Ezekiel 33:7 ~ “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them WARNING from me.”
April 1, 2009
March 29, 2009
READ THIS…IF YOU DARE TO SEEK TRUTH! ARE YOU AFRAID OF TRUTH? WE MUST ALWAYS BE OPEN TO CORRECTION! WE MUST ALWAYS CONTINUE TO STUDY THE WORD! ONCE YOU CLOSE THE DOOR TO CORRECTION OR STUDY ON A PARTICULAR BELIEF, THEN YOU HAVE BEEN DECEIVED!
PREFACE:
For those of you who DO believe that tongues is a valid sign gift today I ask you a question:
“In YOUR church, DO MANY often simultaneously speak or pray in tongues during your church service?”
If the answer is YES, then your pastor is in error for allowing it as it clearly goes against what the Bible teaches regarding tongues in church! THIS should maybe be your starting point for study on the gift of tongues.
IF YOUR CHURCH ALLOWS THIS IN ERROR, COULD THERE POSSIBLY BE MORE ERROR REGARDING THIS AND THE OTHER SIGN GIFTS, OR THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY?
THE ERROR OF THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH.
I BELIEVE THE SIGN GIFTS CEASED SOMEWHERE AROUND 70 A.D.
I have left the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements!
No…I do not any longer adhere to the “five fold ministry”.
THAT, doesn’t make me an unbeliever, nor does the fact that you DO believe in the sign gifts today make you any more spiritual than anyone else!
Probably, at this point, you will not read any further as my statement completely contradicts what you believe. I am sorry for you…sorry that you will not even research the topic. You have been and are, stuck in error…and so deeply so, that you will not even entertain the thought of studying it. Is this what God taught you to do?
You have become comfortable with your beliefs because everyone you associate with, your pastor, the congregation, your family and friends all believe the same thing. You look alike, think alike, talk alike, do alike and believe alike. Its easy. Non-threatening. BUT, WHAT IF ITS WRONG? How would you know if you’re not willing to step out of the box a little?
I have posed the above scenario to some folks and then asked them why the Apostle Paul lost his ability to heal anyone near the end of his ministry. Well…nobody had an answer…but the sad part was that nobody was willing to learn or listen to as to why that happened! AFRAID OF THE ANSWERS MAYBE!
I too was in error for many years believing that the gift of tongues, gifts of healing and miracles was valid and operating in the church today. I found that I was wrong after having done exhaustive research on these things. Although this is not intended to be a pat on the back, I don’t know of ANYONE who studies and researches the Bible more than I! I was in the “sign gifts” movement for many, many years but was never quite at ease with it all and had so many questions and skepticisms regarding the “five fold ministry” and many of its preachers, teachers, ministries, revivals and movements.
Many, including Pentecostal churches I have attended over the years, claim that speaking in tongues is THE initial evidence for being filled with the Holy Spirit! HOW FALSE THIS DOCTRINE IS! Other churches state that if you do not speak in tongues then you are not saved! THIS IS TRULY CULT LIKE!
I see no valid reason nor scriptural evidence, for all of the silliness, childishness, tongues speaking, 10% tithing, name it and claim it, I declare it and speak it into existence, prosperity loosing, poverty binding, gold dust falling, gemstone collecting, holy laughing, slain in the spirit, uncontrollable convulsing, animal behaving, miraculous gold fillings and other so-called signs and wonders as well as “new revelation” and “words of knowledge”…that many are claiming to be things of God in the church today and then disguising your disagreement with me by saying, “Touch not God’s anointed” or “Judge not lest you be judged”…statements that are taken SO far out of context, THAT IT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR BIBLES AT ALL!
You follow the likes of false prophets, false teachers, false preachers, false movements and revivals like those of Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, TBN (Trinity Broadcast Network) with Paul and Jan Crouch, Kim Clement, Rick Joyner, Todd Bentley and the Lakeland Revival, GodTV with Wendy and Rory Alec, Patricia King, Paul Cain, C. Peter Wagner, Bob Jones, William Branham, David Herzog, Arnold Murray, Joseph Prince, Sid Roth, Joyce Meyer, David Yonggi Cho, Che Ann, Rodney Howard Browne, Reinhart Bonnke, Robert Schuller, Joel Osteen, Peter Popoff, Jesse Duplantis, Rick Warren, Rod Parsley, Bill Hamon, Marilyn Hickey, Oral Roberts and Dutch Sheets…the list goes on! DO YOU KNOW WHAT DISCERNMENT IS…BECAUSE YOU TRULY LACK IT!
Yep…its a big list! Take any one of these names and study their doctrinal statements on their websites! Maybe they did perform a miracle. Could be even someone got saved there. Doesn’t make them correct and in many cases, even Christian. Certainly size and popularity alone doesn’t cut it!
Its time you stop letting everyone else make the decisions for you as to whom you are going to follow, believe and endorse!
“I’d rather stand alone with the Truth…than to be with the multitude in error!”
MATTHEW 16:4 ~ “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.”
How far you have strayed my people that you will call virtually anything a sign and wonder today!
Probably you’re going to say that I am quenching the Holy Spirit or that I am not led by the Holy Spirit and even some might be as bold to say that I do not have the Holy Spirit! Well…you are wrong! I just don’t let my feelings and emotions dictate my doctrine!
Do you believe something because it makes you feel good? Do you believe it because all of your family, friends and congregation believes it? Do you follow it just because your pastor teaches it? Maybe you think that just because I, me, Pete, you know, that whacky guy who smokes, says it, it must be wrong! I urge you to try, test and prove all things according to God’s Holy Word.
Tongues where NEVER again mentioned after 70 A.D. until the 19th century.
That means that I do not believe that the gifts of prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues, word of knowledge, apostleship, healing, discerning spirits and the gift of miracles, operate in the church today. I do not believe that one has the gift of healing.
THE APOSTLE PAUL NEAR THE END OF HIS MINISTRY, COULD NO LONGER HEAL ANYBODY, NOR COULD ANYONE ELSE! HE COULD NOT HEAL EPAPHRODITUS, TROPHIMUS, AND TIMOTHY.
This is why you don’t see big faith healers heal anyone of major physical handicaps…BECAUSE THEY CAN’T!
Since there are no Apostles in the church today, and because nobody can have the “gift of healing”, we find that so many folks have been disillusioned with the whole healing ministry.
I still believe that GOD performs miracles today though!
rph – 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSPDQE22IgY&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Azo7nWRXjYw A REVIEW OF THE NINE TEMPORARY SPIRITUAL GIFTS DIVERSITY BUT NOT DIVISION Any time divisions are a result of exercising spiritual gifts, it is an indication that these gifts are not being used as God intended. The variety of gifts is parallel to the parts of the human body, and Paul uses this analogy in 1 Corinthians 12:4 17. “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:4). “And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord” (1 Cor. 12:5). “There are varieties of effects, but the same God” (1 Cor. 12:6). Then Paul compares the variety of gifts to the human body and its various and necessary parts, “For even as the body is one and yet has many members” (1 Cor. 12:12). “If the foot says, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body” (1 Cor. 12:15). “If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?” (1 Cor. 12:17). THE SPIRIT IS THE GIVER OF THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS The word charismatic scares a lot of people, but it simply means gifts of grace. (Chars is the Greek word “grace.”) Since every believer is endowed with one or more gifts, every believer is charismatic. “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7; emphasis mine). All believers will not have the same gift, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:4). THREE BASIC FACTS ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS 1. Spiritual gifts are freely and graciously given. Gifts of grace cannot be earned, for you cannot do anything to get them in your own power. “And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly” (Rom. 12:6; emphasis mine). A gift is not earned or merited so a believer should not feel personal pride or self satisfaction due to his gift. “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:7; emphasis mine). 2. Spiritual gifts are a means of serving in the Body of Christ. Gifts are not to exalt the person who has the gift; they are to enable that person to serve other believers. “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Pet. 4:10). 3. Spiritual gifts necessitate the activity of the possessor. You will discover your gift as you function. Many do not recognize their gift because they are inactive. Just as a baby is born with all the necessary parts, he must learn to use those parts through activity. Many Christians are sitting around waiting to be discovered. In their waiting they become frustrated because they are not functioning as God intends. THE PERMANENT SPIRITUAL GIFTS 1. Teaching THE TEMPORARY SPIRITUAL GIFTS 1. APOSTLESHIP First Requirement of an Apostle–An Eye Witness to the Resurrection In Acts 1, Judas (the one who betrayed Christ) had already committed suicide and the remaining eleven apostles want to replace him. The name apostle is a particular name of these twelve men even though there are other men that probably have the gift of apostleship such as Barnabas, Silas, possibly James and a couple of others. However, the prime focal point is on these twelve men. As the eleven apostles seek to replace Judas, there are certain requirements that person will have to meet. The first requirement of an apostle is that he must have had a firsthand experience of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “One of these (apostles) must become a witness with us of His resurrection” (Acts 1:22). Paul defends his apostleship with proof that he, too, had seen the resurrected Christ. “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?” (1 Cor. 9:1). Some have said that Paul was not really an eye witness of Christ’s resurrection just as the Corinthians were doubting Paul’s right as an apostle. In answer to that doubt, Paul reviews Christ’s order of appearances, “and that He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the twelve” (1 Cor. 15:5). “After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time . . . then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles” (1 Cor. 15:6,7). Then Christ appeared to Paul! “and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also” (1 Cor. 15:8). THERE ARE NO APOSTLES TODAY In light of the fact that a definite requirement of an apostle was that he must have seen the resurrected Christ, apostles ceased to exist when these first-century men died. Today, some will say that apostles and missionaries are the same thing. It is true that missionary is the Latin word for the Greek word apostle, and both words mean “one who is sent with a special message.” However, the similarity ends there, for the twelve apostles had to have seen the resurrected Jesus Christ. The second qualification of an apostle carries us into some of the other gifts. Paul’s second evidence that he is a true apostle is that God has given him supernatural power in the form of miracle gifts. “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles” (2 Cor. 12:12). Now if there were all kinds of Christians running around Corinth doing miracles, Paul’s statement would lose any validity, for then miracles cease to be a sign of a true apostle. It is consistent throughout the book of Acts that every time the miraculous happens, it is always in connection with the ministry of one of the apostles. “At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people” (Acts 5:12). Romans 15 is speaking about Christ’s accomplishments through Paul by use of the miraculous. “In the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit” (Rom. 15:19). Is Paul saying miracles were being done by all the Christians? No! He is talking about particular miracles being done by Paul as an apostle. MIRACLES VALIDATED THE APOSTLES’ MINISTRIES “God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will” (Heb. 2:4). Even at this point in writing (about 68 A.D.), the miracles are written as something that is a past event — that those who heard salvation from Christ had their ministry confirmed (validated) by signs and wonders and different kinds of miracles. All the verbs in Hebrews 2:3 are in the past tense (even before 70 A.D.). “After it was (past tense) at the first spoken (past tense) through the Lord, it was confirmed (past tense) to us by those who heard (past tense)” (Heb. 2:3; emphasis mine). There is no longer a need for gifts for which the prime purpose is to validate a ministry of direct revelation. God’s Word is complete! The argument is sometimes given that because people do not believe in the Bible, we need the miraculous just as it was needed in the apostles’ day (· la John Wimber and the Vineyard movement). Read Luke 16:27 31, where Abraham tells a man in Hades that if a man does not believe the written Scriptures (Moses and the prophets), he will not believe even if someone is raised from the dead. The proof of that is obvious. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and people still did not believe — and still do not believe today. THE APOSTLES AND THE PROPHETS LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH The gift of apostleship is a foundational one and the most important gift of all the spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:28). The ministry of the apostles and prophets was to lay the foundation of the Church. They brought the truth regarding the one Body in Christ to mankind. In Ephesians 2:19, Paul says we are “fellow-citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.” The importance of the apostles and prophets is explained in Ephesians 2:20, “Having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.” Once you have laid the foundation, there is no other foundation that needs to be laid. There is no other truth that needs to be conveyed for the Church to be constructed. There is no need for more apostles or prophets. When constructing a building you would begin to worry if the workers came to lay the foundation after the building was half built, wouldn’t you? The same is true in a spiritual sense. The apostles and prophets have finished the foundation of the Church and no one should be trying to lay a new foundation. The foundation is done, settled and secure. We are building on that foundation. The gift of apostleship is finished. SUMMARY OF THE GIFT OF APOSTLESHIP The gift of apostleship is the most important gift given, but it was a temporary gift (one that has not continued down to our present day). There were two qualifications for an apostle. First, he had to have been an eye witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (He had to have seen Jesus Christ bodily after the resurrection.) The second qualification was that miracles had to accompany an apostle’s ministry to validate or confirm his position as an apostle. Paul met both qualifications as an apostle. Apostleship does not continue today simply because people have not seen Jesus Christ in His bodily resurrection. The apostles have completed the foundation of the Church, and God’s Word is complete. No new revelation is needed. 2. PROPHECY What Is a Prophet? Basically, a prophet had the ability to receive direct revelation from God and then to communicate that revelation to men. Some identify the gift of prophecy with the gift of preaching today, but that is not correct because the key element is missing — a preacher does not get his messages directly from God. A pastor gets his message from the Word of God (hopefully), but God does not appear to him in dreams and visions or by speaking directly to him. Since a prophet got his message from God, it was free from error, which obviously is not the case today! God cannot communicate mistakes! If God had so garbled the message He wanted to reveal to man and there were so many mistakes that the meaning was not clear, then God would not have revealed Himself at all. PROPHECY IS NECESSARY ONLY FOR ADDITIONAL REVELATION The gift of prophecy is only necessary when God wants to give additional revelation (when He wants to reveal more of Himself than He has revealed up to that point in time). A person who says the gift of prophecy is present today is in the same breath saying the Bible is not complete and that we need more material revealed from God. However, God says the Bible is complete and there is no additional revelation. “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18). THE REVELATION THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS RECEIVED IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH Just as the apostles received direct revelation from God, so did the prophets. That revelation is the foundation upon which the Church is built. Many times in both the Old and New Testaments, those who received the direct revelation were given the power to perform miracles and foretell the future. “One of them (the prophets) named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit (prophesy) that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius” (Acts 11:28). Later, Agabus was prophesying the imprisonment of Paul (Acts 21:11). There were female prophets as well as men. “Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses” (Acts 21:9). The Old Testament also has examples of prophetesses such as Huldah, Deborah and Miriam. Paul is classified among the prophets and teachers as well as an apostle (Acts 13:1). Not every prophet was an apostle, but in all probability every apostle had the gift of prophecy. GOD GAVE PROPHETS DIRECT GUIDANCE Connected with the gift of prophecy is direct guidance from God. “A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us’ ” (Acts 16:9). God does not communicate in visions to Christians today. There is no need for God to appear in visions. He has given us the Bible as our guide for direction in our daily lives. In a number of other places the Spirit directly reveals Himself to Paul and tells him something concerning his future activities (see Acts 18:9-10; 22:17 21; 27:23,24). SUMMARY OF THE GIFT OF PROPHECY We have noted that the gift of prophecy was temporary. There are three main reasons which we have covered: 1. When the New Testament was completed, there was no reason for additional revelation and the gift of prophecy is always connected with receiving new material from God. You do not find prophets getting material from God just to reiterate what God has already done or said. 2. The apostles and prophets were the foundation of the Church (Eph. 2:20). When the foundation was laid, the material for the foundation was given. When the foundation was complete, there was no longer any need for apostles or prophets. 3. Since there is no longer a need for prophecy, the gift of prophecy came to an end with the completion of the New Testament. “Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away” (1 Cor. 13:8). 3. MIRACLES GIFT OF MIRACLES IS THE ABILITY TO DO SUPERNATURAL WORKS OF POWER The gift of miracles is one of the most exciting gifts, along with healing and tongues. These gifts probably generate the most interest and discussion today. The gift of miracles is broad and includes much more than miraculous healing. Any act which includes God’s intervention into natural processes is included in the gift of miracles. MIRACLES ARE ALWAYS DONE IN CONNECTION WITH AN APOSTLE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT Acts 5 is the familiar account of Ananias and Sapphira with Peter as the apostle. Ananias and Sapphira had sold some land and had given some of the proceeds to the Church, but they pretended that they were giving all the proceeds to the Church. Peter knew they had plotted to deceive the Church, and he performed a miracle through the power of God. Peter tells Ananias that he not only lied to men, but also to God. “And as he (Ananias) heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came upon all who heard of it” (Acts 5:5). The same fate befell Sapphira in Acts 5:10. This is not like the miracles we think of usually, but still it is a miracle. Obviously God is not doing this today. Some of us can be thankful He isn’t! Why did God do that type of miracle then? God wanted to establish the ministry of the apostles, and this type of miracle caused the people to fear and respect the instructions and messages the apostles were giving. Not only did God confirm the ministry of the apostles, He guaranteed the purity of the Church at its inception (2 Cor. 12:12). TABATHA CAME BACK TO LIFE IN PETER’S MINISTRY Tabitha (Dorcas) died and Peter the Apostle came and performed a miracle by bringing her back to life. “But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, ‘Tabitha, arise.’ And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up” (Acts 9:40). This miracle might be classified as a gift of healing, but it goes beyond the scope of just healing. It goes into the realm of the gift of miracles, although the two gifts are closely related. PAUL STOPS A MAGICIAN WITH A MIRACLE Elymas the magician was causing problems for Paul and hindering his ministry. Paul looked the magician right in the eye and said, ” ‘Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.’ And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand” (Acts 13:11). This is a miracle of divine intervention by the Lord through Paul. OTHER MIRACLES IN PAUL’S MINISTRY Paul was holding a late meeting and a certain young man named Eutychus was listening from a third floor window. He fell asleep and fell out of the window and was killed. Paul brought Eutychus back to life. “But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, ‘Do not be troubled, for his life is in him’ ” (Acts 20:10). Another miracle occurs in Acts 28:3 6 when Paul is bitten by a poisonous viper. Paul just shakes the snake off, and his hand does not even swell. THREE MAIN PERIODS OF MIRACLES IN THE BIBLE The first period of miracles occurs during Moses’ ministry and the events surrounding it. Each time there is a miracle, the purpose of the miracle is to validate the message and testimony of Moses. The second period was perhaps at the low point in Israel’s spiritual condition, although Elijah and Elisha did mighty miracles. For example, Elisha was sitting on a hill when fifty of the king’s men came to get him and Elisha did a great miracle, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty” (2 Kin. 1:10). The king sends another fifty soldiers to get Elisha and again they are consumed by fire from heaven. The third group of soldiers came crawling to Elisha with profound respect. The miracle validated the ministry of Elisha. The third period of miracles takes place during the time of Christ and his apostles. Although other miracles occur in other times in the Bible, they are not as concentrated as during these three periods. God did miracles to validate the message He had given. He never used miracles to validate previous revelation. GOD DOES MIRACLES TODAY God performs miracles today, but the gift of miracles is not in use today. The gift of miracles is seen in examples in the book of Acts where a given individual has a supernatural ability to do those works of power as a result of the Holy Spirit within him. God does the miraculous today in various ways, one of which is answering the prayers of believers. SUMMARY OF THE GIFT OF MIRACLES The primary purpose of miracles was to validate the message of one of God’s spokesmen (either apostle or prophet) or their ministry. That does not mean that others did not do miracles, but it means that the miracles were always the result of the ministry of an apostle or a prophet. For example, the Corinthian church had a gift of miracles, but they had that as a direct result of the Apostle Paul’s ministry. The gift of miracles is temporary because there are no longer prophets and apostles and no new revelation for God to validate. The Bible is the complete revelation of God and nothing more needs to be added for men to know the plan of salvation. 4. HEALING DEFINITION OF GIFT OF HEALING VS. MIRACLES The gift of healing is a variation of miracles, but it is more limited because healings had to do with restoring the physical body back to health. Miracles went beyond that. Miracles included the negative aspect in that the supernatural power was used not just to heal blindness, but to make the seeing blind; not just to bring to life but to put to death. The gift of healing was limited to the positive aspect of healing all types of illnesses at will. The gift of healings is usually referred to as plural but when we refer to the gift of healing it entails all ramifications of supernatural power to heal (1 Cor. 12:9,28,30). The church at Corinth had the gift of healing, but they had that ability as a result of the ministry of the Apostle Paul in their midst. Healing is inseparably linked to the ministry of one of the apostles. GIFT OF HEALING BEGAN TO FADE DURING PAUL’S EARTHLY MINISTRY When Paul was writing to Timothy he advised him on his health. “No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Tim. 5:23). Why didn’t Paul just heal Timothy? Timothy had enough problems without having stomach problems. Why didn’t Paul just use his gift of healing instead of giving him some advice on how to help the problem? In 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul had to leave Trophimus behind at Miletus because Trophimus was so sick. Why didn’t Paul, who had raised Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:10), just heal Trophimus? The only explanation seems to be that this ministry — this particular gift of healing — is being phased out, because in 2 Timothy, Paul is close to the end of his ministry. It was no longer necessary to validate Paul’s ministry by the miraculous — Paul’s writings were beginning to be recognized as Scripture (2 Pet. 3:15 16). Philippians 2:27 gives another example where Paul does not (cannot) heal a fellow Christian, “For indeed he (Epaphroditus) was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.” That is strange as you think of Paul’s power as a miracle worker in the earlier part of his ministry. GOD DOES HEAL TODAY IN RESPONSE TO PRAYER It is important to remember that God does heal today and He still does the miraculous in various ways. We do not put limits on God’s power, but there is Biblical evidence that the gift of healing has been taken away and that there are not people today who have special power to heal. ( Note: James 5:14,15 is in the broader context of sin in the life of a believer and the illness incurred is the punishment for that sin (1 Cor. 11:30). The calling for the elders is indicative of a desire to deal with the sin. As such, this passage is not related to the gift of healing.) EXPERIENCES DO NOT NEGATE GOD’S WORD Your experience does not determine what is genuine; the Word of God determines what is genuine even if you say you saw someone healed on television or as an eye witness. You must first determine what the Word says about this subject and adjust your thinking accordingly. Do not adjust God’s Word to the experience. SUMMARY OF THE GIFT OF HEALING The main purpose of the gift of healing, just as the gift of miracles, was to validate God’s message. Each time the gift of healing was administered, it was done in connection with one of the apostles. Since the apostles were primarily teachers of the Word and not healers, when the message they brought was authenticated and established, there was no longer a need for the gift of healing nor any of the other miraculous gifts. 5. DISCERNING SPIRITS DEFINITION OF GIFT OF DISCERNING SPIRITS “And to another the distinguishing of spirits” (1 Cor. 12:10). The gift of discerning spirits was the supernatural ability to discern what was true and what was false. This was a crucial gift when men did not have the New Testament. Believers needed men who had the ability and insight to discern what teaching and which men were really from God. DISCERNING TAKES PLACE IN LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURES TODAY Now that we have the completed revelation from God, discerning takes place in light of the Scripture. We do not need a special gift. If I want to know if a teacher/preacher is genuine, I listen to what he says and teaches and measure that in light of the Word. They could not do that when they did not have the entire Bible. “If any one comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting” (2 John 10). What John is saying is simple, if someone does not bring the teaching the apostles have brought (the teaching that we now know as the New Testament), do not let him into your house or even greet him! Believers in the early church were to discern teachers in light of what the apostles had taught — as we are to do today. BELIEVERS ARE TO TEST THE SPIRITS VIA GOD’S WORD “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). The spirit here refers to the speaker, the teacher, the pastor. There are false teachers, and we are to discern them by sifting what they say through the Word of God. John gives the standard, but he does not say to use the gift of discernment. Instead he says to measure what they say against what John is going to teach them. That is the same standard we are to use today — the Bible. John taught the Bible verbally; we have it in written form. SUMMARY OF GIFT OF DISCERNING SPIRITS The main purpose of the gift of discerning spirits was to separate the phonies from the real messengers of God until the complete revelation of the Word was finished. Once the Word was completed and available to men as the truth, the gift of discerning spirits was no longer needed. 6. WORD OF WISDOM DEFINITION OF WORD OF WISDOM The gift of word of wisdom is the supernatural ability to discern and apply the Word of God. It was used for the specific and temporary purpose of giving wisdom before and during the time the New Testament was being revealed. In 1 Corinthians 2:7, Paul connects wisdom with his ministry and he connects it with special revelation (which indicates that this gift is in the context of special revelation). They did not have the written Word for obtaining wisdom as we do. SUMMARY OF GIFT OF WISDOM Since wisdom is connected with discernment in the revelation of God’s Word, it must be classified as temporary. Some limit wisdom to applying Bible truths to the specific needs of others, and as such, classify it as permanent. It is preferred to classify the gift of wisdom as a temporary gift as there appears to be more evidence that the wisdom was directly related to the revealing of God’s Word in laying the foundation of the Bible. 7. WORD OF KNOWLEDGE SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AS DIRECT REVELATION FROM GOD “And to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:8). The knowledge referred to here is a supernatural knowledge. In 1 Corinthians 13:8, we are told that knowledge shall pass away. The knowledge has to mean supernatural or special knowledge from God because knowledge in a general sense will never cease to exist. Throughout all eternity we are going to have knowledge of God and grow in that knowledge. Before men had the New Testament, they needed those who had special knowledge from God so they would know about God and know what they were to do and not to do. Today we can examine the Word to know what God has to say. RELATIONSHIP TO THE GIFT OF PROPHECY The gift of knowledge is closely related to the gift of prophecy in that both involved the reception of direct revelation from God. However, prophecy is presented as a more important and prominent gift. It evidently included revelation on a broader scale (including future events) as well as having a greater emphasis on the proclamation of the revelation received. SUMMARY OF GIFT OF WORD OF KNOWLEDGE The gift of word of knowledge was a temporary gift to establish the truth of God and mankind. This was accomplished with the New Testament. The word of knowledge was a special supernatural knowledge, not the knowledge that comes as a result of studying the Bible. 8. TONGUES TONGUES REFER TO EARTHLY LANGUAGES The gift of tongues was a supernatural ability to speak an earthly foreign language without special training. Tongues comes from the word glossa, so the word glossalalia means “to speak in tongues.” The word tongues (glossa), when used in the New Testament, either refers to the physical tongue and its basic meaning or to the language that the tongue speaks. To begin a study of tongues, get a concordance and look up the word tongue (glossa), and look at all the places it is used and how it is used. In the following references (not a complete list) every time the word tongue (glossa) is used, it always refers to an earthly foreign language: Revelation 5:9; 7:9; 10:11; 11:9. LAW OF FIRST MENTION In hermeneutics (the study of interpreting the Scripture), there is a Law of First Mention which simply refers to the fact that the first mention of an area, a fact or a word, becomes a pattern for subsequent uses of that word or expression or phenomenon. The first mention of speaking in tongues in the Bible is found in Acts 2:4: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” Other “tongues” is the Greek word glossa. All the different people present are listed in verses 9 and 10. These various groups of people are saying that they hear what is being said in their own language (verse 11). Tongues an earthly language is further substantiated in Acts 2:6, “And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language.” The Greek word used here for language is “dialect,” but glossa and dialect are used interchangeably so glossa has to mean an earthly language. (Dialect is also used in verse 8.) The gift of tongues was Spirit-motivated speech (Acts 2:4) in a particular language as we have already established. Now it would be hard to believe that the Spirit today is motivating believers to speak in babblings or ecstatic speech, because that is contrary to what God did when He first gave this ability. Unless there is good reason to think that God changed this particular ability and gift, we have to assume that the gift of tongues will be the same throughout the entire Bible. GIFT OF TONGUES WAS A SIGN TO UNBELIEVERS AND A SIGN OF JUDGMENT TO ISRAEL “So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers” (1 Cor. 14:22). In verse 21, the Old Testament is quoted to substantiate that one of the basic purposes of tongues is to be a sign for unbelievers, but also tongues were a sign to the Jewish nation that they were to be judged for their unbelief (Deut. 28:49). Anytime there is a foreign language being spoken among the Jews, it is a sign that God is judging the nation Israel because these foreigners would have conquered Israel (Isa. 28:9 13). Isaiah foretells the judgment God is going to bring on Israel. The particular people here who have stammering lips and a foreign tongue are the Assyrians. The presence of the Assyrian language in Israel is an indication and a sign to Israel that God is judging them for their unbelief. TONGUES WERE ONE OF THE SIGN GIFTS The sign gifts, remember, were temporary gifts to validate the ministry of the apostles (2 Cor. 12:12). Tongues are specifically called a sign in 1 Corinthians 14:22. Once a message had been confirmed by signs and wonders, there was no longer a need for further confirmation (Heb. 2:3 4). THE GIFT OF TONGUES IS NOT PRESENT TODAY What about the ecstatic speech that is a common phenomenon today? Speaking in tongues as it is practiced today is not Biblical tongues. (We have already established that Biblical tongues refers to foreign languages.) The babblings of today have their origin in the mystery cults of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, and it was practiced by unbelievers. EXPERIENCES CAN BE CONTRARY TO THE BIBLE Be careful not to sift your Bible through what is going on — instead, know what the Bible says and determine your experiences in light of the standard — the Word of God! That can be very difficult because you cannot deny your experiences. However, a person on drugs might have beautiful mind-boggling experiences, even religious experiences, but those experiences are not bringing him closer to God. His experience is wrong and drawing him farther away from God’s truth. Some experiences are distractions from God’s Word. BOOK OF ACTS IS A TRANSITION BOOK FROM OLD TESTAMENT TO NEW TESTAMENT The Book of Acts records a transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament, the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. God deals differently with men in the New Testament. Throughout the Old Testament, beginning with Abraham all the way down to Acts 2, God was dealing primarily with one group of people — the Jews. Then in Acts 2, God begins a totally new work; He is going to deal with all peoples and all nations and make them one people. To make sure that there is not a Jewish church developing and a separate Samaritan church developing, the Samaritans are brought under the umbrella of the apostles’ leadership in Acts 8. They can be sure that God is working through the apostles to lead and teach them because they receive the Holy Spirit. You can readily see the importance of tongues as a sign gift — as a demonstration of God doing a new work and in doing that new work, He is also judging the nation Israel for their unbelief. TONGUES WERE A SIGN TO THE JEWS THAT GENTILES WERE TO BE PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST In the first part of Acts 10, God had to give Peter a special vision so that Peter would be willing to speak to Cornelius and his household (Gentiles). “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message” (Acts 10:44). What was the reaction of the Jewish believers? “And all the circumcised believers (Jews) who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also” (Acts 10:45). The Jews recognized this sign and its significance (Acts 11:15 18). What was the sign that the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles? The sign is found in Acts 10:46, “For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.” So again, the gift of tongues was proof that God was not only going to include Jews and Samaritans, but Gentiles as well into the one body God was making. Once the fact had been established, it did not have to be repeated. Once the Jews knew that the Gentiles were to be a part of the Body of Christ, it does not make sense that every time a Gentile believed, he had to give the evidence, for that had already been established. That is the foundation we are to build upon. GOD BEGAN A NEW WORK IN THE BOOK OF ACTS In Acts 19, when Paul meets the disciples of John at Ephesus, Paul asks them if they have received the Holy Spirit and they answer, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). Now some people take this verse as proof that you do not receive the Holy Spirit when you first believe. However, if you read on in Acts 19, you find out they have been baptized “into John’s baptism.” If they have been part of John’s ministry, they know that there is a Holy Spirit (John 1:33), so Acts 19:2 cannot mean they did not know about the Holy Spirit. What it obviously means is that they had not heard whether the Holy Spirit had been given — that the Holy Spirit was here performing His baptizing ministry. “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying” (Acts 19:6). God wanted to demonstrate that He was doing a new work, and when you recognize that it was a new work, you have to recognize that the book of Acts is mainly about the transition from Old Covenant to the New Covenant. Ephesians 2 stresses the fact that God was indeed doing a new work, a work that is today revealed through the Apostle Paul’s writing, “Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12; see also verses, 11 16). Then in Ephesians 3:4 5, “And by referring to this when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit.” Note that this was not previously revealed; it was new revelation. As a new revelation, it needed the signs and miraculous evidence that it was indeed revelation. “As it has now been revealed” to whom? — all the apostles and prophets! SELF-EDIFICATION WAS NEVER THE MAIN PURPOSE OF TONGUES The main purpose of tongues, as already pointed out, was to give a sign to unbelievers. Self-edification was a side effect that the believer enjoyed for merely exercising his gift of tongues (true of every believer who exercises his gift). The modern day Pentecostal movement, on the other hand, stresses edification for the individual believer and the Church, never as a sign to unbelievers. Most people who are advocating tongues for today have quoted 1 Corinthians 14:2: “For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.” There are some problems here. In chapter 12, the purpose of the gifts in general is edification of other believers. Now, God does not need to be edified (built up to further maturity). First Corinthians 14:2 is not an encouragement to speak to God in tongues (a different language), for He will understand whatever language I use, including English. The advantage of my using English is that you and other believers will understand and that is the purpose of spiritual gifts — to communicate, to serve and to build up other believers. NOT EVERY BELIEVER WAS EXPECTED TO HAVE THE GIFT OF TONGUES “All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they?” (1 Cor. 12:30). The gift of tongues was limited to a few, even back in the time of the apostles. How can people today say that to have the Holy Spirit a believer must speak in tongues? In light of 1 Cor. 12, that is clearly unbiblical. First Corinthians 14:5 is often quoted to prove that the gift of tongues is still operative today: “Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.” Why do some put the emphasis on tongues when Paul said that he had a greater desire for the people to prophesy? I do not have anyone coming around to my door saying that I need to get the gift of prophecy, but I have people praying that I will get the gift of tongues. Paul is saying that he would like them to have all the gifts, but he would rather that they have the greater gifts. Paul is not saying that tongues is the gift they should have. If they should have any, it should be the greater gift of prophecy. The gift of tongues was the least important of all the spiritual gifts. It was last on the list (see 1 Cor. 12:28). SUMMARY OF THE GIFT OF TONGUES It is not my purpose to put down the gift of tongues which was a very necessary gift at one time, but rather to evaluate whether or not that gift has continued until today. According to the Bible, the gift of tongues ceased to exist with the passing of the apostles. The Scripture teaches that tongues was a special ability to speak in an earthly foreign language without special training. The purpose of such a gift was to be used as a sign to validate the ministry of the apostles as they laid the foundation of the Church. Once the foundation was complete, there was no need for special signs to confirm the validity of God’s work. The present day phenomenon called “speaking in tongues” (glossalalia) is characterized by indiscernible sounds. Since that could not be called a foreign language that is understandable by some group today, glossalalia cannot be validly called Biblical tongues. 9. INTERPRETING TONGUES DEFINITION OF INTERPRETING TONGUES The gift of interpreting tongues was the supernatural ability to understand a foreign language without special training, and then to communicate the message to other believers. Interpreting tongues was directly related to the gift of tongues. In the gift of tongues, God would speak directly through a person, and he would begin to speak in a language that they had never learned. Someone else would interpret even though he also had never learned that language, and the other believers were built up (edified) as they heard the special message from God. TONGUES WAS OF NO VALUE UNLESS IT WAS INTERPRETED Tongues had no value as a spiritual gift unless it was interpreted, because that was the only way the message was beneficial to the Church. When tongues was interpreted, it basically became a form of prophecy. A person received a message from God and gave that message in an intelligible form. If someone preaches the Word in Italian, it does nothing for me because I do not understand the language. Interpretation is the key, and you cannot have tongues without interpretation. “But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?” (1 Cor. 14:6). Paul is saying that tongues is of no benefit unless there is some understandable message (interpretation). Paul compares speaking in tongues with musical instruments producing meaningful sounds — “Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?” (1 Cor. 14:7). The message is clear. Anyone who speaks in tongues which no one understands is just talking into the air, signifying nothing: “So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air” (1 Cor. 14:9). SUMMARY OF GIFT OF INTERPRETING TONGUES The combined purposes of the gift of tongues and interpreting tongues (you cannot Biblically separate the two gifts) were: (1) used as a sign to confirm the work of the apostles and (2) to edify the Church (never for personal edification). Legitimate tongues and interpreting tongues are extinct today as their purposes have ended (see Heb. 2:3 4). Since those gifts have fulfilled their confirming purpose (which was their main reason for existing), tongues and interpretation have been withdrawn.
2. Helps (Ministering)
3. Administration
4. Evangelism
5. Pastor-Teacher
6. Exhortation
7. Giving
8. Mercy
9. Faith
10. Celibacy
Second Requirement–Apostles Possessed Miracle Gifts (Signs, Wonders and Miracles)
September 18, 2008
IT IS NOT MY INTENT TO OFFEND ANYONE BUT I WRITE IT THE WAY I SEE IT, ACCORDING TO THE WORD!
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Most of the videos on this site were linked to my former YouTube account. It was permanently shut down by YouTube due to what they call copyright infringement. Various public ministries complained to YouTube about the public criticism they received from many users including myself. I have since created a new YouTube account under the name of, “AManCalledPeter” and you can search for this on YouTube to access the material I have either uploaded or linked to. I will attempt to rebuild my video library shortly and update all video links on this site. I apologize for the inconvenience. My first experience with censorship or selective broadcasting. Public ministry…public scrutiny I say. If you want to preach it publicly then be prepared to back it up publicly! Those with false doctrines, teachings, prophecies, signs and wonders, often hide behind or protect their viewpoints by quoting Bible verses like “Touch not mine anointed” or “Judge not lest you be judged” as well as scream “That’s copyright infringement!” With enough hollering they have been successful at shutting down a number of YouTube accounts that deal with exposing false teaching according to the Bible. Both Patricia King of Extreme Prophetic and Benny Hinn were instrumental in the disabling of my account.
September 4, 2008
Many a day, whether it is via the televangelists or out of the podiums of local churches, two groups of phrases are delivered to all who listen. The first phrase is “Judge not, lest ye be judged” from Matthew 7:1. The second phrase is from Psalms 105:15 which states “Saying, touch not mine annointed, and do my prophets no harm.” Is this what Christians do when they question teachings from (most of the time self-proclained) “God’s Anointed” evangelists and preachers. Many who claim to have the annointing would say so, and so would their followers. To any criticisms directed to them, whether positive or negative, their response is usually “Touch Not Mine Annointed”
From the pulpit of a well known televangelist on recorded tape.
“There are people attempting to sit in judgement right today over the ministry that I am responsible for, and the ministry that Kenneth E. Hagin is responsible for. … Several people that I know of called that faith bunch out of Tulsa a cult, And some of them are dead right today in an early grave because of it, and there’s more than one of them got cancer.”
From the pulpit of a local church I once attended.
“So you want to say that what I am preaching is not from God? You need to remember, “Touch Not God’s Annointed”. Since I have been given responsibility for this congregation and I am the shepherd, You do not have the right to question me. I am a child of God and I pray, talk to, and hear from God everyday. When you question me, you are actually questioning God. Therefore, to question me is to place your self in rebellion and in opposition to God himself. You, the congregation, know what happens when you are in rebellion. Remember 1 Samuel 15:23 “For rebellion is as of the sin of witchcraft…”. Therefore, If you dare to question me, you are in witchcraft, and you are to be treated and punished the same as witches, mediums, and sorcerers, in the eyes of God…”
So, we have seen two different perspectives manifesting the same root. To question these leaders about their teachings is questioning God himself. To question would bring such horrors such as: cancer, other sicknesses, death, judgement, branded a “heretic”, etc. This actually takes place in a small group of Christian circles today, but over the years, this has been broadcasted throughout the television, and many followers of the televangelists take this teaching and apply it to their lives also. Many churches today are not hearing God. Instead they teach “re-fried” theology from the big boys on TV and call it “a new revelation”. If these teachings were true, how could these people follow the Biblical commandments of submitting to one another? In fact, when one reads Psalms 105:15, one can clearly see that this whole Psalm is devoted to the memories of where God had brought his people from since the beginning of time from Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. Verse 15 deals specifically with the issue of the historical aspects of the true enemies of God touching the chosen people of Israel. This verse actually comes from Genesis 20:7. When this verse re-appears in other places throughout the Old Testament, it describes and is addressed to foreign kings who served other gods other than God Almighty what the consequences of physically touching the chosen people of God would be.
This scripture, after close examination, definately CAN NOT be applied to other Christians who question or challenge teachings and practices from church leaders or other Christians. If this could happen, then those leaders would have to (and some do) question the salvation of their critics and possibly deny the washing of their critics sins with the blood of Jesus, the same blood that washed their sins!!! Is it also ironic that they tell you not to “touch” them, but they definately love to “touch” their congregations or anyone else when they think that they are not in agreement with them in the name of “fighting heresy”. So, who is annointed in God’s eyes? The answer is simple, everyone who believes and is washed in the Blood of Jesus. 1 John 2:20 states that: “But YOU have an annointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth”. Who is the “you” that the scripture is referring to. Everyone who believes and is washed in the Blood of Jesus (see also Revelation 1:6). Therefore, no believer can claim to have a “special status as God’s untouchable annointed ” above other true believers. In fact 1 John 18-24 clearly gives us the responsibility and ability to discern true and false teachers.
Another tactic that these people who tell their followers not to touch them, along with Spiritual warfare people use is the combination of two verses of John 8:32 and Hebrews 10:26
* John 8:32:And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
* Hebrews 10:26: For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifices for sins.You never hear these verses quoted verbatim, but this is how these verses are combined and twisted to keep people from questioning their teachings. I have told you the truth that will set you free. It does not matter if you believe or question what I said or not because it is the truth. Therefore, since you have heard the truth whether you receive the truth or not, you are now held accountable to obey this teaching for the remainder of your days on earth and subject to the wrath of God at judgement day if this teaching is not followed. Sounds good and out of the mind of a lawyer. But their real intent is to force you to accept a teaching without question because you have now heard the “truth”. To question the “truth” after hearing the accountability disclaimer now makes one appear like they are now coming against the annointed of God, or in their perspective, God himself? A fear mechanism is now enacted to keep people from finding out the real truth. God is not fear. God wants you full of love, power, and a sound mind. God wants you to be equipped with his Word and Spirit to fend off the enemy and reach the lost.
Let us look at the other verse quoted by propogators of this theology. 1 Chronicles 16:22 states “22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. (KJV)” The word touch in this verse is the Hebrew word “naga” which means ‘to physically touch’. The word annointed in this verse is the Hebrew word “mashiyach” which means “annointed the King of Israel” or “annointed of the patriarchs as anointed King of Israel” Therefore, like the Psalms 105:15 and the Genesis 20:7 verses, this refers to the physical leader and not the spiritual leader. This word also implies that the word touch actually means physical harm, not saying something about another person publicly that is true and stated facts can be objectively and reasonably proven. David did not physically touch Saul but he did speak out the truth to Samuel in 1 Samuel 19:18.
If you look at Saul, you will see in 1 Samuel 9:1 that he was from the tribe of Benjamin. You will also see that in verse 15-16 of this same chapter that Samuel was to “annoint him commander over my people Israel, that he may save my people from the hand of the Philistines…” He was anointed only to be a physical military leader and never a spiritual leader. The prophet Samuel and the priests that Saul later killed were the spiritual leaders of the time.
Let’s look at 1 Samuel 24:6 where David met Saul in the Wilderness in the cave and David where it states “And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he [is] the anointed of the LORD.” When one looks at the word anointed, it is the same Hebrew word “mashiyach” which means “annointed the King of Israel” or “annointed of the patriarchs as anointed King of Israel”. Therefore, like 1 Chronicles 16:22, Psalms 105:15 and the Genesis 20:7 verses, this refers to the physical leader and not the spiritual leader. Because if you had looked at the verses in 1 Samuel 16, The Lord had regretted in chapter 15 verse 35 that he had made Saul the King and therefore Samuel anointed David as the King. In fact, look at 1 Samuel 16:14, the Scripture states that the Spirit (capitalized for Diety) of the Lord departed from Saul and a distressing spirit (not capitalized representing a non-Diety spirit) from the Lord troubled him. Look at Chapter 22 where Saul kiled the priests except one. The priests were anointed from God and protected the anointed physical King David. In 1 Samuel 26:11 where it is stated “The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that [is] at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.” Once again, the word anointed is the same Hebrew word “mashiyach”, which refers to the physical government King instead of the spiritual leader who was the priest. The same applies to verses 16 and 23 where the same word anointed is the same Hebrew word “mashiyach”.
Based on how many preachers abuse this Scripture to make themselves beyond approach and beyond correction, what would have happened if the Prophet Nathan believed the same way these preachers intend for us to believe? Nathan would never have confronted King David about David’s error. Wasn’t David “anointed” of the Lord? That didn’t relinquish him from Bible integrity, accountability & responsibility! What if Paul had not formally rebuked Peter in Galatians 2:11-14 for not eating and fellowshipping with the Gentile believers? Peter was an established, notable Apostle with more years of being saved under his belt than Paul. Plus Peter walked with Jesus and was one of the twelve Disciples. Being “Anointed” does not excuse you from being called into question for preaching heresy or teaching doctrinal errors!
David later on in his ministry as King accepted rebuke and correction from Nathan the prophet. He did not say, “don’t touch God’s anointed” to protect himself, and neither should those who follow their leaders do the same. Peter accepted rebuke and correction from Paul and began to have fellowship with both Jew and Gentile believers in Christ. No true apostle ever proclaimed that they were anointed, they did not speak in this manner; “don’t touch me I’m God’s anointed.” Nor did they try to equate that disagreeing with them is disagreeing with God Almighty himself. The Holy Spirit reveals in the hearts of Christians whether or not a person is anointed.
Now one may ask,” Do I have a right to question teachings laid forth by the elders”? or “Is exposing a preacher or anybody else’s teachings that don’t line up with Scripture, considered to be attacking the person or their ministry?” Believe it or not many people have bought into the lie that exposing a preacher who teaches incorrect doctrine is considered to be attacking God himself! To these questions I say YES!!, you have the right to question and expose. We should have the utmost respect for our pastor, whom God has appointed over us to give an account for our souls, but that still doesn’t mean that he’s infallible or unquestionable. He’s human; he’s an under-shepherd, appointed by the true Shepherd Jesus Christ to feed the flock of God. The 1 John text previous mentioned and this text in 1 John 4:1 saying “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” and this chapter goes on explaining this in further detail. Nobody’s teachings and practices are beyond biblical evaluation, from pew sitter to the leader of the denomination. Looking at Luke 12:48, one can see that the greater the responsibility one holds within the church, the greater the accountability one has before God and His people. Christians must respect and submit to the elders God has placed before them, and vice-versa. At the same time, Christians must realize that false teachers will arise in these last days among the Christian fold. Did the Apostle Paul rebuke the Bereans for checking him out in Scripture to see if he was preaching the truth? In Acts 17:11, it clearly states ” Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonains, for they recieved the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” They were complimented for testing to see if the apostle Paul was telling the truth. Not bashed for “wanting to touch God’s annointed”. With so much Scripture present to address the questioning of teachers and teachings, such actions can hardly be considered unbiblical in nature. In fact, if we took the touch not mine anointed to it’s extreme, there would be no Biblical apologetics and no counter-cult ministries because per the logic of the die hard ‘touch not mine anointed’ believers, we questioned notable cult leaders who were in heresy (Jim Jones Rev. Moon). Based on their logic, we have no right to question and even rebuke cult leaders like the forementioned Jim Jones and Rev. Moon.
If you are a member of any congregation, religious organization, or group that the leadership clearly states that their teachings cannot be challenged because they are the only ones hearing from God. My suggestion is for you to get out and find another congregation to fellowship with. A fellowship where the pastorial staff and leaders can be talked to about Scriptual interpretations if the need arises. If the leadership of a fellowship becomes unapproachable about doctrine with an “elitist” attitude, then that fellowship is on the borderline of being a cult in practice. For cults teach that they are the only way to God and manifest a leadership elitism throught their organizational structure. From personal experience, the majority of these so called ministers that love to propogate this doctrine are not under authority to anyone, so they are not accountable, nor do they want to be held accountable for what they preach. However, they love to use the ‘I am accountable only to Jesus’ tactic to where they go back again to the defense of “questioning me is questioning Jesus”.
Lord, I ask right now in the name of Jesus that these words can help people who are involved in such rigid, authoritarian fellowships to repent and open up to you. Teach them to be in proper Biblical submission to You, their elders, and to other Christians. I ask that proper, Biblical interpretations of the Scriptures can be obtained, implemented, and maintained in their fellowships for the Glory of the Kingdom. All these things I ask in Jesus Name, AMEN
August 30, 2008
CHARISMA MAGAZINE ON TODD BENTLEY AND THE LAKELAND REVIVAL
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Life After Lakeland: Sorting Out the Confusion
Todd Bentley’s announcement that his marriage is ending has thrown our movement into a tailspin—and questions need to be answered.
It was not supposed to end like this.
Evangelist Todd Bentley had heralded the Lakeland revival as the greatest Pentecostal outpouring since Azusa Street. From his stage in a gigantic tent in Florida, Bentley preached to thousands, bringing many of them to the stage for prayer. Many claimed to be healed of deafness, blindness, heart problems, depression and dozens of other conditions in the Lakeland services, which ran for more than 100 consecutive nights. Bentley announced confidently that dozens of people had been raised from the dead during the revival.
But this week, a few days after the Canadian preacher announced the end of his visits to Lakeland, he told his staff that his marriage is ending. Without blaming the pace of the revival for Bentley’s personal problems, his board released a public statement saying that he and his wife, Shonnah, are separating. The news shocked Bentley’s adoring fans and saddened those who have questioned his credibility since the Lakeland movement erupted in early April.
| “Among those who jumped on the Lakeland bandwagon, discernment was discouraged. They were expected to swallow and follow. The message was clear: ‘This is God. Don’t question.’ ” |
I’m sad. I’m disappointed. And I’m angry. Here are few of my many, many questions about this fiasco:
Why did so many people flock to Lakeland from around the world to rally behind an evangelist who had serious credibility issues from the beginning?
To put it bluntly, we’re just plain gullible.
From the first week of the Lakeland revival, many discerning Christians raised questions about Bentley’s beliefs and practices. They felt uneasy when he said he talked to an angel in his hotel room. They sensed something amiss when he wore a T-shirt with a skeleton on it. They wondered why a man of God would cover himself with tattoos. They were horrified when they heard him describe how he tackled a man and knocked his tooth out during prayer.
But among those who jumped on the Lakeland bandwagon, discernment was discouraged. They were expected to swallow and follow. The message was clear: “This is God. Don’t question.” So before we could all say, “Sheeka Boomba” (as Bentley often prayed from his pulpit), many people went home, prayed for people and shoved them to the floor with reckless abandon, Bentley-style.
I blame this lack of discernment, partly, on raw zeal for God. We’re spiritually hungry—which can be a good thing. But sometimes, hungry people will eat anything.
Many of us would rather watch a noisy demonstration of miracles, signs and wonders than have a quiet Bible study. Yet we are faced today with the sad reality that our untempered zeal is a sign of immaturity. Our adolescent craving for the wild and crazy makes us do stupid things. It’s way past time for us to grow up.
Why didn’t anyone in Lakeland denounce the favorable comments Bentley made about William Branham?
This one baffles me. Branham embraced horrible deception near the end of his ministry, before he died in 1965. He claimed that he was the reincarnation of Elijah—and his strange doctrines are still embraced by a cultlike following today. When Bentley announced to the world that the same angel that ushered in the 1950s healing revival had come to Lakeland, the entire audience should have run for the exits.
Why didn’t anyone correct this error from the pulpit? Godly leaders are supposed to protect the sheep from heresy, not spoon feed deception to them. Only God knows how far this poison traveled from Lakeland to take root elsewhere. May God forgive us for allowing His Word to be so flippantly contaminated.
A prominent Pentecostal evangelist called me this week after Bentley’s news hit the fan. He said to me: “I’m now convinced that a large segment of the charismatic church will follow the anti-Christ when he shows up because they have no discernment.” Ouch. Hopefully we’ll learn our lesson this time and apply the necessary caution when an imposter shows up.
Why did God TV tell people that “any criticism of Todd Bentley is demonic”?
This ridiculous statement was actually made on one of God TV’s pre-shows. In fact, the network’s hosts also warned listeners that if they listened to criticism of Bentley, they could lose their healings.
This is cultic manipulation at its worst. The Bible tells us that the Bereans were noble believers because they studied the Scriptures daily “to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11, NASB). Yet in the case of Lakeland, honest intellectual inquiry was viewed as a sign of weakness. People were expected to jump first and then open their eyes.
Just because we believe in the power of the Holy Spirit does not mean we check our brains at the church door. We are commanded to test the spirits. Jesus wants us to love Him with our hearts and our minds.
Because of the Lakeland scandal, there may be large numbers of people who feel they’ve been burned by Bentley. Some may give up on church and join the growing ranks of bitter, disenfranchised Christians. Others may suffer total spiritual shipwreck. This could have been avoided if leaders had been more vocal about their objections and urged people to evaluate spiritual experiences through the filter of God’s Word.
Why did a group of respected ministers lay hands on Bentley on June 23 and publicly ordain him? Did they know of his personal problems?
This controversial ceremony was organized by Peter Wagner, who felt that one of Bentley’s greatest needs was proper spiritual covering. He asked California pastors Che Ahn and Bill Johnson, along with Canadian pastor John Arnott, to lay hands on Bentley and bring him under their care.
Bentley certainly needs such covering. No one in ministry today should be out on their own, living in isolation without checks, balances and wise counsel. It was commendable that Wagner reached out to Bentley and that Bentley acknowledged his need for spiritual fathers by agreeing to submit to the process. The question remains, however, whether it was wise to commend Bentley during a televised commissioning service that at times seemed more like a king’s coronation.
In hindsight, we can all see that it would have been better to take Bentley into a back room and talk about his personal issues.
The Bible tells us that ordination of a minister is a sober responsibility. Paul wrote: “Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others” (1 Tim. 5:22). We might be tempted to rush the process, but the apostle warned against fast-tracking ordination—and he said that those who commission a minister who is not ready for the job will bear some of the blame for his failures.
I trust that Wagner, Ahn, Johnson and Arnott didn’t know of Bentley’s problems before they ordained him. I am sure they are saddened by the events of this week and are reaching out to Bentley and his wife to promote healing and restoration. But I believe that they, along with Bentley and the owners of God TV, owe the body of Christ a forthright, public apology for thrusting Bentley’s ministry into the spotlight prematurely. (Perhaps such an apology should be aired on God TV.)
Can anything good come out of this?
That depends on how people respond. If the men assigned to oversee Bentley offer loving but firm correction, and if Bentley responds humbly to the process by stepping out of ministry for a season of rehabilitation, we could witness a healthy case of church discipline play out the way it is supposed to. If all those who were so eager to promote Bentley now rush just as fast to repent for their errors in judgment, then the rest of us could breathe a huge sigh of relief—and the credibility of our movement could be restored.
I still believe that God desires to visit our nation in supernatural power. I know He wants to heal multitudes, and I will continue praying for a healing revival to sweep across the United States. But we must contend for the genuine, not an imitation. True revival will be accompanied by brokenness, humility, reverence and repentance—not the arrogance, showmanship and empty hype that often was on display in Lakeland.
We are weathering an unprecedented season of moral failure and spiritual compromise in our nation today. I urge everyone in the charismatic world to pray for Bentley; his wife, Shonnah; his three young children; Bentley’s ministry staff; and the men and women who serve as his counselors and advisers. Let’s pray that God will turn this embarrassing debacle into an opportunity for miraculous restoration.
August 21, 2008
MY GOD…TO WHAT LOW LEVELS HAS THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH TODAY SLIPPED INTO?
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I can barely recognize today’s church from 40 years ago! Gold or glory dust falling in churches! Gold teeth miraculously being placed in people’s mouthes! Gemstones falling from out of nowhere during services! Yes…manna appearing again in some places! The increasing attraction to angels and their manifestations! Buying a portion of the anointing? “Plunge” teams where you can practice walking on water to build your faith! “Mortuary Outreach”…going to the local morgues to try to raise people from the dead! People clucking and jerking their heads like chickens at anointed gatherings! Barking like dogs, growling like lions, screeching like owls, grunting like pigs, uncontrollable laughter and convulsions! Crowds falling and flailing in waves!
Yes…these are all happening at churches of great ministers who you endorse and want your other Christian friends to follow!
Folks! Grow up! Get into the Word! Quit looking for signs and wonders! Stop relying on feelings and emotions!
Revival and Christianity are about spreading the good news throughout the world that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross for your sins and mine, not about which church has the latest miracle or manifestation that everyone is talking about and heading off to experience!
Todd Bentley…the man you admire, and for whom you criticized me for, for exposing and judging his false doctrine and bad fruit, has just separated from his wife because of a second affair in less than 2-1/2 years with yet another female staff member of Fresh Fire Ministries along with excessive drinking, all the while preaching this Third Wave Revival doctrine, asking you to buy into the anointing, and baptizing in the name of “Sheeka Joomba Boomba Bam”!
I say now to those that called me judgmental, negative and critical…YOUR DISCERNMENT IS SEVERELY LACKING AND YOU DON’T KNOW THE WORD WELL ENOUGH TO POINT OUT A WOLF AMONGST THE SHEEP!
Do I sound angry? Yes…I am…not because of what the Todd Bentleys, the Patricia Kings, the Copelands, the Hagins, the Hinns of the world for example all preach, but because of how many, how easily and how quickly so many good Christian people fall for these false teachers!
Research these ministries before you blindly follow and endorse their teachings and even invite some of them to your church! The “fire” they bring to your congregations may not be the “fire” from God!
August 17, 2008
EQUATION FOR DISASTER ~ Bad doctrine=bad fruit=failed ministry
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We wish to thank all of our friends and partners for the overwhelming flood of support and compassion we have received as a ministry on behalf of Todd and Shonnah Bentley. The many phone calls and emails of concern from people who genuinely love the Bentleys and Fresh Fire Ministries have been a great encouragement to all of us here during these past few days. In particular, the rallying of support and prayer for Todd and Shonnah by prominent leaders within the Body of Christ has been a beautiful indicator of the maturity and grace the Lord is bringing to his Bride. We wish to acknowledge, however, that since our last statement from the Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have discovered new information revealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff. In light of this new information and in consultation with his leaders and advisors, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.
O, and by the way, this is his second indiscretion. 2-1/2 years ago Todd had another affair and again with a female staff member. There is a pattern developing here.
August 11, 2008
ARE YOU SAVED? ARE YOU SURE?
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Do you TRULY know that you are saved? Are you sure? Many are not! Don’t buy into the “Once Saved Always Saved” false sense of security! Yes…I believe you are saved by Grace through Faith and that Jesus offers you eternal salvation but…YOU CAN throw it away!
Matthew 7:21 ~ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Here is a terrific video by Paul Washer on the topic. Its about an hour long but worth the watch!
August 10, 2008
“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
July 31, 2008
Although I could have authored a site that is equally as large as this one but then about what I personally believe as a Christian, the miracles I have experienced, God’s saving grace, faith and love etc., I have opted instead to warn about things that have for a long time been accepted as Gospel Truth, but are in fact found to have little or no Scriptural backing whatsoever. We live in dangerous end times, where false teachers, false prophets, false doctrines as well as false signs and wonders deceive many good Christians! You may agree or disagree with what I write here but at least do a study on these topics and get your theology straight.
In short:
~ The tongues we see today are NOT the tongues of the Bible.
~ We do NOT have a private prayer language.
~ This “Third Wave” Lakeland, Toronto Blessing revival is a counterfeit or false revival.
~ Once saved always saved has NO Scriptural backing.
~ Holy laughter, slain in the spirit, barking like dogs, gold dust, miraculous gold teeth, falling gemstones for example, are NOT Holy at all but of the flesh and often of the devil. There is no Scriptural evidence of this for Christians.
~ We ARE allowed to judge fruits and doctrines. We SHOULD expose false teaching.
~ We CANNOT nor are we ALLOWED to “bind” Satan.
~ We CANNOT “bind” poverty or “loose” wealth or finances for example. We pray to God to supply all our needs. Binding and loosing has been greatly taken out of context .
~ We CANNOT nor are we ALLOWED to worship, command or pray to angels.
~ It is demonic if someone uses violence to heal people.
~ The gift of the Holy Spirit is NOT for sale! You CANNOT buy a portion of it!
~ In the last days (in which I believe we now live) things ARE going to get worse NOT better!
~ As a pastor or leader of your flock, it IS your duty to research ministers that you invite into your congregation to speak or who you endorse! You ARE responsible for what doctrine enters your church!
