Bobby Conner: "Now is the Time to Awaken"

The hyper-charismatic movement sits on the edge of a precipice of its own making. Many of their prophets have been saying for some time that there is some kind of new move afoot. Bobby Conner wrote this on the Elijah List here, saying: The Body of Christ stands poised at the verge of the greatest move of God in the history of humankind. ...This will be the season that My people begin to believe what they know. My Word will move from the head, to the heart, to the hands.

So today Bobby Connor writes on the Elijah List here saying: While I was waiting on the Lord, seeking to hear what was on His heart, He spoke an extremely strong word. In the most compelling and commanding tone, He said, "Contend! It is time to take a strong, unshakable stand!" This was not a suggestion but a bold, strong and stirring command, given with such force that it shook me deeply. In the same tone I was told,"Sound the alarm! Awaken the warriors!"

At first sight this sounds pretty innocuous. However, the last six words are "Sound the alarm! Awaken the warriors!" The problem is that Bobby Conner is not making a call to preach the gospel instead he is trying to arouse the end time warriors. This is the Joel's Army of the Latter Rain movement or the Manifest Sons of God or the Man-child company and it might even be Mike Bickle's Overcomers, who knows! Many self-appointed, so-called prophets have written on the Elijah List proclaiming the beginning of something. Are they each contending against one another to be the one who gets it right?

Bobby then says: Beloved, we are being called to contend for change that transforms our culture. It is time for a spiritual revolution. Since we live in what could be termed the Church Age, it is not for us to know the times and seasons as to when Jesus will return (see Matthew 24 v36). The only revolution that we could possibly foment is a revolution of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and seeing peoples lives changed. But this is not what Bobby Conner is on about. He would call it preaching the gospel, but is it? In the same piece Bobby Conner says: The Spirit of God has set before us guidelines for releasing Divine Wisdom to us in order to help us navigate safely during these dark, dangerous days. What is the pathway to true Divine Wisdom? It's not a process or a pattern or a methodology - but a Person, Christ Jesus (see John 8:12) It sounds very scriptural doesn't it, but where are the guidelines for releasing Divine Wisdom found in the Bible? They are not there. Why do we need divine wisdom? Is not everything we need given in the Bible? It seems that Bobby Conner would disagree.

Next he says: The Holy Spirit spoke to me concerning the paralyzing passivity so prevalent in the Church today. As prophetic voices, we must sound the alarm: these are not days of peace! We have no armistice with the workers of darkness! We must stir ourselves out of this stupor, as Scripture instructs us to do. We must rouse to reality and awake (Romans 13:11-14 AMP). Now we reach the heart of the matter. Why does the Holy Spirit speak to Bobby Conner? And why does the Holy Spirit criticise the church by saying: the paralyzing passivity so prevalent in the Church today? The truth is that this is pure gnostic rubbish and not the Holy Spirit speaking. Gnosis is the knowledge of spiritual mysteries. There are no mysteries unrevealed in the Bible. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise of Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3 vv4-6. Paul also said: Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel Ephesians 6 v19. The Apostolic era was a time of revealing the "mystery" of the gospel. That period has now ended.

The greatest problem facing the church today is that it is being attacked not from the outside but from within. It is being attacked by people who have their own agenda and their own purposes. Sadly the Bible predicts that not only would such people exist but it also predicts that For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2Timothy 4 v3. Much of it started when John Wimber talked of power evangelism. It was a nice idea for itching ears but it has never fitted scripture well. The Bible records that after crossing the Red Sea and witnessing such a spectacular miracle along with the destruction of Pharoah and his entire army, within thirty days the people of Israel were grumbling against God. Again it also records that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to great shouts of joy and palm branches being thrown down before him, yet within one week they had turned on him and demanded his death. There are many more examples of this in the Bible. Faith is from hearing, and hearing is through the words of Christ Romans 10 v17(a personal translation). Signs and wonders do not produce faith, it is the preaching of the one and only true gospel which does.

No doubt Bobby Conner would say that he does preach the gospel but since he supported Todd Bentley at Lakeland in 2008 and said the following shortly after: In a powerful prophetic encounter I was told these words: "A Kingdom Company - an emerging generation that will take charge." They will rule the visible world from the invisible realm. ... The Kingdom Company - who are they? The Kingdom Company will consist of overcomers! With no agenda, their goal will be to assure that Christ Jesus receives the glory due His name. one has to ask the question, "Where is the gospel in that statement?" Making sure that Christ Jesus receives the glory due His name is not the gospel. The Bible never mentions A Kingdom Company - this is simply adding to scripture. Bobby Conner is actually part of the problem that the Body of Christ currently faces.

It is now three months since Steve Shulz first said on the Elijah List: Even Jesus took donations but had to pay taxes on what He received.

30th March 2012.