FONW Conference: Tommy Bates

Dates: March 14-17, 2011
Speakers: Tommy Bates, Pastor Ron Phillips, Perry Stone, others
Location: Abba's House, Hixson, Tennessee
Cost: free
Official website

March 14, 6:45pm - Tommy Bates

The service started late, to join a 7:30 broadcast on the Daystar network. The choir beautifully sang standard choral fare like "High and Lifted Up," "Thou oh Lord," and "Fairest Lord Jesus." They sang other songs I didn't know - "Send the fire" and "Unfailing Love."

What I like about Abba's House - which I've attended before to hear Tommy Bates preach - is the worship leader, soloists, and choir. The church's music program is excellent. I also like their sincerity and passion. But I don't care for Pastor Ron Phillips. Every time he steps to the microphone, Phillips quenches the spirit - talking about books, DVDs, and upcoming events. He seems like an opportunist, preening himself for the camera. He's too much like the many evangelical preachers people see on TBN. I'm tired of hearing about money. I don't like the Daystar television network or Marcus and Joni Lamb either. They facilitated the conference's Daystar appearance for the March 14 and 15 evening services. I'm waiting for God to separate the wheat from the chaff. I'm waiting for the money to disappear from the church. Then we'll know who's real and who isn't, who is of God and who is not.

Something new at Abba's House bothers me: a prophecy words table. From the conference bulletin: "The Abba's House Spiritual Life Team will be giving prophetic words to our FONW guests Tuesday-Thursday evenings beginning at 5pm. Please go by Guest Services and sign up for a time for one of our prophetic teams to pray for you." What about this is Christian? God does give people (like me) prophetic words, but never this easily. You can't order them like McDonald's French fries. The prophetic words ministry sounds like an oracle or palm reader. The oracle at ancient Delphi in Greece gave prophecies over individuals and groups, but the source was not of God. It was demonic. It wasn't always reliable either because the devil is the father of lies (John 8:44).

I don't like Pastor Tommy Bates' connection to the Lambs, Daystar, and TBN either. But I'm convinced he's genuine. I've heard Bates preach at least seven times now - in three different churches. I'd love to attend his church in Independence, Kentucky someday. One mark of a good preacher is praying first. He or she understands that it's the Holy Spirit's role to anoint people to preach and others to hear, receive, and obey. Without the Spirit, we're nothing. Bates is a good preacher.

Every time Tommy Bates steps to the microphone he introduces a young man named Jordan, from a small town in North Carolina. I don't remember his last name. But I've heard his testimony many times. I'm certain the man is saved. Through a spirit-filled grandmother, God delivered him from crystal meth, fornication, and theft - among other things. But Jordan is still odd physically - constantly twitching and rocking, like he can't be still. My mother thinks Jordan has a few residual demons.

Pastor Bates' sermon was on the fullness of times, his chosen text Ephesians 1:10-14. He said there is no time with God. Eternity - in heaven or in hell - is timeless. So what is time on this earth for? From this question, Bates launched into an extended analogy. Spiritually as Christians, we're just like the creation, nine-month development, and birth of a human baby. When the baby is born is the "fullness of time." And we hear the manifestation of that birth before it happens, just like we hear a chick before it hatches from its shell. So also the earth is a womb, filled with embryonic fluid. The umbilical cord is the Holy Spirit. The end of that gestation period of the "sons of God" that all creation is waiting and groaning for (Romans 8:19) is when an angel puts one foot on the land and one on the sea (). He will cut the umbilical cord, the dawn of a new age. Time will be no more. And we will open our mouths and praise God.

Bates then talked about the number seven being a gestation period, with world history divided up into seven periods of 1000 years each. Each period is a dispensation - God's act of grace and mercy under certain conditions.

First 1000 years - creation
Second 1000 years - conscience
Third 1000 years - law
Fourth 1000 years - prophets
Fifth and sixth 1000 years - Jesus Christ, the church
Seventh 1000 years - the millennial reign of Christ and the saints

Right now we're in that fifth and sixth 2000-year period. And this is where Bates talks about passages like Hosea 6:1-3, Luke 10:34-35, and Luke 13:32. Each passage mentions a 2-day waiting period on God, and then a third day of perfection and of a return. We're nearing the end of that 2-day period. Christ will soon return, and we will soon be perfected. Bates also talks about the last days: there will be greater evil during this time but also greater good.

Back to the baby analogy: before it is born there is a crowning. Only one is worthy to be crowned: Jesus. And he will soon be after the great revival. The baby must come to perfection before crowning and birth. So also we must come to spiritual perfection for service in the new millennial kingdom. This is why God must shake everything. He's not coming for fluff but for a real church, for people and not buildings. Behind the crowning is the body of Christ. When we're spiritually born we will be an exact replica of Christ - just like a baby is a replica (of sorts) of its parents, and looks like a person instead of an animal. We will be created anew to give Christ the highest praise.

Bates ended with a discussion of the coming revival - which I believe is coming but which others do not. They're asleep - looking for rapture and doomsday (as they should) but ignoring revival and souls. Bates said that in the coming revival, the body of Christ will experience a transfer of wealth, health, and influence. I can see some of this in Israel's exodus from Egypt. They came out with great wealth and favor (Exodus 12:35-36). Bates also said to expect miracles like from the book of Acts - angel visits and a display of all nine spiritual gifts.

Bates then launched into the mystery of the music scale. He said all notes are contained within an octave. The octave includes seven notes then goes back to the first, the beginning, like a rebirth. I understand the concepts of seven (completion, rest) and eight (rebirth) in theology - but not in music. Bates said he wrote the lyrics to "Thou oh Lord" in 1990, when the devil was giving him trouble. I'd like to research this.

Overall I thought it was a good service. I just want less preening to the camera (with heavy makeup), less talk of money, and more sincerity and spirit-filled passion. I want a service to be alive. This one had its moments but it had too much pomp and show - and not enough heartbreaking reality. I expect more sincerity tomorrow morning - when there won't be cameras.

Other official websites

Abba's House [pastor: Ron Phillips]
Pastor Tommy Bates
Daystar Television [Marcus and Joni Lamb]