New Wine Cymru have launched a heady new campaign. A "healing" campaign. Basically, "a diverse menu of healing ideas has been created to assist your church and churches throughout Wales to engage in healing evangelism." There are 4 dishes on this marvellous menu to tempt the spiritual taste-buds, and I want to focus here on the one tantalizingly called 'Treasure Hunting.'
So what exactly is 'Treasure Hunting?' New Wine Cymru explains it like this:
"Treasure Hunting is a form of prophetic evangelism. Typically a team will meet together and ask the Holy Spirit to lead them to pray for and bless those who are out and about that day. Clues may be given around a name, location, or landmark, distinguishing feature or a need or concern. After identifying the clues small teams then go out to find the people. Having been led to those who match the clues, introductions are made, explanations are given and prayer for God's found treasure is offered. The great thing about this model is that often the Lord leads to hearts that are open and prepared. The words of knowledge (clues) can create a warm receptivity for prayer. Often the prayers are around healing issues but not exclusively."
Man, oh man... are you pinching yourself to check you're not dreaming? I sincerely hope you are, because if you think this "fun" concept is God-given then there is something very seriously wrong somewhere in your perceptions of what is holy, righteous and acceptable!
THIS "GAME" IS STRAIGHT OUT OF THE OCCULT, WHERE IT IS A SCRIPTURALLY FORBIDDEN PRACTICE KNOWN AS DIVINATION!
"There shall not be found among you any one... that useth divination... "
(Deuteronomy 18:10)
A "word of knowledge" is now a "clue" supposedly given by the Holy Spirit! Does New Wine Cymru really think that the Third Person of the Trinity is a player of party games? That He throws out a collection of random "clues" that we have to solve in order to seek and find someone He wants to have ministered to? The notion is as absurd as it is grotesque! Assuredly, any such "clues" are not coming from the HOLY spirit, and any idea of this charade being "prophetic evangelism" is dangerous nonsense which can only damage the genuine Christian witness by replacing the true Gospel with a false one! Those receiving these "clues" are emphatically NOT prophets of the Lord!
"Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart."
(Jeremiah 14:14)
The question we need to ask now is where New Wine Cymru got this crazy idea from in the first place. Well, we now jump from rainy Wales to sunny California...
Redding, California is the home of Bethel Church, whose Senior Pastors are Bill and Beni Johnson. And Bethel is the home of some of the most suspect "Christian" teachings and practices on the face of the planet, and is world-infamous for its "glory cloud," "gold dust" and "angel feathers" manifestations!
And guess what? Bethel is also the home of 'Treasure Hunting!'
It is the brainchild of one Kevin Dedmon, who "teaches revival Kingdom theology in the School of Supernatural Ministry and trains new believers and new members in a revival supernatural lifestyle in his Firestarters class at Bethel Church." He is the author of a book called 'The Ultimate Treasure Hunt' (with a foreword by Bill Johnson himself) which kicked off this most regrettable of unbiblical atrocities.
Here's Mr. Dedmon's own slant on the practice of 'Treasure Hunting' divination:
The whole Dominionist/Signs & Wonders (Toronto Blessing) Bethel operation is riddled with occultism, all wrapped up in a pseudo-Christian shiny sweet-wrapper to entice the unwary. And their 'Treasure Hunting' concoction is actually a phenomenon which is known in Western occult circles as Psychic Questing. Just as the Toronto Blessing (actually curse!) originated in the East, where it is known as Kundalini Yoga with its attendant demonic manifestations, so too does "the ultimate treasure hunt" of Mr. Dedmon actually originate in the East, where it is identified as the occult Buddhist practice of Terma (hidden treasure) hunting!
"Ah!" you might say, "but how can this possibly be of the Enemy if it's done in the name of the Lord, and with a beneficial Christian end in view?" I would urge people to remember and take to heart the sobering and cautionary - indeed frightening - words of Jesus Himself, as recorded in Holy Writ (which seems to play no part in the "prophetic" treasure quest!):
And guess what? Bethel is also the home of 'Treasure Hunting!'
It is the brainchild of one Kevin Dedmon, who "teaches revival Kingdom theology in the School of Supernatural Ministry and trains new believers and new members in a revival supernatural lifestyle in his Firestarters class at Bethel Church." He is the author of a book called 'The Ultimate Treasure Hunt' (with a foreword by Bill Johnson himself) which kicked off this most regrettable of unbiblical atrocities.
Here's Mr. Dedmon's own slant on the practice of 'Treasure Hunting' divination:
"A group of people (three to five per team) asks God for words of knowledge about people’s names, clothing, appearance and prayer need(s). They also get words of knowledge about locations and other unusual things. They write these down on a paper called their Treasure Map and go to the locations on their Map to find “treasures.” The “treasures” are people who correspond in some way to the clues that the team has written down. When they find someone, they show him or her their map and ask if they can pray for him/her. Many people have been saved, healed or greatly touched by God’s love through this kind of prophetic evangelism."
(Source: http://www.kevindedmon.com/about-treasure-hunts/ )
(Source: http://www.kevindedmon.com/about-treasure-hunts/ )
The whole Dominionist/Signs & Wonders (Toronto Blessing) Bethel operation is riddled with occultism, all wrapped up in a pseudo-Christian shiny sweet-wrapper to entice the unwary. And their 'Treasure Hunting' concoction is actually a phenomenon which is known in Western occult circles as Psychic Questing. Just as the Toronto Blessing (actually curse!) originated in the East, where it is known as Kundalini Yoga with its attendant demonic manifestations, so too does "the ultimate treasure hunt" of Mr. Dedmon actually originate in the East, where it is identified as the occult Buddhist practice of Terma (hidden treasure) hunting!
"Ah!" you might say, "but how can this possibly be of the Enemy if it's done in the name of the Lord, and with a beneficial Christian end in view?" I would urge people to remember and take to heart the sobering and cautionary - indeed frightening - words of Jesus Himself, as recorded in Holy Writ (which seems to play no part in the "prophetic" treasure quest!):
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
(Matthew 7:22-23)
The fundamental question that needs to be asked is just WHAT "Jesus" is being followed, and whose name is being used by people in furtherance of such a deviant - and frankly demonic - practice as 'Treasure Hunting'/Psychic Questing, which comes straight out of the world of the occult? The use of the Lord's name is no guarantee whatsoever that what is being done is legitimate and completely above board, as His words as found in Matthew and quoted above very clearly warn us! Truly we have to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" and must ask ourselves some deep and difficult questions.
Are we following the REAL Jesus as revealed to us in the Holy Word of God? Or are we disciples of a DIFFERENT "Jesus," who have embraced "another gospel" which is not the GOOD News but extremely BAD news? What if we are kidding ourselves that we are helping people, when we are actually bringing harm to them by our methods of "evangelism?" Just what spirit is giving the "clues" to follow, and to what end exactly? Could it really be to make us believe in and propagate a seductive lie, at the expense of the uncompromising Truth? The Enemy is nothing if not subtle, is he not? Who is really behind "games" like this? The God of Heaven, or the god of this world? Do we realize just how much is at stake in getting the answers to fundamental questions like these right or wrong?
THERE IS NO SCRIPTURAL BACK-UP FOR THE PRACTICE OF 'TREASURE-HUNTING,' AND IF SOMETHING IS NOT AUTHENTICATED BY GOD'S WORD, IT IS CLEARLY AN EXTRA-BIBLICAL ACTIVITY AND CAN SAFELY THUS BE SEEN TO BE A SATANIC DECEPTION AND SOMETHING TO BE EXPOSED AS SUCH... AND UTTERLY AVOIDED!
Concerning their new "healing" campaign, of which 'Treasure Hunting' is an integral part, New Wine Cymru say:
NEW WINE CYMRU CONTINUES TO BE VERY MUCH IN THE FOREFRONT OF PROMOTING A FALSE, SIGNS & WONDERS CENTRED, HERETICAL DOMINIONIST "CHRISTIANITY" HERE IN WALES. THEY ARE INTENT ON CREATING A RELIGIOSITY WHICH HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE "NEW AGE (OF AQUARIUS)" THAN THE NEW WINE OF WHICH THE BIBLE SPEAKS! THEY WANT TO PUSH THEIR VAIN VISION INTO EVERY CORNER OF THE LAND!
As God's Word says of such:
Are we following the REAL Jesus as revealed to us in the Holy Word of God? Or are we disciples of a DIFFERENT "Jesus," who have embraced "another gospel" which is not the GOOD News but extremely BAD news? What if we are kidding ourselves that we are helping people, when we are actually bringing harm to them by our methods of "evangelism?" Just what spirit is giving the "clues" to follow, and to what end exactly? Could it really be to make us believe in and propagate a seductive lie, at the expense of the uncompromising Truth? The Enemy is nothing if not subtle, is he not? Who is really behind "games" like this? The God of Heaven, or the god of this world? Do we realize just how much is at stake in getting the answers to fundamental questions like these right or wrong?
THERE IS NO SCRIPTURAL BACK-UP FOR THE PRACTICE OF 'TREASURE-HUNTING,' AND IF SOMETHING IS NOT AUTHENTICATED BY GOD'S WORD, IT IS CLEARLY AN EXTRA-BIBLICAL ACTIVITY AND CAN SAFELY THUS BE SEEN TO BE A SATANIC DECEPTION AND SOMETHING TO BE EXPOSED AS SUCH... AND UTTERLY AVOIDED!
Concerning their new "healing" campaign, of which 'Treasure Hunting' is an integral part, New Wine Cymru say:
"It’s our vision to see hundreds of local churches engaging in creative and relevant ways of healing and evangelism on a regular basis. We aspire to see the Ministry of Kingdom Evangelism and Healing becoming a natural and regular part of the lifestyle of the local church."
Beware! Coming soon to a church near you?
As God's Word says of such:
"They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
Therefore thus saith the LORD GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold,
I am against you, saith the LORD GOD."
I am against you, saith the LORD GOD."
(Ezekiel 13:6-8)
https://twitter.com/NewWineCymru
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkgNmw6E7pY
POSTSCRIPT
A concerned brother and valued supporter of this blog alerted me to the photographs of the '2014 NWC Leaders Conference' posted on their Twitter page, which show a multitude of oil-filled jars with candles being "blessed!" He considered this to be rather "Emergent" and I completely concur! There is also a video posted of the worship group. And what is the song they are leading the congregation in singing "unto the Lord?" ABBA'S 'DANCING QUEEN!' I really think this speaks for itself, don't you? If seeing is believing, they can be found at:
https://twitter.com/NewWineCymru
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkgNmw6E7pY
RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL READING
A detailed critical analysis of 'Treasure Hunting' and also 'Healing on the Streets' (which is one of the 3 other items on NWC's "Healing" menu) can be found at:
I very much echo my fellow watcher's sentiments as expressed here:
"It seems to me that the banner of HEALING is being lifted up in place of the name of JESUS CHRIST in order to attract people, but isn’t the priority always to give primacy to Jesus Christ and His gospel? I would go so far as to say that this is an insult to Christ. Our priority should be to lift up the name of Jesus Christ not to lift up any other kind of banner."
