“Stir Up The Gifts.”

Hello brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow soldiers in the war against the dark forces of the enemy, our prayer is that you will, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”   (Ephesians 6:11-NASB–1)

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

One of the purposes that Y’shua has given Arsenal of The King is to warn the Bride. At the direction of the Holy Spirit, we are starting a new series which will delve into the dark genre that is insidiously crawling into our Christian church and subsequent practices.

“Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me.” (Ezekiel 3:17)

This series is to warn the church of hidden evil not to criticize, or to be negative to anyone who has been deceived or confused or is unaware of these issues, as we are commanded not to judge, “Do not judge so you will not be judged.”  (Matthew 7:1)  We would ask you to pray and seek the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth to you as you read this teaching, and strongly encourage you to seek these matters out in God’s Word, “Now these were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

It is our heartfelt desire that The Light, Who is Y’shua, will shine His Truth, from the Word of God, Which is and Who is Y’shua, on the new age, mysticism, hindu, pagan, wiccan, or other procedures, routines, traditions, rituals, observances, practices, ideas, and words that are slipping into our church. [2]

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:1-5)

Some of these shadowy phenomena intentionally mimic or pollute the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Regrettably, they target the Prophetic Church including but not limited to Full Gospel, Charismatic, Pentecostal, Non-denominational, NAR, and Apostolic type churches.

“For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly person who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4)

 “Holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.” (2 Timothy 3:5)

The Holy Bible describes satan as being able to disguise himself as an angel of light, satan is trying to imitate, sully and pervert the gifts of God. [2] (2 Corinthians 11:14,15) You can find the gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12, 14 and Romans 12, an adjunction to these gifts would be the dreams, visions, and prophesying which are described in Joel 2 and Acts 2.

To make matters simple, we will use the phrase Prophetic Church to include Full Gospel, Charismatic, Pentecostal, NAR, Non-denominational, and Apostolic type churches. However, it must be noted that some of these terms are not limited to the Prophetic Church and are used in other denominations. The term Prophetic Church should be taken to mean churches who believe that the gifts of Holy Spirit are alive and active today.

To keep with the theme of simplicity, we will use the term false religion to encompass all genres that are not Bible-believing Christians who also use the terminology expressed in this series. If a term is more specific to one genus, we will use their name to identify the background and darkness of the word. In no way is this an attack against our fellow brethren who use such words, but this article warns the church and shines the light on such false words so that we may be Biblically correct in our dealings.

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)

“For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil, The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Romans 16:19,20)

Activate, activating, and activation are used as a procedure in the practice of false religion and are often used as a practice or exercise in the Prophetic Church.  It is our goal to shine the Light of Y’shua on these issues, so that our dear brothers and sisters in Christ will understand the dark background and or connotations of these words and instead use the Biblical verses and Biblical precepts to utilize the power and authority of God’s word, and thus glorify God.

“Forever, O LORD, your word is settled in heaven…. The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple…. Establish my footsteps in Your word, And do not let iniquity have dominion over me.”  (Psalm 119:89, 130, and 133)

The power and authority of the Holy Scripture over evil was shown when Y’shua was being tempted in the desert by satan. Y’shua triumphed by quoting the Word of God to satan during His three temptations.  (Matthew 4:1-11)

Following the lead of the Holy Spirit, Arsenal of The King has been studying the Scripture, exploring words which are used by false religions, and unacceptably are also used by the Christian church. In researching these words, we can determine if they are from the Holy Bible or are indeed dark masquerading as light.  This week we will focus on the use of the words activate, activating, or activation in the Christian church, sadly, this is a word that runs rampant in the Prophetic Church.  Please be aware the words activate, activating, or activation are not found in the Holy Bible, however; they are liberally used as a procedure, as an act or process of the ritual in the culture, literature, exercises, and practices of new age, reiki, hindu, and other false religions. In many false religions the process of activate, activating, or activation sets in motion including but not limited to: guided meditation uses and practices of activate, activating or activation by releasing or enhancing energy, activating the third eye, channeling, and or psychic spirit, experiencing new, higher, or enhanced levels in meditation and chakras.

Such evil directly goes against what the Scripture dictates.  The Old Testament book of Deuteronomy states any and, all types of spiritism are strictly forbidden because this is the case we must refrain from any form of unity or likeness with false religions.

 “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who cast a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you. “You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. “For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-14)

Believers of Y’shua do not want to have any partnership with evil and should not use the same words as false religions. “Do not be Bound Together With unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) One would say using a word cannot be that bad, the Scripture would not agree with that, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.” (Galatians 5:9) It is written in God’s Word that words have or hold power, and therefore words that are synonymous with the new age or other false religions should not be used. In this case that would include activate, activating, or activation especially when they are part of the dark arts that God’s Word directly condemns in Deuteronomy 18, Micah 3, and Leviticus 19.

 “With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:20,21)

 “By faith we understand the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3)

“It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” (Matthew 15:11)

 “The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.” (Proverbs 12:6)

Words that are used by false religions in their practices should not be used because “Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment?” (Amos 3:3). We are commanded to examine and stay away from anything that looks evil, “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21,22)

Neither, Y’shua Christ, our perfect example, nor His Apostles used or mimicked the fleshly practices of the Pharisees or of the false religions of their time. They knew it was forbidden to do so in the Old Testament, and Y’shua, warned against the false ones to come. “For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, the elect. “But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.”  (Matthew 24:24)

Christian Answers For The New Age, explains the activation process of increasing one’s energy or levels in false religions, and activate is listed under the [use of practices that allegedly align, initiate, activate, trigger, or stimulate unquantifiable energies, energy fields, or vibrations.] (Montenegro) [3]

Activate, activating, and activation are not found in the Bible, and the idolatrous exercises in the practice of their false religion are contrary to the directives given in the Word of God. Not only do false religions use the words activate, activating, and activation, one should be strongly aware these words are used in the practice of witchcraft, which makes the use and accompanying demonic rituals that involve these words diametrically opposed to the Holy Scripture. It is distressing that Christians often blindly use the words activate, activating, and activation, regrettably repeating what they hear or have been taught in a process by good- hearted people who have no idea of the dark origins and evil practices connected with these words.

The Lord God instructed us in the Holy Scripture not to have partnership with the darkness. “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God.” (1 Corinthians 6:14,15, and 16) If this is the case, then repentance for agreeing with darkness is the Biblical mandate.

To please the Lord, we must understand that using words that are linked with and used by false religions in their pagan rituals or methods of idolatry are contrary to the Bible, as seen in the verse below.

“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgements of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors; Acquit me of hidden faults. Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:9-14)

According to God’s Word, if we fear the Lord, we must repent and ask forgiveness for our sins, this would apply to when we participated in things that at the time were hidden from us and we did not know they were a sin.

 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”   (1 John 1:9)

Activate, activating, and activation are used by false religions as a part and procedure of their evil activities, or ceremonies, and it is this usage by evil religions that makes those words and or practices undesirable for Christians. Unfortunately, activate, activating, and activation are frequently used in the Prophetic Church by Christians as catch-all words for a myriad of purposes, including but not limited to: starting a new process in believers, learning new gifts, kick-starting gifts, callings, anointings, and a multitude of other activities.

So, what should we use instead of those words? The Holy Bible is the believer’s ultimate authority and to be Biblically accurate we should be using the Biblical phrase: “Stirring up the gift” or “kindle afresh the gift of God.”  (2 Timothy 1:6)

“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. (2 Timothy 1:6—KJV) [4]

“For this reason, I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”   (2 Timothy 1:6–NASB)

According to the Word of God, “Stir up” or “kindle afresh” are the correct words to use when believers want to express the Biblical directive for bringing out or fanning the gift of God within us by the laying on of hands. (2 Timothy 1:6)

Vines Dictionary explains that [Stir, stir up /denotes “to kindle afresh,” or “keep in full flame” and is used metaphorically in (2 Timothy 1:6), where “the gift of God” is regarded as a fire capable of dying out through neglect– Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.] [5]

It is our heartfelt desire that this article will warn you to the danger that seeks to deceive, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies.” (2 Peter 2:1) Our hope is that you will pray and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because man false prophets have gone into the world.” (1 John 4:1) It is vital that you repent if you have been involved in the practices of idolatry, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin….Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:2, and 10) Use prayer to “stir up the gifts,” the special things that God has given you, and protect them well, “Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” (1 Timothy 1:14) Remember, “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (James 5:16c) We pray that this article is a blessing to you, and you will be strong in the Lord and not participate in evil.  We leave you with wisdom from Proverbs, “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.” (Proverbs 18:13)

“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11)

God bless you.

Armour Bearer

Sword Bearer [Contributing]

Arsenal of The King

1. All Biblical verses are taken from NASB unless otherwise noted. [“Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
2. At the deliberate choice of the author, false religions such as hindu, or reiki or the name satan will not be capitalized in this article
3. http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Religion%20of%20Life%20Force%20Energy.html [Marcia Montenegro-The Religion Of Life Force Energy]
4. All Biblical verses from the KJV are so noted. [The Holy Bible, King James Version. New York: American Bible Society: 1999; Bartleby.com, 2000.]
5. Vine’s Concise Dictionary of the Bible Copyright 1997, 1999.   Published in Nashville, Tennessee by Thomas Nelson, Inc.