It is Time to Dust Off Your Bible!
Picture in your mind, if you will, the image of an unused, dust-covered Bible. Now picture in your mind that this same dust-covered Bible is your Bible! This is not a good image to be sure, especially for a Bible-believing Christian in 2011. Sadly, many Christians now read more books about the Bible then they do the Bible itself.
Consequently, many in the Church have gradually and somewhat unknowingly, become Biblically ignorant, unaware or stunted. And doctrinally speaking, anything goes. There is now wide-spread acceptance of "marginal to heretical" doctrines. Just 25 years ago individuals would have been thrown out of the Church if caught teaching these heresies. How did this happen?
Simply, we have become Biblically ignorant. We have not been diligent to feed on the unadulterated Word of God. We are at best malnourished, and in some cases, starving to death. Biblical ignorance is on the increase in the Church, even to epidemic levels! Like any form of "lack" created by ignorance which can lead to sickness, only the proper "intake," or in these cases, only proper Biblical education can remedy it.
Warning: We Live in an Age of "Anything Goes" Theology! The Charismatic Church is in Big Trouble!
So, here is my 2011 prophetic "prescription" for this beautiful but Biblically challenged, even unhealthy, Bride.
1. Orthodoxy! I would like to prescribe a good healthy dose of the written Word of God, the Bible. The Church needs an immediate injection of the truth! We must all pray for the Church to return to the orthodoxy (traditional belief) of Scripture. This means a return to the proper reading, INTERPRETATION, and application of the Bible in our lives. There is a growing trend toward some really bad doctrine out there. And we, the Church, must put a stop to it! If we don't, no one else will! The Church must begin to police herself against unorthodox (false) teaching and bizarre practices. You must reacquaint yourself with the Scriptures and know your Bible.
In 40 years of serving God, I have not heard so much bad doctrine preached from so-called "Bible-believing" Christians – specifically charismatic Christians.
2. Berea! We must pray for a "Berean Revival" in the Church – a revival which returns us all to our roots – our roots in the Word of God. In the Bible, the original Bereans were Believers who "searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things be so." There is a lot of doctrine currently in circulation in the charismatic Church that is highly questionable – even heretical.
Each Believer must begin to "search the Scriptures" for himself to discover whether what he is believing is Biblical or not (Acts 17:11). Stop unequivocally trusting ministers and their pulpits to always and completely preach the truth – some do, some do not. You need to search and know the Scriptures for yourself. If their teachings sound too good to be true – they very well may be! Know your Bible.
3. Preach the Word! (2 Timothy 4:2). It is time for the Church to return to her basic Bible beliefs (fundamental doctrines) and the core values these fundamental doctrines produce. Peripheral doctrines or beliefs are peripheral for a reason, and can lead to dangerous theologically positions and questionable practices. We must stop extracting obscure, vague, single, solitary verses out of context, and stop trying to make major "sound" doctrines out of them.
This "stretching of the truth" must stop. Some of our so-called "proof texts" do not prove what's being preached at all. We are "twisting the Scriptures to our own destruction." We must again major in major doctrine and minor in the minor ones. My prophetic word to all Pastors/Teachers for 2011 is simple: "Preach the Word!" Know your Bible.
Some examples of current doctrine circulating in the Church: You must believe me that I am NOT making this stuff up!
• Open Theism: Teaches God is not sovereign = BAD DOCTRINE
• Ultimate Reconciliation/Restitution of all things = BAD DOCTRINE
• The "nefilin" children alive on earth = BAD DOCTRINE
• Open Heaven/Spiritual portals = BAD DOCTRINE
• Third Heaven experiences at will = BAD DOCTRINE
• Going to Heaven at will to get your gifts = BAD DOCTRINE
• Cloud of witnesses/dead saints = BAD DOCTRINE
• Traveling in time at will = BAD DOCTRINE
• Transporting physically at will = BAD DOCTRINE
• Over-emphasis on angels and specifically arc-angels = BAD DOCTRINE
• Going into trances at will = BAD DOCTRINE
• Trance dancing = BAD DOCTRINE
• Going to Hell to discern evil spirits = BAD DOCTRINE
• Hyper-Grace: Christians do not need to repent of sin = BAD DOCTRINE
• Quick restoration of fallen church leaders = BAD DOCTRINE
• Divorce among Christians without consequences = BAD DOCTRINE
• The Bible contains cultural and gender biases = BAD DOCTRINE
4. Seducing Spirits! (1 Timothy 4:1-4). There has been loosed on the Church for 2,000 years a literal army of demons whose sole task is to deceive the Church! Unfortunately, these deceiving, seducing spirits are enjoying some of their most successful efforts. Why?
The average Believer does not know His Bible. The Bible is absolute truth, forever settled in Heaven. It is our sword of the Spirit – two-edged and deadly. To be Bible-ignorant is to have no offensive weapon against our enemy satan. Our ONLY defense against our enemy is a proven offense. And our proven offense against this hoard of demons is the written Word of God, the Bible. Jesus wielded this same written Word-sword against satan in the wilderness with great results. So should you!
I hear the Church saying again, "DEVIL, IT IS WRITTEN!" It does not matter what you think, feel, sense, or even believe. It does not matter what experience you claim to have had, or how many trips to Heaven you claim to have made, or how many angels you know on a first name basis. The only thing that matters is what God said in His Word. Know your Bible.
5. The Devourer! (Malachi 3:11). WARNING: All non-tithing Believers are going to fall victim to a spirit called the "Devourer" unless they return to a systematic lifestyle of financial giving that the Bible calls tithes and offerings! This demonic entity, an actual living thing, will attach itself to the finances of any non-tithing Believer. However, for all faithful tithing Believers the results will be the opposite: God will rebuke this devourer for their sake, and they will enjoy the "open windows of Heaven" lifestyle promised for all who do not "rob" God. They will be a "blessed land" with showers of financial provision from above! Know your Bible.
6. Divorce! Some Believers will suffer the consequences of unwisely entering into unscriptural divorces. These divorces of convenience have angered God, bringing Him to place judgments upon some ministers and their ministries. We need to be reminded that God hates divorce. Know your Bible.
7. Deception! Many will willingly and increasingly enter into incorrect thinking. Hardcore deception will find a home in the Church in 2011 if we are not diligent to know and follow the Word of God. Remember these words from Scripture: "Be not deceived!" This is a command, and the responsibility of all Bible-believing Believers. Notice that deception is a choice! We must choose not to be deceived in 2011. How? Know your Bible!
8. Prophets! As a Prophet, Jesus Christ enjoyed only a very brief season of popularity, followed by His crucifixion as a falsely convicted criminal. Many prophets will suffer the same fate in 2011. I fear that the season of popularity for many prophets is over. As James wrote, "As an example of SUFFERING, take the prophets." Know your Bible.
9. Underground! An exciting and even more powerful supernatural "underground Church" will emerge in 2011. The true Church is much smaller than many think it is. And true apostles and prophets will emerge within this true underground Church. Essentially, a nameless and faceless core, these foundational ministries will re-direct their efforts away from their so called networks, and will devote themselves to returning to the local Church level where their greatest effect and spiritual impact on the Body of Christ will be realized. Know your Bible.
10. Prize! God gave me this verse for literally every Believer worldwide for 2011. "I press toward the goal (in 2011) for the PRIZE of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Remember that you have been apprehended by God, for God. Let's all forget about those things that are behind, and reach forward (in 2011) for those things which are ahead. There is an eternal prize awaiting you! Know your Bible.
11. Pearl! Jesus Christ is the Pearl of great price. He is your ultimate reward for 2011. He is your Master and you serve Him and Him alone for 2011! Make 2011 the year in which you live for Him again without reservation. It is time to sell everything (figuratively speaking) and purchase that Pearl of great price in 2011 and beyond! Amen! Know your Bible.
Beloved, I think you get my point: Know your Bible!
Hope this helps,
Dennis Cramer
Dennis Cramer Ministries
Email: denniscramer1@comcast.net
Go to my website, "Dennis Cramer Ministries," and check out a new and exciting prophetic service that I am now offering. It has proven to be life changing for many! Click on "Prophetic Consultations" on my homepage tabs.
8 comments:
I have been very blessed financially ever since i stopped tithing. i don't think i am going to listen to your warning because i think it's a bunch of hogwash.
I do not claim to know all about the Bible. I continue to read and learn but I do know that John the Beloved had an extreme visitation to heaven which has been recorded in the Word in which he was shown what was to come in the end times. If it does not matter how many visitations to heaven someone had or how many encounters with angels someone had then the Word of God would have some nullifications. Mr. Crammer, yes, you should know your Bible as well. God used many encounters with angels to speak to his prophets and his people. The cloud of witness are surrounding us. Know your Bible. Again I do not claim to be a Bible scholar. I am just a mere Christian who reads the Word and believes the Word when it speaks of heavenly encounters because without John the beloved's heavenly visitation what we would know about all God revealed which is written in Revelation. I will continue to know my Bible because words such as these may be unknowingly proclaimed as what 1Timothy 4:1-7 states.
I get a bad feel about this prophetic word.
I have never lacked or not been blessed because I don't tithe. Tithing IS NOT New Testament. There is never any teaching on it after the resurrection, or anything said about the apostles tithing. I'm tired paying peoples salaries when there are much deeper needs out there. I give where the Lord leads rather than to the upkeep of an organization. If you know your Bible, then you should know that Tithing is not for the New Testament believer. We give as we purpose in our hearts, cheerfully and not from compulsion.
It's one thing to know your Bible. It's quite another to know personally the God of the Bible, Jesus the Word-made-flesh, and the Holy Spirit who breathes life into the words of Scripture, teaches, interprets, inspires, speaks into our spirits the words of Christ, tells of things to come, testifies of Jesus, etc.
Jesus rebuked Jewish leaders for "knowing" their "Bible" without knowing Him.
I encourage readers first to know Jesus and be filled with His Spirit! The Bible was written to lead us to Him, but only when illuminated by Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit speaks in many ways, but always leading us into all Truth because He is Truth.
It is critical for believers to have ears to hear personally what the Spirit is saying.
As for me, I put my hope in the living God who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. (1 Tim 4:10)
I was stunned when I read this on the Elijah list. I have been saved and spirit filled for over 50 years and the arrogance of this man to think he is the ultimate reaper to thin out the tares from the wheat is atrocious. I rarely comment on something like this as I believe it is Jesus job in the end to separate the wheat from the tares and when the body of Christ tries to do it, they only get themselves in trouble. My late ex-husband used to have that critical spirit and I can smell it a mile away. Dennis Crammer - you need to check your own heart and get your eyes back on Jesus - who yes is the author and finisher of our faith and not to worry about what others are teaching.
@ Cindy
Can you give me reasons why this article from Dennis Cramer is arrogant?
Furthermore, I think the matter about tithing is controversial. So, unless you are tithing, you will experience the blessings of God over your life. In other words, you need to pay for God's Favor. But if that was the case, than Christ have died in vain, because why do I need to earn God's favor by tithing, instead of knowing that His Grace is sufficient. Secondly, if they emphasize on Old Testament tithing, that was primarily directed to the Israelites, what about sabbat, eating unclean food, circumcision etc.
I'm not that convinced by what he says about tithing, either. But on the rest of it, I think he is spot on and has spoken prophetically into many issues that plague the church today. This is much-needed and very welcome.
To Cindy - I don't see a critical spirit in this word, and I completely disagree with you when you say "not to worry about what others are teaching". Sorry, but you need to read your Bible more. The Bible makes it clear that false prophets and teachers will arise in the last days, and that we are to search the scriptures and discern all things. And if we care about Jesus and His Bride, we will need to expose the works of darkness with the light of God. Cramer has done just that in a gracious and civil manner. Would you be happy to to have a mormon or jehovah witness teaching in your church? I think not, as these people preach a false gospel. So why then do you give the impression that other false teaching is OK?
Yes, we all need to know our Bible - the Word of God. Jesus said something about tithing in Luke 11:42:
"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. YOU SHOULD HAVE PRACTICES THE LATTER WITHOUT LEAVING THE FORMER UNDONE" (NIV)Emphasis mine.
In effect what Jesus was saying was that justice and love should be pursued,in addition to honouring the Lord with the one-tenth of our gains.
Against this backdrop, how do we justify the assertion that tithing is not a New Testament doctrine? Nothing can be further from the truth!
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