November 14th, 2022
Monday, November 14th, 2022
My name is Larry Jones. I want to share with you a very special moment in which I was thoroughly impacted, blessed and fortified. This occurred recently, Monday November 14th, 2022. As I share this significant happening that came my way via a few words from a newsletter article, I am confident you will also be impacted. Most certainly you will be challenged, perhaps as never before.
The article concerns “the anointing” and was authored by Curry Blake, a name familiar to many. Curry believes and teaches, “ALL believers are anointed”. Not a few, not some, but all, and this includes you. A little while ago he had “asked the Lord why well-known ministers who were adept and skillful in the Scriptures couldn’t see the truth.”
Curry is the overseer of John G. Lake Ministries. JGLM is possibly the largest and most successful healing ministry in the entire world. I have so much respect for this brother and so highly recommend his extensive teachings about releasing the power of Christ’s healing and deliverance onto humanity.
The article continues, “His [the Lord’s] answer was very quick and to the point: ‘Some see it and ignore it because it makes them needed and “special” (job security). Others see it and ignore it because they have built their ministry on being “anointed” and they cannot change for fear of losing their followers.’ ”
It was Curry’s second question to the Lord that, to me, was most relevant: “Should I leave it alone or keep hammering away at it?” Why was this inquiry to Jesus so important to me? Because….
I very often, in my postings and on my larryjones.ca website, write things people don’t like to hear. I occasionally ask myself…. Am I being divisive? Hurtful? Inflammatory?
My writings are directed, mostly, to evangelicals who are unaware of the detrimental consequences of evangelicalism. Generally speaking, not only do they not know, they don’t want to know. Like the catholic and like the mormon, they resist the very truths that can set them free from religious bondage.
The Pharisees were offended because Jesus’ disciples did not observe the many traditions “of the elders”. Evangelicals have a similar loyalty to their many traditions. Challenging evangelical traditions is threatening because much of their life is wrapped around the peculiarities of evangelicalism. And they have invested much money to sustain and promote this religion. Can you see why Curry’s question to the Lord – “Should I leave it alone or keep hammering away at it?” – was so relevant to me?
I expose the folly and destruction of evangelical “tradition[s] of men” (Mark 7:8). Jesus: “You have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.” (Matthew.15:3) That’s what traditions, “commandments of men”, do; they make the “commandment[s] of God of no effect.” (Jesus: “In vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”)
The pharisees considered their corrupt traditions holy, and were quick to censure opposing perspectives; evangelical religionists, those dominating powerful pulpits, likewise consider their traditions above suspicion and challenge. (A word of caution to my brothers and sisters in Christ….. religionists beget religionists!!)
In fact, evangelicalism reeks of non-Biblical traditions passed down by evangelical religionists over many centuries. You must know there is very little commonality between an evangelical christian (one who has given himself over to evangelical instructions and precedents) and a New Testament christian (one who has given himself over to New Testament instructions and precedents).
Curry’s article continues with the response of the Lord (emphasis is mine): “IF YOU LEAVE IT ALONE YOU ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN THOSE WHO KNOW AND DO NOTHING. IF YOU LEAVE IT ALONE YOU ARE REJECTING THE TRUTH I’VE SHOWN YOU.”
Wow!! Those words to my brother were words to me. If I do not relate to others the truths that I believe the Lord Jesus has related to me I dishonour the very One I call “Lord, Lord”. (Jesus: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’, and do not do the things which I say?”) My silence regarding the lordship of Christ verses the lordship of man (the lordship of religionists) would mean that I “am no different than those who know and do nothing.” And if I “leave it alone [I am] rejecting the truth I’ve shown you.” Ouch, ouch and ouch!
Curry Blake’s greatest challenge to christians seeking healing is to undo the damage that pulpit-people and writers have caused. He once said to his audience something like this (I am paraphrasing): “If you want to be healed, listen to what is being taught in most churches and do the opposite!” Our brother confirms that so many can be wrong. Yes, millions and millions and millions of evangelicals can be in error, serious error, and assume they are possessors of truth. Does not catholicism and mormonism and every other ism verify this?
(NOTE: The translation from my language (English) to yours is very good but not perfect. Please excuse any and all imperfections.)
Before I confront some very harsh realities about your religion (evangelicalism), I want to share my heart, especially to those who oppose my challenging postings. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” It is also true that out of the abundance of the heart the writer writes. My heart is far, very far, from pure. However….
However, after examining my quite defective heart, I can declare that Jesus is still my “first love”. Unlike almost every person who impacts your christianity, I am not religious; I serve Jesus Christ and no man, including myself. My determination is to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit whom He has sent to each one of us. I do what “the Spirit of truth” says to do, say what He wants Me to say and write what He wants me to write. Ever before me is “the judgement seat of Christ”. So thanks for your tolerance (and prayers?). I now continue….
Evangelicalism is doctrinally unsound in every matter that makes an evangelical an evangelical. I am not suggesting evangelicals do not also have truth – they certainly do – but these truths do not make him/her an evangelical; “commandments of men” do that. So now…. please allow me to share some of many such “commandments of men” that have weakened your relationship with the Lord Jesus. Okay? Just four of dozens of harmful (devastating, destructive, anti-Bible) evangelical traditions….
One. The division of Christ’s church into two parts, the ‘clergy’ (or ‘ministerial’) and the ‘laity’. (Said another way, pulpit-people and pew-people. Said another way, the salaried and the non-salaried. Said another way, the special and not-so-special.)
Two. The awful evangelical tithe.
The salaried pulpit-preachers stretch and twist and wring Scripture to convince the non-salaried to entrust ten percent of their income to them. Is there New Testament precedent for tithing of one’s income? No. Did Jesus ever instruct any person to tithe their income? No. How about Paul or John or Peter? No. How about the Old Testament…. is there an example of anyone tithing their income? No. Well, who gave the pastor permission to collect tithes? Evangelicalism, not Jesus, gave the pastor permission to collect tithes. I call it embezzlement.
I call the evangelical tithe ‘awful’ because it robs from Christ’s great commission. And it is harmful to one’s relationship with Jesus. Jesus: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Where your money (treasure) goes, so goes your heart (your loyalty, your affection). If evangelicalism has captured your money, evangelicalism has captured you. Understand, my brothers and sisters?
Three. Almost total disregard for Christ’s great commission. (Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”)
I ask people, “Do you know what the 10/40 Window is?” Almost always the answer is no. The 10/40 Window is a section of land between the 10th and 40th degree north latitude which includes North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. About 70% of the world’s population live there, most whom have never heard the gospel. Question: How can it be that most evangelicals, each of whom has been entrusted with Christ’s great commission, have never heard of the 10/40 Window where most people in the world live and have not received the gospel? Blame that on evangelicalism and the evangelical’s subservience to pulpit-people.
One report I read says that as little as one percent of all funds directed toward world missions reaches the 10/40 Window. Another report says one and a half percent. That’s one percent (or one and a half percent) of leftover change after church expenses. I calculated that if one puts $100 into one of evangelical’s millions of Sunday’s collection plates the 10/40 Window would receive a nickel! Yes, I said a nickel! (But maybe I miscalculate…. maybe it’s a dime, maybe even 15 cents.)
Would you agree that Jesus is always financing His great commission through His people? If so, where does that money go? How has your money been spent? Remember, you must one day give an account to Lord Jesus how you spent the money He entrusted to you. (1 Cor. 4:2: “It is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”)
Now I am going to make a statement that may shock you, so I suggest you brace yourself. Okay? Are you ready? Here it goes…. In my opinion the terrible squandering of money within evangelicalism is responsible for the damnation of millions of people. Millions are suffering (at this VERY moment!!) an indescribable anguish because evangelicals have been coerced to entrust a portion of their income to evangelicals instead of being guided by the Holy Spirit. Is this an exaggeration? I think not. Most likely it’s an understatement – perhaps I should have said billions of people instead of millions.
Four. Monetization of God’s truths and blessings.
The words of Jesus, “Freely you have received, freely give”, are rarely, almost never, quoted. The Amplified Bible says it this way, “Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give.” All translations from BibleGateway give similar translations. Freely means freely. But your religion (evangelicalism) sanctions the selling of everything – music, testimonies, literature, concerts, conventions and christian service.
When trying to determine what’s right and what isn’t I sometimes ask myself, “What would Paul do?” (Paul: “Imitate me as I also imitate Christ.”) That’s a great question. Can you imagine this apostle selling his writings? Passing a collection plate after healing the sick? Sending out appeals for financial support? Accepting a salary? Soliciting funds to build a building? If Paul wouldn’t, neither will I. Paul lived by contributions (and his own labour). I can’t think of one example in the entire Bible of someone selling Bible-truths or christian service. Can you?
So that’s it – one, two, three, four. I could go on…. five, six, fifteen, twenty. You must understand that evangelicalism only makes sense to the one who realizes that evangelicalism and the Bible have nothing in common. Search the Bible for such words as ‘denominations’, or ‘membership’ or ‘reverend’ or ‘board of elders’ or ‘evangelicalism’ or ‘church family’ or ‘home church’ or ‘senior pastor’ or ‘salary’ or ‘church service’ (and many etceteras) and you will not find them.
Jesus said to the Father, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” Tell me, what “word” was Jesus referring to? What word (today) sanctifies? What word (today) is the Father’s word? Has the Father’s word changed? Is the Father’s word less sanctifying than it was two millennia ago?
Jesus said, “Whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man.” Christ’s words were the Father’s words. The wise build their christianity on those words. The foolish build their christianity on substitute words, “tradition[s] of men”. Who gave pulpit-people permission to add to or take away from God’s word? How can stretched and twisted words sanctify (purify, consecrate) God’s people?
Jesus said to “the church of Ephesus”: “I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” Jesus was their first (primary) love, and then He wasn’t. Jesus sat on the throne of their lives and then He was deposed. The Ephesians started off as followers of Christ and soon became followers of each other. Now…. examine YOUR heart; could Jesus say those same words to you and yours: “I have this against you, that you have left your first love”?
Now brace yourself again because I am going to make another hard-to-swallow statement. After fifty years of observation (I was born again in 1972) I have come to this conclusion: As many as ninety-five percent of North American born-again christians – those over one or two years old in the Lord – have abandoned Jesus as “first love”! Yes, evangelicals (etcetera) certainly love Jesus, but they have come to love something or someone more. And this certainly includes pulpit-people and public renowns; their speech gives them away.
The most important question you can ask yourself is, “Is Jesus MY first love?” If you cannot say an emphatic yes, then I suggest you do exactly what Jesus told the Ephesians to do: “REPENT”. And by an act of the free will God has given, RECOMMIT your life to Jesus Christ with deeper fervour and with much more understanding then when you first embraced Him. And then REFORM your life. Commit yourself to the Bible. No more shadowing religionists. From now on you build your christianity on the Father’s sanctifying words, His Bible. (“Sanctify them by Your truth.”)
You are a New Covenant christian, a covenant ratified by “the blood of the Lamb”. (John: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”) How does a New Covenant person live? A New Covenant person lives by the teachings/standard/guidance revealed in the New Testament through Jesus, Paul and others.
Before you is a better life. You may not achieve that better life but it is there for the overcoming christian. And before you, off in the distance, is a gratifying celebration at the judgement seat of Christ where you will be rewarded for obedience. 2 Corinthians 5:10: “We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
I suggest you read this composition a second and third time. It is so important you understand this. You can have a new start, a fresh beginning! You will become a soul-winner. (Jesus: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”) You will influence your friends to follow Christ instead of religionists. (As religionists beget religionists, so disciples beget disciples.) Your entire eternity will be much, much richer. (Jesus: “Lay up for yourselves [eternal] treasures in heaven.”) Above all, you will become much better acquainted with the very Son of God!…. the polestar of heaven!…. the “Lord of lords and King of kings”!
And now, one more thing. I heartily invite you to visit my library of books and articles and videos, located at www.larryjones.ca. Why? Because if you make a sincere decision to return to “first love”, if you place yourself under the direct lordship of Jesus Christ, if you are determined to remove the religious paraphernalia that binds evangelicals to evangelicalism, you just might encounter strong disapproval of evangelicalism’s many officers. My material will strengthen and encourage you and help you stay focussed on Jesus. (Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is staid on You.”) But what are my qualifications to speak into your life? Bear with me as I list them….
Like Paul, I have been a serious christian for many years. More important, like Paul (“Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.”) and unlike perhaps every preacher/teacher in your christianity, I am not attached to a religion. Like Paul, I have never attended a seminary. Like Paul, I daily pursue Christ. (“That I may know Him.”) Like Paul, I don’t want your money. (“I kept myself from being burdensome to you.”) Like Paul, I do not seek a following. (“Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?”) Like Paul, I preach Jesus Christ. (“I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”) Like Paul, I believe in “one another” ministry. (“Teaching and admonishing one another.”)
Again, my website is www.larryjones.ca
Note: I sincerely believe the Lord Jesus wants this summons to personal revival to reach christians throughout the entire world. You can help. I get thousands of LIKEs but comparatively few SHAREs. LIKEs are encouraging, but SHAREs are needed. Suggestion: Ask Lord Jesus (Jesus IS your Lord, isn’t He?) if He wants you to SHARE this article. Okay?
Note: Paul never asked for money but he did ask for prayer. Most ministries – from local churches to widespread public ministries – don’t ask for prayer but they ask for money. Like Paul, I never ask for money, but I do covet your prayers. About 2-3 years ago I was suddenly struck with a harsh ailment whereby I had to crawl to the bathroom. I have never fully recovered.
I am 78 years old. I live in Kelowna, BC, Canada. Jesus Christ is my “first love”. Sometimes I am so feeble I cannot properly carry out the assignments Lord Jesus has given me, including calling christians of all nations back to “first love” and plundering satan’s kingdom of millions (yes millions!) of souls. So I humbly request your prayers for healing, for strength, for health (Oh, to be healthy again!) and for longevity…. just a few sincere words directed to our loving Father, a few seconds of your time. Thank you!!
Ephesians 6:24: “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.”