The Declarations Clicker

“I’ll take, ‘Things That Show The Church Is Going Crazy’ for $1000 Alex.” The material to bring up and discuss is ever growing. I personally like the ease and accessibility we have to everything that is going on around the world and the rapid way in which we can learn it. There is always the temptation to be addicted to all the social media and news outlets to the point of neglecting people and literally everything else. However, knowing information and what is being taught and preached allows us to be informed, so that we can respond quickly with truth and answers. 

Bethel (probably a whole series could be spent talking about this church) has a new product out they call The Declarations Clicker. They sell this product on their website (probably at their church building as well). It resembles a pitch counter that you use to track the number of pitches that pitchers have in a game. The difference with this, though, is that they want to encourage you to track your daily prayer…declarations. Now here’s where there will probably be a division and debate that will inevitably happen with church people. “I see nothing wrong with this. We should do this. We need to declare more things and claim things in the name of Jesus! We don’t do this enough. This is why so many Christians are living in weakness and defeat.” Then the other side chimes in. “The Declarations Clicker? What in the world? This is one of the many problems with this ‘Name it Claim it’ movement treating God like a Genie. Remember the whole ‘Holy Spirit activate, Holy Spirit activate!’ thing on Family Feud? That’s from that. We don’t declare things as if God is obligated to grant us spiritual wishes.”

The real question is, if these people have such abilities, why aren’t they changing the world? Why doesn’t Benny Hinn live at the Cancer Center, or Children’s Hospital? Kenneth Copeland, I thought he declared and decreed (by blowing) Covid away two years ago? He also said to put your hands on your head and your hair would grow back. It seems he needs to declare it in a few more spots, because it’s pretty thin. How about Joyce Meyers? It appears she needs to go to her doctors and “declare” she gets her money back for face job. This seems inconsistent and outside of what they teach and say they can do. The inconsistencies are unending. They hold scheduled revivals and only choose particular people to be healed. They will claim that we are to live in complete physical healing now, because of Jesus and Him taking the stripes (Isaiah 53:5). Yet, we still die, because, “C’mon, no one can stop that.” I’ve been told that every believer is supposed to live a sick and disease free life now…but we will die a natural death, because that’s what happens.  

I know this may come across harsh and like I’m making fun. It’s a serious matter and these people and many with them are dangerous. They are literally false teachers that the Bible tells us to watch out for and to ignore. We must warn people about them. And countless others are fed this lie from Satan that if they have decreed something to happen or someone has decreed something to happen over them and it doesn’t take place, then it’s their fault. The recipients of this treatment walk away, sad, confused, angry, or depressed. And even worse, there is a rising number every day of people who have “declared” that they no longer believe in a God. And when you dig into their story, their reasons, the churches they went to, or the pastors they sat under, it’s no surprise that a common thread is this false teaching. 

So where does this teaching come from? There are numerous passages that are taken out of context or “cherry picked” for the purpose of fulfilling their wish. Theologically we call this eisegesis (reading your meaning into a text). Jesus told His guys that if they didn’t doubt, that they could tell a mountain to throw itself in the sea (Mark 11:23-24). Many of them will say things like, “We’re created in the image of God. That necessarily means that we can do what He can. We have that authority.” But is that what the Bible teaches? Is that what God has said? 

The writers at gotquestions.org stated this: “The problem is, our statements can be declarative, but not causative, no matter how true they are; plus, when we go around “decreeing” things, we are in danger of putting our will over God’s will.” There are numerous places where it is clear that our approach to God in prayer is to be done in humility and submitting towards His will, not ours. Consider the model prayer that Jesus shared in Matthew 6. “Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” God’s will is the goal. What about when Jesus was in extreme anguish right before He was to face the pain and rejection at his beatings and then crucifixion? Surely if there was a time for Him to model the “decree and declare no pain and suffering” this would be it. Nope. He submitted to the Father and prayed for His will to be done. 

Perhaps there is a place for some device to track how much time we are spending with God? Monitoring our worship and prayer time with God isn’t bad in itself. 2 Corinthians 13:5 teaches us that examining our walk and faith is good and healthy. We should do it. But we should also check our doctrine and what we believe. John said in 1 John 2, “ We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”

So are we following Jesus, or are we following the way that seems right to us (Pro. 14:12)? It’s not a small matter. 

PRAYER REQUEST:

Dear Supporters of Welch College:

Please be in prayer for my dear friend Dr. Milton Fields, beloved retired Academic Dean and Vice President for Institutional Planning at Welch College. In a CT scan in March his physicians discovered a mass in his liver and diagnosed him with advanced cirrhosis as a result of diabetes and other complications. In recent months he has had twenty surgical banding procedures for blood vessels in his stomach and esophagus to prevent mass bleeding. This condition appears to be terminal. Dr. Fields’s physicians have offered the option of chemotherapy, and he has elected not to undergo that treatment.

Dr. Fields’s sincerest prayer is that he will bring honor and glory to God in this trial. He recently told me that his prayer is that he will “be able to avoid fear, be patient during times of discomfort, and maintain a Christian testimony with all I meet until my time comes. . . . With this type of difficulty, the liver eventually becomes unable to remove the toxins from the blood and ammonia poisoning occurs. This prevents the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide and results in loss of some cognition. My prayer is that the Lord will take me before this occurs. I would like to see all come to the point as did one of my physicians last week. He said, ‘I pray that when I approach this time in my life I can do so with as much confidence as you.’”
Let us hold Dr. Fields in prayer. You can reach him via email at mfields@welch.edu.

Sincerely,

Matt Pinson
President

Raymond Richard DeHart

Raymond Richard DeHart was born February 10, 1933 and went Home to be with his Lord on July 7, 2022                                              

Raymond was born to Raymond and Evie Marie DeHart on February 10, 1933 in Brazos County. A hard worker, he retired from the International Shoe Factory where he worked as an electrician, and later retired from Texas A&M University Student Housing Maintenance Department.

For many years, Raymond enjoyed hunting and fishing, or just being outdoors doing most anything. He particularly enjoyed working in the garden and attending to his yard.

Raymond loved the Lord and looked forward to Sunday school and church services at New Beginnings Church in Bryan. He served as a deacon and volunteered for various committees.

Raymond is reunited with his loving wife of 53 years, Agnes Surovik DeHart; parents, Raymond Richard DeHart Sr. and Evie Marie DeHart (Massey); sister, June McClain Peecher; and son, Raymond Bromonsky, Jr. and wife, Sherry.

Raymond is survived by his daughters, Peggy Mize and husband Benny of Madisonville, Margie Gustavus of Bryan, and Linda Conrad and husband William H. of Bryan; brother, Howard DeHart of Camp Creek; sisters, Shirley Vytopil and husband Joe of Bryan, Betty Hubacek and husband Edward of Bryan, and Ginger Thomas of Bryan; 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 6 great, great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Raymond’s memory to New Beginnings Church of Bryan, 3131 E. 29th St. Bldg E, Bryan TX 77802 https://newbeginningsbryan.com/online-giving

To order memorial trees in memory of Raymond Richard DeHart, please visit our tree store.

Click on link below to visit Hillier’s site and watch the video tribute to Raymond.

https://www.hillierfuneralhome.com/obituaries/raymond-dehart

Truth and Peace

Pray for our students from across the country as they begin their journey this week at Truth and Peace. Also pray for us parents as we let go of our babies. Yes, they’re almost grown, but it’s not easy to let go. My mom always says, “I’d rather have my child across the world and in God’s will than right beside me and out of His will.” I’m remembering that as I let mine go. – Beth Howell

Convention Seminars

“Nearly 90 seminars and breakout sessions will be hosted by national departments and commissions Monday through Wednesday. Plan to take advantage of these opportunities for continuing education and ideas to enhance your ministry.

Seminars will be recorded and made available online in the months following the convention.”

For the full schedule of seminars, visit
https://nafwb.org/convention/.

D6

RESET: The 2022 D6 Conference
By Lauren Biggs, Social Media Manager at D6 Family

After a storm knocks out the electricity, you must reset your clocks. But first, you have to find the correct time—an accurate point of reference. Recent world events have disrupted ministries, households, and churches. The 2022 D6 Conference offered over 1,000 parents, volunteers, pastors, and leaders a chance to RESET. While looking back on foundational principles and holding true to Scripture (point of reference), speakers equipped and encouraged attendees to RESET with generational discipleship in both church and home settings.

Main Stage Moments
A video portraying the original writing of the Shema passage in Deuteronomy 6 introduced the conference. Flashing back to Moses and forward to modern-day discipleship moments, the video illustrated the dramatic picture of what God intends for discipleship at home and at church. Emcees Jon Forrest, Marianne Howard, and Dr. Kevin Jones set the stage with Dr. Ron Hunter to unpack the theme and greet the 1,055 attendees.
Dr. Richard Ross reminded parents to reset by restoring their first love found only in Jesus, or their hearts will remain lukewarm. When parents’ hearts change, they embrace biblically sound goals for themselves and their children.
Robby Gallaty challenged everyone to ask two questions. First, ask, “What’s more important to you, the approval of God or the applause of man?” He shared the story of how God reset his own heart through the daily spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude. In quiet moments, God will reveal what needs to be revived within you. If you don’t slow down in your walk with the Lord, from marriage and home to ministry, you will burn out. Gallaty cautioned, “Believers, don’t fall for the trap of doing ministry for Jesus when you should be doing ministry with Jesus.” Robby concluded with a final question: “Are you the blood clot stopping the flow of healthy discipleship in your church?”

Dr. Ron Hunter and Matt Markins (above) took turns exploring how ministry leaders get to the heart and mission of their ministry and discipleship strategies by focusing on the why. Matt warned against using old maps to lead in children’s and family ministry, to find new maps. Ron questioned, “What if we shifted thinking from ‘tactics, methodologies, and programs’ to ‘guiding objectives.’ Most people see the how of your ministry but the why drives your ministry. Your how is informed by your why.” Matt and Ron recommended four key objectives to inform the why: 1) Bible engagement (daily reading not just church reading), 2) Sharing the faith (creates growth and accountability), 3) Volunteering in the church (belong not just attend), and 4) Involving an involved, nurturing adult. Ron reminded attendees, “It takes a generation to see significant results of discipleship. If we want to redeem our families, it takes time.”

Jonathan Sawyer and his band from Cleveland, Tennessee, led worship with songs that reminded attendees to reset by shifting their focus to God’s sovereignty and love. With arms lifted and hearts postured, worshipers sang the lyrics, I’m coming back to the heart of worship, it’s all about You, Jesus.

For respite between the main stage talks Pastor Alex Kennedy coached ministry leaders, parents, and volunteers in soul care to further facilitate reset. Pastor Alex asked each person probing questions about finance, purity, sin, arrogance, marriage, etc. He shepherded attendees to look inward, evaluate their hearts, and linger in the presence of Jesus. The goal was conviction, not condemnation, through the Holy Spirit in repentance. Conference attendees raved about these moments of silence, questions, and encouraging Scripture that led to spiritual healing.

The D6 team was honored to have twelve Korean delegates visit the conference. D6 Korea director, Paul Kim joined Dr. Hunter on the main stage to talk briefly about D6 in Korea and how many families and churches are actively engaged in generational discipleship, specifically through D6 curriculum. Each year, seven international locations host D6 Conferences and encourage churches and homes to partner in disciple-making. D6 heroes can contribute financially to continue making an impact on D6 Family Ministry around the world at d6hero.com

On day two, Denise Pass and Michelle Nietert opened the general session. Drawing from their new book, Make Up Your Mind, Denise and Michelle walked attendees through Scripture and reminders of Truth to reset negative mindsets. Romans 8:5 and Isaiah 55:8-9 teach us our thoughts are not God’s thoughts. Resetting the mind is not about thinking positively but thinking righteously. Denise and Michelle encouraged fellow ministry leaders and parents to take on the mind of Christ by refocusing our minds to gratitude, mindfulness, and surrender.
Holley Gerth tackled the question, “How do we help the next generation of introverts become who God created them to be at home and at church?” She reminded each personality type, “You were made on purpose, for a purpose. Being an introvert or extrovert is not your identity, nor is it your destiny, they are just descriptions.”

Yancy Wideman Richmond began D6 minis (brief, ten-minute talks) on the main stage. She inspired ministry leaders to “Stop just doing songs and start leading kids, students, and families in worship.” Sam Luce helped attendees “Measure Success in Youth Ministry” by realizing churches need to repent of the idols of programs and relevance. Sam referred to Matthew 28 and the Great Commission as the key to measuring success: to be a disciple that makes disciples. Britney Dent explained the 260 Concept. (From age 13 until age 18 years, you have 260 Saturdays with your teen). She encouraged parents to evaluate how they will spend their Saturdays and to create positive family traditions that allow relationships to build throughout these impressionable years. Concluding the D6 minis, John McGee affirmed the key to family ministry begins with a godly marriage. Once you focus on the key, family ministry will begin to take place. “If you want to fix your marriage,” he concluded, “draw a circle around yourself, and then fix everything inside the circle.”

John Weaver challenged attendees to abide in Christ, allowing pruning to take place to bear fruit and reproduce disciples. Dr. Scott Turansky completed main stage sessions with the inspirational message: “A Heart-Based Approach to Parenting Changes Everything.” Comparing and contrasting reward/punishment behaviors versus correction/instruction allows parents to connect with a child’s heart and lean into repentance for desired behavioral outcomes.

Visit: http://onemag.org/22d6.htm for more details