WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

LAST WEEK, I said that I might say a little about CULTS. A cult is usually a practice or way of life built around a personality. There are Christian Cults, and there are cults built around other 'personality teaching' across all religious thought, and even other.

CULT practices often resemble those of legitimate religious organisations.   For example, people who experience religious conversion often have dramatic changes in their lives. However, these changes enrich lives and help the individual toward their goals rather than changing them to meet a prescribed mold laid down by another individual. Of course, I am talking about Personality Cults that take us away from God and from following Jesus in particular. Christian Cults. There are new ones rising up almost every day. Some more dangerous than others.

I am concerned about those that tend to replace the Lordship of Christ with their own Authority and 'lordship', and that enlist their followers into their own particular little army, to be regimented into a different gospel. RECENTLY I came across something called THE HEBRON COMPANY. This seems to be a close and singular company of men dedicated to 'expressing manhood to the earth'. It is attached to an organisation known as 'The Elijah Centre' based in Trinidad under the Leadership of a man known as Senior Elder NOEL WOODROFFE, who founded it. It is already a world body, and growing fast. Mr. Woodroffe seems to be widely accepted in many areas of the Christian Church. The Hebron Company has begun to be known in Kenya, and is now making itself known in Eldoret. BUT is it really a CULT?

Here are a few possible guidelines to determine if a particular organisation might in some way be cultic in its effect -

1) Watch out for detachment. New cult members separate themselves from their friends, family and acquaintances.   This kind of distancing happens gradually with encouragement from the cult leader.

2) Observe any change of behaviour. Be especially attentive if someones personality and interests are significantly changing to match the group leader.

3) Cults also often seek to gain control of their members finance. Members can be asked for cash, and encouraged to give free labour.

HEBRON have a Senior Elder structure which is pyramidal. Each group's purpose is to come together and to make the S.E. 'king' of the group, devoting all their energy, support and skills to this end. Each family head in the group must introduce and bring their family to know and submit to the 'king' the Senior Elder of the group. HE is the one to be followed to the letter, and HIS words are the ones to be obeyed as if God spoke. HE, the Senior Elder, has the 'words of eternal life'. He, the Senior Elder, is to be protected, encouraged, supported in every way by all Members. HE is the DOOR into God's Presence. The Senior Elder is the LAMP of the Church - its guide. Of course there is 'Scriptural' authority for all this, but it is very definitely miss interpreted, and twisted. It is heresy - a teaching that replaces Christ as Lord and King.

Reading an article by David Howe of Living Waters Fellowship, England it was interesting to see his remarks on what was once called 'Heavy Shepherding -

"Some are saying in the Church today 'that leaders/teachers must be obeyed without question. Aren't we supposed to test all things by the WORD? Accountability in some places is used to control people. They say you have to be accountable to them, but to who are they accountable? When asked they would say God, but we are all accountable to God I say. They would say we hear God better than you, that's why we are above you.

HEAVY SHEPHERDING - a strange thing has happened in the land. Many shepherds have set themselves above the people, and the people seem to like it that way. Many (shepherds) are placing themselves in front of Christ, acting as if they are 'christs' or 'gods' in front of the sheep.

In other places they 'mentor' disciples, where all they do is make clones of the people - make them into robots...."

We must be WATCHFUL - in the last days false prophets / pastors will arise from your midst - YES they will arise OUT of the midst of Christianity, out of the body of Christ - Wolves in Sheep's clothing are they......... TRY / TEST every spirit - every WORD - every life example against the WORD of God as it is both written, and also DEMONSTRATED in and through Christ. And remember Christ Jesus is the First and the LAST, there is no extra or NEW revelation beyond Him who is the Truth, The Life and the WAY.

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THE RAIN has tapered off. NONE for three days again, and what we had was very minimal.

With 150 resident on our compounds, and some 600 children coming in to school daily, we wonder what will happen if the water supply ceases!! And of course we DO wonder. God on the other hand knows very well, and has all the answers. We caught site of one possible answer in today's NATION under the caption -

'WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE'

thanks to one old MUZUNGU!

It seems an 86 year old Canadian - Lex Lutherford - a water diviner. He is apparently here in Kenya and has formed a Company known as Swallow Waters International Management (SWIM), a voluntary organisation, set up to discover water on farmsteads. Mr. Lutherford is reported as saying - 'You have to believe that this process (of discovering water) is God driven.'

Well if WE could discover water on OUR land here in Eldoret it might would surely be an act of God. It has started us thinking, and who knows maybe this man can help us. Keep praying.

John and Esther