Kingdom – Benjamin Hoogterp

Hyper-Grace: Revisiting the Controversy

On February 9, 2017

Introduction

In 2014, I wrote my book, “Hyper-Grace: Biblically Confronting Current False-Grace Heresies”, and self-published it on Amazon (including a full text PDF download available on Google Books for free). It was in response to the rise in various errors and I believe heresies I had seen in the body of Christ, and, after studying for a few years, discussing with various people on both sides of the issue, I felt led to write.

When I wrote the book, it was with some awareness that another, more elder minister had written a book with a similar title, “Hyper-Grace: Exposing the Dangers of the Modern Grace Message”. Although I had not read all of his book at the time I wrote mine, I have done so in the time since.

Seven Mountains Analyzed – Seven Years On

By Benjamin

On May 11, 2016

In Prophetic, Thoughts

Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances.

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 NASB

The true test of any doctrine, teaching, or idea is whether it leads one into, or away, from a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. It does not matter how much Bible it references, how many church cultural maxims it seems to uphold, or how much it appeases our collective religious ‘guilt’ (whether deserved nor not), in the end, the only thing that matters is whether our faith is being expressed in love (Galatians 5:6), and whether that love continues to “abound in all knowledge and in depth of insight” (Philippians 1:9).

It is whether a teaching leads us, who receive it, are brought closer to or further away from God in the process. In addition, it is also about how well we bring others to know Christ, but this must never be at the loss of the former. The first commandment is first, the second is second. Always.

When A Worship Movement Turns

By Benjamin

On December 16, 2014

In Prophetic, Thoughts

Personally, I don’t think there is a line between the sacred and the secular,” she suggests. “If a person is living before God’s eyes, everything is sacred. All of life is sacred, as opposed to trying to make church songs in one box and love songs in another box. I think we need to get rid of the separation. I hope these songs will land somewhere between encouraging people and leading them to ask questions about what they really believe. I hope to stir up conversations in their soul. I love the mysterious elements of God, and again, not to separate the sacred from the secular, but see the story of God in our lives and in the dirt of humanity.

There comes a time when a movement comes to a decision and they go to the right or the left. But, what happens when they turn to the left, and not the right? To the side, and not straight on?

I didn’t intend to be an artist, but I originally started writing in the prayer room where I led two or three sessions a day,” she recounts of a multi-faceted role that dates back to her days as an intern at the International House of Prayer. “The songs that came out of those seasons had a very repetitive chorus type of feel to them and a lot of corporate singing off very scripturally-based themes. Not only have a lot of my past albums been centered around corporate worship songs, but the last record was recorded in the corporate live setting. I never want to walk away from that, but worship and creativity under God is bigger than just corporate expression exclusively, and in my heart, I’ve always had a singer/songwriter side. This project focuses more on lyrics than choruses and is not as repetitive as I may have been in the past, which has been a really fun process for me as a writer. The fact is I became an artist very accidentally and it all just evolved naturally, but because the Lord gave me a chance, I’m going to strive to do it with excellence.

A Grace Whack Responds

By Benjamin

On July 14, 2014

In General

It was only a matter of time… You post articles, you write books, you spend hours some days conversing with them, driving to meet with them, researching their ‘doctrines’. Eventually, they respond. I don’t intend to make any sort of a habit of honoring these with responses. I’ve tried, they’re just generally not interested. But, for the interest of study, it is sometimes useful to have a field specimen, of sorts. Occasionally, a piece is worth dissecting publicly, to see what is at work, for the interest of those observing.

As such, the following below is the latest response to my post on Biblically Confronting the False-Grace movement (here). The comment was too long to publish on that post for one, and, additionally, the format of comment and response does not allow for adequate interaction with the arguments.

But, when you choose to engage, you have to make a decision from the out-set. Even when studying and countering the religious spirit, you have to set some ground-rules, or boundaries. It must be agreed upon that if a subject matter is thoroughly proved wrong through a study of Scripture by one party, the other must question their position. Unfortunately, of every Grace-Whack we’ve ever come across, not one has cared that every point has been thoroughly contested and disproved.

The Kingdom

By Benjamin

On June 11, 2014

In Thoughts

Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

On the subject of the Kingdom of God, this is perhaps one of the most telling scriptures there is. In this single verse, you can tell quite a lot about the Kingdom. Let’s have a look…

Matthew 13 – The Parables of the Kingdom

By Benjamin

On January 30, 2014

In Thoughts

The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

Luke 6:40

For the casual observer, the parables of Matthew 13 seem fairly straight-forward. The Kingdom of Heaven is compared with several pictures from every day life, such as planting seeds, leavening bread, finding a good deal, and fishing. Indeed, to a child, these parables would seem, nearly, to be the simplest explanation of how the Kingdom of Heaven operated, and yet, there yet exists a body of thought that disagrees. In discussing this difference with a friend of mine, his response was straight-forward: You need to go to Seminary to learn things like that. It wasn’t flattering of Seminaries, either.

The problem presented with the parables are precisely what are mentioned on both studies of these issues. Are the things that Jesus is describing about the Kingdom good things, or are they bad? What is the scope? And, how could a thing such leaven be described as good?
Examination of these things, however, must be in the light of Luke 6:40, above. Jesus said, in Matthew 12:28, “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”. To Jesus, the presence of the Kingdom (not the Kingdom itself, mind you) was proved by his mighty works. The Kingdom of Heaven, in all the cases Jesus talked about, was a good thing.

One Thing

By Benjamin

On April 26, 2013

In Thoughts

When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Luke 18:22

King David wrote in Psalm 27:4 that he asked only one thing from God. This simple prayer, the foundation of the current 24/7 prayer movement, is central if we are to capture God in this generation. The simplicity, the focus, the potential. There is no lack to those who seek Him.

Yet, in the same right, to the man who had “too much” for his own good, as this passage describes, Jesus was bold and direct. The man wanted to be perfect, and Jesus, not trying to soften or work the man into agreement, told him His requirements. The man went away sad when Jesus said only One Thing was lacking. What did this poor man lack? Real treasure.

The Road Ahead

By Benjamin

On January 26, 2013

In Thoughts

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

What many think of as “life” is not life at all. Jesus said He was the way, the truth, and the life, and no one came to the Father but by Him (John 14:6). Jesus is The Life, and there is no other.

When we consider the many things in this world, from the eyes of Christ, we must conclude that since it is not contained within Him, it is not life at all. This is, in fact the truth, because without Christ, all are dead in their trespasses and sin. Theologically, we may even agree with this fact, but the truth remains that it is as true as salvation itself. What walks around before us are literally tombs filled with dead men’s bones.

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

John 12:23-26

Beyond Tomorrow

By Benjamin

On August 1, 2012

In Thoughts

Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well;

Ezekiel 33:32a NIV

The hand of the Lord is raising up a prayer army across the nation. As the psalmist wrote, “Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” (Psalm 144:1). Warriors, champions, and men and women of renown are being raised up all across the planet, preparing for a great showdown in this day and age.

Prayer is Power

By Benjamin

On May 12, 2012

In Thoughts

The Gospel is power. It is not mere words, but they are the “Words of Life” (John 6:68).

If we don’t understand that the Gospel is about affecting a change on a condemned and dying world, we will have very little traction to keep us in our prayer rooms.

Some may say God will do this or that, and who can stop the will of God? But, the scripture is clear, the prayer of the righteous CHANGES things! Things that wouldn’t have happened will, because someone prayed. Things that would have happened, won’t, because someone labored and moved the heavens. This is the Gospel. This is the charge.

Standing In His Presence

Tag: Kingdom Page 1 of 2

Hyper-Grace: Revisiting the Controversy

Introduction

Seven Mountains Analyzed – Seven Years On

When A Worship Movement Turns

A Grace Whack Responds

The Kingdom

Matthew 13 – The Parables of the Kingdom

One Thing

The Road Ahead

Beyond Tomorrow

Prayer is Power