COGIC - Church of God In Christ

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Comment by Sheba Goneh on December 5, 2009 at 12:25pm

Hello Friends

I wish you all a Happy and Blessed weekend, Please visit me at http://stmaryseducationalsociety.ning.com

See you there

Sheba Goneh

Comment by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on December 5, 2009 at 7:31am

1. Manipulating people into financial giving by quoting un-Biblical formulas i.e. if you give a certain amount of money, you will receive
a 100 fold (highest possible) blessing.
2. Money lines i.e. people are placed into lines in front of the
church based on the amount of money they gave ($25, $50, $100) and
certain blessings are pronounced on these individuals with of course
the highest monetary givers receiving the largest "blessing".

3. The sale of items to accomplish a particular need in your life
i.e. various colored cloths to place under pillows bringing about
such things as mates for marriage, healing, financial gain, etc. The
sale of "holy water" that has either been specially prayed over or it
comes from some type of Holy Land water source (River Jordan) and if
you bathe it in or drink it, it will bring healing for any type of
disease. The sale of prayer cloths such as was used in the Book of
Acts in which anything or anyone you lay this cloth on will perform
what you ordain it to perform.

4. Forced words of a so-called prophetic nature whereby people are
provoked to "prophesy" because a church leader will strongly imply
God has something to say to his people. If no one speaks up, the
people are made to feel guilty and unspiritual so someone will speak
a word, obviously not from God because when God speaks, life-changing
events occur. In these cases, the words are spoken but people are
inattentive with looks of bewilderment and confusion. The same
provocation is used to induce "speaking in tongues". In this case
people in the church are either praying or speaking in tongues
supernaturally to God, or for something to occur in the spiritual
realm, however again, there are no changes that have taken place.
Again, when God is present, nothing can remain the same.
5. Manipulating the Scriptures by holding God responsible for every
Word spoken in the Bible to come true (promises) in every Christians
life regardless of the circumstances; also included is the
famous "Name it and Claim it" practice where people are strongly
urged to go out beyond their reaches and claim such things as
spouses, jobs, cars, houses, etc. The justification used is from the
Bible stating that, "You can have what you say"; "if we ask anything
in the name of Jesus it will be given to us", etc. Clearly the Name
of Jesus is being strongly manipulated and used as some type of
magical chant that as long as we are claiming things by merely
stating His name, it most assuredly will become ours and we most
assuredly Must receive whatever we ask. Truly we know that God is
Lord and Lord over His Word, that which He speaks and has spoken, is
not Lord over Him.

My observation of these occurrences did not just take place on a few
occasions, but was considered a regular part of church services that
occurred frequently. I know peoples lives that have been ruined as a
result of believing and participating in these practices. I could
state additional examples but I wanted to share enough in hopes of
your ability to share in my concern and grief over this plight. Many
Christians believe these incidences are a normal part of church
services, and cannot and do not discern the elements of witchcraft
that are involved. Many times in church services of this nature, the
preacher appears more of a magician practicing and inducing magical
occurrences than preaching the Word of God.

I am not opposed to claiming the promises of God because all of His
promises are true. However, many times and I have seen it so many
times in my years of ministry, where people are provoked to claim
things just for the asking that may not be within God's Will for
their lives or in His timing or not at all ever meant to occur in
their lives. All of us were not meant to be rich but in some
teachings that is not what is taught. It is taught that we were all
meant to be rich and this is not meaning from a spiritual standpoint
but material. People who have less were led to believe they were
living beneath the promises of God if they did not have a certain
standard of living. People were urged to go beyond their natural
means to seek things much beyond what they could ever afford without
being given any spiritual instruction or counsel. People were urged
to write checks of faith believing money was going to supernaturally
appear in their checking accounts and so many people would write
these checks and guess what?...no money came from heaven to be poured
in these accounts but instead, these people had placed themselves in
a position of "Insufficient Funds" which is a punishable crime
whereby even on my department where I am a police lieutenant, many
are arrested for this type charge. Seldom would the people be urged
to pray about these matters in seeking God's Will for these things.
Emphasis on these "things" with a monetary value were placed much
more than emphasis on spiritual matters that would bring us closer to
God such as seeking first the Kingdom of God and it's Righteousness.

I have seen people take the Scriptures, "We can have what we
say"..."Whatsoever we ask in Jesus Name He will do it"...etc. and
claim personally motivated things for their lives that fill the lust
of the flesh, lust of the eye, and pride of life. Rarely quoted in
these type settings is the Scripture, "You have not because you ask
not because when you ask it is with a selfish motive". So the other
Scriptures are taken and by verbalizing the Name of Jesus (i.e. I
claim this house in Jesus Name) we use His name like He has to obey
this type of request only because we asked for the thing in His name.
Leaders urge people to seek after these things stirring up passions
and lusts for things without even taking the spiritual temperatures
of the people. In other words, how can we think we can ask these
things of Jesus when we are not even walking after the Spirit or not
seeking first the Kingdom of God - or not presenting ourselves as
Holy Sacrifices or not living as the Temple of God - or just not
walking with God as we should. We have gotten so brain washed to
desire things that most of the desires of the heart in so many
Christians are the things of this world such as material things or
power (which are not wrong of themselves - I like nice things - I
have a police department job of power and a army reserve job of power
so whether or not I like it - I have much power with these jobs)
rather than spiritual things such as working towards an intimate
relationship with God.

An example, I have been in several very large popular television
churches where the preacher makes specific note of his Gold
Presidential Rolex Watch (approx. $20-30 thousand dollars) where it
was said that they told God to give it to them because they were the
King's kids and should have the best. What does that do for those
sitting on the pews who are wearing Timex watches or less? Another
example, a dear friend of mine claimed for herself an expensive house
and got in the house. She had put her life long savings as a down
payment on the house and had made large monthly payments on the
house. In less than a year she was laid off of her well-paying job -
lost the house because it was re-possessed. She went to a church
where the teaching was highly "pumped up", "Our Father owns cattle
and lands and is rich so that makes us rich...Go and claim your
riches".

Also people get in bondage with themselves when they sit under this
teaching having lower paying jobs - live in not so rich houses - use
public transportation etc. I have counseled people who are depressed
because they cannot figure out why God is not blessing them in this
way; what is wrong with them?; why is God keeping them at this
place?; why are they being punished?...it is a hard thing to counsel
these issues in people when they have developed a mind-set that they
should have these things and since they do not, something has to be
wrong with them. As I said, I believe and apply the promises of God
to my life every second of every day because if I could not rely on
what He said, my life may as well be over and done with. Yet I
embrace the Scripture that "He is a Rewarder of those who diligently
seek Him"...not things but Him and His rewards are whatever, however,
and whenever He chooses to bestow on us. As long as "things" are
always dangling before us, it will always be difficult to see God in
the midst of it all to want and desire Him in the way that we should.
In these last and final days, we cannot afford to place anything or
desire anything more than we do God and He will not honor it if we do
nor will He be a part of it. He is the one that said we will not have
any other gods before Him and we have made these things gods. I hope
that some understanding of what my intent is on this thoughts page
have gone forth...since I put this page up just a short time ago,
many have written who have been in that type of bondage or who have
been "turned off" from that type of teaching which they realize is a
perversion of The Word, and not the way God intended it to be taken.

With all the efforts underway to expose and educate occult practices
such as witchcraft to the Body of Christ, I would be remiss if I did
not share the type of "church" witchcraft with you that I have been a
victim of as well as counseling and helping many others who too have
been devastated as a result. As much as an advocate that I am for
exposing occult practices and witchcraft by educating Christians,
clearly I see that we need to first begin the education right in the
Houses of God for what good does it do us to be well versed in occult
practices outside of the church, and then enter into a church where
the practices, although disguised by perversion of Scriptures, are
very much alive and well.

Comment by Evangelist Gilbert S. White, Sr. on December 4, 2009 at 5:10pm

It's GOOD to be here, and a part of MY family the Church of God in Christ!

Word for the Weekend: "The ONLY thing we CANNOT afford to delay is...Our OBEDIENCE to GOD'S WORD!"

Elder Gilbert S. White, Sr.
Pastor/Evangelist
God in Action! Revival Center COGIC
Newark, NJ
I Thessalonians 5:18

Comment by William A. Hartsfield on November 30, 2009 at 11:20am

Bishop Blake as I was looking at the word this thanksgiving and I was suprized when I told my mother that I saw you somewhere before.To make a long story short I like how you gave the word of God shift I belive that what it was I am not a Bishop just a man of God.but one day I would love to see you in person.Thank You and God bless you

Comment by Pastor DC on November 30, 2009 at 2:20am

1.Matthew 5:25
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison

Comment by clarence anthony jefferson on November 29, 2009 at 10:08pm

what happen to the CHURCH we just accept anything now,what happen to HOLINESS,is the CHURCH about SOUL or MONEY

Comment by Sheba Goneh on November 28, 2009 at 11:43am

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Comment by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on November 19, 2009 at 5:38pm

Did you know that a person can welcome an evil spirit into their soul without even knowing it? It is not an uncommon scene when a person actually welcomes unclean spirits without having to do anything on the outside -- your thought-life is quite capable of opening doors all by itself! What happens is the enemy (working through unclean spirits) approaches a person at a time of need in their life, and gets the person to agree with the demon's bait. This bait can be very appealing to the person and it can even seem harmless and beneficial at that point and time. The enemy is known to disguise himself as an angel of light, as to deceive people into giving him access into their lives:
2 Corinthians 11:14, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
I feel it is important to understand how the enemy works, so that we can equip ourselves to stand against him schemes. Paul said that they were not ignorant of Satan's devices... this is something that many in the church today cannot claim:
2 Corinthians 2:11, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."
The thing I've found with unclean spirits, is that they almost always offer some kind of 'sweet reward' to get a person to grant them access into their life. It could be forbidden sexual pleasure, supernatural power or knowledge of some kind (mind control, fortune telling, etc.), even healing (through occult powers) and physical defense (martial arts). Jesus made it clear that even evil thoughts can defile us (make us vulnerable for spiritual infection):
Matthew 15:19-20, "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man..."
When we yield ourselves, whether it be our thoughts, actions and so fourth to the enemy, we are giving him access to our souls (mind, will and emotions). Here is a brief list of some popular spirits and how they often make themselves appealing:
Spirits of rebellion - The spirit seems to take the person's side and whisper to them, "I will stand up for you... I will stand up for YOUR rights!" The spirit is looking for the person to say, "Yeah, I need that!"
Spirits of divination (fortune telling spirit) - The spirit offers the person supernatural secrets into the future that others do not have access to. If the person begins to seek this sort of power, they are letting the demons know that they are welcome.
This is why I cringe every time that somebody tells me how their child is reading Harry Potter books... that child is letting the occult spirits (demons) know that they are interested in what the occult has to offer, and this gives them the right to move right in on that child! I have seen AWFUL things happen to children who have been involved in Harry Potter, yet so many parents are ignorant and convinced that it is a harmless storybook.
Automatic writing - This type of spirit offers beautiful 'out of this world' writings to the person that they wouldn't otherwise be able to produce. However, let's never forget that demonic power is very expensive and lands the person in bondage. Again, when a person begins to seek this forbidden power / ability, they are making themselves available for the spirits to enter.
New age spirits (including Yoga) - Energy healing along with better mental and physical health are offered to the person, when in reality it's only bait to land them in bondage. Again, when a person partakes in Yoga, or seeks energy healing, they are opening themselves up to these spirits.
Spirits behind Karate (including spirits of mind control) - The person is offered an 'out of this world' means of defending them self that the average person does not have. When a person begins to seek this power found in martial arts, they are welcoming spirits of mind control and such to come in and make themselves at home.
When a person breaks a board with their hand, there is an evil spirit that goes ahead of their hand and breaks the board before their skin even touches the board! If you take a macro slow motion video of a young boy breaking a 2x4 in half, you will eye-witness this fact. The same spirits will cause a person to be able to strike a seriously harmful blow to somebody else's body, and do far more than more than a mere physical blow would do the person. That is because evil spirits are involved. One time a man came to Christ after earning a high level ranking in karate, and not long afterwards, his karate instructor said to him, "You have lost the spirit of karate!"
Spirits of lust / perversion - The person is enticed to enter a world of forbidden pleasure. If the person begins to seek such pleasure, they are letting the spirit realm know that it's okay to feed them more pleasure in that area of their life. Once the person has a spirit in them such as lust or sexual perversion, it can become very difficult to resist the strong pull that the spirit has on that person.
Spirits of addiction - These spirits often promise a world of escapism from reality for the person who is trying to cope with life. When a person turns to escapism, it can open them up to addiction which grows into a bondage where spirits of addiction are involved and it seems nearly impossible to break free (without deliverance that is).
Spirits behind cancer - The spirit offers the person a pleasurable 'they will pay' feeling that comes from bitterness and unforgiveness. Let's be honest, it can feel good to hold a grudge... but it will block God's forgiveness for your own sins! (See Matthew 6:15) When a person turns bitter, it invites an evil spirit into their system which will aggravate the cells in their body, which will cause abnormal growths, tumors and such.
Witchcraft & warlock spirits - These spirits offer supernatural power to 'get even' to an offended person. This can be very appealing to somebody who has been rejected or hurt in this world. When a person begins placing curses or seeking to learn about witchcraft, or even seeks to have a witch place a curse for them, it lets the spirits know that they are welcome in that person's life. God's Word tells us not even to seek somebody with occult power, lest we become defiled ourselves:
Leviticus 19:31, "Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God."
Occult spirits - The lure of supernatural power and knowledge of the unknown. When a person seeks such occult power and knowledge, they are making themselves available to those spirits.
Spirits of bondage - A person may think it's best to make a vow, in order to help them stay motivated to do or not do something, however, the Bible is clear that oaths can bind the soul (see Numbers 30), and it's not uncommon to find scenarios where a person has unclean spirits that entered in through vows that they have made in the past. Rash vows can be forgiven (Leviticus 5:4-11), and must be renounced (taken back) verbally. I also recommend verbally breaking the vow in Jesus' name and declaring it void by the power of the Blood of Jesus.
Spirits of self-pity, etc. - The spirit whispers to the person, "You poor thing! You deserve much better than that!" When a person agrees with such thinking, they are welcoming such spirits into their souls (mind, will and emotions). After all, it can feel good when "SOMEBODY" agrees with that person's pity party!
And the list goes on! These are just a few of the ways that demons make themselves appealing to a person's fleshly desires. When we leave the Word of God behind and seek to satisfy our own fleshly appetites, it can give unclean spirits access into our lives. Most people do not even realize what they are getting themselves into, and then they wonder why they have lost control in that area of their lives afterwards!

Comment by NextDayPrint.com on November 16, 2009 at 4:16pm

Hello All :) Please add me as a Friend & May God Continuously Bless You Beyond Measure - NextDayPrint.com

Comment by Pastor DC on November 14, 2009 at 10:36pm

4Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings

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