RAISED FROM THE DEAD

TODD BENTLEY’S MINISTRY ~ 32

THE MINISTRY OF JESUS ~ 3 NOT INCLUDING HIS OWN

TODD ROCKS! GOD SURE IS LUCKY TO HAVE TODD!

By the way…NOT one single healing or resurrection through Todd Bentley’s ministry can be verified! Surprise huh? You would think that if even one person was raised from the dead at Lakeland that every major local newspaper and television station would broadcast the news of such an event, let alone 32 resurrections!

There is cause for great concern in these ministries and yet, in spite of the blatant heresies, many friends can still somehow follow and endorse these people! I don’t understand it and it makes me angry, but then the devil is a professional at deceit!

“There is but one measure by which we should judge truth and that is the Word of God!” – rph

It is not my desire to cause division in the body of Christ on certain issues, however, in my Bible studies and research, I have come across so many things that I have always blindly accepted as true, that I now question some of these doctrines that I have been taught. There is enough considerable Scriptural evidence that supports my new viewpoints that it has inspired me to post them on this site for debate and discussion, and hopefully… without cause for argument, loss of friendship, alarm or to have my faith questioned by those that haven’t exhaustively looked into these topics themselves first. Should you find that I am in error, I am open to correction and reproof based on Scripture. It is my sincere desire that God reveals to me Truth in all things and that he grants me wisdom and knowledge.

EVERYTHING on this site is backed up and supported by God’s Holy Word…the Bible! In fact…if its not in the Bible…I don’t want it or believe it! The Bible instructs us on numerous occasions to test, try and prove all things. “How will you recognize the lie…if you don’t know the Truth?” – rph

I’m not asking you to agree or disagree with anything here. Watch some of the material and decide for yourselves…but I have come to the conclusion that generally, Christians don’t want the truth. Let me rephrase that…People are good at ignoring things they don’t want to see or hear. Its called denial! They don’t want to hear that their favorite TV evangelist or ministry has basic doctrine that is contrary to what the Bible teaches. “Don’t ruffle my feathers! I don’t want to hear it! Concentrate on the positive aspects of that ministry! Don’t be so judgemental, critical and negative! Be careful or you’ll be judged as well!” Man…if we all lived by those words, who knows what we’d all be following today!

Recently, because of controversial material on this site, I have received numerous emails and posts regarding what some feel is a form of judging on my part of ministers and ministries whom I believe to be false. I do not judge someone’s intent, motive, spirituality, race, denomination, appearance, background, personality, character traits or even whether or not they are saved. I DO judge their fruits and how their teachings and doctrines line up with God’s Word.

JUDGE NOT!

We are the tolerant society. Nothing much angers us any more. Nothing, that is, except someone who is not as tolerant as we are! We can tolerate anything except the person who won’t tolerate anything! No wonder our favorite Bible verse is Matthew 7:1, “Judge not that ye be not judged.”

The new “unpardonable sin” is “judging.” What a blessing this “new commandment” is to “Easy Christianity.” Hypocrites can flaunt their violations of the Word of God and yet parade unchallenged as Christians. No one dares call them hypocrites for (“Oh, Horrors!”) that would be “judging them.”

Tell anyone nowadays that he or someone else is doing wrong and you will be immediately rebuked, “Don’t Judge!” Is such a use of this verse proper? It clearly is not.

It can’t mean that we must give up all spiritual discernment in order to be “loving Christians.” Five verses later Jesus says, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6). This command assumes the exercise of spiritual discernment. A few verses later Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets…You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15,16,20). Again Jesus demands spiritual discernment. In Jesus’ view it is not “judging” to conclude that someone is a false prophet.

Is it, perhaps, our duty to keep such discerning conclusions to ourselves in order to avoid “judging”? Emphatically not! Matthew 7:1 does not teach that it is sinful to confront and, if necessary, publicly expose evil. If this were so, how could Jesus say, “And if you brother sins, go and reprove him…?” How could Jesus go on to say, “And if he refuses to listen…tell it to the church”? (Matthew 18:15,17). How could Jesus’ apostle, Paul, say, “Do you not judge those who are within the church?…Remove the wicked man from among yourselves” (1 Corinthians 5:12,13).

Matthew 7:1 does not forbid us either to form or express our opinions about such hypocrites. Jesus expressed such an opinion in this very passage. In Matthew 7:5 He said, “You hypocrite.” John the Baptist expressed his opinion of the Pharisees publicly to their faces, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7). We must do the same. Jesus in this very chapter (Matthew 7:15,16,20) commanded, “Beware of false prophets…you will know them by their fruits.”

It’s time for Christians to stop being bound by such false interpretation and to start dealing with sin. “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive with them” (Proverbs 28:4)

So what does Matthew 7:1 mean? In this context, Jesus is forbidding forming or expressing conclusions about others by those who won’t see or deal with their own sins. Matthew 7:3-5 says, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?…You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

If, on the basis of Matthew 7:1, you refuse to form and express (when necessary) moral opinions, you are confessing your refusal to see and deal with your own sins. The refusal to exercise moral discernment is a confession of moral bankruptcy! May God embolden you to stop tolerating sin in yourself and others, to your hurt and to theirs!

Too often people wrongly claim that if an author writes a book, or a preacher preaches a sermon, that no one is permitted to make judgments about the contents of these teachings without first asking the author’s or preacher’s permission. Paul did not ask Peter’s permission to publicly rebuke him nor did he ask Hymenaeus’ and Alexander’s permission to rebuke them for teaching false doctrine. Claiming that false teachers have the right to spread their teachings throughout the body of Christ until such time that a Matthew 18 procedure is set up and implemented is a category error. Matthew 18 concerns the accusation of sin brought by one member of a congregation against another. This requires two or three witness if personal confrontation is ineffective.

Teachings that are published far and wide do not need two or three witnesses; everyone can see what is being taught for themselves. These teachings must be judged to be biblical or unbiblical. Those who bring false teaching should be publicly corrected. If they continue to bring false teaching and disregard the faith once for all delivered to the saints, they should be considered wolves and the flock must be guarded from them.

Today the teachings of the wolves come by way of the TV, radio, internet, books, seminars and any other media that is available. No pastor could discuss each of these specific heresies with their authors, nor is it required. What is required is that pastors and elders refute the heresies with sound doctrine, and warn the flock about their pernicious influence. The sad truth is that very few elders or pastors are willing to do this. Many take it as a badge of honor that they correct no one, and glibly allow the wolves to devour the flock under the guise of humility and unity. If we refuse to judge false teaching, we have neglected our God-given responsibilities.

If you feel you need more Scriptural evidence on the topic of judging, then check out my “Judging” category at the top of my website. It is an exhaustive study on the matter.

A BIBLICAL ACCOUNT ONE WHO WANTED TO PAY FOR THE ANOINTING:

Act 8:9  But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Act 8:10  to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.
Act 8:11  And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
Act 8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Act 8:13  And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.
Act 8:14  Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Act 8:15  who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
Act 8:16  for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 8:17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Act 8:18  Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19  saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.
Act 8:20  But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.
Act 8:21  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God.
Act 8:22  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.
Act 8:23  For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.
Act 8:24  And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.