Rees Howells: Intercessor (PDF): http://www.inspirationalchristians.org/downloads/rees-howells-intercessor-ebook.pdf
-- Regarding Page 18 (4th paragraph from the top) in the above PDF file:
We know that Satan can appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). We also know that he is the father of lies (John 8:44) who devises ways to deceive and ensnare us (Ephesians 6:10-11). So, is it any wonder if the devil can prey on our weaknesses to deceive us about spiritual things? That is why we need to love Abba God, rest in God (Isaiah 30:15), meditate on God's Word (Psalm 1:1-3), and look to God for help to obey it (keeping Galatians 3 in mind).
In pages 16-18 in Rees Howells: Intercessor, Rees was being led by God to fully surrender himself to God. This was of God to fully surrender because Jesus Christ said in Luke 9:23-24: "[23] And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. [24] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."
But, on page 18, Rees hears a voice telling him, in essence, that if he doesn't fully surrender to God and choose to only do God's will by 6 o'clock that night, and not a minute past 6, then Rees would never have another chance to choose to fully surrender his will to God. This is not biblical because God is gracious and longsuffering (patiently enduring).
Psalm 86:5 says: "For thou, LORD, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee."
Exodus 34:6 says: "And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,"
Isaiah 41:10 says: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Later, Rees was led to take a fast so he could pray against the enemy, who was trying to disrupt a certain Christian convention. The temptation to eat lunch was strong when his mother offered it and he gave in and had the lunch even though God had called him to do fasting that particular day. Once he was done eating, he felt guilty and fearful.
1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
God doesn't want us to kick ourselves for sin. He just wants us to confess it and forsake it, and move on. But, Rees walked for miles cursing his old nature for breaking the fast. He also wept and wrongfully felt that God wouldn't allow him back into His Presence (close fellowship with God). He needed to read Jeremiah 31:3 -- "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
Then, on page 26 (in the middle of the page), Rees heard a voice tell him that he would be forgiven but that he had to be "punished" for eating when he was asked to fast. His punishment was that he had to hold up his hands and pray from 6 PM to 9 PM. This contradicts 1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 3:18, Romans 8:1, 1 John 3:5, Romans 3:28, Romans 3:21-31,
Romans 4:1-8., The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), and other scriptures. (Righteousness is imputed to us without works. Romans 4:6-7.)
God does not punish His children. Look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. Also, Jesus took the penalty for our sins upon himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). Don't misunderstand chastisement or correction. Abba God corrects His children when they are in error, so that they will realize they need to repent from sin (Hebrews 12:5-10), and so that they can turn back to God and partake of His holiness (Hebrews 12:10). When they confess their sin and repent, they are forgiven. There is no punishment or penalty for their sin because Jesus took the penalty for our sins upon Himself. If we confess our sins, Abba God forgives us. Again, God does not make us work for Him, nor receive any punishment for our sins, because Jesus took that punishment upon Himself.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
[Note: Justified means that we are declared righteous "just as if I never sinned".]
Romans 3:21-31
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
_ _ _ _ _ _
God's Word also says how God is a compassionate, patient, kind, loving Father who desires us to have close fellowship and communion with Him. See Exodus 34:6, Psalm 86:5, Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 18:24 (b.), 1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Corinthians 1:2-3, John 17:22-23, Jeremiah 31:3, Psalm 103:8 and 103:13, 1 John 1:9, Jeremiah 31:3, 1 John 1:6-7, Isaiah 46:3-4, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43, 1 John 1:3, Isaiah 49:10-16, 1 John 4:16-18, Zephaniah 3:17, and so on.
Look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 to see how God treats those who repent. He doesn't punish them. He doesn't threaten them. Rather, God welcomes them home with open arms and has a celebration.
Zephaniah 3:17 tells how God greatly rejoices over us with great joy and love.
Zephaniah 3:17 says: "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."
1 Corinthians 1:9 says: "[9] God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."
1 John 1:3 says: "[3] That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
Psalm 103:13 says: "[13] Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him."
Psalm 103:8 says: "[8] The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
2 Corinthians 1:2-3 says: "[2] Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;"
In John 17:22-23 Jesus Christ says this to His Father: "[22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: [23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."
In the last part of verse 23, Jesus said in essence that God the Father loves us (who He created) in the same way that God the Father loves Jesus (God the Son). And, Abba God speaks in His Word of loving others as we would love ourselves (Leviticus 19:18), because God loves us the way He loves Himself.
In Jeremiah 31:3, Abba God says through the writer that God loves us with everlasting love and has drawn us to Himself with His lovingkindness.
Jeremiah 31:3: "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
Isaiah 43 is a very encouraging scripture passage. Regarding verse 3, the Ethiopians, Egyptians, and people of Seba at that time in history were enemies of Israel. But, God knew that many of them would later turn to him.
Pay attention to how God encourages us by saying He created us, redeemed us, called us by name, said we are His, promised to always be with us no matter what, said He is our Savior, said we are precious in His sight, that He loves us, that we should not fear because He is with us, and He will bring us to Him.
Isaiah 43:1-5
1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
___________________________________________
- This can be a helpful book with powerful scripture references and inspiring examples from the life of a man who desired to serve God and do God's best will for his life. He saw miracles happen in answer to prayer and the course of World War 2 changed by way of his and others' prayers. This is a book to seek God through, but it does have errors, as most Christian books do. So, we Christians need to be Bereans (Acts 17:10-11). Use caution and discernment when reading this book.
I am certain that not everything Norman Grubb or Rees Howells said is true or biblically correct. Rees depended much on a voice he heard, but he needed to meditate on God's Word (the Bible) more.
- When we are grounded in God's Word (Acts 17:10-11), and as we seek to know God as our Abba Father in a personal relationship (Galatians 4:6-7), we will have better discernment to know what is of God and what isn't. Abba God does speak to us by His Spirit (John 16:13), but He does not tell us to do anything that is contradictory to His Nature as revealed through the Bible. God does not teach us to perform for Him or earn anything from Him (Romans 4:1-8). God does not teach us to go through agony in prayer (John 14:27). He gives us peace (John 14:27, John 16:33, John 20:19-23).
- There are more errors than I have been able to write about. So, again, we Christians need to be Bereans (Acts 17:10-11). I myself have been misled at times, so I offer this article with a desire to point out why God is a loving, caring, compassionate, patient, gracious, longsuffering Father. And, I offer this article to point out truth from God's Word (the Bible).
 |
| (Click for source.) |
We know that Satan can appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). We also know that he is the father of lies (John 8:44) who devises ways to deceive and ensnare us (Ephesians 6:10-11). So, is it any wonder if the devil can prey on our weaknesses to deceive us about spiritual things? That is why we need to love Abba God, rest in God (Isaiah 30:15), meditate on God's Word (Psalm 1:1-3), and look to God for help to obey it (keeping Galatians 3 in mind).
In pages 16-18 in Rees Howells: Intercessor, Rees was being led by God to fully surrender himself to God. This was of God to fully surrender because Jesus Christ said in Luke 9:23-24: "[23] And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. [24] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."
But, on page 18, Rees hears a voice telling him, in essence, that if he doesn't fully surrender to God and choose to only do God's will by 6 o'clock that night, and not a minute past 6, then Rees would never have another chance to choose to fully surrender his will to God. This is not biblical because God is gracious and longsuffering (patiently enduring).
Psalm 86:5 says: "For thou, LORD, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee."
Exodus 34:6 says: "And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,"
Isaiah 41:10 says: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Later, Rees was led to take a fast so he could pray against the enemy, who was trying to disrupt a certain Christian convention. The temptation to eat lunch was strong when his mother offered it and he gave in and had the lunch even though God had called him to do fasting that particular day. Once he was done eating, he felt guilty and fearful.
1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
God doesn't want us to kick ourselves for sin. He just wants us to confess it and forsake it, and move on. But, Rees walked for miles cursing his old nature for breaking the fast. He also wept and wrongfully felt that God wouldn't allow him back into His Presence (close fellowship with God). He needed to read Jeremiah 31:3 -- "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
Then, on page 26 (in the middle of the page), Rees heard a voice tell him that he would be forgiven but that he had to be "punished" for eating when he was asked to fast. His punishment was that he had to hold up his hands and pray from 6 PM to 9 PM. This contradicts 1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 3:18, Romans 8:1, 1 John 3:5, Romans 3:28, Romans 3:21-31,
Romans 4:1-8., The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), and other scriptures. (Righteousness is imputed to us without works. Romans 4:6-7.)
God does not punish His children. Look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. Also, Jesus took the penalty for our sins upon himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). Don't misunderstand chastisement or correction. Abba God corrects His children when they are in error, so that they will realize they need to repent from sin (Hebrews 12:5-10), and so that they can turn back to God and partake of His holiness (Hebrews 12:10). When they confess their sin and repent, they are forgiven. There is no punishment or penalty for their sin because Jesus took the penalty for our sins upon Himself. If we confess our sins, Abba God forgives us. Again, God does not make us work for Him, nor receive any punishment for our sins, because Jesus took that punishment upon Himself.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
[Note: Justified means that we are declared righteous "just as if I never sinned".]
Romans 3:21-31
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
_ _ _ _ _ _
Look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 to see how God treats those who repent. He doesn't punish them. He doesn't threaten them. Rather, God welcomes them home with open arms and has a celebration.
Zephaniah 3:17 tells how God greatly rejoices over us with great joy and love.
Zephaniah 3:17 says: "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."
1 Corinthians 1:9 says: "[9] God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."
1 John 1:3 says: "[3] That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
Psalm 103:13 says: "[13] Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him."
Psalm 103:8 says: "[8] The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
2 Corinthians 1:2-3 says: "[2] Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;"
In John 17:22-23 Jesus Christ says this to His Father: "[22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: [23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."
In the last part of verse 23, Jesus said in essence that God the Father loves us (who He created) in the same way that God the Father loves Jesus (God the Son). And, Abba God speaks in His Word of loving others as we would love ourselves (Leviticus 19:18), because God loves us the way He loves Himself.
In Jeremiah 31:3, Abba God says through the writer that God loves us with everlasting love and has drawn us to Himself with His lovingkindness.
Jeremiah 31:3: "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
Isaiah 43 is a very encouraging scripture passage. Regarding verse 3, the Ethiopians, Egyptians, and people of Seba at that time in history were enemies of Israel. But, God knew that many of them would later turn to him.
Pay attention to how God encourages us by saying He created us, redeemed us, called us by name, said we are His, promised to always be with us no matter what, said He is our Savior, said we are precious in His sight, that He loves us, that we should not fear because He is with us, and He will bring us to Him.
Isaiah 43:1-5
1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
___________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment