In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Doug Geivett, my co-author and long-time colleague, to discuss a very popular teaching in the church right now: “hearing God’s voice” outside of Scripture.Doug and I have co-authored four books on the New Apostolic Reformation. In this conversation, which is part of my larger series on "hearing God's voice," we address why the modern expectation of daily private messages from God has become so widespread and why it is spiritually risky.We respond to real pushback messages I have received, including claims that relying on Scripture to mediate God's voice means you only have a “relationship with a book.” We explain why that argument undermines both biblical authority and true intimacy with God. We also dig into what the Bible actually teaches about the Holy Spirit’s role in the believer’s life, what “being led by the Spirit” means, and why obedience is the biblical foundation for intimacy with God, not chasing impressions, dreams, or inner promptings.00:00 Intro and who Doug Geivett is01:53 Why this topic hits a nerve and the pushback has been intense03:51 Why “hearing God’s voice” is so appealing and why it became mainstream now06:08 How expectations are shaped by church culture and imitation08:35 The personal draw: intimacy, immediacy, and “God speaking to me”10:35 Main dangers: replacing real intimacy with an artificial metric12:18 The irony: seeking intimacy but actually blocking it14:35 Social pressure, spiritual insecurity, and manufactured experiences19:06 Reading pushback comments: “relationship with a book” and “living God speaks”21:07 Why Scripture still governs the question, even if God speaks in other ways24:19 Psalm 119 and why God’s Word is not “just a book”28:35 Why impressions are also a medium, and the inconsistency in the critique30:37 A sincere concern: “being led by the Spirit” and daily guidance34:47 Acts, decision making, and “it seemed good to us” vs “God told me”37:09 John 14 and what Jesus actually promised about the Holy Spirit41:29 Fruit of the Spirit and what it means to be led by the Spirit43:34 “Does God speak English?” Clarifying what people mean by “God spoke”45:44 Guidance through maturity vs claiming private revealed words47:52 Imagination based practices and why that is a problem50:19 The core claim: intimacy with God is grounded in obedience, not voice chasing52:24 Outro
Seventh-day Adventists, NAR, and The Miracle Myth: Protecting the African Church from Heresy & ExploitationIn the concluding segment of our interview with Paul Carden (Centers for Apologetics Research) and Rodgers Atwebembeire (Africa Center for Apologetics Research), we expose critical doctrinal threats and challenges in Africa, including the rapid growth of Seventh-day Adventism, the stealth infiltration of the New Apostolic Reformation, and the massive amount of false miracle claims.This segment includes vital information on the Project Priscilla ministry, which is equipping vulnerable women against exploitation, and a powerful example of how small donations make a massive, life-saving impact on the front lines of global discernment.In This Final Segment, You Will Learn:* The Miracle Deception: Why claims of healing in extreme charismatic movements, including NAR, lack credible evidence and how believers are blamed for their "lack of faith."* SDA Exposed: Why Seventh-day Adventism is doctrinally cultic ("False Prophet, Wrong Jesus, Impossible Salvation") and how it uses fear tactics (like the "mark of the beast") to pull Christians out of sound churches.* NAR's Stealth Invasion: How the Seven Mountain Mandate and Dominion Theology are infiltrating major denominations amd traditions, like the Anglican Church in Africa.* Dangerous Syncretism: The mixing of NAR spiritual warfare with African traditional religious beliefs (e.g., specific ancestral demons and curses).* Project Priscilla: The critical ministry focused on equipping women and girls who are culturally vulnerable to sexual and financial exploitation by predator "prophets."* Direct Impact: An eye-opening story showing how just $400 in funding resulted in outreach to over 400,000 people and brought victims out of cults.Timestamps (Jump to what interests you!):| 0:00 | The Miracle Myth: How Miracle Claims Lack Evidence || 3:11 | The Blame Game: Why Claimed Healings Fail and the Fault is Placed on the Victim || 4:25 | Project Priscilla: Equipping Women Against Spiritual Exploitation || 7:07 | Seventh-day Adventism Exposed: Why SDA Is a Cult || 11:00 | Investigative Judgment: The SDA Doctrine that Makes Salvation Impossible || 14:55 | The Stealth Infiltration of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) || 18:05 | Strategic Spiritual Warfare & African Syncretism (Targeting Ancestral Spirits) || 20:13 | The Global Challenge of Discernment (Are Evangelicals Aware?) || 23:17 | Partnerships and Ministry Needs (Literature, Prayer, Workers) || 26:50 | The Power of Small Donations: How $400 Reached 400,000 People || 28:48 | Call to Action: How to Partner with CFAR (Prayer & Support) |Connect with the Ministries and Support Their Work:The Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR): thecenters.orgLIKE & SHARE this video to equip and warn others about these critical issues!SUBSCRIBE for more essential discussions on theology, discernment, and global missions.#SDAExposed #NARHeresy #FalseProphets #AfricanChurch #Discernment #ProjectPriscilla #Cults #SeventhDayAdventist #WordOfFaith #Apologetics
The future of global Christianity is African, but this explosive growth is under massive attack. Join us as we interview Paul Carden (Centers for Apologetics Research) and Rodgers Atwebembeire (Africa Center for Apologetics Research) to discuss the hidden dangers, manipulative movements, and organized cults aggressively targeting Christians across the continent.This is a deep dive into the "flip side of the Great Commission"—the vital work of doctrinal polemics and counter-cult ministry needed to prevent spiritual disillusionment and protect millions from toxic, heretical teaching.In this Urgent Discussion, You Will Learn:* Why the Word of Faith and Prosperity Gospel movements are devastating in Africa.* The difference between general apologetics and cult-focused doctrinal polemics.* How aggressive international cults like Shincheonji (South Korea) and UCKG (Brazil) are operating.* The terrifying reality of indigenous false prophets—from those commanding followers to eat grass to those causing mass starvation deaths (e.g., the Shakahola Forest tragedy).* Why the chaos of extreme charismatic groups, including the New Apostolic Reformation, makes orderly cults, like Mormonism, appealing.* The danger of spiritual inoculation: when false doctrines turn people away from true Christianity.Timestamps (Jump to what interests you!):| 0:00| The Mission: Apologetics & Dealing with Cults ||1:22| What Sets CFAR/ACFAR Apart From Other Mission Agencies? (Doctrinal Polemics) || 3:43 | Why Counter-Cult Ministry is Necessary (The Biblical Mandate) || 7:49 | The Danger of Spiritual Inoculation and Disillusionment || 10:00 | The Staggering Demographics: Africa is the Future of Christianity || 13:17 | Why African Believers are Especially Vulnerable to Cults || 17:07 | The Allure of Order vs. Chaos (Mormonism vs. NAR) || 18:49 | Unmasking the Biggest Threats: International & Indigenous Cults || 20:16 | The Shocking Reality of Local False Prophets (Shakahola, Mbonye) || 25:00 | The Devastating Impact of the Word of Faith Movement (Hagin, Oyedepo) |Connect with the Ministries and Support Their Work:The Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR): thecenters.org LIKE & SHARE this podcast to equip and warn others about these critical issues!SUBSCRIBE for more essential discussions on theology, discernment, and missions.#ChristianApologetics #Cults #Heresy #AfricanChurch #ProsperityGospel #WordOfFaith #FalseProphets #Missions #DoctrinalPolemics #ChristianDiscernment
Many Christians assume that if a sermon is biblically sound, it must be expository, but is that always true? In this conversation with my husband, Adam Pivec, we look beyond the label to explore what genuine "expository preaching" is. And we provide a checklist of things to listen for during your next Sunday sermon to know if your pastor is exegeting the text.This episode examines subtle, but crucial issues:• Why “using the Bible” doesn't guarantee that a sermon communicates the biblical author's intent• How some sermons begin in the text but drift into opinion or agenda• The role of the pastor as a messenger, not an originator of truth• Why faithful preaching often corrects our expectations rather than confirming themUltimately, this discussion reminds us that true expository teaching does more than reference Scripture, it submits to it. When the Word leads, the church is not shaped exclusively by the imagination or creativity of the preacher but by the voice of God Himself.
How to know if a sermon is faithful to the biblical intent? In this episode, I sit down with my husband, Adam Pivec, to talk about something we care deeply about: expository preaching. We explore what it really is, why it's essential for the church today, and why so many sermons drift away from Scripture without people recognizing it.We explain the difference between exegesis (drawing meaning from Scripture) and eisegesis (reading our own ideas into it), and why getting this right is foundational for faithful Christian teaching and discipleship. We also discuss how sermons can subtly shift into opinion, trends, or personality-driven messages, even when pastors still quote the Bible. And Adam shares the concerning methods regularly used to preach within the New Apostolic Reformation movement.If you've ever struggled to find a church that teaches the Bible faithfully, or wondered whether topical sermons can be biblical, we address those issues, too. We also share encouragement for believers who feel discouraged by the lack of churches that teach exegetically, and what to do about it.#exegesis #doctrine #bibleverses #hermeneutics #hollypivec
Many Christians are told that if they’re not hearing God’s voice through inner impressions, dreams, or prophetic words, they’re missing out on intimacy with Him and knowing His will for their lives. But is that really what the Bible teaches?In this episode, we turn away from popular teachings and look at Scripture itself. What we find is both freeing and grounding: the normative way to hear God’s voice is through His written Word. The Bible is sufficient to equip us for salvation and for living a life pleasing to Him—without the pressure of chasing constant “signs.”You’ll learn:What Scripture actually means when it talks about “obeying God’s voice”Why the sufficiency of Scripture is central to hearing GodHow the “way of wisdom” offers a biblical model for making decisionsWhy God’s guidance doesn’t mean micromanaging our every choiceThis episode is not about dismissing God’s power to speak in extraordinary ways—but about recovering the confidence and peace that comes from growing in our ability to make wise, God-honoring choices.📖 Scriptures discussed: 2 Timothy 3:14–17, Deuteronomy 26:17, 2 Kings 18:11–12, Jeremiah 9:12–13, James 1:5, Proverbs 9, Psalm 111.If you’ve ever wondered how to truly hear God, this talk will help you anchor your faith and decision-making where they belong: in Scripture and the "way of wisdom."#doctrine #theology #bibleverses #hollypivec #godsvoice
Is “hearing God’s voice” actually harming Christians?In this eye-opening episode, we expose the hidden dangers behind modern teachings that encourage believers to regularly hear God speak outside of Scripture—focusing especially on Pete Greig’s book How to Hear God.You’ll learn how these teachings:- Enslave Christians to their feelings, dreams, and unreliable impressions- Create dependency on spiritual leaders who claim to hear God “better”- Add unbiblical requirements that compromise the gospel- Cause confusion, anxiety, and bad decision-making- Lead to real damage in missions, evangelism, and church lifeThrough real-life examples, scriptural analysis, and testimony from the mission field, this episode shows why these teachings aren’t just “misused by bad leaders”—they’re spiritually abusive at their core.Key Topics Covered:The dangers of the "hearing God's voice" teachingsThe illusion of intimacy and divine willEmotional and spiritual exhaustionManipulative leadership and dependencyHow missions and evangelism sufferIf you've ever felt pressured to “hear God” through inner impressions, leaders, or signs—or if you’ve been told you're missing God’s will—this episode is for you.Coming Soon: A biblical explanation of how Christians should hear God today.
Will heaven merge with earth, as many scholars claim? What are we to make of NAR leaders' claims that it is the task of the church to "bring heaven to earth"? Is Hillsong's song "What a Beautiful Name" biblical, and should churches sing it? In this conversation, Alan Gomes evaluates popular teachings about heaven found in bestselling books and Grammy award-winning worship songs.Alan Gomes' book on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/40-Questions-about-Heaven-Hell/dp/0825442761
Are trips to heaven and hell and near-death experiences proof of an afterlife, or are they the products of fraud, psychology, or even demonic deception? In this episode, we unpack well-known claims, expose fabrications, and show why Scripture, not sensational stories, must be our foundation for understanding the afterlife.Alan Gomes' book on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/40-Questions-about-Heaven-Hell/dp/0825442761
What really happens after unbelievers die? Are the flames of hell literal? Are alternative views of hell gaining popularity? In this conversation, we explore what Scripture actually says about hell and the common misconceptions Christians often hold.Alan Gomes' book on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/40-Questions-about-Heaven-Hell/dp/0825442761
Many Christians assume we’ll spend eternity floating in heaven — but what if Scripture paints a different picture? In this first-ever guest interview, Dr. Alan Gomes (author of 40 Questions About Heaven and Hell) unpacks common misconceptions about heaven, what the “eternal state” really is, and what believers will actually do forever — from worship and work to creativity, learning, and community on the new earth.Alan Gomes' book on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/40-Questions-about-Heaven-Hell/dp/0825442761
Are Christians being told to obey fallible prophecies?In this episode, I review Pete Greig’s How to Hear God and show how his teachings, while sounding biblical, subtly undermine Scripture’s authority. He claims the Bible is central, yet urges obedience to dreams and prophetic words that can be mistaken, even suggesting that studying Scripture can hinder hearing God’s voice.I explain why this “bait and switch” is dangerous, how it reflects broader NAR patterns, and why we must test both the words and practices of today’s teachers against Scripture.
Just because a verse hits you doesn’t mean it's about you. 📖💭 In this episode, I unpack how popular methods of "hearing God" through Scripture can drift into dangerous territory when context is thrown out the window. When we treat the Bible like a magic mirror, we risk seeing only our own reflection—not God's words.
What if “learning” to prophesy is less about hearing God and more about making stuff up? This episode exposes how popular methods like the “ABC filter” blur the line between God’s voice and human guesswork — or worse, flirt with practices the Bible clearly warns against. Rather than relying on a faulty "filter," the best way to test a word is to ask: “Would this survive the tests for prophecy given in Scripture?”
A lot of Christians today believe God is speaking to them constantly—about everything from major life choices to what shirt to wear. But is that really what Scripture teaches?In this episode, I take a closer look at Pete Greig’s book How to Hear God and examine three commonly misused Bible passages: John 10:27, 1 Kings 19, and 1 Samuel 3. You’ll see how verses pulled out of context can be made to say things they were never meant to say—and why that matters. We’ll talk about Elijah’s “still small voice,” Samuel’s prophetic calling, and what Jesus really meant when He said, “My sheep hear my voice.”The goal here isn’t just to critique a book—it’s to help you grow in biblical discernment. If you’ve ever wondered whether you're supposed to be hearing God speak every day in whispers and impressions, this episode is for you. Let’s test these claims carefully and biblically.
Is God really whispering to you... Or are you hearing something else? 🌀 In this episode, we dig into a book that's shaping how thousands think about hearing God, while also shining a light on the hidden influences many Christians don't realize they're embracing. 📚 Whether you're curious, cautious, or convinced, this conversation is worth having.Many Christians long for an intimate, conversational relationship with God, and Pete Greig offers what sounds like simple advice: "Listen and follow Jesus." According to him, all Christian theology boils down to those four words. From major life decisions to tiny, everyday choices—like which shirt to wear—Greig claims God is constantly whispering guidance to those who will listen. But comforting as that may sound, such bold claims demand biblical support.That's where things get convoluted. Greig points to the story of the road to Emmaus as a "master class" in how to hear God's voice. But that story, found in the Gospel of Luke, wasn't written as a manual for discerning divine whispers—it was written to show that Jesus truly rose from the dead and appeared physically to his followers. Reading it as a guide to spiritual intuition not only stretches the text but also ignores its context entirely.
When the “key to everything” becomes a catchphrase, it’s time to ask some hard questions. In this episode, we begin examining a popular but rarely scrutinized teaching: that God speaks to us regularly outside of Scripture—and that we need special methods to hear Him. But are we supposed to seek daily divine messages? This isn’t just a theological debate—it’s about spiritual safety and biblical fidelity.
Worship music isn't just about the latest release—it’s a window into how generations before us thought about God. When we only listen to modern worship, we risk becoming blind to our own biases. Sometimes, it takes an old hymn to reveal just how much our theology has been shaped by the trends of today. Want to grow in discernment? Don’t skip the “old stuff.”Just think for a moment about the songs your church sings or what you hear on Christian radio or streaming platforms. What are the lyrics most often about? What are the theological assumptions? What buzzwords keep showing up? Now—how would those compare to the songs written by earlier generations of Christians?Sometimes, the best way to recognize the blind spots of our era is by listening to the voices of the past. In this episode, we explore how worship music—old and new—shapes our theology more than we realize.
From fire tunnels to "activation" exercises, I walked through some of the most recognizable signs of New Apostolic Reformation influence in churches today. I shared my firsthand experience at Bethel and unpacked NAR practices like impartation, SOZO, dream interpretation, and "strategic-level" spiritual warfare.This isn’t just about strange practices—it’s about how methods, language, and even church names can reveal unbiblical and harmful beliefs. When you spot these indicators, it’s time to ask deeper questions.
Many Christians are unknowingly embracing dangerous teachings that distort the gospel. In this episode, I expose the deceptive tactics of self-proclaimed apostles and prophets, showing how their influence is creeping into churches today. I’ll help you recognize the red flags, understand what’s truly biblical, and protect yourself and your loved ones from spiritual deception. Don’t be misled—let’s talk about what’s really happening.