(13) One Church Online | 1st May 2022 - YouTube
The fall of the megachurch
Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them. (Ezekiel 34:10 cf. 2 Peter 2:1).
Over the last few years, we have seen a number of megachurches fall due to false leaders that are not submitted to Jesus Christ. Two blatant examples are Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church, and more recently, Carl Lentz and Brian Houston of Hillsong Church. I have recently become aware of the shocking allegations against Stovall Weems and his wife Kerri at Celebration Church, one of the biggest churches in the Jacksonville area of the US. The ungodly leadership of many megachurches has not been without significant damage to the witness of Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 2:2). Many poorer members of megachurch congregations are exploited and are expected to support the extravagant lifestyles of these wolves. Finally, people are beginning to wake up to pastors who feed themselves instead of the flock. (Ezekiel 34:1-10; Hosea 4:7). The downward spiral of the apparently unstoppable megachurch model is a powerful example of how God brings false teachers to nothing. (Psalm 37:7).
The rise of "hipster" pastors, is, in reality, a sad collection of entitled middle-aged narcissists who find their identity, not in Jesus Christ, but in the outward appearance of skinny jeans, chic websites, hip worship bands and cool coffee shops. Megachurches have always been about image and youth as against sound doctrine, in depth bible study and true discipleship. (2 Corinthians 5:12, Isaiah 16:7). Unhappily, David Hind fits the superficial profile of a wannabe megachurch pastor complete with spiked hair and skinny jeans, albeit that he is in his mid 50s.
Hind has changed his multisite definition from "campus" to "site", no doubt because the campus model has come to have a very bad reputation.
One Church ~ The "merger" between Trinity Life Church and All Nations Church in Leicester.
The new One Church website informs us that All Nations Church Leicester (ANCL) has been through a "shipwreck". {1} ANCL was heavily involved in the fake "Toronto Blessing" during the 1990's, they aggressively promoted tithing, and they participated in the diabolical New Apostolic Reformation. (See Further Links) It was inevitable that the ANCL blight would eventually become a shipwreck, their false Word Faith model having been based on doctrines of demons. (1 Timothy 4:1 cf. Luke 3:9,17). The present concern is that the equally apostate Hinds have not been slow to take advantage of the ANCL "shipwreck" and have moved in lock stock and barrel. Hind is keen to tell us that this is not a "takeover" but a "marriage".
Hind's description as a "leader of leaders" is one of the most pretentious statements I have come across. {2} An essential qualification for church elders/leaders is to be able to teach sound doctrine and to rightly divide the word of truth. ( Titus 1:9;1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:15). Hind does not qualify as a leader, much less a "leader of leaders".
David Hind's "vision" for Leicester.
The error of appropriating Old Testament promises specifically made to Israel
Hind claims that the Lord has "clearly spoken to us at this time" and he refers to the many "prophecies" they have allegedly received for Leicester over the last ten years. Hind: "People from many parts of the world have spoken of what God is about to do here. We believe He is going to bless this city. God speaking to the Israelites in Jeremiah spoke about what the city was to become, and I want to just appropriate that verse to us as a city.."
And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it. (Jeremiah 33:9).
Jeremiah 33:6-18 is a prophecy about Millennial Jerusalem and the future restoration of national Israel. The context of Jeremiah 33:6-9 concerns the Lord's eternal covenant with Israel and millennial blessings. The appropriation of a single verse of scripture from Old Testament prophecy completely out of context is highly irresponsible, it violates every method of sound hermeneutics and it goes beyond what it written. (Proverbs 30:6; 1 Corinthians 4:6). Since the New Testament does not accommodate Hind's agenda, the only way he can justify his "vision" is by using inappropriate Old Testament scriptures out of context. The commission given to the church by Jesus Christ is to preach the true gospel and make disciples as outlined in Matthew 28:16-20. God gives the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Church leaders should not be building empires or seeking to expand their numbers by ungodly methods and unholy alliances, for example: ecumenism, tithing, soliciting funding from government grants and the National Lottery Community Fund. (Jeremiah 2:13) ..what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14). ..it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (Romans 9:16-18).
There is no example of a multisite church in the New Testament. The clear scriptural model is that of Paul and Barnabus, whose practice was to plant new churches, to appoint leaders with prayer and fasting, and to release them into the care of the Lord:
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:23 cf. 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:5).
Hind: "We believe there is a harvest coming.. God has amazing plans for Leicester and we are to remain expectant.. God has an amazing plan for One Church.. My dear friend Martin who leads a brilliant church in Coventry.. prophetically recently said to our staff.. He has decided to bless us, expand us and move us to another level... "
Hind's "appropriation" of further Old Testament passages of scripture:
* Deuteronomy 1 ~ This chapter concerns Israel's possession of the land of Canaan.
* Ezekiel 37 ~ ..these bones are the whole house of Israel. (Ezekiel 37:11).
* Ezekiel 47 ~ is a millennial passage and concerns the millennial river under Gods temple.
* Isaiah 54-55 ~ concerns the future blessings of Zion during the millennium.
None of the above passages are applicable to the New Testament church. These speculations are extremely concerning and cannot possibly warrant serious consideration. Repetitive statements that "This is God's will", manic presentations complete with unnatural hand gestures and exaggerated body language do not impress God and will not make "revival" happen! For the first time today, it struck me that Hind's behaviour should provoke our genuine concern about his spiritual and mental condition.
In their own words..
The gospel was not preached at all by Hind during this message; rather, it was a graphic demonstration of the usual hype we have heard repeatedly from false megachurch leaders and wannabes.
Hind: "He has an amazing plan for One Church. We believe we are about to grow, plant out, see hundreds of people finding Jesus, being baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. We are expectant of a move of God and a fresh demonstration of His healing power."
Hind also read aloud various "prophecies" received from members of his congregation:
Simon at One Church: "I saw a giant sword that was wide and long. Its handle was studded with many gemstones, and as I looked at the sword I saw that within it there were many smaller swords of different sizes and shapes. And I saw written down the blade of many blades 'One Church".. and I heard the Lord say 'Your willingness to steward the many small swords has now opened the way for you to steward the big. And I heard Him say 'The significance of the big is found because of the empowerment of the many'. And I saw a network of works birthed that reached beyond the borders of the UK, and I also saw blades you had not forged added into the large blade. And I saw one sword was rooted in Leicester, yet its reach went far beyond. Then as I watched I saw many broken swords. They came and were re-forged and fixed. They came and walked alongside for a time then they went out again, and I heard the Lord say 'You will be known as a house of healing and a house of restoration.' I saw leaders, churches, ministries and businesses coming and being restored and I saw people streaming to the building. They came in rags, but were sent away re-dressed. And I heard the Lord say 'There are words you have held for many years that have been on hold that will now begin to come into manifestation. This is a fulfilment season, an outbreak season.'" (33:00 mark)
Mary an elder at One Church: "I sensed the Lord was speaking to us from Psalm 84.. I sensed that we should not settle but that we should fix our hearts on the pilgrimage. As we do this, we will find strength in Him and know His blessing together.."
Susan Hind: "Susan wanted to say.. from Joshua 3:3 where Joshua said to the people 'Purify yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.. God is doing a new thing and we have not been this way before.."
I will not comment on the above, except to say that Hind et al have now openly committed themselves to an early fulfilment of the long awaited prophecies of revival in Leicester. Lets see if genuine revival comes to pass in the near future shall we?
End time revival or apostasy?
The revival mantra of the false prophets has no biblical foundation whatsoever. No prophecy of an end time revival exists in the New Testament. The New Testament prophesies rampant
spiritual deception, apostasy, false prophets, lying signs and wonders, birth pains.. and ultimately worldwide spiritual deception under the Antichrist. (Revelation 13:14). We should be very wary of those who prophesy
"revival" or
"awakening". False prophets tickle itching ears and tell us what we want to hear, not what we
need to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3).
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7:14-15)
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24).
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; (Acts 20:29).
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.. (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons.. (1 Timothy 4:1).
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1).
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1).
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23).
TLC (One Church) still manage to include 666 in their coffee shop photos, despite having replaced the third 6 with 108. The historic connection between TLC and 666 is bizarre and highly disturbing.
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