's just hard to shake.  With all of my heart I wish I had never, ever accepted the invitation to visit a bible study 45 minutes away.  1 year later and this is where we are.  Chaz and I really try and study The Word of God and we read books to help us understand. 

It is absolutely heartbreaking that deception is infiltrating the church on such a large scale. I fell for it and I'm discouraged I did but at the same time grateful God opened my eyes.  But why didn't I see it coming?  This kind of deception isn't just fooling people, it's HURTING PEOPLE'S faith.  That's NOT funny and it makes me upset.  What a scam SATAN is running.  His tricks are old but he tries them in different ways.

This is the time to WAKE UP.  People needing to see signs and wonders goes way, way, way back and is seen not only in Catholicism (idolatry), many other religions, but in Christianity with signs and wonders.  It's our way of once again having Jesus prove Himself but He already did!  I don't need evidence of angels around me to prove Jesus still does miracles.  I don't need gold dust blown through the vents of a church to know that He's real. I don't need my chakras open to understand that we are fighting a spiritual warfare.  

My son Chaz had his chakras opened and could SEE FROM HIS THIRD EYE.  This NAR deception is real, guys, and not to be messed with.  Chaz has since been delivered from this but it wasn't fun to see the stuff he saw through that. This DID NOT happen till the impartation was done by Nathan Morris at Fresh Start Church.  Do NOT ever attend an impartation or a fire line in any way for any reason.  

Why do so many people seek after signs and wonders?

It's exciting, right?  I remember Sumi (pastor of House Fire bible study turned church) being able to basically read into other people's lives.  If we're not careful, this is where we can fall into a trap.  Do you remember this story in the bible?

16One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes. 17She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”

18This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her.

19Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. -Acts 16:16-19

Just because someone can tell you a little about your past doesn't mean it's of God.  Satan can do this too.  What happens when someone is not only able to tell you your past but speak into your future?  What bad can possibly come of this?  A LOT.  Having a false spirit try to tell me my future can completely and totally lead me off the path God has for me.  The classic story about the fork in the road means I can be headed one way but, oops, this person told me I'm supposed to be going in this other direction.  Well, I'd better trust it because that was God speaking to me.  No, test the spirit!  Pray about it for awhile and seek God.  Ask Him to show you in other ways and confirm it in your heart.  Don't we tend to admire people that can suddenly hear from God at any moment and speak a word over you?  Yes.  That can make a regular bible study go from delving into God's word into seeking more signs and wonders.  To be honest, I was never asked to pick up my bible during those studies and there was VERY LITTLE bible study happening.  That, my friend, is a slippery slope.  Be CAREFUL.

Depression After Deception-After Effects of NAR

Someone recently wrote me and asked how I don't have major depression after leaving the NAR movement.  Um, I have.  I just don't talk about it.  If it helps for people for me to give the REAL me and my struggle coming out of it then I'll share.

It's BAD.  There were days where I didn't want to get out of bed.  I've sobbed in my quiet space away from my kids.  I've screamed into my blanket so no one could hear.  Today at church I felt like a wet blanket.  I sat in the FRONT row, which is my favorite, so I could really just focus on worship time.  But I felt this gloom over me.  Like a dark cloud and I couldn't shake it.  I was painfully aware my kids were all around me and could see my face and the depression.  I hated that because I never want to bring my kids down into my negative world in that way.  My kids aren't my best buddies where I can unload on them.  They look to us for stability and assurance.  

Loss of friends:

I lost friends from the church I left.  The crazy thing about it is I never wanted to lose friends. To me, this was a true test if I was walking out of a cult.  From experience in my past, if you walk out of a church peacefully and your friends list on Facebook, Instagram, and in real life drop you, they were never friends in the first place.  Because I have been shunned in the past by over 300 people from walking away from a church building, I knew what the true test would be walking away from House Fire Ministries.  It's not that I was blocked (well, I am now but its good), I just didn't exist in their world anymore.  No one reached out to me to ask if I was okay.  No one offered to pray for me (save for one who did in the beginning before I left).  I didn't get a single phone call, text, no invites.  Nothing.  And this was after missing one Friday night bible study.  I hadn't even decided yet before being cut off.

Became an enemy:

I became an enemy the moment I questioned anything. I was to be quiet so as not to question "God's anointed." I needed a reason to stay and looked for one, anything, but I was met with half quoted scriptures out of context and a feeling of just being an annoyance.  It didn't matter that I had put tons of money and hours into helping build this church up from scratch.  The second I questioned things, I was the enemy.  Almost right away I was mocked about to friends, mocked on facebook , and rumors were spread.

Loss of so called Promises:

As I walked away from utter confusion, tons of questions unanswered, and a dream unfulfilled that I was "promised from prophesies," I realized I was sinking deeper and deeper into a depression.  Were all those prophesies nothing?  I was so excited about all the things I was told God wanted to do!  Was it God?  Was it man?  Was it the counterfeit holy spirit?  I felt so mocked and deceived.  Regardless of their deception, the finger points back at me because I walked into this unaware.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
—1 John 4:1

False religions do not have this indwelling of the Holy Spirit taking place within their adherents. So what’s a Devil to do? Well, he’ll just do what he’s always done, and rather successfully at that: create some kind of counterfeit experience to mimic a real blessing given by God to true Christians.

How come when I was in the movement I saw prayers being answered personally?  I can answer that quickly.  My faith was majorly boosted and I began to pray and read my bible like never before.  I wrote a prayer journal to God daily and really, really HAD FAITH.  I was stepping out in boldness like never before and made a living fool out of myself because I was convinced that God would heal every person I laid hands on.  Well, Todd White made it look so easy.  

Do I believe in healing?  Yes, God has completely and totally healed not only my back but failing kidneys.  While in the NAR movement?  No.  God was answering my prayers (whether it was a yes or no) because I stepped out in faith and talked to Him.  

Loss of Time and Money:

Like I said in previous posts, I invested hours up hours, almost a thousand dollars, before the church even opened.  But you know, that was for God and it doesn't matter I lost those things.  I didn't do it for approval from the pastor and his wife.  I did it for Jesus.  I spent HOURS researching, buying programs, buying equipment I needed to have a functional children's church.  It was exhausting.  I know none of it was in vain, maybe to a wrong source, but God sees my heart.

Does depression happen after deception? After falling deep in something only to realize it's all wrong? A BIG FAT YES. While in worship this morning I was sitting in a dark cloud. My heart hurting like crazy. And then I looked around me and saw all these blessings of mine. All in different stages of their life. I felt a healing come over my broken heart as I saw my kids softness towards God.  I had my biological children, my foster children, and even my previous foster son who no longer lives with us but visits, and a friend who we're currently reaching out to help during a rough time.  In church I was literally surrounded by the people I love sooo much in my life.  It's like as I was looking around me God was showing me how in the midst of suffering, sometimes we don't see the blessing. This is all today.  I can't point out which ones are my biological and which ones are my fosters for legal reasons so I won't explain who is who. But just know that every kid who walks into my house has my heart and I see no difference.  They are ALL children of God and therefore mine to watch, love, and to care for.

Ryan doing production at church

Nathaniel during worship time

Adriana getting baptized 

Jay going up for prayer after sermon

Chaz sane and in his right mind after satan almost taking him out

I quietly drove home after church with the kids in our 15 passenger van.  I hoped no one would ask questions as to why I was so quiet.  I was so tired of saying, "no, nothings wrong."  Once we got home and unloaded the van, I quickly began to get lunch ready for my 13 hungry kiddos.  My previous foster son who visits me on the weekends walked up to me in the hallway.  He said, "Jenny, I just want you to know that I'm depressed."  I asked him why.  He said he was mad at God for all the things he went through.  Why is he in foster care?  Why couldn't God have stopped that from happening? I got quiet while contemplating how I was going to reply to him.  I said, "You know, I'm not able to feel how you felt when DCS came to remove you from your mom.  I'll never understand that pain.  But I do know there is a lot of suffering in this world and it's everywhere.  Some have gone through unimaginable pain in their lifetime and some like me are mad at God because I fell into a false religion."  I told him I could either choose to see what God didn't save me from, or I could see who God sent to me while in my pain.  I saw that today when I looked at each of my kids raising their hands in worship to God, to my daughter getting baptized, to watching my son serve in production, and seeing friends I brought to church reach out to respond to God.  I could see that God showed me a way out of my cloud of confusion.  I looked at this sweet boy in front of me and reminded him of the story of the days of abuse and isolation with no one to help, his mama cried out to God and asked for a way out of the abuse and God made a way.  I gently reminded him how many people stepped up to take care of him, feed him, clothe him, loved him and kept him from danger while being separated from his family.  We can either see the pain and only the pain, or we can look thankfully through our tears and lift our voice to God thanking Him for walking us through it without having to be alone.  He hugged me close and thanked me for never, ever walking away from him and always loving him through the good and bad.  

I thought about that for awhile.  He just spoke to my heart in so many ways.  God doesn't promise us a pain free life.  People are fallible.  When he was telling me thank you for loving him even when he was incredibly difficult at times, I thought about how God has loved me through my bad decisions, my complaining, my anger directed at Him.  How many times He warned me in my heart and I felt the prompting but didn't listen.  He did warn me.  And especially through His word.  Why was I chasing signs and wonders if I'm told I'm to have faith?  Lesson learned and what a hard lesson it was. 

I thank you, Jesus, for walking me through this difficult time and never leaving my side.  You never walked away from me, It was you I walked away from.  You even warned me not to detour and take that path and I didn't listen.  Still, You love me.  Thank you.

My Experience Waking Up From The New Apostolic Reformation Movement (Quick Links)

Here are the quick links to mine and my family's story getting free from the new false movement that is catching on around the world.  I am posting about it to warn others.  I pray you read this knowing it does not come from accusation but wanting others to see the signs before falling into it as easily as I did.

• My Uneasy Experience at House Fire Ministries- Part 1

• What Happened After We Left House Fire Ministries? Part 2

• How the New Apostolic Reformation Movement Affected My Son- Part 3

• How The NAR Movement Almost Killed My Son- Part 4

• From Impartation to a Psychiatric Nightmare- Part 5

• Waking Up From Deception of NAR - Part 6

• How I got blinded by NAR- Part 7

• Depression After Deception - After Effects of NAR

• Why Do Christians Still Seek Signs and Wonders? Click HERE

What is Word of Faith Doctrine?

The doctrine renounces poverty, physical suffering, and defeat as necessary to a godly life and glorifying Jesus Christ. It teaches that the salvation won by Jesus on the cross included health and prosperity for believers; this is derived from its definition of the word sozo (salvation).

What is the New Apostolic Reformation movement?

The New Apostolic Reformation, or NAR, is an unbiblical religious movement that emphasizes experience over Scripture, mysticism over doctrine, and modern-day “apostles” over the plain text of the Bible. Of particular distinction in the New Apostolic Reformation are the role and power of spiritual leaders and miracle-workers, the reception of “new” revelations from God, an over-emphasis on spiritual warfare, and a pursuit of cultural and political control in society. The seeking of signs and wonders in the NAR is always accompanied by blatantly false doctrine.

How I Got Blinded By NAR -Part 7

I watched this today and wanted to cry....

If...and a BIG IF, his repentance is real, can you imagine what could come of this?  Since watching the video I've heard so many comments of doubts, anger, and conditions given to prove real repentance from Benny Hinn.  

What does the bible say?

Matthew 7:15-20 New King James Version (NKJV)

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Let's say just for a minute his confession and repentance of being a prosperity pastor is genuine.  My first reaction when I saw this was PRAISE GOD!  Isn't that what's most important?  Am I writing this blog to just slander and smear a name?  NO.  Am I writing this blog to warn others from falling into the same trap I did?  To warn what price will be paid if you fall like I did?  YES.  My heart is completely and 100% to expose the lies of satan (he deserves a little "s") and wickedness that us Christians are falling for.  Is Benny Hinn genuinely repentant?  With all of my heart I hope so.

Often times the ones that have woken up from this daze are called slanderers because we are warning others.  Don't go off track.  Just keep going and help others get out.  People's faith are seriously getting hurt after realizing what happened to them.  We need to be there to encourage and remind them that God's promises are still true and yes, people abuse others in churches.  Yes, people will twist scripture.  There will always be wolves hiding amongst sheep.  Some don't even realize they're doing it because they're deceived themselves.  I get talked about, posted about, mocked, slandered.  I'm called a slanderer but my purpose is to warn, not hurt the body of Christ.  Now that I've been saved from it, I need to speak out.

I'll tell you what my mindset started to be in the NAR movement.  I was constantly given promises of wealth, fame, and that everything was gonna be BIG and my work will be noticed.  I'm almost embarrassed to share with you the "promises" satan was giving me.  Sigh.  I had QUITE a few but here are two. 

Jenny I was just in prayer for you in your husband, and this is what the Lord says, FOR IN THE NEXT YEAR I AM GOING TO STRETCH YOU LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN STRETCHED BEFORE. I AM TEARING DOWN THE TENTS OF YOUR MINISTRY AND STRETCHING THE TENT TO A LARGER TENTS, U NOTICED THE LORD SAID TENTS, MANY MINISTRIES SHALL BE BIRTHED IN THIS SEASON, AND JENNY AS I WAS PRAYING FOR YOU, AS THE LAUNCH (Launch of House Fire Ministries) IS NEXT WEEK OF A NEW ADVENTURE IN ME. I SEE U IN A CATAPULT, BEING LAUNCHED INTO MINISTRY, AND AS YOU WERE FLYING IN MINISTRY I SAW YOU AS A MAGNET, AND THE CHILDREN OF THE CITY WERE BEING DRAWN TO YOU. YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH FROM INFANT TO TEENAGERS WILL OUTNUMBER THE ONES UN FELLOWSHIP IN TBE ADULTS, ABD AS FOR YOUR HUSBAND IS CONCERN, AS I WAS PRAYING FOR HIM I SAW A FLAME THROWER ON HIS BACK AND AS HE SPOKE OUT THE WORD OF GOD, FIRES OF REVIVAL WERE COMING OUT OF THE MOUTH OF HIS SERVANT, NOT A SPARK, NIT A FUSE, BUT THE FIRE OF THE HOLY OF HOLIES BEING POURED OUT. AND ON MORE THING, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT LESSONS TO TEACH THE KIDS, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT WHAT TO SAY OR HOW TO SAY IT, FOR EVEN AS I HAVE DRAWN YOU TO THIS PLACE I WILL DRAW OTHERS WITH THE SAME VISION AND MANY WILL BECOME ONE SAITH YOUR GOD!!!!

and....

Listen to this, this is the word that I get, I saw you and your household was a magnet, even in the place where u r. (I'm weeping now, in the Spirit.) You know when a magnet is rubbed on metal!! OH GLORY!!! THAT METAL AFTER BEING IN CONTACT OF THAT MAGNET BECOMES MAGNETISED!!! SO OTHER PIECES OF METAL ARE DRAWN TO THAT MAGNETISED METAL, INTERPERTATION: YOU AS A MOM, LEADER, PASTOR OF CHILDREN!! THOSE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE DRAWN NOT TO THE CHILDRENS MINISTRY THAT YOU ARE IN CHARGED WITH!!! THEY WILL BE DRAWN TO YOU, NOT ORDINARY KIDS BUT SPECIAL KIDS, KIDS THAT PARENTS, TEACHERS, SOCIETY, HAS GIVEN UP ON. AND MANY THAT WERE CLOSED DUE TO HURT REJECTION LIFE. WILL START TO OPEN UP, AND START TOO, (AND ALSO THE OTHER KIDS) WILL BECOME LIKE YOU A MAGNET!! THEY WILL GO AND TELL THERE FRIENDS AND MANY WILL BE ADDED TO THE KINGDOM. ANOTHER ATTRACTION, WILL BE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH, LEADERS WILL COME, MAGAZINES AND TV MINISTRIES WILL BE DRAWN TO YOU ASKING HOW YOU DRAW SUCH A LARGE CROWD, YOUR ANSWER: I LOVE THEM LIKE CHRIST LOVED THEM!!!

What's the problem?  Those aren't so bad, right?  Well, it sounded amazing to me.  Most of it sounds good except I felt like things were inserted into it without me even noticing.  Number one, I didn't want to just babysit kids.  I wanted to teach them, have kids praise and worship.  It's important to raise kids in Christ and let's face it, some kids only hear about it at church. So, this was a big deal to me. Second of all, I thought it was great that kids were gonna outnumber the adults.  I was a tad worried because I was already worked to death as it was but, hey, kids are our future.  Until I saw that sneaky little part added in about FAME and large crowds.  Hmmmm, that's a classic prosperity gospel teaching.  In fact, Benny Hinn once said God can't move if there are not big crowds.  I beg to differ. 

Discernment isn't knowing the difference between right and wrong.  It's knowing the difference between right and almost right.  That my friend, is how I got duped.

Have you ever watched the scene in Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief?  The whole entrapment of NAR can be illustrated in this one scene.  I apologize in advance of the immodesty in parts to the clip.

Whoa, right?  This is how I felt.  I was drawn in by the prophesies, impartations, constant promises of wealth (yes, I heard that a lot too), fame, and nonstop positivity.  Each week I couldn't wait till the next meeting.  I almost felt like I was in a trance and was obsessed with hearing from God.  I couldn't think about anything else except I wanted to be just like the others and give prophesy after prophesy like I was handing out candy.  Everyone had their hands out, so to speak, but I felt I had nothing to give and it made me feel a tad useless.  But I wanted to aim to get there like all the other ladies.  Imagine standing in a circle of men and women and they unload all the amazing prophesies on you.  None of them are warnings (rarely at least) and all about how wealth or AMAZING things are coming.  Man, I didn't want to do anything else.  In fact, I would go home, look at my house and pray for something bigger and better.  I wanted to be blessed too.  

One of the key things I noticed when my eyes were opened, once I left, was coming home and realizing that I was okay with what I had.  I THANKED God for my home, my vehicles that get me from A to B, and for my healthy children. I even told God that if He never gave me another home I would be content.  Yes, we're a bit squished in a 5 bedroom home with 13 kids but we fit!  I'm so thankful!  I had such a peace in my heart that God is gonna take care of us and being blessed is not always about have bigger and better.  I thank Jesus every day for only being in that movement for 6 months.  I could have eaten the lotus flower for 6 years but He answered my prayer when I asked Him to open my eyes.

If you can, read this amazing story about a women who was set free from the Word of Faith, which is also called NAR, movement.  A couple quotes that stood out was:

Leaving the NAR church: Lizzy's story:

"his church decided to start a "School of Prophets" to hone in and perfect the prophetic giftings. It was well intentioned, but misguided and utter lunacy as I look back now. We were all obviously hearing something and being VERY accurate at times, but it was not God."

and...

"Those from my church were all very kind, sincere, hardworking individuals, but all terribly deceived, as was I. If anyone ever contradicted leadership you were" being used by the enemy.” Things said were twisted to their convenience. We were always taught to "NEVER, ever TOUCH God's anointed," so to speak negatively for any reason was unheard of. You simply kept smiling and loving."

This is exactly what I was told when I had sincere questions and was asking for help from the House Fire Ministries leaders.  I was told not to question and definitely wasn't allowed to say my thoughts on it without scoffs.  Then comments on Facebook would soon follow.  It's okay to walk away from something that isn't biblical and if you do...be encouraged that many more people are waking up.  Most importantly is I pray for repentance because their soul is priceless.

You can read more NAR stories HERE.

Here is an excellent video that shows some of the false teachings that have been around for awhile.

False Teachers Exposed

Waking Up From Deception of NAR - Part 6

I wrote this on Facebook April 11, 2019.  That was the week I had quit House Fire Ministries and was waking up from the deceptive sleep I was in.  Little did I know what battles we were about to face in the months to come.  Not only did I wake up, I was going to see the damage done to my family but especially to my son....

Original Facebook post here

"I've had a hard time writing this because I'm unsure if I need to outright show some false teaching I fell into with names or just give a warning as to what to watch out for. So I'll start out with some warnings about a previous revival that was very damaging to many churches back in the 90's. Churches I knew at that time got involved with the Brownsville revival. At first glance it was pretty awesome. People in church were falling all over the place, laughing for up to an hour, or slain in the spirit for an hour or longer. Some even barking like dogs or slithering like snakes in other churches involved in US. I went to a revival like this in Phoenix and in Chandler but it originated in Pensacola, Florida. However, it was later learned that this was a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit. Unless renounced, it brought many problems thereafter. I still see the damage from it 20 years later. Once someone I knew renounced his involvement with that revival, he was instantly healed from a sickness.

Fast forward to now. I recently heard of a revival coming from Nathan Morris and Lydia S. Marrow in Peoria, Az. I was excited. I didn't know anything about them but wanted to check it out. When I got to the church I thought it was interesting that people ran for their seats. That was kind of exciting because I figured people must be excited for God. Wow! The sermon was pretty awesome but looking back I realize now that I've gotten caught up in some preachers that more throw out slogans than read straight from the bible. Slogans sound good but the problem is it can be taken as biblical truth. 

My pastor at New Heights reads a text from the scripture, talks about it, more text from the scripture, talks about it. All the way down till end of sermon. So we have to be careful about we learn in context.

Drunk in the Spirit with Nathan Morris

During the sermon there were a few times that Nathan Morris was so "drunk in the spirit" that he could hardly stand up or preach. After the sermon, he had us go through a Fire Line (impartation line). This is where he stands up on a chair and 2 lines are formed. Our lines would walk underneath him and as we passed he would lay his hands on us. He usually wouldn't say anything but would blow on us or just put his hand on our head. My husband said as he went under, he felt a strong wind go straight up into his nose and mouth. I went back to the video later and saw that the pastor had barely did a quick blowing on the top of his head. Nothing more. 

About 90% of the church fell and had to be carried off and laid somewhere. At first glance, it seemed awesome. His reason for doing this is because he wanted to do an impartation onto everyone. I decided to look into who Nathan Morris is and discovered that he was saved out of the Brownsville revival and is continuing it but under a different name. It's now called the Bay Revival. I didn't believe it at first but I posted the picture for you to see.

Fast forward even more, my family began to experience some things in our personal life and it was baffling. Were we being attacked because we're doing something right? Or are we being attacked because we got ourselves involved in something that wasn't right? I decided to do some study work into some of my favorite preachers. The more I looked into the teachings, the more I became shocked. 

Next was the music I was listening to that was labeled as Praise and Worship. I probably should give a list into some names I discovered but I won't say why and will let you do your own study work if you decide to look into it on your own. Lets just say I dumped my entire 117 song Youtube playlist of Christian songs and I'm building it up by scratch. I hope this post doesn't come as a judging post but more as a warning out of love. Since we have discovered these things, we have lived in freedom but at a price of almost (now completely gone) losing friendships. But I've learned to be a God pleaser, not a man pleaser. 

Heidi and Rolland Baker ministering In bizarre "new" ways at Bethal

Preachers I have been studying that led me into some things that weren't right doctrine:

Kenneth Copeland-
Todd White

Steven Furtick 
Nathan Morris
Lydia S Marrow
John Kilpatrick
Bill Johnson
Brian Houston
Todd Bentley
Rick Warren
Joseph Prince
Steve Hill
Rick JoynerBenny Hinn- 
Heidi Baker
Rolland Baker
Joel Osteen
TD Jakes
Carl Lentz

Naked Cowboy event at Hillsong church

and more... 

Because they believe themselves to be modern-day apostles and prophets, they place heavy emphasis on extra-biblical “revelation”. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 4:6, said “…so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written, so that none of you will become arrogant and boast in favor of one against the other”. The Word of God has been written, and the canon is closed.

Music I studied and discovered wrong doctrine in the lyrics:

Bethel Worship
Hillsong Worship
Lacrae
Lauren Daigle
Toby Mac
Elevation Worship (with Steven Furtick)
Jesus Culture (part of Hillsong church)
and soooo many more but still studying.

Yes, I know who I'm singing to. Personally. But some of the lyrics are downright wrong in doctrine or never mentions Holy Spirit, God, or Jesus. The last part didn't bother me as much until I discovered the church behind the band and their beliefs.

I don't write this out of anger or revenge. Especially not to hurt anyone. It took me awhile to write this because I was worried it'd be taken wrong and judgmental. But I want to warn out of love for my fellow Christians. Be careful in these times because there is a lot of counterfeit revivals going around with "signs and wonders", which will be a separate post I'll be doing."

(End of Facebook post)

Very good article about Bethel church and Jesus Culture HERE

"With any story of apostasy, we would do well to remember the Spirit's instruction in Philippians 2:12-13, where the Apostle Paul wrote, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

Excellent video below about common phrases and scriptures misused by people in NAR or Word of Faith movement.

Words taken from the website Deception in the Church:

I have seen, especially of late, "words of knowledge" and "prophetic" messages to the church getting way out of hand. Some Christians mistake human intuition and even demonic voices, whether actually correct or incorrect, for the "still small voice" of the Spirit. Sometimes people are "proclaiming", "declaring" and "speaking things into being" so loudly it becomes almost impossible for them to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit anymore. It is a dangerous thing to promote what you are saying as a direct word from God.

I asked myself often, "Can't Satan also say things about my past and whisper in the ears of those deceived?"  When someone tells you your past, it makes you more susceptible to believe what they say about your future, right?  And sometimes they give a GREAT word that's so positive and amazing!  Things I heard often was prosperity (lots of money coming), fame (this was promised to me a lot for some reason), and greatness (you're gonna go into all the world and even write a book!  Everyone will seek you out).  Everything was beautiful, amazing, wonderful.  I got so caught up in all these promises and "what was coming" that I couldn't hardly focus on today, my own personal issues that needed to be dealt with, or sin in my life.  I just wanted my promises and I wanted them now.  

Then I woke up.....

From Impartation to a Psychiatric Nightmare- Part 5

Chaz being pinned

In my last post I asked the question, how did we get from a bible study, to impartations, and now a son in psychiatric care?  How can something as simple as an impartation lead to this?  What had I gotten myself into?  Even more, how was I so easily deceived?  Was it the flashing lights of signs and wonders?  It was exciting and new!

One day to my horror we found out Chaz was transferred from Phoenix Children's to an unknown location.  Even worse, he was transferred by police escort.  My son was considered a danger even though he never laid a finger on anyone.  Being he was 18, my hands felt tied.  I remember it being late at night by the time I tracked him down.  He was at an urgent psychiatric ward to stabilize him until they could find another place.  I felt so helpless because he was an adult and all I had was Medical Power of Attorney.  I desperately wanted him out of there but by this time he was so tormented and out of control, I didn't even know how we'd be able to handle it.  

I grabbed my papers from the file and headed late at night to the ward.  I'd do anything whether it was waiting outside the doors to sitting in the rain.  Just to be as close as I could to Chaz. I saw a buzzer at the front door in a downtown building in a shady area and pressed the button.  Thankfully, someone answered and said that Chaz was indeed there and they are just working to stabilize him.  They PROMISED me that I could come at 7am when it opens and speak to a nurse about his care and they'd listen.  I was happy with that and walked away exhausted, into my van, and drove home.  I curled up in my bed and cried.

The next morning I waited with my legal documents by the front door and the second the door opened I was inside asking to speak to someone.  A man came out who seemed compassionate, thank goodness, and spoke to me about how they are stabilizing him.  To my amazement he told me they were IMMEDIATELY taking Chaz off the Zoloft.  He asked me why in the world the hospital was keeping him on it being he showed every side effect possible.  I replied, "thank you SO MUCH!"  I knew he was in safe hands and hoped and prayed this was the answer.  I knew it didn't answer everything but at least to emotionally stabilize him, I was grateful for that.  He did alert me that this was a temporary place and eventually he'd have to transfer elsewhere.  Well, my son may be 18 but at his state, he was extremely gullible.  I hoped they wouldn't send him to an adult facility where he would be in danger by other patients. 

Two days later the ward called and said it wasn't a good place for him and they'd probably be transferring him to another facility.  I asked what he was doing wrong.  He was offering to pray for people and share scripture with them.  It was too invasive.  What???  Yes, in his psychosis state he was a bit obsessive but he wasn't aggressive in anyway or hurting anyone.  I looked up the facility and was horrified.  It was one of the worst in the state and was not safe for him there.

After that phone call I put my face into my blanket and screamed and cried at God.  "Why, God?!  Why??!!"  I didn't want my kids to hear me sob.  So I dried my eyes for the hundredth time.

I raced back to the facility to ask to speak to the nurses.  Thankfully, this time two ladies sat down with me and asked a lot of questions.  They were extremely compassionate and asked me to get guardianship of Chaz so I can choose a facility. They asked me where I DIDN'T want Chaz and I told them. They promised me they'd keep him away from there.  Thank goodness!  Oh, how I ached to give Chaz a hug but wasn't allowed to even see him while he was admitted there.

Eventually I got a call that he had been transferred and to my relief it was a beautiful facility and it was for month long care.  Now, if only we can see a change in Chaz for the better as this place also agreed that Zoloft had been hurting Chaz.  They said the longer Chaz was off of these meds, the better he'd get.  Oh man, and we were praying.  At this new facility they said I could come do an intake and be with Chaz for two hours.  I raced there with his belongings, locked up my personal stuff in a locker, and anxiously waited in a white, blank room to see my him.  Chaz came walking in a few minutes later and we held each other for a long time.  Finally, I could see where Chaz was mentally and evaluate him myself. 

Chaz was like a young child on psychosis.  I could see he was better, much better, but still healing.  He wanted to dance with me and hug a lot.  He obsessively talked about the same subject over and over.  We laughed and hugged together closely with a nurse in the room. She asked me many questions.  I was horrified when she told me that Zoloft did so much damage to him that it could be permanent.  We wouldn't really know until time showed us the changes.  Would I ever have my Chaz back?  Chaz was still seeing things and these were the SAME BEINGS as he was seeing in the other hospital. Okay, so it's not all psychosis that was causing this.  He literally had a woman talking to him and she followed him to this place. Now I'm ticked because this demon was messing with my son's head big time.  He was too weak physically, emotionally, and mentally to fight it. He was extremely confused. How and why was a woman named Elizabeth claiming to be his spirit wife and how was this door opened?  I have picture evidence of this along with video but am not going share for Chaz's privacy.

They brought in food for Chaz and the one area his brain was stuck on was his diet.  He's always heard me talk about eating healthy and he absolutely refused to eat anything with carbs in it.  Chaz was extremely skinny and I had to show him each item on his tray and what vitamins were in it.  I also explained that some carbs are good, we just shouldn't eat in excess.  The nurses had trouble getting him to eat but I told them to just do the same and he'll eat.  When I left my heart broke being torn away from him again.  My visiting time was up and I was told I could only see him on certain days within a certain time.  Talking time on the phone was extremely limited but I always called him right on time to get every minute I could.

One night I got a call from the nurses that Chaz had to be given a shot. He had woken up to someone touching him and "violating him."  I asked the nurse if she was absolutely sure that no one went into his room and touched him. She was offended and replied that there was a camera in the room and she saw nothing. Chaz was very angry and was pounding the walls.  He knows for a FACT he was violated.  Being there was video evidence nothing happened in the room, I knew it was spiritual. He later told me it's happened several times since but he now realizes what it was.  We couldn't wait to get Chaz out so we could take him to the Arizona Deliverance Center.  (Once he was out and taken to this place, he was delivered and has not seen Elizabeth since.)

Several weeks later Chaz was released into our care.  We were VERY worried he would not be able to handle the stress in our home.  We are a large family with 9 children in our home and we foster 4.  Chaz was still healing and my parents stepped up and offered their home as a temporary place.  Wow, we were incredibly grateful and I knew the quiet would be very good for him.  He was also on several different types of meds for mental issues.

Now, think about this.  Here is a picture of my son in his right mind, happy, playing sports with his dad not long before this all went down.

Now imagine watching this normal, sweet boy go from fun, loving God, having spiritual gifts as described only in the bible, to attending an impartation and from THAT NIGHT on, a fast decline in health, metal health, and demonic gifts.  Add a visual nightmare of seeing demons and hearing voices.  How would you handle it when it's everywhere you look and people telling you, "Oh, this is normal and you're being attacked because you're doing something right.  The devil is just mad."  No, this is from opening ourselves up to a garbage counterfeit of the Holy Spirit and we no longer wanted any part of it.

TOO LATE

JUST before this all came down this is Chaz reading the bible too me, completely in his right mind.  This is him and I doing a bible study in his room.

Once this door was opened this is what Chaz got (below).

Chaz pinned down on bed

To this.....

Chaz in catatonic state and not able to respond

extreme weightless and PYCHOSIS...

Chaz extremely skinny

If you're wondering what harm not searching scripture and KNOWING what the bible says about what you see happening in your church that's new and exciting, it DOES matter.  It matters and spiritual warfare is REAL.  If you can't find it in the scriptures, don't let someone tell you what I was told.... 

Isaiah 43:19 New Living Translation (NLT)

For I am about to do something new.

    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

This scripture was misquoted to me and taken out of context in order to explain what we were seeing that was exciting and NEW.  

When I questioned some of these things I immediately saw this on their facebook page, the same day. I started noticing that a lot of mentions were made on their facebook page right after we would have personal conversations.  Just polite conversations, not anything controversial   Just me asking questions.  I especially started to notice it was becoming almost a daily thing.  Posted responses to questions I had.  This was more of a sign to me that asking questions is not considered appropriate and rather than using scripture as a response, it was always just a phrase.  In fact, as I was studying more about NAR preachers, they were using mainly stories about how great their ministry was and they used lots of phrases.  The focus seemed to be less and less on Jesus and more and more on how great they were.  

Common responses when you question NAR teachings or any false doctrine

I remember asking why God found so much favor with some people that they could literally ask God what to eat for lunch and He'd answer clearly.  Why is it that I could never hear his voice as clearly as they could on tiny, simple matters?  Almost like they were highly favored and I was just a deacon in the church with no spiritual gifts.  I felt pretty low at times wondering why I could never have back and forth conversations like He was right next to me.  Is my faith that low?  Am I lacking as a Christian and they were just so much better?  Okay, I know some people have gifts others don't but these long conversations and joking around with God in their head seemed strange to me.  

Bay revival is the SAME as the old Brownsville revival from before.
Just a different name

The day I realized what I had gotten into disappointed me greatly for so many reasons and almost SHATTERED my faith.  Today I saw this quote and I realized why I so quickly fell into this new movement that's actually not really new.  Satan just has a way of taking old tricks and tagging a new name on it.  In every step of that bible study, to the impartation at Fresh Start Church with Nathan Morris, I should have had discernment.  The bible is my instruction.  But instead of looking into God's word, I took a shortcut and trusted a friend.  Even after feeling a check in my heart.

After falling down and bleeding, emotionally and spiritually speaking, I got up, wiped myself off, picked up God's word and studied it to find where I went wrong and how far I had gone off the path. To my dismay, I had followed flashing lights and I knew, this is exactly how Christians would be deceived.  By a movement that is a counterfeit, and I had easily fallen for it.  In shame I wanted to hide and not tell my story.  

And I wouldn't have until I realized I needed to warn others...