Let’s Redefine the ‘Culture of Honor’

In this hour-long video, Wanda Alger shares a message for those who are called to be whistleblowers, especially through the lens of the 16-year-old book by Danny Silk, Culture of Honor.

“We’re here because certain church leaders have not done their jobs,” she says.

How do we reconcile blowing the whistle and bringing much-needed justice and reforms with a “culture of honor”? How does God define that term, and how can we better apply it?

Wanda Alger is an ordained and commissioned fivefold leader who has been in ministry for more than 35 years and is passionate about interpreting life from Heaven’s perspective. She is called to speak to the Body of Christ about the mountain of government, godly leadership, and Kingdom authority. Her blogs, videos, books, and other resources are available at wandaalger.me.

Editor’s Note: The transcript that follows was automatically generated and lightly edited, so please be aware there could be typos or other small errors. The Stream is working toward a transcription service that does fast, accurate, and reliable work; thank you in advance for your patience!

00:00:00:16 – 00:00:25:08
Hey, everyone. Wanda here. I want to bring you into my process. I’ve been thinking a lot about this culture of honor, especially since the last few videos that I put out where I interviewed Steven Powell and we, in our last part, part two of the interview, we were looking at different doctrines — dangerous doctrines that had been developed over the last number of years, that we would needed to examine.

00:00:25:08 – 00:00:50:17
And we were looking at it through the lens of the New Apostolic Reformation or the NAR. But, you know, this has really permeated the whole prophetic movement. Some of you have actually still emailed me and asked, you know, what is the NAR? Because it seems like it was a generation ago. And yet, there are ideologies, mindsets and practices that have permeated, especially the prophetic, part of the charismatic movement, church.

00:00:50:19 – 00:01:23:17
And it’s gotten very unhealthy with all of these exposures of sin and compromise not being, dealt with, lack of accountability, so many problems. And one of the things that has come up is this culture of honor. So in part two of my interview with Steven, we addressed that and briefly talked about it. But I’ve just been thinking about it more, and I wanted to come back because there’s some important aspects that I want to make sure that we all get, because the context right now within the body of Christ.

00:01:23:19 – 00:01:47:22
We are going through a huge examination. We are under the microscope of heaven. We are going through a sanctification process. We are going through a correction. Yes. As the body of Christ, leaders are going through deep examining and, exposure because things have not been dealt with. They’ve been swept under the rug, they’ve been ignored. And we have an opportunity now to change things.

00:01:47:22 – 00:02:11:17
So, you know, I know there’s some of you out there that, you know, still email and are wondering why I post what I do. And this is what I want to address. Because this is going to help those of you who need to be speaking right now. And I’m talking about both, those who have been abused victims, but I’m also speaking to those who are called to be whistleblowers right now, those who are called to be truth tellers.

00:02:11:18 – 00:02:36:01
There is a mandate of the Lord on some people to speak. And I realize not everybody is comfortable with that. Okay. If you are a mercy centered person and if if you just want everybody to get along and if you’re a peacemaker or peacekeeper, when talking about sin in the camp and supposedly, you know, exposing people’s sins, well, I mean, nobody wants to do that.

00:02:36:01 – 00:02:53:17
Nobody likes to do that. But this is where we found ourselves, and this is a work that the Holy Spirit is doing because the church is not done its job, that that’s why we’re here. It’s because church leaders, not all of them, but certain church leaders have not done their jobs. Okay. And so this is why the Lord has put it on people’s hearts.

00:02:53:19 – 00:03:07:18
To do this. But in terms of this culture of honor, the term is thrown around. And so what I want to do in this video is I’m going to define it. And as a matter of fact, last night I found the book, this is this is the book that a lot of this is based on by Danny Silk.

00:03:07:20 – 00:03:40:12
Culture of honor, written 16 years ago, 2009. I picked it up and I read it again last night. I was shocked, I was shocked, okay. And I’m you got to hang with me, okay? Because I need to tell you why. Context is very important. Okay? 16 years ago. That was a while ago. All right. So I’m going to be pulling from that, but I want to help you paint a picture of what it was like when that book was written, where we are now, what it really means.

00:03:40:17 – 00:04:03:05
If you need to speak up, I want to I want to empower you to know what the Lord has told you. And, and that we understand biblically where our authority comes from, okay, that that we can have a freedom in our heart to follow our conscience. We don’t talk about that in the body of Christ. Our conscience actually carries spiritual weight and spiritual authority.

00:04:03:07 – 00:04:25:09
So I am inviting you to process with me that we can understand the culture of honor from a biblical perspective, and let’s redefine it the way that God intends. I mean.

00:04:25:11 – 00:04:44:16
So I want to tell you a little, little bit about this book. Okay. And in 2009, let me just give you bullet points of what it is for those of you who aren’t aware. And and let me just say, for those of you, because I know I’ve got followers, from all different kinds of streams. Okay, who have who have jumped on my channel at different times.

00:04:44:16 – 00:05:03:21
Okay. So maybe you feel like, you know, if you’re not a part of this conversation, you actually need to be all right. This doesn’t just pertain to those who went to. I have Casey or those at Morningstar or whatever. This is a body of Christ issue. You know, Scripture in First Corinthians says that when one part of the body suffers, we all suffer.

00:05:03:23 – 00:05:28:22
And so there is a level of understanding that we need to have. I think this is why there are some leaders that are not saying anything. They’re not informed, they’re not paying attention. They’re so busy on their message and their lane that they’re in. And I mean, not everybody is called, you know, to the same measure, to the same degree, but we should all be informed to the point that we can be in an agreement in prayer and cover those who are called to this right now.

00:05:28:24 – 00:05:51:16
Now, just as God has called others to other spheres and other assignments, and that’s needed. That’s good. Okay. But I’m just saying, those of you who have been following me on my channel, please hang with me, because this is going to encourage you, and I believe it’s going to empower you in your own situation. Okay. To know really what what what kind of authority are you walking in do?

00:05:51:17 – 00:06:13:18
Should we even understand in the body of Christ to be healthy? Okay, that is not controlling. It’s not from top down. It’s actually really servant leadership the way that that God intended. So when I reread this, basically, and let me just clarify, because I did get an email about this, I do not believe that Bethel is a cult.

00:06:13:20 – 00:06:31:11
Okay. Not you’ll understand, but this book written by Danny Silk, Danny Silk used to be on Bethel, on staff at Bethel in Redding, California. I think he has since moved on. I know he’s not in Redding. Actually, I was trying to find out where he’s at. If you know exactly where he’s at right now, let me know.

00:06:31:14 – 00:06:51:07
It’s a matter of fact, my husband and I are slated to go to a conference in about two weeks where he’s going to be a speaker. Pray for me. I’m hoping to actually be able to get with him and ask him questions, because here’s the thing. This book was written 16 years ago within a very specific culture and time frame.

00:06:51:09 – 00:07:07:22
And as an author myself, I know how easy it is when you write a book, you may change your mind years down the road, you know, or you would write something different because the application of the truths that you have may change. I know from my book Moving From Sword to Scepter. I mean, that was only maybe five years ago.

00:07:07:24 – 00:07:34:14
I would already change some of the application that I put in that book. And so I say that because let’s start like lock anybody in to an ideology from 16 years ago. Let’s get updated all the time, especially if we’re going to condemn someone. I mean, this is the space right now when we’re looking at different leaders and determining their viability, let’s not pull out tapes or books from ten, 15 years ago.

00:07:34:14 – 00:07:50:09
That’s not helpful. Okay, that might have been their past. I’m interested in what is their present. What have they worked through? What have they changed? How have they grown okay in the last 2 or 3 years? That’s that. You know they have Fruita that you can see. Oh wow. They used to think this. They used to say that.

00:07:50:11 – 00:08:12:18
Where are they at now? This goes to the integrity right now. It’s very important for even for those whistleblowers that we have accurate up to date. Okay. Intel, and especially when names get thrown around, and videos are shared clips because I get them all the time. Please don’t send me something that’s ten years old. Okay? Let’s be current inaccurate, but okay, so what is what is the message of this?

00:08:12:18 – 00:08:36:06
But basically that the culture of honor is describing, the culture at Bethel, at Bethel School and their school of supernatural ministry. This is where it comes from. And what I learned when I read through it. Again, Danny pretty much is making a case helping people understand what it is like to, first of all, believe in a fivefold ministry, form of church government.

00:08:36:08 – 00:08:57:15
Now, this when you describe because this is how he opens the book, is talking about five fold ministry. I believe in five fold ministry. If you’ve been following me, three videos ago, I because I knew it was coming, I did a video specifically on making a case for modern day apostles and prophets, five fold ministry of Jesus.

00:08:57:20 – 00:09:18:02
Okay. And I specifically did that, to hopefully give you a different look at apostles and prophets. And I challenge you if you have an issue with that, if you think, oh, boy, she’s part of an hour, please go watch that, I dare you. Okay? Because I’m trying to share it in a way that gives fresh understanding. I’m trying to strip the titles.

00:09:18:04 – 00:09:42:15
I don’t care about apostle or prophet. I’m looking at the function, the gifts, the need for that kind of leader within the church. Okay, apostolic ministry, prophetic ministry. It’s all throughout the New Testament. Okay, so my point is, when Danny, speaks of this, I’m behind it in terms of, wanting to see all of these kinds of leaders within the body of Christ and doing their part.

00:09:42:15 – 00:10:10:15
Okay. But here’s here’s the unique part of this culture of honor is that he basically says that because the American church at large has been led by pastors, teachers, and evangelists, there’s not been much openness to the supernatural. I agree with that. And I remember, I mean, 15, 20 years ago, I myself saw huge, religious spirit at work in the evangelical world.

00:10:10:17 – 00:10:43:00
I mean, run by pastors and teachers, and they’re great leaders. But in terms of prophetic ministry or or the gifts of the spirit being championed, or being practiced in a local setting, it was rare. It’s like the supernatural wasn’t there. This was something that Bethel changed. Okay. Very intentionally. And this is where I personally was blessed by, you know, the early teachings because they valued that part of our walk with the Lord.

00:10:43:02 – 00:11:07:10
And I’ve said it before, I mean, God is spirit. We are we’re eternal beings. Okay. We’re going to live with him forever. And he invites us now through the power of the Holy Spirit to know him and to know that that supernatural realm, that spiritual realm. And so this was part of what it sounds like the the mandate, the passion.

00:11:07:12 – 00:11:38:23
The assignment, okay, that Bethel had was in creating a church culture where the supernatural was actually the core value. And, I’m not going to take the time. I could spend a whole hour just talking about the book. Okay? And I’m trying not to do that. I’m, I’m just trying to give you a context here that they put a lot of emphasis on the apostle and prophet believing that the apostle and prophet were really the primary key players in bringing the supernatural aspect, of the of the church government.

00:11:39:00 – 00:12:00:07
They were. And this is what I believe. Okay, you don’t have to agree, but this was how it impacted me when I read it. You know, 15 years ago, because of the permeation of the religious spirit and my hunger to know about the gifts of the spirit, the working of Holy Spirit, I was excited about the apostle prophet because I’m gifted prophetically.

00:12:00:07 – 00:12:27:05
And so it’s like someone gets me and wants to champion that. Yes. But really downplaying the role of pastor and teacher, to the point that it’s unhealthy. Yeah. And that’s what I began to pick up in the book, is that, in order to combat this religious spirit that was so focused on rules and following the protocol, you know, line upon line, at the cost of shutting out the supernatural.

00:12:27:07 – 00:12:45:17
This is what it sounds like Danny was trying to address. And all Bethel was that they wanted to elevate the apostle and prophet in the supernatural, because that’s really one of the statements. Unless we bring people into the tangible, supernatural reality of the gospel, we have no authority to teach it. So this really was their goal, their aim.

00:12:45:20 – 00:13:12:03
It was on signs, wonders and miracles and accessing that supernatural realm. I’ve said that before, and the overall thing that I’m noticing, and this is a principle, no matter what season of of life we’re in, when you try to correct something, the tendency is to overcorrect and then where you might have had one extreme that was not helping you end up going on the other side and having another extreme that’s not healthy.

00:13:12:05 – 00:13:39:15
And so I believe that that’s in essence what happened, such an emphasis on the supernatural that, it was void of some of those biblical foundations and these what should have been healthy, sound doctrines became very mixed because they were not held accountable for the biblical integrity. But they had a quote about honor. Honor has fallen on hard times.

00:13:39:15 – 00:14:02:23
It said, and this is a quote here on page 75. He says, honor has fallen on hard times in our culture. Independence is worshiped. And he had just talked about the fivefold ministers, how they they need to be honored. Each one said, we focus on our private relationships with God and have a hard time recognizing spiritual authority, and considering others is more important than ourselves.

00:14:03:00 – 00:14:22:20
The result is that we are cut off from the flow of heaven, the flow of heaven. This is what they what they see in this, in this culture of honor, is that there is a flow from the apostles and prophets down and that in, in honoring, their call to the supernatural and those experiences, they we really are experiencing heaven coming to earth.

00:14:22:22 – 00:14:46:12
And so that’s really kind of the whole idea. But what then happens in doing this? Because they’re trying to create an atmosphere where the super natural realities, you have to really have an open mind for that, because if you’ve ever experienced anything, any of the spiritual gifts or ever seeing a manifestation of the spirit, you know, you can’t always explain it, or understand it.

00:14:46:14 – 00:15:15:06
So they want to create a culture, nurture an atmosphere of freedom. Freedom is paramount that everyone feels free and not controlled. Interesting, but in their desire to do that. Then he also talks about sin because we don’t want to, control people. People need to feel free to explore this supernatural reality. Sin is it says sin doesn’t need to be punished.

00:15:15:06 – 00:15:44:00
It does not need to be controlled because he defines sin as actually being associated with fear. If you’re to sin, conscience, sin conscious, then you’re walking in fear. Now that’s where I had a check. Because something taken too far that if you talk too much about sin wrongdoings, then you’re only stirring up fear. Where we want to create a an atmosphere where there’s freedom, okay?

00:15:44:00 – 00:16:12:00
And we want love. And the whole idea that love is going to bring them back. If you really love someone and you don’t focus on this sin, we can bring them back into their identity with Christ. And he even talks about restoring leaders. Okay. And I’m not going to delve into that, but simply to say, because this idea of not confronting sin and even punishing that, it’s more of bringing a person into realizing who they are.

00:16:12:02 – 00:16:35:13
And once they repent, then you know, they can just be immediately restored to their royal sonship. Okay, and not punish them. So I, and apology for most people have a relationship with the rules, and thus their behavior is motivated by fear of punishment rather than love. Now, I realize I’m taking a risk here and just throwing out these quotes.

00:16:35:19 – 00:17:09:24
Like I said, that the book really needs to be read in in its entirety to understand the context. You know, the bottom line is, when I read through the whole book, I saw some valid scriptural principles that I would agree with, but there’s a lot of presumptions that in order for these things to work, you have to have a healthy, a healthy understanding of the Word of God and sin and consequences, authority structures, and even a strong sense of right and wrong morality.

00:17:10:01 – 00:17:43:07
I mean, there’s got to be some other foundational pieces that are in place in order for some of the things that he was talking about to really work. That’s evident. It didn’t, because what ended up happening and why it’s affecting so many today is because in trying to stir this, this culture, if you would be to sin conscience, you start confronting or talking about someone else’s sin, immorality, failure, some harassment, then that would be deemed, well, that’s that sin and that we don’t want to be so sin conscious.

00:17:43:07 – 00:18:20:05
And, you know, let’s well, we’ll deal with it. But, not in the way that really should be. I mean, and there’s not obviously there’s, there’s no context within the book that they were dealing with the kinds of gross sexual sins that that are now being exposed. But but this is a problem. Okay. So what is ended up happening and why we need to talk about this is that for those who were there and I want to for those of you who are watching, if you have ever been to Bethel, and you experienced this either as a student or, a past number, please comment below.

00:18:20:07 – 00:18:43:08
We’d love to hear. Yeah. You know, am I am I even describing this the way that you experienced it? Because this is I’m just kind of like I said, I’m processing out loud as I’m going through and reading this again and getting a feel for for the atmosphere that they had created. And I mean, I’ve heard so many, because I’ve gotten a lot of emails and, and I’ve seen comments online, that everyone kind of says the same thing, this same story.

00:18:43:13 – 00:19:09:18
And, realized that this was a culture that spread. It wasn’t just a Bethel that this culture spread because and I’m going to give an example, because my daughter went to another ministry school around the same time, same kind of culture, same kinds of issues. And I’m going to talk about that. And we had, we have a son that went to Bethel for three years for the school.

00:19:09:18 – 00:19:41:04
So we have I’m speaking from some personal experience. Okay. We visited there numerous times. And like I said, I don’t believe personally that Bethel is a cult. I don’t believe that that’s what the teachers or the leaders intended, but. But because of the lack of oversight, because of the lack of accountability and the way that many misapplied these principles, it has produced cult like activity.

00:19:41:09 – 00:20:03:11
There’s no question it has become a a mindset that is very destructive. Instead of life giving. Okay, so that’s where I’m at personally. I know there’s some, you know, that believe that Bill is a false prophet. Chris is a false prophet and Bethel is a cult. I personally don’t believe that. As I’ve said before, there’s a difference between being false, being flawed, being blinded by things.

00:20:03:11 – 00:20:30:04
I mean, there’s a lot of different things you’re going on. So, I’m hoping that in sharing these things again, you’re gonna understand more what Scripture says about honor and authority that’s going to free us up not only individually, but perhaps give us a different template for within a fellowship of how we deal with things, how we deal with differences with sin, who we listen to and why.

00:20:30:06 – 00:20:58:09
Okay, because this is what’s been twisted, is that so many of these students that came up in these ministry schools were not allowed to speak up when they saw something, their conscience was violated because they were told the authorities they had to honor or honor the culture or whatever. Okay. So with that, I want to show you that what I’m going to look at, and this is what, I shared actually, in my last video with Steve, and these seven levels of authority found in Scripture.

00:20:58:11 – 00:21:20:07
And, and I’m going to briefly describe each one of these and give you an example so that you know how these can be rightly place in the context that we’re in now. Okay. And again, I want to remind you, what we’re dealing with right now is, is major, major sin being exposed among leaders in the body of Christ?

00:21:20:12 – 00:21:46:07
Okay. And so God is cleaning up things, and he has called certain people to speak up about it because the church has not been dealing with it. Leaders have not been dealing with it. Again, this is why things are going public the way they are. So, so we’re going to look at these seven levels, okay. And you’ll, you’ll see God himself, God’s word, our conscience delegated authorities, contractual authority, positional authority and a particular gifting.

00:21:46:08 – 00:22:07:24
Okay. So with that I want us to look at these first two, because these first two are unchanging. And let me tell you, they are in order. These seven are in a very specific order of importance, the first one being the most important. The second level of authority submits and yields to the first authority. And that’s how this whole list is going to flow.

00:22:08:01 – 00:22:28:12
Therefore, the last one, the only way it has any authority is it is if it has already submitted to all the previous authorities above it. That’s how this thing is going to work. So you can see God Himself is our ultimate authority. We know that. Joe 40 22I know that you can do all things that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

00:22:28:18 – 00:22:53:10
God is ultimate perfect authority over all, sovereign and supreme. It’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. That’s a settled matter. His word is right next to that. Matthew 517. Do not think that I’ve come to abolish the law of the prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. The living Word, Jesus Christ. Okay, embodies, the father’s heart and the Word of God is living.

00:22:53:10 – 00:23:14:24
It is written, it is there. And we have both the living word and the written word. The written word is the account of his eternal law that is inspired in earth and without salt, concerning his intentions and purposes. For us, every principle needed to live a righteous life and fulfill our creation mandate is provided in Scripture. Now you have to settle those first two issues.

00:23:15:01 – 00:23:38:00
If there’s any question about the inerrancy of Scripture, all right, that the rest of this list won’t even work. Okay. So you have to sell. God himself is our ultimate authority, and his word. It’s what he speaks in His word that always complements and agrees with God Himself. These first two levels of spiritual authority never change their eternal and immutable.

00:23:38:02 – 00:24:00:17
God’s word submits to his own heart and character, and both are foundational to any subsequent understanding of authority. All right, now it is this third one that we need to talk about our conscience. And let me just say, actually back here to, to these first two when we’re looking at leaders, because this is a question we’re asking right now, you know, who can we trust?

00:24:00:23 – 00:24:22:07
And let me just say, for those of you who watched the last two videos, when I was talking with Steven, I heard 1 or 2 people feel coming away from like that, feeling like we were we were asking so many questions and was like, who can we even trust anymore? And I don’t want you to go away feeling that way because there are so many good leaders.

00:24:22:09 – 00:24:48:03
You know, those two, videos were specifically one thing to alert people to some of these specific issues that need prayer. And maybe it was an overemphasis. I hope it wasn’t. But just to assure you, there are there are people that God has put in place that we can trust. And one of the ways to know who those trusted leaders are is when they exemplify these two, levels of authority.

00:24:48:03 – 00:25:09:07
They honor God. They live a life where they are testifying to the power of God in their life and the Word of God in their life, that this is very telling of any leader. If they talk about it and they live it. Okay, that right there should give you a sense of, okay, I believe I can trust them.

00:25:09:09 – 00:25:31:22
All right. Now, this conscience, I actually have an, No, this is a this is the scripture I want to first Timothy one nine holding faith and a good conscience by rejecting this. Some have made shipwreck of their faith. This is Paul talking to Timothy about our conscience. What is our conscience? Our conscience is really our heart.

00:25:31:24 – 00:26:01:04
It’s our soul that informs us as to what is right and wrong. Okay, our conscience is very important and it actually has authority. When fed properly by God’s Word, our conscience or our heart actually holds us accountable to truth. God has created us that way. He has written his law in our hearts. Okay, there is the requirement that we have to feed it the word okay.

00:26:01:05 – 00:26:22:16
And that’s that’s very important part of this, because our conscience is only going to inform us based upon what we feed it. Yeah. If you don’t feed it God’s Word, if you feed it world stuff, social media stuff, and that’s what you think about a lot, then you’re not going to have a, an alert conscience to God’s heart, his character and his word.

00:26:22:18 – 00:26:44:07
Okay, so we have to feed it. But when we do, it holds us accountable. And that’s what I say. If we feed upon negative reports, false information, our conscience will be seared and unable to lead us rightly. It is our God given conscience that moves our hearts and helps us to know and follow God’s will. Now, this is this is huge.

00:26:44:09 – 00:27:12:04
Because we don’t talk about this enough of I mean, we probably use other words, but even when we do say, like, you know, trust your heart, I mean, if I whatever use that, that that can be really misunderstood. But for me, based upon this understanding of what Scripture talks about conscience, I believe that that’s the place where Holy Spirit speaks to me, where I am drawing from everything that I have read in the Word of God, and everything that I’ve learned to know about God in my life.

00:27:12:06 – 00:27:44:04
Because the more that I feed myself on that relationship with Him and His Word, I’m going to want what he wants. I’m going to love what he loves, and I’m going to hate what he hates. That informs my conscience and that hold me accountable. I know it, it’s just there. Okay? Because based upon what I’ve been feeding it in first Corinthians 812, in this whole, chapter, they are arguing about, taking communion or eating food sacrificed to idols.

00:27:44:04 – 00:28:06:20
That was his subject. Okay. In this chapter eight and in the early church, there were some people that had a conscience against eating any food sacrificed to idols. There were others that it didn’t bother them. They had appropriated the blood of Jesus, that they were just in a different place spiritually. They had a clear conscience that they could do that.

00:28:06:22 – 00:28:40:23
But the appeal was pay attention to what another’s conscience is. And in chapter eight, verse 12 of first Corinthians, it says thus sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience. When it is weak, you sin against Christ. I mean, this is what what Paul was saying, that our conscience is so important. We we have to honor what God has put in our hearts based upon His Word, what his truth is shown in our hearts.

00:28:41:00 – 00:29:00:10
We have to answer to him for that. And that’s what Paul was saying. Listen for you. Your conscience may tell you to do this. You need to follow your conscience, because that’s what God has spoken to you. But for them, this is what God has spoken to them. And if you tell them to violate their conscience, they’re actually sinning against God.

00:29:00:12 – 00:29:22:22
But you ought to be held accountable for that. Yeah. If they don’t follow their conscience, they are sinning against God. That’s that’s on you. I and then in Hebrews 1318, there’s actually quite a few scriptures about conscience. And this one it says, pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

00:29:22:24 – 00:29:45:04
Interesting that honor is with conscience. But this was a repeated theme for Paul and his writings. The importance of having a clear conscience that we have informed our conscience rightly. And this this is very important because and I’m going to apply this with some very specific examples, that for those of you who have been following these stories, you’re going to understand this.

00:29:45:06 – 00:30:08:17
But I want you to see here after okay, after this, the conscience here, what’s next is delegated authorities. This is the next level of authority that goes after our conscience. Here in Hebrews 1317 says, obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.

00:30:08:19 – 00:30:32:02
Now this is talking about pastors, okay? Church leaders, government leaders, those who have been appointed or delegated by God because God is the one that gave them that authority. God is the one who calls and appoints leaders in our government. Citizens affirm that call by voting officials into office. Believers in the church are also to recognize and affirm those whom God has called to serve in leadership.

00:30:32:04 – 00:30:54:04
This isn’t dependent on their likability, but their commission. Unless we are told to go directly against the higher authority of God’s Word, we must seek to respect their roles, pray for their success, and follow their leadership. So this is a place where we need to honor, yes, where God has called people to certain levels of leadership. We want to honor that.

00:30:54:06 – 00:31:41:17
I. However, they still must submit to someone’s conscience. Okay, now I’m going to give you an example of this. Those of you who’ve been following the Daystar story with Jonathan, Jonathan and Suzy Lamb early on in the breaking of that story, there was an infamous recording shared where Jonathan and Suzy went before, Jonathan’s mother, Joni. And, the pastor there, Jonathan and Suzy, were asked to read an email on on air about Joni’s marriage, but their conscience that they didn’t have a good conscience about doing that because of what they felt in the Lord, about about Joni’s new marriage.

00:31:41:19 – 00:32:03:16
They felt convicted that that was not right. And so they they felt like they couldn’t do that. They offered to read another email comment, but for that, they couldn’t. They were told they needed to honor the authority, violate their conscience, because Joni, in essence, was the voice of God. Now, those of you who have heard that recording, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

00:32:03:16 – 00:32:26:11
Those of you who haven’t. Yes, that’s how it unfolded. That’s why it was shocking to everybody that they were instructed. Basically, your conscience is not important. What’s more important is the authority that I have. You have to honor that. That is a direct violation of Scripture. When someone has a conscience before the Lord, the Lord has placed something on their heart.

00:32:26:13 – 00:32:44:01
You have to honor that. We might not all be in the same place. I mean by the scriptures. You know the example there in Corinthians, because this can go to a lot of issues. I mean, even about social drinking, about, faith practices. We’re all at different places to where our conscience might be, but this is something we have to be aware of.

00:32:44:07 – 00:33:16:13
Okay? And and obviously, we’re not saying that it’s that we’re condoning of someone is sinning, but it’s those who, again, are they’re following God in his word. We have to allow for that. And this, again, is a repeated theme in all of these, heart wrenching stories that are coming forward. And the victims testimonies who are sharing about getting in situations, you know, through the years in these ministry settings where they felt uncomfortable, they did not feel right doing certain things.

00:33:16:13 – 00:33:41:10
And yet we’re told it didn’t matter how you feel, you just need to trust us. I mean, things were so manipulated, you know, that they were made to believe that honoring those authorities was more important. That was actually more God honoring. And the whole time, no, their their God given conscience, the Holy Spirit was already, you know, alerting them, you know, red flag warning, warning.

00:33:41:12 – 00:34:11:14
And the supposed authorities violated Scripture by not listening. And so this is why it’s so important that we understand this for any one of us, that our conscience has spiritual authority here before God. As we are growing, as we are learning, as we are feeding on God’s Word. I mean, now that again, I go back to that, that is the critical factor in this working, is that we have to be feeding on God’s word, that we want to know truth.

00:34:11:19 – 00:34:33:09
Okay? We’re not looking for excuses to sin, okay? That’s not going to work. Okay? You’re you’re you have a clear conscience. Then. Okay. I hopefully our hearts are we want to walk in truth. We want to have a clear conscience. This is what Paul was saying. I want to have a clear conscience that I know that the enemy has no hold on me, and that I am right before God and right before others.

00:34:33:11 – 00:35:02:13
Let me talk about freedom. That’s where true freedom is. Now. The other application of this that I wanted to point out, well, for those of you who feel called to to speak truth right now, the whistleblowers truth tellers, whatever label you have, this is a time where God has mandated and put a burden, okay, put a burden on people’s hearts to speak out, and I’ll just speak for myself right now, okay?

00:35:02:19 – 00:35:29:03
So that you understand where I’m coming from, I have I have to answer this call from the Lord. I have I have to follow my conscience, realizing that not everyone is going to feel the same assignment. Not everyone’s going to feel the same burden. I understand that, but in terms of, you know, things that I’m putting on my channel because I have a mixed audience in my followers, different ones of you have jumped on and different times when I’ve been focusing on different things.

00:35:29:03 – 00:35:50:08
And it and it changes, you know, during the election 2020, it was much more in the nationals there, you know, prophetic dreams, all that kind of thing. And then it’s it changes. But I answer to the Lord, I’m, I don’t I don’t determine I’m just going to speak about this. I’m always like, Lord, how do you want to use my voice?

00:35:50:10 – 00:36:14:12
And so for me, this is a burden of the Lord because of my relationship with the Lord and what I read in his word. And I have a conviction about righteousness and holiness within the church. And I see how much has been violated. I mean, there’s a, I think, righteous indignation, not void of love, but actually still does compassion, seeing the destruction of the body of Christ.

00:36:14:14 – 00:36:31:23
Okay. And I say this because there are some of you are watching some of you who also feel this mandate, some of you J who’s out there. Okay. Because this is a season of justice, God’s justice. Now we have to be very careful how we handle this. You know, we can’t try to overcorrect or else we’re going to fall in a ditch of our own.

00:36:32:00 – 00:36:56:14
We’ve got to operate in love and mercy. Yes, but for those who are questioning this whole process, this is why I’m wanting to help you understand that for those who feel this call in this mandate, pray. Pray for us, okay, that we can keep a right heart, a right spirit. But do not try to silence what God has authorized.

00:36:56:16 – 00:37:34:24
I. That’s the word of the Lord. I do not silence what God has authorized. Yes, there are ways in which we can share that we must have integrity. We must have good information and not be vindictive. We’re not seeking vengeance. Yes, yes, yes. But I’m simply saying, can we recognize the word of the Lord in this hour and what God is doing and I, and to honor those who are honoring God’s voice, His word, and the mandate that we feel.

00:37:35:00 – 00:37:56:17
I mean, if we’re going to switch up and redefine this honor, let’s do it rightly. Let’s honor God and His Word. He is a God of love and a God of mercy. He is a God of severe consequences as well. He is a God of justice. I mean, we can’t just pick and choose, you know, the part of God that we like, and that’s easy and that feels comfortable.

00:37:56:19 – 00:38:14:00
But this is why we need to pray for each other, you know, because there is a part of the body of Christ that’s hurting, and we need to gather around those parts and pray for them and pray for those who who are helping them. Hey everyone. I wanted to let you know that my latest release wand is notebook.

00:38:14:02 – 00:38:36:07
Deliverance and Freedom is now available in print. It is a eight and a half by 11 spiral bound notebook, 100 pages of notes. I’ve been providing this as a PDF download, which anyone, anywhere can get, and it’s available globally. You can download it. But if you don’t want to take the time to print it out within the United States, I’m offering this notebook, in print so you can go to Wanda Alger.

00:38:36:07 – 00:39:03:07
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00:39:03:09 – 00:39:24:13
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00:39:24:15 – 00:39:52:06
Okay, so let’s let’s just move on here because I spoke to okay, there’s this conscience which is so important. And then the delegated authorities. But again, we’re still looking at okay, how do we bring correction. How do we understand who we’re supposed to listen to. The next level is contractual authority. Now this too is huge in terms of freeing ourselves, from mindsets and ideologies that are blinding me to the truth.

00:39:52:08 – 00:40:14:04
Now, I did a whole video on ungodly alliances, a couple weeks back. I encourage you to go watch that because I unpack this whole thing. But but let’s just look at this contractual authority. Now, I gave an example from the Old Testament in Ruth four seven. Because this has to do with contracts, vows, agreements. And this was one example, in the Old Testament.

00:40:14:04 – 00:40:40:08
Now, in earlier times in Israel for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel. Okay, this is a level of legitimate authority, even spiritually. It doesn’t even have to do with spiritual matters. But this kind of authority is given through a written contract, a verbal agreement, a vow, a rental agreement.

00:40:40:10 – 00:41:10:09
When under contract, we are obliged to adhere to the rules assigned in the contract for the time allotment given we are called to honor its authority unless a higher authority releases us from the contract. Okay, now again, let’s just go back here. Remember these seven levels. Contractual authority is now number five. Contracts and vows have to I have to always yield to delegated authority.

00:41:10:09 – 00:41:36:21
Is our conscience God’s word God himself okay. And so yes, we find that this contractual authority has gone against God’s word. We’re out of order. And this is why I did the video on ungodly agreements. And I spoke about vows a little bit. Okay. Which, by the way, is in my new deliverance, notebook that is now available.

00:41:36:21 – 00:42:08:17
I have a whole section on vows and agreements and alliances. Okay. That we understand that when we make a vow, verbal or written, it is binding in the spirit. And when we make agreements that are unhealthy. Freemasonry. I brought up the Knights of Malta with morning star Rick Joyner. I mean, those are extreme things, okay? Extreme organizations, cults, that yeah, we definitely need a break because that opens the door to witchcraft.

00:42:08:19 – 00:42:53:11
But even vows or contracts or agreements, it can even happen with with good people. But it’s unhealthy because it’s become more of a soul tie. And we have felt obligated. And this is where I see, in some ways, again, some of the leaders that we wish would speak out many times and, and I’ve seen this happen in other settings or with other issues for those, for example, who are a part of a denomination, if you are a pastor of a Baptist church or an Assemblies of God church or some of these denominations, you are under contract with that denomination, and there’s a whole list of rules that you have to follow.

00:42:53:13 – 00:43:35:23
And some of these pastors and leaders can’t say anything because their contract doesn’t allow it. And so that’s one reason. Now, this this is another reason why in the days should never be in the church. That is a contractual authority. When you sign an NDA, you’re basically making that contract higher than God’s Word. Because in many of these cases, the NDAs are silencing people whose conscience is telling them they should be speaking up, because this other kind of, which is a lower level of authority, is keeping them bound up where their conscience it has higher authority in the spirit.

00:43:36:00 – 00:43:56:15
And so these NDAs are destructive. I mean, they’re I don’t know if if there is a healthy place for an NDA in a church, you know, comment below. I’d like to see that. But we’re finding more and more in some of these mega ministries, and they’ll give all kinds of reasons. And again, some of them maybe they’re legitimate from a business standpoint, but see how the enemy is twisted.

00:43:56:15 – 00:44:20:22
It. Because that’s an agreement that you’re making. And then for there’s other examples where leaders, because of the networking in this ongoing fellowship with peers, you build these relationships. And I’m, I’m referring to some of the, the Nar leaders, okay, maybe of the past generation, specifically in the prophetic movement that that have walked together, they’ve they’ve done war together.

00:44:20:22 – 00:44:49:08
They’ve gone through battles together. I mean, it’s a wonderful thing to have brothers and sisters in the Lord that you walk with, even through hard times, that does bind you together. This wonderful but I if that loyalty, I take some more authority, then God’s word, then someone’s conscience. It is out of order. I was out of order that that’s not, a legitimate form of authority.

00:44:49:08 – 00:45:10:07
And yet that has. That is bound up some people from speaking because it’s actually become like a contract. It’s unspoken in some in some cases, though, I do know where some networks, you do have to make some kind of statement of commitment or whatever, and it can act that way. We just need to be aware and alert, okay, to what we sign off on.

00:45:10:09 – 00:45:39:04
I mean, this is actually one reason, even for me, why the Lord told me to to self-publish my books. I mean, I was very blessed to be able to publish with with a known publisher, at a particular time. The Lord opened the door, but then after that, he said, Wanda, I, you I want you to self-publish because I do not want you to be tied to or obligated to anyone else, because what I give you is my word, and I want you to steward it, and you have to retain ownership.

00:45:39:06 – 00:46:07:12
That’s what what you told me. Okay, but this is just another example of why this is so important. And we know where this lies. Okay, so moving on here. Number six is positional authority. And this is taken from first Peter 217. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the emperor. This is the next level down of authorities from, you know, the ones that God delegates.

00:46:07:14 – 00:46:33:20
This is a kind of authority simply because of someone’s position, such as being the president. Okay? Or because of being a parent or a military personnel, police and rescue other positions that are responsible for our safety and well-being. We honor the elderly just out of respect for their journey. Our parents, because it pleases the Lord. Positional authority is honored and esteemed because of the responsibilities associated with it.

00:46:33:22 – 00:46:59:17
Well, of course, we want to honor those people for for their station in life, for what they’ve done, for what they are doing. But again, it must go in the order, okay? Starting with God Himself, his word. That’s where that level of authority should impact us and direct our life if we let. And this is another thing that I spoke to in my in my deliverance notebook, I have a whole section on there of leaving and leaving unhealthy soul ties to parents.

00:46:59:19 – 00:47:21:10
You know, I’ve seen this through the years where adults are still so tied to their parents, the umbilical cord was never cut. They’re still honoring their parents that they’re actually they’re not even following God’s Word. They’re violating their own conscience, and they’re not honoring their covenant to their wife or their husband because there’s this unhealthy soul tie thinking that they’re honoring their parents.

00:47:21:12 – 00:47:49:20
Okay. See, now, in the in the level here of where that’s at, how unhealthy it is. And that’s not how God intended that level of authority in our life to impact us. Okay. Now, the very last one look at this is a particular gifting. Our spiritual gifts, prophecy, words of knowledge, even, while gifts of healing, all all the all the gifts, the example is given.

00:47:49:20 – 00:48:18:13
First Corinthians. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn. And I’ll be encouraged. Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit. When we recognize and honor the gifts and operation, we are recognizing the authority of the Holy Spirit and revealing the father’s heart and purpose. But where some would like to place is authority higher because of the supernatural aspect of the gift, it must always be tested through the filters of preceding authorities.

00:48:18:15 – 00:48:54:03
It’s the last one. A prophetic word has the least amount of spiritual weight and authority in our lives. Of all the others. God Himself and God’s Word will always trumpet our conscience what we feel in our heart. I mean, I maybe saw that, it went around on social media of a young student that made a marriage decision based upon a prophetic word, even when her own conscience had told her not to, that because of the culture, she was encouraged by others because of the power, that prophetic word.

00:48:54:05 – 00:49:19:13
It must be God and all of those other levels, of authority. They were dismissed. And I mean, it just it broke her. I mean, she finally came out and shared her story. It was heart wrenching to hear those prophetic words must submit to to these other authorities and know the place of them. We can esteem that we celebrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

00:49:19:13 – 00:49:42:06
I’ve always wanted that. I want to celebrate who the Holy Spirit is and what he is doing in our lives. But but these gifts of the spirit, this is where this whole culture of honor thing I feel it has been, it’s been inverted. Well, going back to this, this whole list has been inverted where, you know, the apostle and prophet has been given like ultimate authority.

00:49:42:08 – 00:50:13:23
Now, I would hope and assume, and I’m fairly certain that Bill and Chris, in their hearts, they love God and they they love His word because I’ve heard them. I mean, I’ve been blessed by many other teachings. Okay. But our conscience and these other authorities have got now skewed because of this overemphasis on creating this culture of the supernatural, the freedom and no, you know, very little confrontation because then you’re only sin conscience, and you’re only filled with fear.

00:50:13:23 – 00:50:46:06
And we just want to, you know, have an atmosphere of love and welcome and freedom. This this is not it’s not right. And like I said, this is a it’s a culture. Now we’re talking. The experiences that I had that our family had was, was back, 2010, 2012. You know, in those years and it was permeating many of the charismatic churches and especially the prophetic movement, because even in, another ministry school and I’m not going to name it because it’s not important.

00:50:46:06 – 00:51:14:06
It’s a culture. And it was prevalent. I remember and that there’s a scenario where I saw something and I thought it was so out of order in terms of, of some, some things that I saw at a service. Okay. And I went and I talked with someone because one of our kids was attending the school there. And their response to my concern was, we just need to give them freedom to explore.

00:51:14:08 – 00:51:29:18
You know, we we don’t want to come down heavy. We don’t want them to feel like we’re controlling them. I mean, it was the same thing that I just read in this book, The Culture of Honor. And yet the things that I was seeing were just it was plain flesh. It was the flesh, and it wasn’t. It was not a good look for the ministry.

00:51:29:20 – 00:51:58:12
I mean, for anyone looking, you know, looking in, it caused all kinds of questions as to the veracity, you know, and the integrity of the ministry. But that wasn’t a concern. It was more important to, you know, create this atmosphere of freedom and love and acceptance. Let them explore. They’ll figure it out. Well, obviously, we know where these practices and brought us.

00:51:58:14 – 00:52:21:10
So in in looking at these now, I will say that this outline I did attach it below if you want a copy of it. But this, these levels are really important for us to consider because if we’re going to do some reform, if we want to change things and, and correct some wrongs, even doctrinally, perhaps this would be a place to start.

00:52:21:12 – 00:52:43:17
Now, this list was not original with me. I actually got it from my husband. He preached on this a couple years ago. I asked him where he got it from. He couldn’t remember. So if anyone does know, I mean, this is all taken from scripture, but whoever you know, itemize these. I can’t take credit for this. But I think it’s something worthy of considering, especially in a local context.

00:52:43:19 – 00:53:01:14
And as we move forward and continuing to hear different ones share their stories, their testimony as we are, you know, online and the whistleblowers and the truth tellers.

00:53:01:16 – 00:53:22:06
Is an uncomfortable time, for everybody. This is not fun to walk through. I mean, I certainly if I would be if I’m solely focused on. I just want to get followers and grow my ministry. This is not the way to do it. Okay. This is why. And I’ve talked with enough of others who feel this mandate.

00:53:22:08 – 00:53:45:00
It is a call of the Lord. It is the word of the Lord. But we need prayer. The enemy is going after everybody in this space. And there is a twisting spirit that is at work twisting words, twisting messages, trying to cause confusion, to rip us apart. And this is my appeal. You may not understand everything that’s coming out.

00:53:45:00 – 00:54:13:16
You may not feel comfortable with the way in which some people share things. We need to pray for one another. That the Holy Spirit would help each one to come to that place of relationship with Him and His Word that we ourselves. You know, I want to walk in this reality that that God Himself and His Word, I am walking in the reality of that and that I have a clear conscience.

00:54:13:18 – 00:54:35:02
Perhaps that’s the prayers that we can all have a clear conscience. And if not, Lord, search my heart, search my heart. Because we obviously have not been paying attention to it. We have not been paying attention, maybe to our own conscience, much less the conscience of others. And so I, you know, I just I appeal for the prayers, for the support.

00:54:35:04 – 00:55:05:03
Because we don’t know how long this season is going to last. It’s a different aspect of God’s nature that we are seeing. And yet I see his love. Someone told me the other day, it is. It is God’s love that is at work. It is his mercy in these exposures. Because if we read in in Scripture, both in the Old Testament and New Testament, you know, when God got involved, he was the one to perform justice.

00:55:05:05 – 00:55:32:23
People drop dead. I, I, I perhaps he’s giving us an opportunity that we’re the ones to step forward to write some wrongs, to take accountability, to do with these things so that he doesn’t have to. It is the mercy of God. It is the love of God. That is the level, and the depth of the sins being uncovered.

00:55:33:00 – 00:55:53:09
Praise God it is happening. This is a work of the Holy Spirit. I mean, just to, you know, close this up and encourage everyone, you know, even in the midst of all this stuff coming out, I am so encouraged because God’s shown me so many leaders with a pure heart after God, so many sincere and qualified, gifted, anoint.

00:55:53:09 – 00:56:30:11
It can congregational leaders, pastors, teachers, all of them, all who are serving the Lord with purity, with integrity of heart. They’re all over it. And and we just need to bless them. And and I want to bless, you know, the teachers right now. I actually posted this on my Facebook page the other day that because of this overemphasis on apostles and prophets and because some of our doctrine has has really been skewed and it hasn’t always been, properly applied, the Lord is bringing forth, a new teaching gift.

00:56:30:11 – 00:56:50:12
And if you’ve noticed, some of the ones that I’ve been interviewing in this next generation of leaders, they have a passion for teaching the Word of God. Hallelujah. We need that. I believe I see God really bringing the teaching gift forward right now to help us to examine these doctrines so that we can make sure they’re rightly applied.

00:56:50:12 – 00:57:14:21
You know, as I said with in my interview with Steven, in listing the doctrines that we were listing our purpose, we’re not throwing them all out our heart and desires. And Steven and this is a huge conversation. This is why you want to read a book on it, because each one of these doctrines have not scriptural basis. There is a godly, life giving version of all those doctrines.

00:57:14:23 – 00:57:38:19
But the enemy is twisted them, and because of our flesh and sin is twisted them. And so this is the process of unpacking this. You know, we’re kind of reconstruct thing. Even the prophetic movement. I know the word deconstruction has been going around. Some people don’t like that term, because it could imply to some that we’re totally destroying it or demolishing it, but it’s really a restructuring.

00:57:38:19 – 00:58:01:02
Yeah. We’re deconstructing. We’re taking it apart and examining it. But there is a heart desire, I mean, and all these new leaders that are emerging, a desire to keep what God has been birthing. I said this in the last video, God has been working. This is what what Stephen like covered in the first part of all the redemptive ways in which Holy Spirit has been moving, even in the midst of these messes, I’ve seen so much.

00:58:01:02 – 00:58:28:03
He is he has deposited within the body of Christ, revealed to us about His Spirit. Those are things to hold on to. Yes, they are good are powerful testimonies that we need to keep and embrace and continue to share. Can. And again, for those of you who are listening, who have been a part of any of these ministries and you have a good testimony to share, let’s start sharing those to not just the times when you felt like you were abused or you saw something unhealthy.

00:58:28:05 – 00:58:45:09
Let’s celebrate what God has been doing. Let’s remind ourselves, let’s not get let the devil get a foothold, you know, to cause despair and hopelessness and to get overly critical. Lord, no, I don’t want to do that. I’ve said before, I want to expose the works of darkness, but I want to celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit.

00:58:45:11 – 00:59:05:15
So I hope you’re with me. Please again, leave your comments below and let’s all engage in this conversation in a way that’s going to bring life. It’s going to bring encouragement. It’s going to bring forward truth and help us clarify things, okay, because it’s really going to be helpful. Subscribe to this channel. I’m going to continue. I’ve got some great interviews coming up.

00:59:05:17 – 00:59:25:19
We’re going to continue to unpack what God is doing specifically within the prophetic movement. I mean, I’ve got a list of different issues and topics that I’m going to cover, and I really would love to invite you on this journey that we’re all in together as we process, learn, grow together in this shaking time to see what God is doing to celebrate it together.

00:59:25:19 – 00:59:36:06
We’re going to come out on the other side. Yeah, and we really are preparing for some new and fresh things that God is going to pour out. So be blessed and encouraged until next time.