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	<title>Pressing for the Crown &#187; Yomi, a pastor at Crown</title>
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	<link>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org</link>
	<description>Earnestly contending for the faith that was once for all time given to the saints</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:40:31 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>The Bible does NOT say that the two shall become one</title>
		<link>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/08/26/the-bible-does-not-say-that-the-two-shall-become-one/</link>
		<comments>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/08/26/the-bible-does-not-say-that-the-two-shall-become-one/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:35:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Yomi, a pastor at Crown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bible Teaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[one]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[one flesh]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[two]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/?p=1072</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here at Crown, we have a track record of paying attention to what Scriptures say and exposing what it does not say. We have examined several popular passages and phrases from Scriptures that keep being misquoted or misrepresented. This time, we are looking at the popular saying, &#8220;The two shall become one&#8221;. This is usually [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Here at Crown, we have a track record of paying attention to what Scriptures say and exposing what it does not say. We have examined several popular passages and phrases from Scriptures that keep being misquoted or misrepresented.</p>
<p>This time, we are looking at the popular saying, &#8220;The two shall become one&#8221;. This is usually supposedly a quote from the Bible with respect to the institution of marriage.</p>
<p>I am sorry, but there is nowhere in the Bible where it is said that <em>the two shall become one</em>. Nowhere.</p>
<p>There are at least five (5) passages from the Bible as references for this and <strong>not one</strong> of them says that the two shall become one.</p>
<h2>What Does the Bible Say?</h2>
<p>Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and <em>they shall become one flesh</em>. (Gen 2:24)</p>
<p>He answered, &#8220;Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, &#8216;Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and <em>the two shall become one flesh</em>&#8216;? (Mat 19:4-5)</p>
<p>&#8216;Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.&#8217; So they are no longer two <em>but one flesh</em>. (Mar 10:7-8)</p>
<p>Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, &#8220;The two will <em>become one flesh</em>.&#8221; (1 Co. 6:16)</p>
<p>&#8220;Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall <em>become one flesh</em>.&#8221; (Eph 5:31)</p>
<h2>A World of a Difference</h2>
<p>Brothers and sisters, there is a world of a difference between saying that the two shall become one and saying that the two shall become <em>one flesh</em>.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, because this subject has not been properly taught, many people enter into the institution of marriage with a wrong understanding and in many cases have created serious problems for themselves and their spouses.</p>
<p>Get your Bible and start digging. Feel free too to kickstart the discussions here.</p>
<p><em>The two shall become one?</em> No; they shall not!</p>
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		<title>What is the problem with the concept of submission?</title>
		<link>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/08/06/what-is-the-problem-with-the-concept-of-submission/</link>
		<comments>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/08/06/what-is-the-problem-with-the-concept-of-submission/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:15:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Yomi, a pastor at Crown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Exhortation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[husband]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[submission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wife]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/?p=1050</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have just spent close to an hour reading up some articles and discussions about marriage. One strong thread that runs through them is the morbid dislike of the concept of &#8220;submission&#8221; in marriage. At work we submit to our employers. On the road, we submit to traffic officers. In the country that we live, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have just spent close to an hour reading up some articles and discussions about marriage. One strong thread that runs through them is the morbid dislike of the concept of &#8220;submission&#8221; in marriage.</p>
<p>At work we submit to our employers. On the road, we submit to traffic officers. In the country that we live, we submit to our leaders. On an aircraft or ship, the crew submit to the pilot/caption. On a movie set, the actors submit to the director. The football team submits to the coach.</p>
<p>In all other areas, everyone recognises the benefits of submission, and of there being an authority and a leader.</p>
<p>Why is submission in marriage so reviled by the modern world? How can we not see that we cannot eat our cake and have it? If we throw submission out the window, we cannot enjoy its benefits. Our marriages will keep failing (not that the lack of submission is the only reason that marriages fail).</p>
<p>Open discussion, brothers and sisters: what is the problem with accepting that husband and wife, while partners, are not equal partners, but that the wife must let herself be led by her husband?</p>
<p>What is the problem that people have with the concept of submission in marriage?</p>
<p><strong>PS:</strong> A reminder about Sunday. We&#8217;ll be talking about the marriage vow and divorce.</p>
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		<title>What happened to &#8220;For better, for worse&#8221;?</title>
		<link>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/08/03/what-happened-to-for-better-for-worse/</link>
		<comments>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/08/03/what-happened-to-for-better-for-worse/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Aug 2010 06:51:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Yomi, a pastor at Crown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Exhortation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marital vows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/?p=1039</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last Sunday at Crown, we examined the concept of unconditional love in the context of Christ and the Church, and of husband and wife. Understanding that these two relationships are mirrors of one another and that they are both built on this concept is vital. Christ and the Church are in a covenant that demands [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Last Sunday at Crown, we examined the concept of unconditional love in the context of Christ and the Church, and of husband and wife. Understanding that these two relationships are mirrors of one another and that they are both built on this concept is vital.</p>
<p>Christ and the Church are in a covenant that demands unconditional love and lots of forgiveness and forbearance. The husband and wife are in a covenant that demands unconditional love and lots of forgiveness and forbearance as well.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, marriage is being treated more and more like a negotiated contract. <em>If you do this for me, I will act this way</em>. Yet, Biblically, it should be: <em>Whether or not you do this for me, I will act this way</em>.</p>
<p>Let us picture a common scenario: a woman has strayed and cheated on her husband. Perhaps it was in a moment of weakness, or perhaps it was part of a deliberate plan to be wayward. But it is done. The man insists on divorce. At first glance, his position appears to be righteous. Yet, understanding the marriage covenant reveals that he has committed a graver offence than his wife!</p>
<p>Yes; madam cheated. That is wrong and sinful. But the husband&#8217;s position is even more extreme. What happened to &#8220;<em>For better, for worse</em>&#8220;? Do we even know what that means any more? Do we think over those vows we make at the marriage ceremony?</p>
<p>Marriage demands that we forgive again and again, even when the other person is not changing. Yes; that may be hard, but think of what God does for us &#8211; He forgives us again and again, even when for years we do not really change either.</p>
<p>To demand for a divorce is to turn around and nullify &#8220;For better, for worse&#8221;. That phrase, &#8220;For better, for worse&#8221;, is probably the most powerful statement that anyone can utter to another &#8211; and it is the foundation of the covenant of marriage.</p>
<p>It doesn&#8217;t matter how wrongly your spouse has offended you, you made a vow to stand by him or her regardless of how things go. You have no right to renege on that vow.</p>
<p>Does this now give spouses the liberty to behave as they want, knowing that they are secure in a vow? Well, does the fact that we are saved by grace (and not on merit) give us the liberty to behave as want, knowing that we are secure in God&#8217;s guarantee of salvation?</p>
<p>We know the answer to that; don&#8217;t we?</p>
<blockquote><p>What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? <strong>By no means!</strong> How can we who died to sin still live in it? (Rom 6:1-2)</p></blockquote>
<p>The marriage vow does not license us to sin, but the vow is there anyway. The strongest people are those who choose to tolerate, endure, forgive and uphold the vows they made. They are also the blessed ones, for blessed is the man  who &#8220;<em>who swears to his own hurt and does not change</em>&#8221; (Psalm 15:4)</p>
<p>Divorce is rampant today because we mostly no longer understand what those vows mean &#8211; or that we even made any vows at all. Some have even changed those vows, all in the name of &#8220;faith&#8221;. They now say things like &#8220;<em>For better, for greater</em>&#8220;. What does that mean? Zilch. Nothing. It shows that they do not understand what a vow of commitment is.</p>
<p>If and when your spouse offends you (and he/she will somewwhere along the line), remember that you made a vow to stay for better or for worse. Fulfil your vows.</p>
<p>Just to be sure, where a person lacks the character to stay, most of the time, they are unable to stay in the next one and in the next one. A leopard does not change its spots.</p>
<blockquote><p>To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife (1Co 7:10-11)</p></blockquote>
<p>Temporary separation may be expedient under certain circumstances e.g. in cases of physical abuse. But divorce is not in the vocabulary of the believer. Some seek a loophole with the argument that divorce is permitted in the casde of adultery. i reply, when Jesus said that we must forgive if our brother offends us &#8220;until seventy times seven&#8221;, did He exclude adultery?</p>
<blockquote><p>Mat 18:21  Then Peter came up and said to him, &#8220;Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?&#8221;<br />
Mat 18:22  Jesus said to him, &#8220;I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.<br />
Mat 18:23  &#8220;Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.<br />
Mat 18:24  When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.<br />
Mat 18:25  And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.<br />
Mat 18:26  So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, &#8216;Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.&#8217;<br />
Mat 18:27  And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.<br />
Mat 18:28  But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, &#8216;Pay what you owe.&#8217;<br />
Mat 18:29  So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, &#8216;Have patience with me, and I will pay you.&#8217;<br />
Mat 18:30  He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.<br />
Mat 18:31  When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.<br />
Mat 18:32  Then his master summoned him and said to him, &#8216;You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.<br />
Mat 18:33  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?&#8217;<br />
Mat 18:34  And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.<br />
Mat 18:35  So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.&#8221; </p></blockquote>
<p>Where else is that more pertinent than in the marriage institution?</p>
<p>Marriage is a great (though sometimes difficult) place to mature as a believer. It is a place where our understanding of grace is often tested, and sometimes to great lengths. We must develop the strength of character to live up to our vows. Learn to forgive. Learn to forbear. Develop patience. Suffer long.</p>
<p>Mariage is hard work. There is no easy marriage. But if we approach it from the Biblical perspective, while we may not have perfect marriages, we can mature and become better persons through the institution of marriage.</p>
<p>Next Sunday, we will spend some more time on the subjects of the marital vow in the context of divorce and separation. God bless.</p>
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		<title>The Blood of Jesus &#8211; Sunday July 18, 2010</title>
		<link>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/07/15/the-blood-of-jesus-sunday-july-18-2010/</link>
		<comments>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/07/15/the-blood-of-jesus-sunday-july-18-2010/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:43:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Yomi, a pastor at Crown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[atonement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[redemption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[substitution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sunday fellowship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the blood of Jesus]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/?p=1036</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Put aside the superstition. Lay aside the paranoia. We won&#8217;t be chanting &#8220;Blood of Jesus&#8221; either. And we won&#8217;t be sprinkling anything &#8211; not even water. Just be sure to come with your Bible and keep your head screwed on. This Sunday, 18th July 2010, we will be studying the Blood of Jesus, cutting out [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Put aside the superstition. Lay aside the paranoia. We won&#8217;t be chanting &#8220;Blood of Jesus&#8221; either. And we won&#8217;t be sprinkling anything &#8211; not even water. Just be sure to come with your Bible and keep your head screwed on.</p>
<p>This Sunday, 18th July 2010, we will be studying the Blood of Jesus, cutting out the trash and holding on to the substance.</p>
<p><strong>Time</strong>: 9.00 a.m.<br />
<strong>Venue</strong>: UNILAG Guest house, University of Lagos, Akoka.</p>
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		<title>If only&#8230;&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/07/09/if-only/</link>
		<comments>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/07/09/if-only/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:13:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Yomi, a pastor at Crown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Exhortation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/?p=1031</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The grass always looks greener on the other side. Don&#8217;t live like this. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Heb. 13:5) Share on Facebook]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/if-only.jpg" alt="" title="if only" width="530" height="520" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1032" /></p>
<p>The grass always looks greener on the other side. Don&#8217;t live like this.</p>
<blockquote><p>Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (<strong>Heb. 13:5</strong>)</p></blockquote>
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		<title>Self Control</title>
		<link>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/07/08/self-control/</link>
		<comments>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/07/08/self-control/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:28:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Yomi, a pastor at Crown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Exhortation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/?p=1027</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Self control is a fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23) Yet; multitudes of Christians feel guilty each day for things they are exercising self-control over. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Self control is a fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives: </p>
<blockquote><p>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23)</p></blockquote>
<p>Yet; multitudes of Christians feel guilty each day for things they are exercising self-control over. They are obeying God but giving in to feelings of guilt and depression from the enemy.</p>
<p>You may be feeling drawn in a wrong direction and feeling guilty about this. The question is: why would God command us to exercise self control if there would be no pull towards wrong things every now and then?</p>
<p>It is the same question I ask about patience: Why would God command patience if we would have everything we wanted whenever we wanted them?</p>
<p>Duh!</p>
<p>God commands self control because there would always be desires for things that are not necesarilly right pulling at us. James addressed this:</p>
<blockquote><p>But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:14  &#8211; 15)</p></blockquote>
<p>We are tempted when we are drawn towards wrong things. <strong>But temptation is not sin.</strong> We don&#8217;t sin until we give in to those pulls. We must not toy with those desires. if we do, we will give in to them and then we have sin in our hands.</p>
<p>Just keep saying &#8220;No&#8221; to those wrong desires by the grace that we have been called to. Keep trusting in our Lord Jesus Christ to keep you. Everytime you say &#8220;No&#8221; to that desire is a victory. The feelings of guilt by the enemy is a ploy to depress you and weaken you.</p>
<p>Say No. As a believer, you are a slave to righteousness now, and regardless of the pulls of the world we live in, we must continue reminding of ourselves that we are NOT of this world:</p>
<blockquote><p>Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world&#8211;the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions&#8211;is not from the Father but is from the world. (1 Jn 2:15-16)</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>PS:</strong> And if you do give in at some point, don&#8217;t forget that we have a High Priest who is capable and dependable (1 Jn 1:9).</p>
<p>There is no self control if there is no pull. Don&#8217;t feel guilty about the pull. Just exercise self control. And understand that to exercise self control is to live pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.</p>
<p>Shalom!</p>
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		<title>This Great Salvation</title>
		<link>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/07/03/this-great-salvation/</link>
		<comments>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/07/03/this-great-salvation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jul 2010 16:26:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Yomi, a pastor at Crown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mercy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[redemption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Salvation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/?p=1024</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You don&#8217;t want to miss tomorrow and the following Sunday at Crown as we dig into the subject of this great salvation to which we have been called. Topic: So Great Salvation If you do miss out, you can join the discussions that proceed from the teachings here on Pressing for the Crown by using [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You don&#8217;t want to miss tomorrow and the following Sunday at Crown as we dig into the subject of this great salvation to which we have been called.</p>
<p>Topic: <strong>So Great Salvation</strong></p>
<p>If you do miss out, you can join the discussions that proceed from the teachings here on Pressing for the Crown by using the comments form below.</p>
<p>Time: 9 a.m.<br />
Venue: UNILAG Guest House, University of Lagos, Akoka</p>
<p>Shalom!</p>
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		<title>The failure of faith healers</title>
		<link>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/06/29/the-failure-of-faith-healers/</link>
		<comments>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/06/29/the-failure-of-faith-healers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:31:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Yomi, a pastor at Crown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Word of faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anointed men]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith healers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[False healers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[impostors]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/?p=942</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Neither Jesus nor any of His apostles ever had someone fail to be healed and then tell him that it was because of his lack of faith. You see, that they came to be healed is proof that they believed.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>All around us daily &#8211; on TV, in magazines, on radio and other media &#8211; self-styled &#8220;faith healers&#8221; promise the multitudes healings, miracles and breakthroughs. They boast brashly that God will heal if only their listeners believe and come.</p>
<p>People hear those promises, believe, and go to those meetings. But at the end of the day, the vast majority of those who come (they came because they believed) return home disappointed. They are told that they need to work on their faith.</p>
<p>Neither Jesus nor any of His apostles ever had someone fail to be healed and then tell him that it was because of his lack of faith. You see, that someone came to be healed is proof that he believed.</p>
<p>Now, there a few claims of healing (and most are unverified and unverifiable), but by and large, these self-styled faith healers and &#8220;anointed men of God&#8221; huff and puff without delivering on their promises.</p>
<p>Let us draw on some facts from Scriptures and use those to examine whether these men really have God&#8217;s validation the way they want us to believe.</p>
<ol>
<li> Everyone that Jesus ministered to got healed/delivered</li>
<li> Everyone that the apostles ministered to got healed/delivered</li>
<li> Everyone that Old Testament prophets ministered to got healed/delivered</li>
</ol>
<p>But this is not what we see with our self-anointed &#8220;healers&#8221;. If they claim to be &#8220;anointed&#8221; by the same God with the same anointing (and some claim a greater anointing) that Jesus, the apostles and the prophets of the Old were, why are the results so stark different?</p>
<p><strong>Glaring Examples</strong><br />
For example, Kenneth Hagin, regarded as a leading light in the healing ministry,  has ministered to hundreds of people who did not get healed.</p>
<p>Ditto David Oyedepo</p>
<p>Ditto Enoch Adeboye</p>
<p>Ditto Chris Oyakhilome</p>
<p>Ditto Kathryn Khulman</p>
<p>Ditto Benny Hinn</p>
<p>Ditto every single man and woman claiming to be anointed by God with a &#8220;healing anointing&#8221; today.</p>
<p>These modern-day impostors are not even scoring close to 50% in their &#8220;success&#8221; rates. I am being generous by using 50%. Their &#8220;success&#8221; rates are actually much lower, if really all that they claim to be healings really are.</p>
<p>Yes; in God&#8217;s mercy, He grants that a few people be healed at the hands of some of these men. Afterall, God uses even donkeys, cocks and thieves to accomplish His will. It is no hard thing that a handful of people may rightly claim that they got healed at the hands of some of these men and women.</p>
<p>Why is it that the examples of &#8220;anointed&#8221; men that we see in the Bible get 100% results, but someone like Chris Oyakhilome who openly claims to be walking in a greater &#8220;anointing&#8221; &#8211; who claims to have the Spirit &#8220;without measure&#8221; &#8211; is falling far short of that 100% mark?</p>
<p><strong>A Simple answer</strong><br />
Those men and women are not who they claim to be. They are impostors. They are not anointed by God as they claim. They are mere men like the rest of us.</p>
<p>If it is not the same as honey, it is not honey.</p>
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		<title>God needs your permission to get things done on earth</title>
		<link>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/06/29/god-needs-your-permission-to-get-things-done-on-earth/</link>
		<comments>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/06/29/god-needs-your-permission-to-get-things-done-on-earth/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:01:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Yomi, a pastor at Crown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Word of faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[divine authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[false teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[foolishness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fools]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/?p=1000</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yes; God needs your permission to get things done on earth. No; I didn&#8217;t say it. I am only reporting what certain preachers say. It is a concept and teaching that is rooted in the word of faith camp. Every major preacher in that company preaches it. Here&#8217;s an example quote from one of them: [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Yes; God needs your permission to get things done on earth.</p>
<p>No; I didn&#8217;t say it. I am only reporting what certain preachers say. It is a concept and teaching that is rooted in the word of faith camp. Every major preacher in that company preaches it.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s an example quote from one of them:</p>
<blockquote><p>So, even though God can do anything, He can only do what you permit Him to do. If you study the Word of God, you will see why it makes so much sense. </p>
<p>For example, God has done nothing on earth without a human co-operating with Him. He had to find a human. When God for example wanted to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah&#8230; Go ahead and destroy it! No! He was illegal. He had to find a human to give Him access and agreement to release His power. </p>
<p>So, then God had to negotiate with a man in Abraham. They argued for a long time! &#8230;Abraham figured it out. Abraham said, ‘Aha! Okay, so I&#8217;ll tell you what, before I give you permission to touch that city, if I could find 50 men, 40, 30, 10’. He said, ‘I’m dealing, and God had to deal with a man’. And he said, ‘If I could only find one’. God says, ‘You got it! You’re the man! Once you’re satisfied and give me permission I will act’</p></blockquote>
<p>The thing to do here is go back to Scriptures to examine the example used above, and see if this preacher painted an accurate picture. Ready?</p>
<p>The discussion between the Lord and Abraham over Sodom and Gomorrah is found in Genesis 18: 17-33. Now, don&#8217;t be in a hurry; it is a fairly long discussion. But you need to follow it thoroughly.</p>
<blockquote><p>The LORD said, &#8220;Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.&#8221; </p>
<p>Then the LORD said, &#8220;Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.&#8221; So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. </p>
<p>Then Abraham drew near and said, &#8220;Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?&#8221; And the LORD said, &#8220;If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.&#8221; </p>
<p>Abraham answered and said, &#8220;Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, <em>I who am but dust and ashes</em>. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?&#8221; And he said, &#8220;I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.&#8221; </p>
<p>Again he spoke to him and said, &#8220;Suppose forty are found there.&#8221; He answered, &#8220;For the sake of forty I will not do it.&#8221; </p>
<p>Then he said, &#8220;Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.&#8221; He answered, &#8220;I will not do it, if I find thirty there.&#8221; </p>
<p>He said, &#8220;Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.&#8221; He answered, &#8220;For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.&#8221; </p>
<p>Then he said, &#8220;Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.&#8221; He answered, &#8220;For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.&#8221; </p>
<p>And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.</p></blockquote>
<p>First off, we can see that this preacher turned what that passage says on its head. God didn&#8217;t sound like He was looking for permission in this passage. And Abraham clearly sounded like he knew Who was in charge.</p>
<p>He claimed that God and Abraham argued, but where was the argument? There wasn&#8217;t any. The man was respectfully pleading with a Superior. Abraham was so conscious of the Lord&#8217;s authority and position that he referred to himself as &#8220;dust and ashes&#8221;.</p>
<p>Please read that passage again: it wasn&#8217;t God who was negotiating with Abraham; it was Abraham who was <strong>pleading</strong>  with the Lord. Abraham wasn&#8217;t even negotiating. The man was trembling as he tabled each plea (his words shows this).</p>
<p>This preacher has totally misrepresented what happened in this situation, as himself and others like him are known to do.</p>
<p>But, we shall look further at Scriptures to see if indeed the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the God of the Bible, really needs the permission of His creations in order to get things done.</p>
<h3>The God of the Bible</h3>
<p>The Bible is full of descriptions of God, and He is nothing like the god that this preacher and his type serve. Here are a few:</p>
<blockquote><p>Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? (Job 9:12)</p></blockquote>
<p>That&#8217;s the reason why Abraham&#8217;s words were words of trembling, pleading and respect. Abraham was not the flippant, disrespectful character that the preacher portrayed.</p>
<p>The Gentile king, Nebuchadnezzar, has something to teach people who make the kind of grossly faulty claims like this preacher made. After years in the school of hard knocks, the old king said:</p>
<blockquote><p>At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; </p>
<p><strong>All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, &#8220;What have you done?&#8221;</strong> (Dan 4:34-35)</p></blockquote>
<p>None. Not any preacher &#8211; by any title and in any position. Not you. Not me. No-one.</p>
<p>Nebuchadnezzar had learnt the hard way that God was soveriegn, dependent on no-one, needed no-one&#8217;s permission, and sought none.</p>
<p>King  And Jehoshaphat once stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, and proclaimed the awesomeness of the glorious God of the Bible:</p>
<blockquote><p>O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. (2 Chronicles 20:6)</p></blockquote>
<p>Have you heard of anyone negotiating with a King who is far stronger than him? No; you don&#8217;t negotiate. You plead. You submit. You grovel, if necesarry. If you were to stand before such a king, like Abraham, you would call yourself dust, born again or not.</p>
<p>Paul, writing to the Ephesians, had this to say of our God:</p>
<blockquote><p>In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will (Ephesians 1:11)</p></blockquote>
<p>You cannot be working things according to the counsel of your will if you need permission from others; you would be doing things according to the counsel of <em>their</em> wills.</p>
<p>James, writing to believers, gave us this insight to what our attitude before the Lord should be:</p>
<blockquote><p>Come now, you who say, &#8220;Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit&#8221;&#8211; </p>
<p>yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. </p>
<p>Instead you ought to say, &#8220;<strong>If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.</strong>&#8221; As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. (James 4:13-16)</p></blockquote>
<p>Read that and ask yourself again if the Bible teaches that God needs your permission to get things done.</p>
<p>A few other examples from Scriptures are instructive:</p>
<ol>
<li>God decided to wipe out the earth with a flood. He didn&#8217;t seek permission from anyone</li>
<li>God wanted to save Nineveh. He didn&#8217;t ask for any man&#8217;s permission. He commanded Jonah to go preach and when Jonah got smart, the Lord showed him who was boss</li>
<li>When the Lord would save Saul of Tarsus, from whom did He seek permission?</li>
<li>When God would take the Gospel to the Gentiles, He commanded Peter to go. There is no record of a negotiated mission. Thankfully, Peter obeyed.</li>
<li>From whom did God obtain permission to put into effect the plan of redemption? Adam? Eve?</li>
</ol>
<p>Many of our modern-day preachers have abandoned the faith and have invented an inverted gospel where man rules and God serves him. Obedience to the Lord is not a virtue in that gospel. Rather, foot-soldiers are hailed for issuing instructions and granting permission to their Commander-in-Chief. What army operates that way?</p>
<p><em>Only an army of fools</em>.</p>
<p>Scriptures tell us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But men who teach this sort of nonsense have lost it totally. These men have absolutely zero fear of God. They have become foolish and a spectacle to behold.</p>
<p>Not only are they not interested in entering the kingdom; they also woo multitudes to follow them into the depths of darkness that they have sunk.</p>
<p>If you think that God needs your permission to get anything done, you are in more trouble than you can imagine. You are serving a different god, not the God of the Bible.</p>
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		<title>Has the manifestation of Tongues ceased?</title>
		<link>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/06/28/has-the-manifestation-of-tongues-ceased/</link>
		<comments>http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/2010/06/28/has-the-manifestation-of-tongues-ceased/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:49:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Yomi, a pastor at Crown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Pentecostal Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charismatics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pentecostal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tongues]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pressingforthecrown.org/?p=984</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Has the manifestation of tongues ceased? I think that is a wrong question to ask. The valid question to ask is, What does the Bible say about tongues? That question is one that can be answered easilly. Here goes: Like all other spiritual manifestations, tongues is not for private edification but public benefit &#8211; 1 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Has the manifestation of tongues ceased? I think that is a wrong question to ask. The valid question to ask is, What does the Bible say about tongues?</p>
<p>That question is one that can be answered easilly. Here goes:</p>
<ol>
<li>Like all other spiritual manifestations, tongues is not for private edification but public benefit &#8211; 1 Cor 12:7: <em>To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good</em>. <strong>Why then do Pentecostals/Charismatics claim that tongues is  a private prayer language for private edification?</strong></li>
<li>Tongues is one of several spiritual manifestations distributed differently to different members of the Church. A manifestation of tongues is given to this one, a manifestation of prophecy to another &#8211; 1 Cor 12:10: <em>to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues</em>. <strong>Why do Pentecostals/Charismatics teach that every believer is meant to speak in tongues?</strong></li>
<li>Just like any other spiritual manifestation or equipment, not all are used by God in the same way &#8211; <em>1 Cor 12:29-30  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? </em><strong>Again, why do Pentecostals/Charismatics hold the position that all Christians are meant to speak in tongues?</strong></li>
<li>Prophecy edifies the Church more than tongues and so is to be desired more than tongues &#8211; <em>1 Cor 14:4  The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church</em>. <strong>Why, therefore, are Pentecostals/Charismatics so fixated on something that is inferior? Why are they not seeking to prophecy more and get more people edified?</strong></li>
<li>The instruction is to pursue prophecy above tongues &#8211; <em>1 Cor 14:1  Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy</em>. <strong>Why are Pentecostals/Charismatics blatantly disobedient to the God that they claim to serve?</strong></li>
<li>The verse (1 Cor. 14:4) that Pentecostals/Charismatics use to justify using tongues for personal edification actually compares the self-centredness of using tongues for private benefit with the loving posture of seeking to edify the Body via public use of prophecy, but is usually pulled out of context by preachers &#8211; <em>1 Cor 14:2-5 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up</em>. <strong>Why do Pentecostal/Charismatic teachers twist God&#8217;s word this way to justify a self-centred concept, especially when self-centredness is so contrary to the Spirit of Christ?</strong></li>
<li>Tongues is only of benefit to the Church when there is an interpretation &#8211; <em>1 Cor 14:5  Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up</em>. <strong>So why do Pentecostals/Charismatics consistently speak in tongues and most of the time without interpretation? Why are they not interested in the edification of the Church?</strong></li>
<li>In Scriptures, the manifestation of tongues occured to serve as a sign for unbelievers &#8211; <em>1 Cor 14:21-22  In the Law it is written, &#8220;By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.&#8221; Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers</em>. <strong>Why is tongues &#8220;manifested&#8221; among Pentecostals/Charismatics mostly without it serving the same function? Why are they abusing the purpose of tongues?</strong></li>
<li>The use of tongues without interpretation in the presence of unbelievers is equivalent to admitting to being mad &#8211; <em>1 Cor 14:23  If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?</em> <strong>Why are Pentecostals/Charismatics acting like mad people? Why do they keep using tongues without interpretation at public settings?</strong></li>
<li>In the Bible, tongues was always a human language unknown to the speaker but known to at least one other person present &#8211; <em>Acts 2:7-8, 11: And they were amazed and astonished, saying, &#8220;Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? &#8211;we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.&#8221;; 1 Cor 14:10-11: There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me</em>. <strong>Why is it that much of what is spoken as tongues by Pentecostals/Charismatics is gibberish and unintelligible babble; not proper languages?</strong></li>
<li>Everytime there was a manifestation of tongues in the Bible, God supernaturally made sure that at least one interpreter was always present &#8211; someone who understood the language being spoken &#8211; <em>1 Cor 14:27-28  If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God</em>. <strong>Why is this hardly ever the case with Pentecostals/Charismatics?</strong></li>
<li>Like every other spiritual manifestation, tongues is given as the Spirit wills &#8211; <em>1 Cor 12:10-11  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills</em>. <strong>Why are Pentecostals/Charismatics able to speak their &#8216;tongues&#8221; at will &#8211; anytime they choose and for any length of time?</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>Whenever and wherever there is a manifestation of tongues that fit the Biblical profile of an authetic manifestation inspired by the Spirit, we must not shy away from admitting that it is of God. </p>
<p>But until we see such an authentic manifestation, tongues as taught and practiced by Pentecostals/Charismatics is nothing but a sham. It is purely a mental exercise motivated by flesh and selfishness. It is the exact opposite of what an authentic manifestation of the Spirit is.</p>
<p>If you belong to that camp, you are part of this big sham and you need to re-think your position.</p>
<p>May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ grant you understanding.</p>
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