Derek Ott

Based on my experience and vantage point, this is no surprise. It’s nothing new.

What is sobering to me is the utter lack of discernment married to leadership that appears to not have a culture of honor, but a culture of coverup…all in the name not judging. But the Bible tells us to judge prophecy, to evaluate character, and to prove all things.

I Corinthians 2:15, 14:26-33
I Thessalonians 5:19-22
I Timothy 3

Yes, prophecy should edify, encourage, and exhort. Does this mean every high-profile pastor can only be an inspirational-speaker-hope-dealer? These smiling prophets that want to just be positive at the expense of teaching the whole council of God are hurting the Church. How long will God’s people put up with it?

Where are the true shepherds and the apostolic leadership that corrects, teaches, and protects the sheep? II Timothy 3:16

Why is the charismatic, revival-culture so enamored with hype and the spectacular? If it glitters, surely it’s gold! What absurdity! We should absolutely be hungry for God, pursue Jesus and the power of the Spirit. But it’s impossible to do this without prayer, being grounded in the Word, and being plugged into a local expression of church. Biblical illiteracy is a plague.

Even if Winger is half wrong, which is very unlikely, the fact that there is no obvious denouncing of such a false prophet or public warnings given by highly visible leaders is a huge problem and a disgrace.

“Indeed, there are wicked scoundrels among my people. They lie in wait like bird catchers hiding in ambush. They set deadly traps to catch people. Like a cage filled with the birds that have been caught, their houses are filled with the gains of their fraud and deceit. That is how they have gotten so rich and powerful. That is how they have grown fat and sleek. There is no limit to the evil things they do. They do not plead the cause of the fatherless in such a way as to win it. They do not defend the rights of the poor. The prophets prophesy lies. The priests exercise power by their own authority. And my people love to have it this way. But they will not be able to help you when the time of judgment comes!”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭5‬:‭26‬-‭28‬, ‭31‬ ‭NET‬‬

The skeletons in Bethel's closet are now going to speak How Shawn Bolz and his victims sent me down the rabbit hole to find generations of fakery, abuse, lies, and Cover-up Culture. Tons of evidence tons of names....

This Christmas season we celebrate the coming of the Word of God made flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s not a baby anymore. He is on the throne and He is active. He is the God of peace!

Our prayer for you is that you will experience His joy, His presence, and His peace.

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

How is it possible that God’s people teach the wisdom of God to ancient, fallen, divine sons of God that rule over nations?

Perspective. Revelation. That’s how.

Though we are temporal, mortal, and made from dust, we have something…and know something they should have had and should have known; that our Father is good. They were in His very presence and couldn’t see it. They rebelled.

Through victory and temporary defeats, through healing and sufferings, through disappointments and prayers answered, we still hope. We still believe. We will always rejoice in Jesus no matter what comes or has come. In our weakness we still know God is faithful.

Therefore we will rejoice and always praise Him. We will give thanks in all things. As you give thanks, know that your gratefulness is profound and is teaching principalities and powers the manifold wisdom of God.

Put your thinking cap on…

Foreknowledge does not equal predetermination.

“David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” Then David said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will surrender you.” Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭23‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

David asked the Lord if Saul would pursue him, and if the men in the city would give him up to Saul. God, knowing all the possibilities and having all foreknowledge basically said, “Yep”

So David having been informed by God regarding what would happen, got out of dodge and then nothing happened!

Think about that!

Foreknowledge does not equal predetermination.

You never know who you’ll run into doing the will of God; old friends with deep history, and amazing new acquaintances that feel like family.

Such a pleasure to visit with Anthony Earl and Greg Howse.

What a blessing to meet Thamo Naidoo for the first time. Being in Chicago made it extra special. A big shout out and thanks to Vees Haripersad for helping make this happen!

I have just finished reading the latest book by John Alley, “The Testing of Apostles”, the second time. It is difficult to express in words what this book means to me. I have personally been involved in what has been popularly termed apostolic-prophetic ministry for over thirty years. So my review is written from a practitioner’s perspective.

For years have I have had the awareness that all fivefold ministry is active and for today, including the reality and ministry of apostles. It has never ceased. Yet, for decades I have been unsatisfied with the explanation and definitions laid out in popular literature or conferences. The very term “apostolic” has come to mean, (at least in the Western context), more or less a leadership style or a leadership mindset. Sometimes it means something akin to a glorified missionary or church planter. The term “apostolic”, in some circles, has been contrasted with another popular term also used to also describe a specific leadership style called, “pastoral”. Hence, apostolic is good and pastoral is bad. Obviously, an egregiously simplistic and inaccurate description.

What I am trying to get at is that the author, I believe by God’s grace, has recaptured and redefined who and what an apostle is, what an apostle does, and what should be meant, biblically by the term “apostolic”. Moreover, great lengths are made to describe what true apostles are not and why we should even care.

I am finally deeply satisfied. I feel the fear of the Lord and a great appreciation of Christ’s work in the earth today every time I read this book. My heart gets filled with hope for the future of the Body of Christ, and I rejoice at the glimpse I’ve been given to what the Church will look like through the profound insights of the scriptural truths described in this book. To know the long process of testing that Jesus brings his chosen servants through before granting them real apostolic authority and power, and to be aware how the Church should test and w**d out false apostles has brought a great comfort and assurance to me personally.

Get it on Amazon ⬇️
https://a.co/d/44Ae9j