gold dust

Taking center stage recently in packed churches is a new phenomenon that really is not that new. It is the appearance of "gold dust" and the transformation of fillings or crowns into "gold." These transformations have been hailed as a new move of God, or a sign of God's presence. Many people do not try to explain it or question it, they just accept it as coming from God because that is how it is presented to them. Unique as the "gold" phenomenon may seem, it does not only play in the Christian theater.

The Bible gives us this test in HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut%2013:1-5&version=31" \o "1-5" \t "_blank" Deuteronomy 13:1-5, where it says that if a prophet gives an accurate prophecy or performs a miracle, but he encourages his followers to worship another God, then he is a false prophet. The apostle John tells us that there are many false prophets, so we must test their teachings ( HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20john%204:1-3&version=31" \o "1-3" \t "_blank" 1 John 4:1-3). We are also told in HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt%207:21-23;&version=31;" \o "21-23" \t "_blank" Matthew 7:21-23 that many people will not enter heaven — even though they called Jesus “Lord” and cast out demons, prophesied and performed many miracles in Jesus’ name. In Revelation HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rev%2013:11-15;&version=31;" \o "11-15" \t "_blank" 13:11-15 and HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rev%2019:20;&version=31;" \o "20" \t "_blank" 19:20, we are told that, in the end times, the False Prophet will perform mighty miracles that will deceive many people into following the Antichrist.

I KNOW this, if the Church keeps following after every sign, wonder, and miracle, then they are in grave danger of being fooled by the Anti-Christ! For he will do greater signs, wonders, miracles than we dreamed possible! Beware this GOLD FEVER REVIVAL is the beginning of IT!

It's a sad day when the people have such a hunger and desire for the supernatural that they will settle for whatever they can get, even when it's a false sign. Worse yet, is how the leaders will actually propagate these false signs and use them as proof or evidence that God is in their midst, when in reality, He's nowhere near them.

People need to stop looking at the external and start looking within themselves. Jesus said in Luke 17:20-21 "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

Dewert should have HYPERLINK "http://www.rickross.com/reference/tv_preachers/tv_preachers20.html" \t "_blank" learned from his dentist that God does not prove Himself with these little "golden signs". When a wickedly sinful heart is changed to one that is holy and righteous, that's when the power of the cross becomes evident. It's a shame that people are no longer being taught what the true sign of God's presence is, but when the leaders don't even know, how can they possibly teach or demonstrate it?

If I read my Bible correctly, there is only one place that false signs and wonders come from and an inability to discern them comes from a lack of relationship with the Master.

The tests show the 'gold dust' was nothing more than plastic glitter that had no gold content at all. Is this a sign?

In his book, Voices, Visions and Apparitions, Michael Freze states, "On June 24th, 1987 one lady stated that her rosary had turned to gold while she was visiting Medjugorje (a major Marian site of visitation). This same woman claims that over forty people, whom she ministered to, had their rosaries turned to gold. This phenomenon is not at all remarkable... thousands have come back from Medjugorje testifying that their rosaries turned to gold immediately during a prayer service in the presence of hundreds of witnesses."

However, this does not happen only at Medjugorje, but also at Conyers, Georgia in the United States. Gold dust has been promised by "Jesus and Mary" to the Mary worshippers who gather there. From the messages of April 23, 1993, devotee Nancy Fowler tells us, "A beautiful crown appeared over the blessed Mother's head"... Nancy goes on to say, "She was beautiful. More suffering will befall all of mankind if you continue to violate the law of God." The blessed Mother told Nancy that rosaries will turn to a golden color and that there would be sprinklings of gold dust." See Conyers Apparition website at HYPERLINK "http://conyers.org/conyers.html" http://conyers.org/conyers.html

There is a spill over from Never Never Land, into reality where both 'realities' exist. For the Christian, it is the manifestation of the supernatural of the 'spirit realm'. Personal experience with the supernatural nowadays, seems to be the thermometer by which the church measures its spirituality. Just because something is supernatural, or seems supernatural, does not necessarily mean it is from God. Can God cause gold dust to fall during prayer services? He can do anything He chooses, but, He never contradicts His Word. God operates within the revelations of His Word, for our sakes. For many in the Christian church to be deceived by their experiences, in their quest for a deeper revelation of God, says little for their discernment. Our thermometer should be the Scriptures.

It is human nature to want something of substance, to see, feel and touch; a God who is tangible and not invisible to us. We need to 'experience God' as the saying goes. Christianity is experiential, but it can be turned against us very easily if we do not exercise discernment. Does God operate supernaturally today, absolutely. But, are we to run to and fro seeking supernatural signs of God's existence? No. Faith is the basis for our belief in God, not experience. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." (Hebrews 11: 1-3) It is our faith that pleases God.

When Jesus was talking with the Samaritan woman at the well, He said "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:..." (John 4:23) Most proponents of the 'gold dust' phenomenon believe that they are worshipping God in spirit. The question is, are they worshipping Him in truth?

Satan's miracles certainly can look like the real thing. The magicians at Pharaoh's court (Exodus Chapter 7 verses 11 and 22 and Chapter 8 verse 7) were able to copy the first three miracles done by God through Moses; note though, that Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs (verse 12). Pharaoh's magician's finally concede defeat (verse 19)saying: "this is the finger of God" when they are unable to replicate God creative powers when he makes gnats from the dust of the earth. This suggests that creation of life is the sole prerogative of God.

How Should We Approach The Evaluation Of Modern Day Miracles? 
Christians need to be fully conversant with the whole Bible and study it regularly, with an open and obedient heart. The only anchor of truth the Christian has in his armoury is the Word of God, the "Sword of the Spirit". When Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted for 40 days the only effective weapon he had to resist Satan was the Word of God. Without detailed knowledge of God's nature and his ways as revealed in the Bible, the Christian is liable to be open to deception at every turn. We need to make regular, prayerful reading of the Bible and obedience to God's commands the highest priorities in our lives.

Lessons From The Bible 
Test what you see against the Bible. For example, is there any mention of gold dust or gold powder in the Bible? The single mention, in Exodus Chapter 32 verse 20 is, however, not a miracle. It is in fact a judgement on the people for their evil in making a calf of gold to worship: "And he (Moses) took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it into powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it."

I finish this section with a quote from Derek Prince. "The greatest single danger in this end time is not sickness, nor poverty, nor persecution. It is deception. If anybody says, "It could never happen to me," it has already happened to that person, because that person is saying something could never happen that Jesus said would happen. That is a sufficient indication that such a person is deceived."