Thread: The Attack on the Brethren by the Brethren
Admin
The Attack on the Brethren by the Brethren
Posted : 22 Apr, 2015 06:19 PM
The Attack on the Brethren by the Brethren
More churches have been destroyed by the Accuser of the Brethren and its fault-finding than by either immorality or misuse of church funds. So prevalent is this influence in our society that, among many, fault-finding has been elevated to the status of a "ministry!" The Lord has promised, however, that in His house accusing one another will be replaced with prayer, and fault-finding replaced with a love that covers a multitude of sins.
Satan Wants to Stop Your Growth
Our goal is to see the Living Church, and families within the church, delivered from the stronghold of fault-finding, and to have our hearts turned to prayer. Satan has sent fourth an army of fault-finding demons to hinder and even destroy the church. Their purpose is to entice the Body of Messiah away from the perfections of Jesus Christ onto the imperfections of one another.
The fault-finder spirit's assignment is to assault relationships on all levels. It attacks families, churches and inter-church associations, seeking to bring irreparable schisms into our unity. Masquerading as discernment, this spirit will slip into our opinions of other people, leaving us critical and judgmental. Consequently, we all need to evaluate our attitude toward others. If our thoughts are other than "faith working through love," we need to be aware that we may be under spiritual attack.
The people who have been taken by this deceitful spirit become "crusaders." They are irreconcilable enemies of their former assemblies and displaced family members. In most cases, the things they deem wrong or lacking are the very areas in which the Lord seeks to position them for intercession. What should be an opportunity for spiritual growth and meeting a need, becomes an area of stumbling and withdrawal. Their criticisms are a smokescreen for a prayerless heart and an unwillingness to serve.
Discovering imperfections in anyone is by no means a sign of spirituality. We could easily find fault with the church or family members before we were Christians. What we do with the imperfections that we see is the measure of spiritual maturity. When Jesus saw the condition of mankind, He "...made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, ...He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil 2:7-8) He died to take away sin, He did not judge them.
No One Is Exempt
Jesus Himself could not satisfy the "standards" of this fault-finding spirit when it spoke through the Pharisees. No matter what Jesus did, the Pharisees found fault with Him. If you have not personally consulted with and listened to the individual of whom you are critical, there is no way you can be sure that you are not in the role of the accuser of the brethren? Even the "...Law does not judge any man, before it hears him, (Jn 7:51)."
If the enemy can discredit the minister, it has discredited his message. The timing of attacks on ministers of the gospel is usually just prior or just after a breakthrough of spiritual growth. The unchallenged assault of this fault-finding demon always stops the forward progress of the church.
When this spirit infiltrates an individual's mind, its accusations come with such venom and intimidation that even those who should "know better" are bewildered and then seduced by its influence. Everyone involved focuses on "issues," and forgets that Jesus Christ is praying for His body to become one. Devastation wracks the targeted church. Discouragement will seek to destroy the pastor and his family or other servants of God in the Church.
The fault-finder spirit is devastating. It is depressing to try to track down the accusing spirit as it whispers its gossip through the local church. Trusted friends seem distant and established relationships are shaken. The growth and work of the church is stopped by strife.
This enemy is not limited to attacks on local churches. Its attacks are city wide and nationwide. Publishers make fortunes selling defaming books. Biblical ways of correction never seem to be followed. Biblical ways of correction lead to healing and not destruction.
The fault-finder usually clothes its criticisms in a religious covering. This spirit pretends to protect the sheep from a "gnat-sized" error in doctrine, while forcing it to swallow the "camel-sized" error of loveless correction. When it attempts to correct violations of scripture, it employs the very methods which seriously violate scripture! Where is the "spirit of Gentleness "(Gal 6:1), or the humility in "looking to yourselves, lest you too be tempted?" Where is the love motive to "restore such a one?"
In most cases the person supposedly in "error" has never even been contacted before his alleged mistakes enter the rumor mill of the church. Only after slanderous damage is done is he made aware of his alleged faults. Brethren, the spirit behind such accusations must be discerned, for its motive is not to restore and heal, but to destroy!
The Pure Example
The church does need correction, but the ministry of reproof must be patterned after Jesus Christ and not the accuser of the brethren. When Christ corrected the churches in Asia (Rev 2-3), He placed His rebuke between praise and promises. He reassured the churches that the Voice about to expose their sin was the very Voice which inspired their virtue. After encouraging them, He then brought correction. After correcting them, His last words were not condemnation, but promises.
This is the way He corrects each of us. No matter how bad our sin may be, His voice always contains "grace and truth." Remember, if the word of rebuke or correction does not offer grace for restoration, it is not the voice of your Shepherd. If you are one of Messiah's sheep, you will flee from such a voice.
The Enemy's Weapons
To find a charge against the church or a repentant believer, the enemy must draw his accusation from hell. If we have repented of our sins, no record of them exists in Heaven. "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth." (Rom 8:33) Jesus Christ is not condemning us but is at the Father's right hand interceding on our behalf.
Let us expose the weapons of the fault-finder. The first weapon of the fault-finder is our actual sins. Our failure to repent when the Holy Spirit desires to correct us opens the door for the accuser to condemn us. The voice of the enemy never offers hope nor extends grace for repentance. It acts as though it were the voice of God, and we are guilty of the "unpardonable sin." The way to defeat the enemy in this arena is to disarm him by sincerely repenting of the sin, and affirming that the atonement of Christ is the sum of all of our righteousness.
Satan seeks more than just accusing us as individuals. Satan wants us to criticize and condemn others. Satan wants us to react in the flesh against offenses, instead of praying for those who offend us. Our human responses are then easily manipulated by the fault-finder spirit. We will cast down the accuser of the brethren when we learn to pray for one another instead of preying on one another. We must learn to forgive in the same way that Christ has forgiven us. When someone has repented of his sins, we must exercise the same attitude of "divine forgetfulness" that exists in heaven. We defeat the fault-finder when we respond like Jesus: like a lamb. Jesus Christ died for sinners; as a priest. He intercedes. A godly spirit praises, edifies, and intercedes. An ungodly spirit finds faults, criticizes, and condemns.
The second weapon the fault-finding demon uses against us is our past mistakes and poor decisions. We all have made mistakes. Hopefully, we have learned from them and have developed humility because of them. The fault-finding demon takes our past mistakes and parades them before our memory, criticizing our efforts to do God's will, thus keeping us in bondage to the past.
When the enemy pits us against one another, it first provokes us to jealousy or fear. The security of our place in life seems threatened by another's success. Perhaps to justify our personal failures or flaws, we magnify the past shortcomings of others. The more our jealousy grows, the more this demon exploits our thoughts until nothing about the individual or his church seems right.
In the final stage we actually wage a campaign against him. No defense he offers will satisfy us. We are convinced he is deceived and dangerous; and we think it is up to us to warn others. The truth is that the mind controlled by the fault-finder is the one who is deceived and dangerous. His own unrepentant thoughts toward jealousy and fleshly criticism have supplied hell with a "lumber yard" of material to put up walls between the members of the body of Christ.
Often we find leaders who have fallen from the intensity of their first love, who end up persecuting others who are moving in the Holy Spirit. As disciples of Christ we will be persecuted. However, there is no biblical authorization for Christians to persecute others. It is incredible that those who are persecuting others often think that they are offering service to God. We can fight this enemy by creating an atmosphere of grace. We will do what we can to cause all things to work together for good. If someone stumbles, without encouraging hypocrisy, we must be quick to cover him with prayer. We must never forget that "we are members of one another." (Eph 4:25) We are family. Love will find a redemptive way to cover a multitude of sins.
Where The Vultures Are Gathered
There are times when God will prune us back to increase our fruitfulness. This is to prepare us for new power in ministry. At such times, new levels of surrender and crucifixion of the flesh may be required. It is often a time of humiliation and testing. We may feel empty and ineffective as the Lord is expanding our dependency on Him.
During such times the fault-finding spirit targets us. The fault-finder spirit will never be found among the Lord's pruning tools. It is strictly a tool of the devil. What God has designed as a time of growth in the clarity and power of prophetic vision can bring us down, and cut us off from the very people who should have prayed us through to the victory. In this attack the fault-finder is most destructive. It is here that the fault- finder can kill mature ministers which would arm their churches for war.
The fault-finders and gossips are already planted in the church. It is always possible that we could be such a one!
When our leaders are being made more deeply dependent on God, have we been tempted to criticize the apparent lack of anointing? Would we abandon our friends, leaders, and family when our faith may be the very encouragement they need to fully yield to the cross?
Those who are sympathetic to the accuser of the brethren fulfill Matthew 24:28, "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the vultures be gathered together." The backbiting of these vulture-like individuals actually feeds their lower nature, for they seek what is dead in a church; they are attracted to what is dying.
Eventually these fault-finders depart, instinctively looking to take issue with some other church. "These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. ...the ones who cause divisions....mockers ...who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit." Jude 16-19 They leave behind their former brethren severely wounded and in strife, and a greatly disheartened pastor. Once again the fault-finder spirit will manifest itself through them, strategically positioned to destroy another church.
Today, God is seeking to raise up His servants with increased power and authority. In the pruning stage of their growth, will we water their dryness with prayer or will we be vultures drawn to devour their dying flesh?
How To Correct the Error
When the accuser comes, it brings distorted facts and condemnation. Those who are trapped by this spirit never research the virtues in the organization or person they are attacking. To conquer this enemy we must earnestly seek God's heart and His calling for those who we would reprove, with the same zeal that the fault-finder seeks to uncover sin.
True correction, proceeds with reverence, not revenge.
Are not those whom we seek to correct Christ's servants? Are they not His possession? Is it not possible that the works of which we are jealous, and thus critical, might be the very works of Christ? We must ask ourselves: Why has God chosen us to bring His rebuke? Are we walking the way Jesus Christ would walk?
These are important questions. To be anointed with Christ's authority to rebuke, we must be committed to people with Christ's love. But if we are angry, bitter, or jealous toward another, we cannot even pray correctly for that person, much less reprove him/her. Jesus Christ was declared worthy to bring forth judgment because of his nature: He was the Lamb slain for men's sin. If we are not determined to die for men, we have no right to judge them.
Those who seek to justify leaving a church must not do so simply through finding fault. We should openly communicate with the ministerial team. Our attitude should be one of prayer and love. If people bring with them a root of bitterness against their former assembly, that root will spring up in your church and many will be defiled. No matter how much you need new members, never build your congregation with individuals who are unreconciled to their former fellowship.
In the house of the Lord, criticism must be replaced with prayer, and fault-finding eliminated with a covering of love. Where there is error, we must go with a motive to restore. Where there are wrong doctrines, let us maintain a gentle spirit correcting those in opposition.
10 Ways to defeat the Accuser of the Brethren.
1) When you discern a fault, know that God is calling you to pray.
2) Know that the chief Churchianity virtue of backbiting is SIN.
3) Study Matthew 18. You must go directly to your brother FIRST!
4) Know that the manifest power of the Holy Spirit depends on the body being in one accord.
5) Understand that the true mark of Holiness is the recognition of the disparate wickedness in your own heart to the full exclusion of any ability to discern faults in your brother.
6) How dare anyone separate themselves and profess that they are a believer in Jesus Christ.
7) You CANNOT minister unless you FIRST be RECONCILED, then you can have the anointing to minister.
8) Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
9) Let people know that you stop gossip with direct open rebuke.
10) Only IF the principles of Matthew 18 have been followed, then -
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
(1Tim 5:19-20)
We must learn to pray for one another instead of preying on one another. We must hang together or they will hang us separately.
THE BASIS FOR ALL DOCTRINE IS FOUND IN COMPREHENDING CAIN AND ABEL (a woman is not enabled to comprehend this mystery, because she is not a man/male) NOTE: This is why the Word of God appears to be written only to men and only about men.
When James Brown sang, "It's a Man's World", he was not lying, and it will never be a Woman's World. Man, not woman, was made in the image of God [Elohim]. All of the fighting in the world, is in an attempt, for women [who becomes the "creature" after the Fall] to take over the creation, and this God will never permit. Oh, it will begin to appear that women are equal to men, for this deception is all part of His eternal plan, and this is why we see women trying to handle the Word of God, when Elohim has never permitted this at any time in history. There simply is not one example of a woman being used to write scripture. Thus it is written, "I am YHWH I do not change" Malachi 3:6.
There are two things serious wrong with this post, in relation to the original meaning of scripture.
1) The word "brethren" does not mean "men and women", "brothers and sisters" in the scripture. Furthermore, the term "brethren", as a "gender-inclusive term" is not used in the TaNaKh or B'rit Chadhashah. The Hebrew uses "ack" for "brother" and "achowth" means "sisters". "Adelphos" means "brothers from the same mother, as well as from different mothers" in the Greek. "Adelphe" means "sister" and "sisters" in the Greek.
This use of "brethren" is an attack upon the wisdom of the scriptures, and anyone who uses it when referring to the scripture, is ignorant of the true meanings of the Hebrew and Greek words used.
There simply is no gender-inclusive terms would in the scripture, anywhere, which were used to refer to men and women, such as the term "children" means today. Therefore the term "the Children of Israel" is a modern confusion. The Hebrew records "the Sons of Israel".
The English word "brethren" was inserted by the translators of the anointed writings called "the New Testament" because a) they do not know what the scriptures are about, and 2) they wanted the scripture, which has always been about "men" from YHWH Elohim's family warring with men from the Serpent's family, to appear as if it was written about men and women.
This is why Yeshua went into the Temple, which had been taken over by men who were of the Devil's family, and clashed with them. They [the Pharisees and Sadducees and scribes] were of the Devil's family, or of the genealogical Tree of the the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and were claiming to be of The Tree of Life, which is the family tree of YHWH Elohim.
Thus, men who were of the Serpent's seed, pretending to be "translators" took the word "brother" or "brothers from different mothers" and have tried to make it means "brothers and sisters", when it does not and did not.
This has to be one of the greatest errors in comprehending the scripture.
This is an attack upon the Word of God, by the translators.
It is interesting that most claiming to be anointed, do not read the scriptures and see for themselves that there is no "gender-inclusive" term used in either the Hebrew or Greek.
All men are not brothers, not even from the same womb, as we see in Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, and Esau and Jacob. It is very interesting that Elohim tells Rebekah that she has two different nations in her womb. NOTE: Elohim [God] did not tell her that she has two brothers in her womb:
"And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger." Genesis 25:23
Yeshua was killed because the men who were of the Devil's family attacked Him:
"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" Matthew 23:33
In each generation men are born that represent the Devil. The Jews, claiming to be "Pharisees" and "Sadducees", which are terms not used in the Hebrew, were the Devil's male offspring in Yeshua's generation.
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father ye will do.
There are to be 1,000 generations of the Sons of God and the Sons of the Devil to be born to women:
"He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations." Psalm 105:8
Elohim had promised to Abraham, that He would personally come to His seed in every generation, and that His covenant with them, was an everlasting covenant:
"And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." Genesis 17:7
This is why Peter wrote, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" I Peter 2:9
In closing, there are not TWO covenants, but one everlasting covenant involving 1,000 generations, which is why Yeshua said to Phillip, "I and the Father are one", and "think not that I am come to do away with the law or the prophets. I am not come to do away, but to fulfill".
Yeshua was sent, as the perfect example of the obedient Son of God, to die. The anointed writings called "the tnk" which deal with the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, were about Yehsua and the Sons of God, the True High Priest and the Priesthood.
You will not find "two covenants" written anywhere in any of the scriptures, for this reason.
Good Article Blonde...these types of attacks are spoken of in Scripture more than once...the "Wolves" in sheep�s clothing is the most well know description of the deadly foe...
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
I've come across many of these types of folks in some of the Churches I've attended in the past. I have no doubt you and others here and out there have also. They also walk, work, and live amongst us in everyday places and events. They travel to and fro...sound familiar ? Wandering�restless�never completely grounded in the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ which is Salvation and Peace. Their attacks are meant to concur, beat down, control (lil luc & his co~dems do this) and to �divide��which has already been done by Jesus� in HIS first appearance on earth�
Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
�Division��YUP!!! Already Done!!!...the sheep from the goats as is referred to by some folks even though sheep and goats aren�t mentioned in this particular Scripture. Luke 12 is about people�families�it�s a great and informative read as ALL the Bible is. Fortunately for some the Good Shepherd is Still calling HIS Sheep to this very day which are still lost and dying in their sins�
The Great Commission that is spoken of by Jesus found in Mark 16 is to be our focus as He said �Go�� �Preach� the �Gospel� not preach division or condemnation
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
*** Notice�NO Condemnation�:yay:
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
*** Elleluyah !!! :bouncy:
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
*** No one LORD Jesus�No one !!!
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
*** We are Your Sheep�We Hear YOUR Voice!!! Not the Voice of condemnation!!! :peace:
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
*** Praise and thank you FATHER�for you Loved us First!!! :bow:
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
YES!!!...Persuaded by You LORD!!!...:applause:..Praise and thank you LORD�for YOU and only You are WORTHY of All Paraise!!! :yay:...:applause:...:bouncy:..
You see those who take up this type of Cross of �Continued Division� have in reality Denied the very Power, Being and Completed at the Cross Purpose of Jesus�it is as if they equate them self to be as powerful and as God HIM Self. This is beyond Heretical as there is only 1 GOD and Jesus is that 1 GOD that has and Will come again in the Flesh. Lil luc was cast out and down along with his con~dems�demons as well as lil luc continue to condemn us that are In~Christ and those still lost. They will continue until the very end which by all the current events in Heaven and the world appears to be drawing ever closer�IMHO�
I PRAY those still lost will Harkin to Your Voice LORD Jesus�Spoken�Written�Read and not the voice of the enemy of your children�Amen!...So be it Lord�AMEN!!!...So be it LORD Jesus!!!!!!!
Found the 10 ways to be a most excellent tool to apply to one�s self as well as another�it is worthy of reposting as a check list
10 Ways to defeat the Accuser of the Brethren.
1) When you discern a fault, know that God is calling you to pray.
2) Know that the chief Churchianity virtue of backbiting is SIN.
3) Study Matthew 18. You must go directly to your brother FIRST!
4) Know that the manifest power of the Holy Spirit depends on the body being in one accord.
5) Understand that the true mark of Holiness is the recognition of the disparate wickedness in your own heart to the full exclusion of any ability to discern faults in your brother.
*** I�ll add here�(Rom 3:23 and 5:12)
6) How dare anyone separate themselves and profess that they are a believer in Jesus Christ.
7) You CANNOT minister unless you FIRST be RECONCILED, then you can have the anointing to minister.
8) Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
9) Let people know that you stop gossip with direct open rebuke.
10) Only IF the principles of Matthew 18 have been followed, then -
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
(1Tim 5:19-20)
We must learn to pray for one another instead of preying on one another. We must hang together or they will hang us separately.
*** This is SO Very TRUE!!!...reminds me of Rom 8�
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
*** HIS purpose and no one else�s�So bet it Papa�
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
>>This is why the Word of God appears to be written only to men and only about men.
Perhaps you jest. Surely you are familiar with Sarah, Hannah, Deborah, Ruth, Esther, the several Marys of the gospels, and Dorcas. Surely you're aware of John's epistle addressed "to the elect lady".
Male authority in home and church is a definite doctrine of the Bible. Saying that women are incapable of understanding certain doctrines simply because they're women ...
Sorry for the confusion, Blondie. As I view the forum,
it appears that the troll had posted a reply to your post. I quoted what appeared to be the reply. I was objecting to the troll's "reply", not to what you wrote.
