"It is my earnest prayer
that every Christian will see this movie. "
Mel Gibson's, The Passion of the Christ
is one of the most controversial films to be produced in a long time. There
is a reason for this - it is one of the most anointed and powerful films produced
in a very long time.
I watched it with a small group of invited guests a few weeks ago. It was by
far the hardest movie that I have ever watched, but was also the most powerful
and impacting. After watching great movies, I often wake up the next day thinking
about them, and will often think about them for a few days afterwards. After
watching, The Passion, it almost completely dominated my thoughts
for days, and now that it has been weeks after I saw it, I still spend time
each day pondering it. It touched something within me that deeply.
I don't think there is any question that this is the most accurate, honest portrayal
of the crucifixion ever screened. The acting, directing, and overall quality
of the movie is excellent, but there is more to it than that. There is an anointing
on it. Even before I saw it, I knew it had the power to begin changing Christianity.
I know this may sound like a wild exaggeration, but I believe it to be true.
It is my earnest prayer that every Christian will see this movie.
Like Deer Caught
in the Headlights
It is graphic. It is like watching the torture of the One you love the most
for more than an hour. Several times it was so intense that I was about to get
up and leave the room, and then, with extraordinary timing, there would be a
flashback to a happier time in the Lord's life. I was able to catch my breath,
and then I was thrust back to the most terrible day in human history.
I watched this movie with what I thought would be a very tough audience. There
were many entertainers, entertainment company executives, and accomplished artists
present - the kind of people whose eye for excellence could not but help to
cause them to catch every little flaw or mistake. I was stunned by the weeping
I heard across the room. When the lights came on at the end, the entire group
looked like deer which had been caught in the headlamps of a car. When it was
over, Mel walked up front to answer questions, but it was a very, long awkward
time before any one could say anything.
It was curious to me how the pope replied after he viewed it, basically saying,
"That's the way it was." For one of the most articulate men of our times, who
knows many languages, that he could muster only five words in response is in
itself a major statement. This movie will probably leave you speechless for
a good while.
"I Can't Believe
He Would Do That For Me!"
If it is like this watching a movie, which was just an hour and a half, what
was it like for His disciples, His mother, and the other women who stayed with
Him when He was crucified? After having lived with Jesus for more than three
years, coming to know who He was, loving Him, and seeing Him endure what He
did for their sakes, was without question the power behind their radical commitment,
giving them the willingness to suffer for the gospel that gripped the first
century church. What Mel Gibson has produced is just a movie, but it may be
as accurate as it can be in a movie, and it has an anointing on it that can
help us in the same way. If Jesus did that for us, what must we do for Him?
When we showed a few clips from this movie at our Harvest Fest Conference last
September, they were so graphic that I was concerned about having the children
see them. Then I heard that after watching the clips, my eleven-year old son
and his friends were crying almost uncontrollably. I was alarmed until I heard
his response to why he was crying like that. He said simply, "I can't believe
God would do that for me!"
His Highest Title
is the Lamb
I think that simple statement captures the most basic message of this movie
and of the cross itself. The cross has been sanitized and homogenized to the
point of losing its power. The Lord did not just die for us - He submitted Himself
to the most cruel torture of which demented human minds could conceive. Evil
vented its rage on Him with all of the power that it could muster on that day.
He took it all for us.
There will never be a more powerful demonstration of the love and character
of God than what was demonstrated in the last twelve hours of the Lord's life
on this earth as a man. This is why His highest title in heaven, and the one
the Scripture implies that He will be called forever, is the Lamb.
Embrace the Cross
We have been prophesying for more than twenty years that the cross would be
popular again. The church is going to embrace the cross again. I Corinthians
1:18 says, "For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Because the cross "is
the power of God," when the church embraces the cross, it can be trusted with
the power.
As Paul also said in I Corinthians 4:20, "For the kingdom of God does not consist
in words, but in power." For the church to preach the gospel of the kingdom
at the end as it is called to do, we must have the power. If we want to experience
the power of God in our daily lives, we must take up the cross daily. Great
power is coming to the church at the end, and it will come because the church
has embraced the cross.
Unfounded Fears
of Anti-Semitism
I would like to also say something about the opposition to this movie that has
come. To date I do not think that anyone who has seen it has opposed it. The
most influential leaders of the church from across the spectrum of Christianity
have endorsed it. The fears that it will release anti-Semitism are completely
unfounded. In fact, every one of the heroes in this movie are Jewish, as are
almost all of the heroes in the gospels, and the entire Bible.
My greatest concern is the way that the extremists who claim to be defending
against anti-Semitism are themselves driving many to anti-Semitism by their
tactics. This extremist group comes across like the very embodiment of the spirit
that hijacked the leadership of Israel under Rome, and was the greatest persecutor
of Jesus Himself, just as it is in this important movie about Him.
It will probably hit the news at some point about the extreme things that this
small group of Jewish extremists have done to try to keep this movie from being
distributed. Their threats and intimidations are backfiring, but many Christians
who have traditionally been true friends of Israel are already being tempted
to become anti-Semitic because of the behavior of these extremists. We cannot
let this happen.
Do Not Judge by
Extreme Elements
These extremists probably represent less than 2 percent of the Jewish population.
One of the worst deceptions that continues to bring much destruction to mankind
is our tendency to judge others, or other people groups, by their most extreme
elements. Let us never forget that our Savior was Jewish. The writers of the
New Testament were Jewish, as were the writers of the rest of the Scriptures.
The Lord promised Abraham that his seed would be a blessing to all of the families
on the face of the earth, and the Jewish people have fulfilled this - they have
been the greatest blessing to every nation, people, and culture, and they still
are. Their ultimate destiny, which is clear in the Scriptures, will ultimately
make the Jewish people again the greatest heroes of truth and righteousness.
Do not let a handful of radical extremists rob you of your support and loyalty
for not only God's chosen people, but also for His purposes in our times that
will be revealed through them.
Also, do not let them rob you of seeing this movie. It does have the power to
begin a profound change of Christianity in our times - which is desperately
needed.
by RICK JOYNER
http://www.morningstarministries.org/
You can support this film in two huge ways:
1) Order your tickets in advance now, which will help
it to get into your local theatre! You should order them right away (before
Feb 10) in order to receive them in time for the opening of the movie (it takes
up to two weeks to receive them and the movie opens Feb 25).
2) By ordering your "Passion of Christ" tickets
through the link below (or the no_charge phone number below), The Elijah List
ministry will receive $1 from each ticket sold.
Simply click on the graphic below:
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"The
Final Quest"
By Rick Joyner
$13.00 Book
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This book is not for the faint of heart.
It is a sobering call to those who will take a courageous stand for truth
and righteousness, challenging the great darkness of our times and pushing
it back. It is a call to those who will never again retreat before the enemies
of the cross, but will instead take up their crosses and march forth to
tear down the strongholds of the enemy. We have been given divinely powerful
weapons for that purpose. This is a prophecy of the great army that is now
being mobilized to use them!
Feel free to
order online
OR by phone (1-8.6.6-881-0477)
http://www.elijahshopper.com/detail.aspx?ID=547
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"The
Call"
By Rick Joyner
$13.00 Book
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The Call is the long-awaited
sequel to The Final Quest. Written for mature Christians, this book
is not recommended for the spiritually timid. Continuing some themes established
in The Final Quest, The Call carries these themes further
and deeper while venturing into new spiritual territories not covered in
The Final Quest.
Together, The Call and The Final Quest paint an increasingly
broad and clear spiritual picture of our times. As Christians, we are called
not only to endure the challenges with which we are faced, but to prevail,
seizing the great spiritual opportunities available to us. The truth of
the gospel of Jesus Christ is the light which is stronger than any darkness.
This book is a call to those who will love and stand for the Truth until
His victory is complete.
Feel free to
order online
OR by phone (1-8.6.6-881-0477)
http://www.elijahshopper.com/detail.aspx?ID=548
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"The Torch
and the Sword"
By Rick Joyner
$12.95 Book
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The Torch and the Sword
continues the message that began in The Final Quest and continued
in The Call. It is a call to live the greatest adventure, for the
most noble purpose. It is not for the faint of heart, but for those who
desire to live as true knights of the cross, refusing to retreat before
the great darkness of our times. It is for those who will stand with courage
and resolution for truth, righteousness, and justice, as messengers of the
age to come. These are the ones who Enoch prophesied would come with power
in the last days, and who are now awakening to their destiny.
Feel free to
order online
OR by phone (1-8.6.6-881-0477)
http://www.elijahshopper.com/detail.aspx?ID=1126
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To donate by regular mail, use this
address:
Elijah List Ministries
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Albany, OR 97321
or call: 1-8.6.6-881-0477 or 1-541-917-0484
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