We all know and understand the emotional high we get when we are told that all of our pain and struggle has a purpose and not only that, but it is our right to declare or even go "take it by force". You know, all those things the devil stole from us. Well, I was searching and wanting to find another meeting or conference where I could learn how to work this thing out. I had just been told from another godly mother figure at our small church, that she felt the holy spirit told her I should leave that church and go find a place for me and my boys. I will not delve into the emotional upheaval that situation brought my heart, not only towards this entire meeting and the people who stood by and allowed such a thing, but more so towards those in a pastoral father position. The "shepherds" of the flock. The purpose is to understand that when we are so eager to find a fix, we fall into a dangerous place for anything that sounds good to be set of rose colored glasses we look through.
So, I came across a minister, more of an apostle, as he was called. Now this is something I had just found out about and through the Chuck Pierce meeting I had attended, I was fully on board that this new way of doing church was right on. I agreed the five fold ministries should be functioning at every meeting and wanted to see my hometown come alive spiritually speaking. So Apostle Ryan LeStrange would do these midnight Facebook live sessions and it never failed, each one spoke directly to situations I was currently facing. I especially was ministered to by those that spoke of betrayal and manipulation, as I was currently going through those two specific injuries in two of my most important relationships- my church family and my now, broken family. Scary stuff to try and discern the truth when looking through glasses that only bring out the facade and dream you wanted to see.
Now, it was a conference led by this man and Jennifer LeClaire, another woman who I would listen to and gained a few tidbits about life's disappointments, that hosted this UPGRADE217 in San Antonio. I invited my aunt and my cousin to attend with me. It was something we all needed at this point in our lives. When we attended we heard lots of self-proclamations that lifted our spirits and yet, there was something not quite right. I will only share two that may sound familiar to you if you have been at a charismatic church service and do so with this warning- know the bible and understand the true work of the Holy Spirit. If we do not have a biblical foundation for the practice- RUN!
The first incident was when one evening we were invited to come to the front for prayer. My aunt, who has a Pentecostal background, wanted to go up front to get prayer for her body and asked if I would go with her. We made our way up there and as he prayed for every single person around us, but never for her, people fell out, jumped for joy, claimed they got whatever it was they were expecting while we just stood there both in dismay. My heart ached for her and I was trying to reconcile my own insecurities over this incident. We stood right by him and not once did he reach out to pray for her. She was right in front of him and he even made eye contact. It was one of the most surreal things I have ever seen- it was like he was blocked to pray for her or even approach her. Now, looking back I believe it was a great grace from God that it didn't happen. I do not completely understand all the spiritual aspects of the practice of laying on of hands, but I know what I have personally seen and experienced to know evil is real and spirits do exist.
So, we all discussed this on the way to the hotel as I could tell my aunt was crushed in spirit by this. I mean who wouldn't be? You were right there seeking the prayer for healing or whatever and you are overlooked.
The next incident is one that you will find referenced on Youtube. At this same conference another minister, James Goll spoke and then during worship went around praying for people, but especially those ministering with him and the band on stage. We saw him punch some guy playing piano in the stomach as a form of "transfer" of power or something. Honestly, I still can't wrap my mind around it. Then there was a drunken like state of these ministers with some falling on top of one another. It was a spectacle. I just had this feeling in the pit of my stomach that I was not seeing what I really should be and I began to seek and search out all this mess. It was a bit overwhelming and caused me to begin questioning what I had been a part of for most of my life.
While I shared only specific moments, there is a lot more that happens in these meetings and my journey into removing my rose colored glasses began with looking at our own American church revival history. This is where we can see the danger of seeking experience and feeling over biblical truth and sound doctrine. We must be cautious with these "moves of God", it can render us useless in testimony and even more, blindly be emotionally led to the point of losing our minds in thinking clearly.
So, I came across a minister, more of an apostle, as he was called. Now this is something I had just found out about and through the Chuck Pierce meeting I had attended, I was fully on board that this new way of doing church was right on. I agreed the five fold ministries should be functioning at every meeting and wanted to see my hometown come alive spiritually speaking. So Apostle Ryan LeStrange would do these midnight Facebook live sessions and it never failed, each one spoke directly to situations I was currently facing. I especially was ministered to by those that spoke of betrayal and manipulation, as I was currently going through those two specific injuries in two of my most important relationships- my church family and my now, broken family. Scary stuff to try and discern the truth when looking through glasses that only bring out the facade and dream you wanted to see.
Now, it was a conference led by this man and Jennifer LeClaire, another woman who I would listen to and gained a few tidbits about life's disappointments, that hosted this UPGRADE217 in San Antonio. I invited my aunt and my cousin to attend with me. It was something we all needed at this point in our lives. When we attended we heard lots of self-proclamations that lifted our spirits and yet, there was something not quite right. I will only share two that may sound familiar to you if you have been at a charismatic church service and do so with this warning- know the bible and understand the true work of the Holy Spirit. If we do not have a biblical foundation for the practice- RUN!
The first incident was when one evening we were invited to come to the front for prayer. My aunt, who has a Pentecostal background, wanted to go up front to get prayer for her body and asked if I would go with her. We made our way up there and as he prayed for every single person around us, but never for her, people fell out, jumped for joy, claimed they got whatever it was they were expecting while we just stood there both in dismay. My heart ached for her and I was trying to reconcile my own insecurities over this incident. We stood right by him and not once did he reach out to pray for her. She was right in front of him and he even made eye contact. It was one of the most surreal things I have ever seen- it was like he was blocked to pray for her or even approach her. Now, looking back I believe it was a great grace from God that it didn't happen. I do not completely understand all the spiritual aspects of the practice of laying on of hands, but I know what I have personally seen and experienced to know evil is real and spirits do exist.
So, we all discussed this on the way to the hotel as I could tell my aunt was crushed in spirit by this. I mean who wouldn't be? You were right there seeking the prayer for healing or whatever and you are overlooked.
The next incident is one that you will find referenced on Youtube. At this same conference another minister, James Goll spoke and then during worship went around praying for people, but especially those ministering with him and the band on stage. We saw him punch some guy playing piano in the stomach as a form of "transfer" of power or something. Honestly, I still can't wrap my mind around it. Then there was a drunken like state of these ministers with some falling on top of one another. It was a spectacle. I just had this feeling in the pit of my stomach that I was not seeing what I really should be and I began to seek and search out all this mess. It was a bit overwhelming and caused me to begin questioning what I had been a part of for most of my life.
While I shared only specific moments, there is a lot more that happens in these meetings and my journey into removing my rose colored glasses began with looking at our own American church revival history. This is where we can see the danger of seeking experience and feeling over biblical truth and sound doctrine. We must be cautious with these "moves of God", it can render us useless in testimony and even more, blindly be emotionally led to the point of losing our minds in thinking clearly.
Comments
Post a Comment