I’ve been wrestling with questions about John and Lisa Bevere’s teachings. I have always been taught to test everything by Scripture (1 Thess. 5:21), and I was surprised to hear concerns raised by discernment ministries like LongforTruth1 and Mike Winger.
The Beveres seem like a sincere couple, but their ties to Bethel Church and the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) have left me uneasy. Here’s what I’ve learned and why it matters.
The Appeal of the Beveres
John and Lisa Bevere are popular for their passionate books and talks, like The Bait of Satan and Girls with Swords. They emphasise forgiveness, spiritual boldness, and intimacy with God, which resonate deeply with me, especially when my life as a carer feels heavy.
Their transparency about personal struggles makes them relatable, and they don’t deny core Christian truths like salvation through Christ. From my viewpoint from the bornagainchristians.org lens, their zeal for faith feels familiar, echoing an openness to the Holy Spirit.
Red Flags in Their Teachings
However, critics like Mike Winger and LongforTruth1 point out issues wrong with biblical teaching.
The Beveres promote ideas like “legal rights” (suggesting Satan has claims over believers unless broken through specific prayers) and “God-whispers” (personal revelations beyond Scripture).
These concepts, found in books like Relentless, lack clear biblical grounding, unlike the straightforward spiritual warfare, taught from Ephesians 6:10-18.
Their heavy use of The Passion Translation, a controversial paraphrase, raises concerns, as it’s tied to NAR theology rather than the reliable translations like the KJV, NJKV bibles
Ties to Bethel and NAR
The Beveres’ connections to Bethel Church and NAR amplify these worries. They’ve shared platforms with Bethel leaders like Bill Johnson and endorse practices that echo NAR’s focus on modern prophets and spiritual power.
While they don’t engage in Bethel’s wilder practices, like grave soaking, which feels outright cultish, their overlap with NAR’s emphasis on extra-biblical revelation strays from the sola scriptura foundation of bornagainchristians.org.
I welcome the Spirit’s work, but I am cautious about unchecked “new revelations,” and the Beveres appear to extend beyond that balance.
Not a Cult, But a Concern
I don’t see the Beveres as cultish; they’re not controlling followers or rejecting Jesus. But their teachings risk leading people toward NAR’s shaky ground, where personal experiences can overshadow Scripture.
As a carer with limited resources and time, I cannot afford books to dive deeper, but free resources like Winger’s BibleThinker YouTube channel and LongforTruth1’s videos have been eye-opening.
They urge discernment, reminding me to compare every teaching to God’s Word (Acts 17:11),
Moving Forward
This journey has reminded me to cling to the Bible’s simplicity. Caring for my son is my calling, and I want my faith rooted in truth, not flashy ideas.
The Beveres’ passion is appealing, but their extra steps, prophetic claims, warfare formulas, feel like more than Scripture requires.
I’m grateful for free tools like Blue Letter Bible and discernment voices that help me stay grounded without spending a penny.
If you’re wrestling with similar questions, check teachings against the Bible yourself.
The Holy Spirit guides us into truth (John 16:13), and we don’t need complex formulas to know Jesus.
I’m leaning toward caution with the Beveres, sticking to the Word that’s carried me this far.
Comments(9)
Born Again Christians says:
June 17, 2025 at 4:45 pmJohn Bevere Is a Narcissist and This Video Proves It! by LongforTruth1 https://youtu.be/5hG8ho56Pww?si=6Btp_NyEAzaVF5pB
Shirley Clark says:
April 23, 2026 at 11:25 pmI have been a born again Christian for over 45 yrs. and have heard this couple in person as well as listening to their podcasts and reading some of their books. It’s saddens my heart that people like you are so quick to bring judgment upon those that you disagree with. Sounds to me like you need to repent for being jealous of his ministry. Seriously it makes me sick how many people would rather criticize than be happy for the success of another believer. What about working out your own salvation with fear and with trembling and letting God do the same for others. J6st saying.
Born Again Christians says:
April 24, 2026 at 6:05 amShirley, Thanks and I appreciate you sharing your experience with the Beveres. You know I heard positive things from many too, and I don’t question their sincerity or zeal in some areas.
However, my article wasn’t motivated by jealousy; I’ve been studying and serving since 2003.
The concerns I raised come from comparing specific teachings (like ‘legal rights,’ extra-biblical ‘God-whispers,’ and NAR connections) to Scripture, as we’re commanded to test all things (1 Thess. 5:21; Acts 17:11).
Exposing potential error isn’t the same as condemning a person, it’s love for the flock and loyalty to God’s Word (Eph. 5:11).
I’m happy for any fruit, but we must hold everything up to the Bible, not success or feelings.
I’d encourage searching the Scriptures yourself on these points. Praying we all grow in discernment and fear of the Lord. Blessings in Christ.
Arly says:
August 27, 2025 at 2:11 amSo, with Kenneth Hagin snr. I see honesty and a wonderful example of a man following JESUS and walking in The Holy Spirit yet his progeny are disasters. With Bevere it’s kind of reversed, completely. I certainly hope he denounced that soaking nonsense and any other similar nonsense. I often cringe when someone is talking about The Faith and using the word soak because Faith is dynamic, feet in motion, hands at work, hearts trusting GOD. Static faith is dead. I never thought about praying for a sick person (expecting immediate results) until GOD told me to. I guess HE deals with each of us uniquely. HE led me to read about it and I “believed” it but about 24hours later HE presented it as a challenge while I was driving my neighbor to emergency with her newborn. I was trying to warm the car because it had snowed but she climbed in and pulled the seatbelt over the baby, time to go. I looked at him and his eyes were cloudy, the skin was peeling off his lips and he was wheezing barely breathing and GOD said…”you KNOW if you pray JESUS will heal the baby”. So I thought of several questions and accusations but I told myself to SHUT UP (it was too important) and I said “Yes Sir I’ll do that now”. I put my hand on his head and said,”JESUS CHRIST ( in me) heals you right now little buddy” and I felt a slow motion lightning go through me and out into the baby. The mom had her head bowed and she was agreeing. I thought she must’ve felt that electric power but then she looked at me and pleaded,”Now, can we go”, as though I had squandered a vital five seconds with my commercial for JESUS. Personally I was thrilled. There was nothing that could’ve squelshed my joy. You see, I had heard from GOD (miracle), then I did what HE asked (miracle), then HE did what HE PROMISED (GRAND SLAM ! ). I KNEW the baby was healed. I wanted to get out out and run around shouting but I just said,”Yes, now we can go🙂”. We had to wait almost an hour before the Doctor saw the baby but after ten minutes he brought him out laughing saying that’s the healthiest baby he’s seen in a while as he reassured the mom that she was quite welcome to bring him in anytime she suspected illness. The Doc plopped him on the edge of the counter and I could see his big eyes shining from across the room. The mom was flustered as we left she said, “Don’t you say anything”. I said hallelujah and she moaned but two weeks later she confronted me and pointed her finger in my face and said,”She knew a miracle when she saw one and I had to tell her about this JESUS ! )😊
Ocean says:
January 16, 2026 at 5:30 pmI have to agree with Arty. God still speaks & still heals, but anything from Him agrees with the Bible. And I never hear an audible voice, but I hear His whispers or impressions inside instructing me, this is the way, walk in it. “Pray for this person.” ; “There will be a moose around the corner…” (God doesn’t specifically talk about moose in the Bible, but “The Lord is my shield and rampart” would fit for that one since the moose was there!);
“Adjust your attitude, give it to Jesus.” ; “You’ve spent enough time on social media, return to My word.” ; “Go talk to that person about Me” or “Call_____” ; “Put a tract in your pocket” ; “You don’t need to eat that.” ; here’s one that rocked me, “You’re beautiful.”
In answer to a prayer for healing asking that if He wanted to heal a particular issue with me, would He please show me a verse to stand on (this was more an impression as I read the verse – “This is the verse you can stand on.”) 23 days of standing with praise on that verse in agony later – complete healing! ;
“Forgive”; “Don’t mention that.” ; After I was slow to obey, “Yes, but you DID finally obey,” ; when after a sin I was wretched, “I paid for that one, too.”
All of those heard from within my soul And so many others. (“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me…”). The principles behind the impressions or words are in the Bible. If they aren’t, then it’s time for some soul searching with God and His word.
That being said there is definitely issues with the NAR, Bethel, Hillsong, Joyce Meyers, the word of faith movement, and the demanding form of speaking faith, etc.
Ron Ziegler says:
March 2, 2026 at 2:29 amI would hate to be wrong.
HE THAT RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD DWELLS IN YOU Rom. 8:11. Yes, that is GOD. BELIEVE WHAT GOD BELIEVES.
* Howard Storm (YouTube), a former atheist cries talking about Jesus saving him from hell. He said GOD created other dimensions and you can explore heaven for eternity.
1) “Everyone has access to GOD, but we are taught it is only special people” Rev. Ken, dec.
2) GOD’S Love is unconditional.
3) The KOG is in our midst Luke 17:21 NIV. WHERE WOULD JESUS BE! He is Lord of the dead and the living (that is us!) Rom. 14:9.
4) THE HOLY SPIRIT IS REAL. A pastor said we don’t talk about Him much.
5) The Armor of GOD is GOD, Jesus and The Holy Spirit.
Truly I understand GOD shows no partiality Rom.2:11.
With our tongue we praise GOD and with it we curse those created in HIS image from Jms. 3:9.
from Mat. 5:22. But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! Take the plank out of your eye, he without sin cast the first stone, etc.
Some preach fear GOD; they all say love GOD with all your heart.
It is impossible to do both.
GOD said their fear of ME is a commandment of men Isa. 29:13 ESV.
GOD said their worship is a farce, they teach man-made ideas as commands from GOD Mark 7:7 NLT.
Abraham claimed GOD told him to sacrifice his son. They use this in sermons.
GOD said even the thought of sacrificing a child would not enter his mind Jer. 19: 5.
Many people hear from GOD, some more than others.
*GOD told Dr. Clarice Fluitt, a former Catholic, to raise the pastor who died and take his place. Her book is Ridiculous Miracles.
GOD’S LOVE SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE.
A pastor said I wish you all knew how much GOD loves you.
Jim Caviezel, The Passion of the Christ heard God (YouTube) say THEY DON’T LOVE ME, VERY FEW.
GOD said TELL ABOUT MY LOVE.
I did what Rev. Ken, dec., said was his “breakthrough to GOD” not knowing what would happen.
I have cried over 300 times feeling loved like a 4 yo child. A friend cried for three days when he was in the service in Greece.
You will love HIM when you realize HIS love for you.
*Ken Johnson (YouTube) heard GOD say I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER, EVER KNOW.
* Richard met God (YouTube) cries talking about GOD’S unconditional love.
The mystery of GOD’S Divine love.
Read Eph, 1:16-20, 2:4-8, 3:14-19 on your knees. After 5-6 weeks, I cried so hard feeling loved I said wait a minute.
The love of GOD is not just idle words but something people can experience.
How is it possible to cry feeling loved like a child!!!
When you humble yourself and feel loved like a child you will realize you/we are not as smart as we thought.
Soloman said but I am like a child who doesn’t know his way 1 Kings 3:7.
1 Cor. 2:9 What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him.
Born Again Christians says:
April 19, 2026 at 9:51 pmDear Ron,
Well, thank you, brother, for stopping by and sharing your heart so openly. I can tell you have a real hunger to know the love of God, and that’s a beautiful thing. The Lord is gracious, and He delights in drawing near to those who seek Him.
You quoted some wonderful verses, and I agree with you on so many points. Yes, the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in every born-again believer (Romans 8:11, NKJV). The Holy Spirit is very real. He convicts, comforts, guides, and fills us with the love of God. And you’re right, God’s love is amazing, unconditional in the sense that He loved us while we were still sinners and sent His Son to die for us (Romans 5:8). We should never stop marveling at that love.
Here at Born Again Christians, we love to teach the whole counsel of God, chapter by chapter and verse by verse. We want people to fall in love with Jesus through His Word. The Bible is our sure foundation. It’s living and powerful, and the Holy Spirit uses it to speak to our hearts.
Now, let me speak gently here, Ron. While we rejoice in testimonies of God’s love and the reality of the Holy Spirit, we have to be careful how we test everything. The Scriptures warn us to “test the spirits, whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1) and to hold fast to what is good. Personal experiences and what people say “God told me” should never be placed on the same level as the written Word of God. The Bible is our final authority.
When Abraham thought God told him to sacrifice Isaac, God did test him, but then God stopped him and provided the ram. The Lord Himself said that the thought of child sacrifice never entered His mind in the way the false prophets taught (Jeremiah 19:5).
So we must always bring every impression, every dream, every “word” back to the clear teaching of Scripture.
You mentioned that it’s impossible to both fear God and love Him. But the Bible actually holds them together beautifully. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10), and that reverent fear doesn’t drive us away, it draws us closer in awe and love. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). True love for God includes a holy reverence for Him.
We don’t want to preach a message of terror that pushes people from God, but neither do we want to present a casual, man-centered “love” that ignores His holiness and the need for repentance. The gospel calls us to turn from sin and trust in Christ alone.
As for stories of hearing God’s voice in dramatic ways or raising the dead, we rejoice when people are genuinely saved or healed, but we always point people back to the Scriptures rather than to extra experiences. The Bereans were called noble because they searched the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so (Acts 17:11).
Ron, I encourage you to keep pursuing the Lord wholeheartedly and to spend daily time in His Word. If you devote 1 to 1.5 hours each day, depending on your reading speed, you could complete the entire Bible in about three months. Continuing this routine will allow you to read the Bible four times a year.
Let the Holy Spirit illuminate the Bible to you. That’s where we hear His voice most clearly and safely. Cry out to Him, pour out your heart, and He will meet you there.
The love of God is indeed greater than we can fully understand, and I pray you will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
If you’d like to talk more or if there’s a particular passage you’d like us to look at together, feel free to write back. We’re here to help point people to Jesus and the solid truth of His Word.
May the Lord bless you richly and fill you with the knowledge of His will.
Mary says:
March 14, 2026 at 2:46 amWow.
Seems you all think NAR are a little off, but reading your comments, you sound just like them. GOD created you with a functioning brain with a fantastic memory, and your mind, will & emotions. These are naturally built in every human born healthy with an normal intellectual capacity. We can choose to learn to read (every thing) and go to schools and universities because of the way GOD CREATED OUR MINDS. Look at the huge amount of people that have learned volumes of information from eons past to the vast future. It’s all God-given! With our lives we can choose to glorify God or man, but it’s all from Him. When anyone says ‘God told me’, you elevate yourself instantly and create division. If we learn anything from the Bible it is to give Him all the glory. The gospels show us Jesus prayed humbly, every interaction was exalting The Lord. Did Gid heal the baby? YES, but the way the story was relayed glorified the teller. It may be only semantics, but we show pride when we have to take credit for deciding to pray. It is really an inborn action of the Holy Spirit working in that highly perfect mind He created in you. Lead those who follow you back to scripture never to: ‘I heard the Holy Spirit’s voice’ or ‘Jesus told me’ . If you’re certain the ‘voice’ you hear is God, give the glory to scripture, HIS LIVING WORD. All scripture is given by inspiration (breath) of God, we can give the highest praise by giving glory to His writen Word. Your job is to quote it.
Born Again Christians says:
April 19, 2026 at 9:37 pmWell, thank you, sister, for taking the time to read that article and for sharing your thoughts so openly. I appreciate a heart that wants to see the Lord Jesus get all the glory, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?
You’re absolutely right: God has fearfully and wonderfully created us. He gave us a mind, a will, and emotions. He designed us so we can learn, study, and grow in the knowledge of Him. The Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10, NKJV), and we’re to study to show ourselves approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15). We should never rob Him of the glory by lifting up ourselves or our own ideas.
At the same time, we want to be careful to stay balanced with what the Scriptures teach. The Holy Spirit is real. Jesus promised that when the Spirit of truth comes, “He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). In the book of Acts we see the Holy Spirit directing the early church, speaking to them, leading them, prompting them to pray and to go. But notice how it always lines up with the Word of God. The Spirit never contradicts the written Scriptures; He illuminates them and brings them to life in our hearts.
The concern we were raising in the article is when personal impressions or “God told me this” begin to be placed on the same level as the Bible, or even above it. That can lead to all kinds of confusion and division, and it’s something we need to guard against. The safest and surest way is to keep coming back to the Word. As it says in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
So when someone shares a testimony, “I felt led to pray, and the Lord answered”, our desire is that it would point people straight to the faithfulness of God and to His Word, not to the person. We don’t want to sound like we’re exalting our own experience. The glory belongs to the Lord alone.
We’re just simple Bible teachers here, trying to keep Bible Strong in the Word, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, depending on the Holy Spirit to open it up to our hearts, and encouraging folks to test everything by the Scriptures.
Thank you again for the loving reminder to keep everything centred on the written Word of God.
That’s where the power is.
That’s where we hear the voice of the Lord most clearly.