SNAKES IN THE GRASS

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR PREACHER: FULL EXPOSURE IS COMING

I’m so glad I never had the popularity and platform Mike Bickle had. I’m so glad I’m not a mega pastor of a mega church or that people would’ve made some celebrity out of me. I’m so glad the Lord never allowed me to rise to any kind of ministry prominence. I’m afraid if He had, I would’ve ceased to be a man after His own heart. In fact, many years ago, the Lord told me that.

Often we do not know what we are asking the Lord for. He withholds some things from us because of His love and protection. We are not ready for many things. As a younger minister when I prayed and asked God for such things He enlightened my understanding by showing me that. Ministry popularity is an addiction for many. What lessons there are to learn from scoundrels and scandals!

Mike Bickle is still trying to preserve the “prophetic history” of his ministry. If this is true as has been reported, what a sad state to be in. That even after these allegations of sexual immorality and abuse…even after hurting so many people…even after misrepresenting the Lord Jesus Christ…even after mishandling the word of God…this man wants to preserve the ministry’s prophetic history?! What?! This is the awful depths of a man addicted not to Jesus, as many thought, but to “ministry”. I’m telling you it’s a representation and an example of what exists on a much larger scale.

TIME TO CLEANSE THE TEMPLE

These things must be exposed so that the temple of God is cleansed. Why? So that when judgement hits the world, we are separate and His wrath won’t affect us in that way. But instead, we will display His glory for all to see. There will be a great harvest from this future judgement that is coming, and now is. But before that, there will be many more casualties (judgement).

The judgement that came upon Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the Holy Ghost is a widespread problem today. Sadly, many preachers lie like they did. “Well, why aren’t they being judged in the same way?” some may ask. Simply for two reasons:

1. Because of God’s mercy and long-suffering. Many people would be dying, even right in our churches, if that sort of judgement manifested right now. There is so much sin in the Church today that if God’s judgement was unleashed there may not be enough graveyards to bury the dead.

2. Secondly, there is very little glory in the Church today. Judgement is in proportion to the glory that is manifested. In the beginning of the Church age the early glory was pure and heavy. No sin could stand in it. That is the reason Ananias and Sapphira were zapped (no irreverence intended). This terrible judgement caused the fear of the Lord and His power and glory to increase even more (read Acts 5).

This concept puts a different light on the Mike Bickle incident. It should awaken us all to righteousness, especially popular celebrity preachers and those with big platforms that have made ministry their idol. This recent MB scandal can also be seen as an act of mercy, not only for the man’s soul, but so that the fear of the Lord can increase in the body of Christ, as well as His power and glory.

DO NOT MAKE MEN FAMOUS

We cannot exalt man. You are in danger, preacher, when all men speak well of you. This discernment has lacked in many well-meaning ministers. For example, I remember the Todd Bentley fiasco back in 2008? when well known popular and prominent ministers prophesied over Todd and offered grandiose commendations, and in fact, declared his ministry would birth global revival and usher in the coming of Jesus. And the man was living as a pervert!

Shortly thereafter he divorced his wife, married another, and was found guilty of pedophelia and all kinds of sexual deviance. How could these prominent men miss it so badly and lack such discernment to promote this guy on a national stage? And what about the large masses of people that are submitted to these prominent leaders?

Do you see what I mean? Do you see the vicious cycle of the multiplicity of people that are affected by such leaders lacking discernment. Scripture declares that leaders and teachers are under stricter judgement. The leaven they produce leavens entire lumps. What a thorough cleansing the temple of God needs in this hour when its own leaders lack discernment and are failing miserably in leading the sheep to pure waters!

YOU’RE TOO NEGATIVE

I had a guy private message me the other day and tell me that I’m too negative when I write such things. According to him then, much of the Bible is too negative. I told him that much of the Bible’s content is correction, reroof, and rebuke, and then I offered him these verses:

“Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to SHOW PEOPLE IN WHAT WAY THEIR LIVES ARE WRONG] and convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, and will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.” (2 Tim. 4:2-4 -AMPC)

We are living right smack dab in the depths of these verses in 21st century America and the world. Warnings should be at all-time high. Love warns. Love judges righteously. Love speaks the truth. Love offers full counsel. And yes, sometimes love reproves and rebukes.

THE DAYS OF NOAH

We are living in the days of Noah.

Would it have been appropriate just prior to the flood of judgement that was poured out in Noah’s day for him to be offering people nice sugar-coated messages on living your best life now? Would it have been appropriate to offer them some entertainment, and some light off-color humor so they could laugh and feel good about coming to church? Can you even picture Noah swinging his hips from the ark’s platform while pointing his finger at people and telling them that God has a money miracle for them, if they would only sow a generous seed to his ministry?

LET’S REPENT OF EVERYTHING THAT MISREPRESENTS JESUS

The only thing stopping full exposure of everyone’s sins is God’s mercy and grace. Some of you are living in sin. You’re watching porn. You’re lusting after other women. You’re flirting with Delilah or Samson. You don’t love your spouse like Christ. Your family is out of order. Your children are unruly. Your teens are no longer serving God because of you. You love the world’s pleasures. Some of you watch filthy films and listen to filthy language because you say you love the plot. That’s why you even cuss yourself while mentioning the Name of Jesus. It’s filtered into your soul. Some of you are winebibbers and beer guzzlers. You say you drink socially to relax you. You keep making excuses, but one day you’ll cause a little one to stumble, and you’ll damn yourself. You’ve actually become an enemy of God.

Some of you are full of bitterness and unforgiveness. You feed you flesh and starve your spirit, and that’s why you don’t have overcoming power. Don’t blame the devil. You’re making poor choices.

Am I being too negative?

This is really God’s mercy trying to save your soul and make your crooked paths straight before it’s too late, and you become another casualty like so many.

LET’S JUDGE OURSELVES

Let’s all judge ourselves thoroughly so we won’t be judged. Let’s all repent of every word, thought, motive, and deed contrary to the Word of God and the love of Christ. As a minister I went right to work on myself after the MB scandal. I am making adjustments. I am judging myself. I don’t want any public exposure of any hidden sin, no matter how small it may be. All sin starts as a seed. Cut if off now. But you see, God already knows and sees everything. All things are open and naked before Him. Let’s live pure in His sight. Depart from iniquity.

Become a disciple and go after Jesus. Feed your spirit and starve your flesh and you’ll have overcoming power. The Lord knows those who are His. Prove you are His.

Love you all.

Bert Farias' books are forerunners to personal holiness, the move of God and the return of the Lord. They also combat the departure from the faith and the turning away from the truth we are seeing in our day. His recent five-book bundle, written under a fresh anointing, is a forerunner of what the Lord is doing in His church today. His most read books are Cleansing The Temple and The Tumultous 2020s & Beyond. All

his books are available on Amazon and this website.