BOOK REVIEWS: PROTECTING GOD’S PEOPLE from FALSE PROPHETS

One Divine Moment: The Account of the Asbury Revival of 1970. Robert E. Coleman. First Fruits Press: 2023. 122 pages.

Asbury University and Asbury Seminary are schools founded many decades ago in the Wesleyan and Holiness traditions. They have long been excellent institutions of higher education and of theological, biblical, and ministerial training. Numerous times in its history Asbury has experienced powerful seasons of renewal. The 1970 revival forever transformed the lives of students, professors, and thousands of laity in churches across America and around the world. This account, written in 1970 by teachers who were present, was revised in 1995. It has become a classic account of spiritual outpourings that change students, their churches, and their ministries forever. We pray the current revival at Asbury will impact the church and the world just as powerfully.

The Pentecostal – charismatic movement has been a prolific source of aberrant, heretical teachings and practices for over a century. One of the more successful aberrant movements calls itself the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). Originating in the 1940’s New Order of the Latter Rain, the NAR has many heretical doctrines and practices. These include the restoration of apostles and prophets equal to the Twelve, regular supernatural guidance rophetic words, the rise of an elite end-time generation who will do greater miracles than Jesus and the and conquer the world for God, and more. Virtually all of the NAR media super-prophets falsely prophesied the election of President Trump. In 2022 their prophetic words, anointings with oil, and other political endorsements again proved to be spectacular failures, bringing yet more reproach on the Gospel This is only the latest in a long line of failures of all kinds in the apostles-and-prophets movement.

The Assemblies of God in 1949 officially rejected the Latter Rain (NAR) movement as heterodox, unbiblical, and dangerous. For years the Latter Rain movement largely disappeared from view. It resurfaced in the form of the NAR in the 1980’s. Promising end-time revival, greater spiritual power, and more spectacular supernatural experiences, the has grown into an influential movement. pervasive errors and excesses have hurt millions of people

Not by Might, Nor by Power: The Jesus Revolution (vol 1), The Great Commission (vol 2), Set Free (vol 3). Lonnie Frisbee and Roger Sachs. Freedom Publications, 2012. 215 pages, 283 pages, 305 pages, respectively.

No person in modern American church history has been rescued from a more broken fallen background, saved, anointed, had a more effective evangelistic ministry, had a more powerful long-lasting impact on the church, and been more forgotten by the overwhelming majority of the church and the world than Lonnie Frisbee. I first learned of Lonnie’s life and ministry many years ago. Even then I was amazed at what I heard and read, and equally amazed that I had not known of him sooner. To this day the radical incongruities in Lonnie’s life and ministry continue to confound even his friends who knew him best. The grace and love of God toward Lonnie and the generation of which he was a part is a story which all of us should know. This personal account by the ultimate insider to the Jesus Movement should be read by every student of revival and harvest. I encourage you to read this three-volume autobiography and pray for another such awakening.

Two recent books provide the most balanced detailed analysis of the NAR ever done. These outstanding works d by such Pentecostal scholars and leaders as Craig Keener, Amos Yong, Vinson Synan, Michael and others present depth evaluation of all NAR doctrines and practices, revealing NAR’s repeated misinterpretation of ptur correctly explaining what all of the relevant biblical passages really mean.

The authors, R. Douglas Geivett and Holly Pivec, are Christian leaders active in ministry and apologetics. They believe in the continuing supernatural m e Spirit. They accept NAR followers as fellow Christians trapped in serious doctrinal errors. Their evaluation is very fair, and therefore very devastating to the NAR. As you read you will encounter the leaders, language, teachings, and practices of the NAR. You will realize how deeply these erroneous beliefs have penetrated many Pentecostal churches and ministries. You will recognize the names of prominent ministers and ministries that are a part of the NAR. You will realize how unbiblical and how dangerous the NAR is for genuine, biblical Pentecostal life and practice. Every Pentecostal / charismatic minister and lay leader should read these books. If you are a discerning Pastor, teacher, or leader, then you love God, His Word, and His People, and you want to know the truth. These books tell the truth, truth that some Pentecostals / charismatics will not want to hear. I urge you to order them today.

God’s Super-Apostles: Encountering the Worldwide Prophets and Apostles Movement, R. Douglas Geivett and Holly Pivec, Wooster, OH: Weaver Book Company, 2014, 159 pages.

Jesus Revolution Movie Edition: How God Transformed an Unlikely Generation and How He Can Do It Again Today. Greg Laurie, Ellen Vaughn. Baker Books: 2023. 272 pages.

The most far-reaching revival and harvest of the last 50 years was the Jesus Movement of 1968 through 1973. A sovereign move of God that was not preceded by any intentional prayer or planning, this massive outpouring of the Holy Spirit and harvest of unchurched pagan young adults was something unprecedented in the history of the American church. The eye-witness testimonies of people who lived through that revival are hard to believe today. The sudden onset, the growing power, the receptivity of sin-bound unbelievers, the radically transformed lives, the miracles, the inexplicably fast spread across California, the United States, and the world are almost impossible to comprehend. Greg Laurie was a hippie who was led to the Lord by the earliest Jesus People, came to faith, Spirit-baptism, and into the life of the early Calvary Chapel pastor, Chuck Smith. One of thousands impacted by both Chuck Smith and by Lonnie Frisbee, Laurie went on to become a prominent pastor and leader in the Calvary Chapel movement and the leader of Harvest Crusades To this day he sees thousands of people come to Christ every year. I encourage you read this account of a convert of that great Jesus People revival for yet another perspective on a great move of God.

In this book the authors provide an introduction and overview of the NAR. All of the NAR’s major teachings and practices are examined and compared with Scripture. A glossary of NAR terminology equips the reader to recognize such terms as evidence of NAR influence. Lists of NAR teachers and organizations are provided. This book is excellent for pastoral teaching or for a small group study (under good leaders!). “If you have a loved one who has been drawn into this movement, or you want a brief and accurate introduction to it, or if you … simply want a brief introduction for yourself, this book is for you.”

A New Apostolic Reformation?: A Biblical Response to a Worldwide Movement, R. Douglas Geivett and Holly Pivec, Wooster, OH: Weaver Book Company, 2014, 254 pages.

In this book the authors go into greater depth. They examine the historical-theological origins of the NAR, its growth, its attempts to gain influence in politics and among other churches. They explore all unique NAR doctrines and practices including apostles, prophets, strategic level spiritual warfare, an elite end-time miracle working army of God, spectacular spiritual experiences, dominionism, and so forth. In every instance the authors exhaustively examine what the Bible actually teaches about all of these things, compare this to NAR teaching, and demonstrate the aberrant, dangerous, often heretical nature of the NAR. Every Pentecostal / charismatic pastor should read this book.

Michael D. Sharp, D.Min., Network Secretary-Treasurer, ALSOM Director

Our new schedule layout is below. ALSOM students may take any cou rses needed during each quarter.

Quarter 1

January – March

Courses Open for Purchase: January 1

Last Day to Purchase: March 10th

Tests Must be Submitted by March 31st

Quarter 2

April – June

Courses Open for Purchase: April 1

Last Day to Purchase: June 10th

Tests Must be Submitted by June 30th

Quarter 3

July – September

Courses Open for Purchase: July 1

Last Day to Purchase: September 10 th

Tests Must be Submitted by September 30 th

Quarter 4

October – December

Courses Open for Purchase: October 1

Last Day to Purchase: December 10th

Tests Must be Submitted by December 31 st

Each quarter, we will post our entire ALSOM catalog for purchase. The courses required for each level of credentialing are listed below.

Level One (Certified)

BIB 214 Old Testament Survey

BIB 212 New Testament Survey

BIB 121 Introduction to Hermeneutics: How to Interpret the Bible

BIB 114 Christ in the Synoptic Gospels

THE 211 Introduction to Theology

THE 114 Introduction to Pentecostal Doctrine

THE 152 Assemblies of God History, Missions, and Governance

MIN 171 A Spirit-Empowered

Church: An Acts 2 Ministry Model

MIN 181 Relationships and Ethics in Ministry

MIN 191 Beginning Ministerial Internship

Level Two (Licensed)

BIB 115 Acts: The Holy Spirit at Work in Believers

BIB 117 Prison Epistles

BIB 215 Romans: Justification by Faith

THE 245 Eschatology: A Study of Things to Come

MIN 123 The Local Church in Evangelism

MIN 223 Introduction to Homiletics

MIN 251 Effective Leadership

MIN 261 Introduction to Assemblies of God Missions

MIN 281 Conflict Management for Church Leaders

MIN 291 Intermediate Ministerial Internship

Level Three (Ordained)

THE 311 Prayer and Worship

BIB 313 The Corinthian Correspondence

BIB 318 The Pentateuch

BIB 322 The Poetic Books

MIN 325 Preaching in the Contemporary World

MIN 327 Church Administration, Finance, and Law

MIN 381 Pastoral Ministry

MIN 391 Advanced Ministerial Internship

To enroll in an ALSOM course, please visit https://alsom.edvance360.com/. Across the top of the page, you will see several tabs. Click on “Store” to purchase a course. Once you add a course to your cart and proceed to check out, you will be prompted to login. If you are a first -time user, you will be asked to enter your email information. After you complete your purchase, an email will be sent to you to create a username and password. When you purchase the course, you will receive access to the course. To access the course, click on the tab “Courses.” This is where you will do all the work for your course. Each course has a pdf textbook. Some courses have additional content such as video lectures, PowerPoint presentations, and additional reading. Your test will come from content from all sources.

April 24-26, 2023

Montgomery First AG

Ministers and Delegates,

We are so excited for you to join us for our 108th Council. It’s going to be an exci?ng week with Dr. Ken Draughon, Dr. Joseph Dimitrov, and Rev. Doug Clay as our guest speakers. Book your hotels quickly to ensure your hotel of choice.

In addi?on to the services, we will also have:

-Missions Banquet with Rev. Ryan Moore

-Women in Ministry- Ladies Luncheon with Rev. Laura Lee

-CP&D Luncheon with Rev. Jeffrey Portman

-STL Grand Club Banquet with Rev. Jus?n Mack

Childcare will be available this year for children 0 to 4 years old for all services, banquets and business session. They must be Pre-Registered to par?cipate. There will also be an AMN Kids Conference for children 5 years old through 6th grade. This will take place every evening with Pastor Haley Jones.

To register for this event, please visit www.amnag.org. There is a link on the main page to register. If you have any ques?ons, please email Terra Russell at trussell@amnag.org.

It’s going to be a great family gathering!