A Change in the Tide, Amos 5

“But let justice roll out like waters, And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

  Sexual immorality has always lurked in the corners of the Christian community. The sexual revolution of the 1960s is the bad fruit that is now bearing a strong crop in our day as that mindset has been getting passed through the generations. 

  The 60s mindset started to rear its ugly head in ministry leaders with Jim Bakker and others. Unfortunately, these were not the only ones as many, who were once free now found porn on every billboard, advertisement, and TV without looking. Our Western culture had become a delivery system to bring spiritual bondage to the nations.   

  Whenever someone protested, culture branded them as backward thinking, prude, or narrow-minded as examples of European culture were lifted up to American Christians… as if to say we need to be like them.

  Meanwhile, Satan continued tweaking the concepts of biblical leadership that he started manipulating generations before. Concepts like John 13:1-17 and Luke 9:48 would get ignored as leaders listened to such twisted thinking. 

  Twisting the concepts of Christian service into servitude under a god/king-like authority of the “Man of God.” Protestant Pastors in many places became like little Popes who now were given complete ruling authority in all things. In some denominations, major purchases and marriages had to be approved by the pastor first. In effect, the people Jesus died to save had now become willing slaves to a new system, all in the name of Jesus.

  Like some bad fairy tale told to little children to scare them, Spiritual leaders were now locked away in castles of isolation under an “us-vs-them” mentality. Alone, and sometimes friendless, old habits resurfaced. These old habits soon become hidden protective thoughts as no one in the congregation dared challenge or rebuke the “man of god.”

  The true maturity of these seeds is now maturing, in the last few years many have fallen, been exposed, or are shaking that they will be next. What is currently happening with Mike Bickle in Kansas City is only the next step in a quickly accelerating event. 

  Thanks to many of the brave voices who are standing up we learn that Mike has used prophecy to manipulate and lie to several young women. Also, thanks to the testimony of people like Johnny Enslow, it is being confirmed that this predatory behavior is not uncommon among senior Charismatic leadership in America. These are things we all need to learn from, to be aware of.

  The speed of these exposures is picking up, as leadership is being called to account publicly for their actions.  This is a good thing (Ephesians 5:11.) As victims of spiritual abuse watch and listen, they get brave, and brave people do things. This is the Phinehas generation (Numbers 25) that will stand up and do the righteous thing and bring an end to the darkness. Bringing an end to sin in the camp of the Lord, they will do this so that true blessings can flow in these last days. 

 Coming up?

  What is coming up next? More exposure, more testimony of abuse and manipulation. This is where true Christian reporters will investigate, check the facts, and bring light to the body. The Julie Roys report is not the only one currently looking under the carpet. Reporters are contacting other people and some are talking. Start looking for the heat to get turned up on other ministries on both the East and West Coast. This of course will spill out into other nations, because the River of God can not be stopped.

 Next on the list?? Well, those names can not be given out right now, who needs a lawsuit? But I will say pay close attention to the Johnny Enslow video at the 34:40 mark.

What does this mean?

  The fact that God is speeding up the process should be exciting if you have any understanding of the end times. Jesus is coming back for a pure spotless bride. (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:27, Revelation 19:7) with this, you will see, “The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion,” Isaiah 4:4. Through all of this, God is in the process of displaying his heart to his people.

How does today's actions compare to Matthew 18?

 In today's Western thinking, we think about our modern court system. In this system, we have many players in the justice system, the most prominent is the judge. If for some reason the ruling is in question or not resolved it can always go to the next highest level until it finally reaches the Supreme Court. This is the “lens” through which many of us were trained to look. However, by training us to think in terms of that court system we fail to comprehend the “system” Jesus put in place in Matthew 18.

  Matthew 18 is a process of greater and greater levels of exposure. At each point, the person in sin has the opportunity to stop the process from going further, this is grace in action towards the sinful person. However, if for some reason they continue to resist, then it must go the full measure to be fully exposed before the whole body. Why the whole body?

  The whole body is the final judge on Earth, not the elders. This is the Lord’s court and if his Body makes the judgment, then this is where biblical phrases like  “…on earth as it is in heaven,” start rolling in.

  In the cases of people like Mike Bickle & Todd Bentley, godly men did try to deal with them. But unfortunately, high-level leaders in other ministries shut them down, attempting to cover it up.

(they are still trying) With no other option, it was now time to take these issues to the highest court, the Body of Christ.

  Roll like a River

  Have you ever hung out beside a roaring mountain stream? Ever noticed the power of it? I think this is possibly one of the reasons God used this symbology in Amos 5:24 when he said, “But let justice roll out like waters, And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

  You can build a high, strong dam to keep it from flowing, but the water continues to build. Eventually, it will either overflow the dam or cut out the banks. The destruction will be powerful, messy, and heartbreaking to everyone who has suffered loss. This is why when you discover the River of God flowing in an area, it is far better to join it than try to manage it.