Leaving Beyond – Grounded In Scripture

“It is a fearful thing to ascribe to man that which belongs to God alone. Let the saints tremble at such blasphemy.” ~ John Owen

What if she was wrong?

She loved you. She spoke with such tenderness, and her very presence radiated with such peace and light that you just believed that what she said must be true.

When you were discouraged, her words were water that refreshed your thirsty soul. She spoke with such confidence that it stirred in you a confidence that you wanted to believe could be true even for you, though as much as she believed it, and as much as she believed it for you, you still struggled to believe it for yourself. You wanted it to be true, even if not for you, for her.

You began to survive off her words. She spoke “life” into you when you felt only death. She spoke hope in you when you felt only despair. You began to lean in to hear her speak words into you.

She seemed to have a direct line to God and heard Him speak to her with such regularity as no prophet in Scripture ever heard God. She spoke on behalf of God with such regularity that you’re convinced she prophesied even in her sleep.

She prophesied over you. She spoke life into you. She spoke declarations with such authority that you were convinced all of hell trembled at her words. She spoke with such authority that her words did not return void but went out to achieve and accomplish all they were sent to do. She was anointed such as she was extraordinary. She was no regular Christian. She was anointed with an anointing ordinary Christians stand in awe of. They flock to her and sit at her feet to hear from her and receive from her what they cannot get apart from her. She teaches them her ways so that they too can carry such an anointing, such power, such authority.

Friend, my heart is ravished within writing these words. There are so many who are so deceived by such evil teachings of Word-Faith, Prosperity Gospel and NAR that you and I “know her”! She’s the prayer group leader, the pastor’s wife, the Women’s Ministry director, the Sunday School teacher, the Bible Study teacher, the small group leader. She’s your aunt, mother, grandmother. She’s your neighbor, local business owner, missions trip organizer. Maybe, she’s you.

When she’s spoken of, she is placed at such prominence as only belongs to Jesus. When you hear of her, it is as you expect those words to be attributed to God alone, but they are spoken of her. The Holy Spirit, who it is said guides us in truth and does not speak of Himself but of Christ, is spoken of very much in regard to her and is always pointing to her—her words, her authority, her anointing.

Oh, does it grieve your heart to hear God so blasphemed? Attributes belonging only to God being ascribed to man.

How do we not tremble when those who are mere men are venerated as if they are in the place of Christ? How do we have no fear when mere man dares speak words on behalf of God that He has not spoken?

We have one Lord, one Savior. We need no other. No need to apply.

As influential as she is, if she is deceived, then you are in danger. Follow not her ways. Call her to repent. If she does not, do not be led astray by what has deceived her.

Seek truth. Desire truth. Test all things according to sound doctrine. Stand firm.

Grace and Peace, y’all
Soli Deo Gloria

April J. Buchanan