God S Super Apostles

God's Super-Apostles provides a concise entry-level overview of the key teachings and practices of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement. This is a key resource in grasping the significance of this global, confusing, and controversial movement.

Do God's prophets and apostles walk the earth today? Many popular teachers say yes, including Bill Johnson from Bethel Church (Redding, California), Mike Bickle from the International House of Prayer (Kansas City, Missouri), and Rick Joyner from Morningstar Ministries (Fort Mill, South Carolina). But when examined in the light of Scripture, their teachings about prophets and apostles fall short. Whether you know it or not, you've probably encountered the fast-growing religious movement involving these and other teachers-the New Apostolic Reformation. The New Apostolic Reformation is led by men and women who claim to be modern-day prophets and apostles. They seek to bring God's kingdom to earth through their new revelations, miraculous powers, and novel practices like -Treasure Hunting, - -Sozo ministry, - -24/7 prayer rooms, - and -schools of supernatural ministry.- Some groups embrace all of these, others only some. Designed for individuals or groups, this study guide-used with the full-length companion book, God's Super-Apostles-will help you understand this bewildering movement. You'll learn what New Apostolic Reformation leaders teach about topics like apostles, prophets, spiritual warfare, demons, and miracles. You'll learn how their teachings about these topics deviate from historic Pentecostal and charismatic teachings. Most importantly, you'll learn how to respond to their teachings with Scripture. It will also guide you in developing personal strategies for countering the New Apostolic Reformation's growing influence. Editorial Reviews for God's Super-Apostles -In two recent books, R. Douglas Geivett and Holly Pivec provide a balanced biblical critique of the New Apostolic Reformation.... Both books are well written, fairly argued, and amply documented.... As a classical Pentecostal, I see brothers and sisters among leaders and followers of the New Apostolic Reformation. Chances are, you, your family, or your church has heard of NAR's doctrines or have been influenced by them. With R. Douglas Geivett and Holly Pivec, I believe that NAR doctrines are not true because unbiblical and unhelpful because not true.- -George P. Wood, Executive Editor, Assemblies of God Publications; General Council of the Assemblies of God -God's Super-Apostles is a clear and winsome work that provides just the right depth of examination, and that comes to clear and biblical conclusions.- -Tim Challies, Author and blogger at Challies.com Endorsements for God's Super-Apostles -Given the explosion of the apostolic movements, God's Super-Apostles represents a concise and valuable survey of what is happening around the globe. Geivett and Pivec provide insightful biblical and historical analyses, which are useful for those wanting to understand these sometimes bewildering movements. Especially beneficial are the distinctions the authors make between the teachings of the historic Pentecostal churches and the more recent New Apostolic Reformation views of such leaders as C. Peter Wagner and others.- -Vinson Synan, Dean Emeritus, Regent University School of Divinity -The authors clearly and systematically describe the movement's origins and outworkings, and they offer a thoughtful, balanced, and biblical counterpoint to its many errors and excesses. Their work is eminently practical, desperately needed, and long overdue.- -Paul Carden, Executive Director, The Center for Apologetics Research

"Besides Jesus, no one has kept me from despair, or taken me deeper into the mysteries of the gospel, than the apostle Paul." —John Piper No one has had a greater impact on the world for eternal good than the apostle Paul—except Jesus himself. For John Piper, this impact is very personal. He does not just admire and trust Paul. He loves him. Piper gives us thirty glimpses into why his heart and mind respond this way. Can a Christian-killer really endure 195 lashes from a heart of love? Can a mystic who thinks he was caught up into heaven be a model of lucid rationality? Can an ethnocentric Jew write the most beautiful call to reconciliation? Can a person who lives with the unceasing anguish of empathy be always rejoicing? Can a man's description of the horrors of human sin be exceeded by his delight in human splendor? Can a man with a backbone of steel be as tender as a nursing mother? If we know this man—if we see what Piper sees—we too will love him. Paul's testimony is a matter of life and death. Piper invites you into his relationship with Paul in the hope that you will know life, forever.

This critique provides a framework for understanding and interpreting the widespread but little-known New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement. As the authors state in the preface: "We write this book with two major goals in mind. First, to give people an idea of the sheer size and reach of the NAR movement. And second, to systematize its key teachings and practices and evaluate them on the basis of Scripture and careful reasoning . . In our judgment, the NAR perspective crosses these boundaries [that is, certain broad parameters, revealed in Scripture and practiced in the historical orthodox church], and it does so in part because of flawed theology rooted in a flawed understanding of Scripture. We wish to warn readers about a possible confusion: Some critics have linked the NAR movement with mainstream Pentecostalism and charismatics. We do not do this. In fact, it is our contention that the NAR movement deviates from classical Pentecostal and charismatic teachings. This movement has emerged out of independent charismatic churches and, thus, has gained a foothold in many of those churches in varying degrees."

This book is an attempt to trace and find out the role of apostles and prophets in the Bible, and then share these in a practical way to help the church of today. It distinctively goes beyond the purview of the New Testament into the Old Testament, and some ancient literature, to bring out the wealth and depth of the subject, and then makes a case for it. Among others, this book deals with the call of God, the constitution and functions of a prophet and of an apostle, Spiritual gifts, the difference between apostles and prophets, and how to test the manifestation of the Spirit. One important issue, which this book addresses, is how the leadership of the church dropped from apostles to bishops. You will enjoy reading it.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Paul takes you on a journey through the Synoptic Gospels and the Epistles providing a new solution to a literary puzzle that has vexed biblical scholars for over two-hundred years--The Synoptic Problem. When the Synoptic evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke sat down to write their gospels did they have copies of some of the epistles? This book examines the Synoptic Gospels, Hebrews, and Paul's Epistles finding many intriguing similarities, suggesting that the Synoptic evangelists used extensive parts of the epistles to weave into their stories of the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. David Oliver Smith then compares these epistle-based passages to the theoretical lost gospel Q and finds that a large portion of what many New Testament scholars consider to be contained in Q may have its inspiration in the Epistles.

This volume is a stimulating series of spiritual reflections which will prove helpful for all struggling to find the meaning of human existence and to live the richest, fullest and noblest life. --Chicago Tribune

True faith is hard. More than mere sentimentalism, faith often calls for a deep and resilient trust in God—especially when the going gets tough and the road is dark. In Things Not Seen, author Jon Bloom encourages readers with 35 imaginative retellings of stories from the Bible that illustrate the importance of living by faith. A follow-up to the author's previous book, Not by Sight: A Fresh Look at Old Stories of Walking by Faith, this inspiring volume explores the lives of Abraham, Moses, Saul, John the Baptist, and more—helping readers remember God's promises, rely on his grace, and follow his leading regardless of the circumstances. The book includes a foreword by popular author and blogger Ann Voskamp.