Last week I asked the question, are you sure that you are saved? We looked at the song “He Lives” and asked if Jesus is really talking with you on the narrow way or are you following a different Jesus through a wide gate? Is Jesus really in your heart? To be in our heart means we obey God’s word. John 14:23 “Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” Obedience is key to the question Solomon asked. 2 Chronicles 6:18 “Will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” The answer is yes. God said, 2 Chronicles 7:15 “Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.” Hosea 2:23 “I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’” Today that temple is not a building but the body of Christ, His people. Ezekiel 37:27 “My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’” Ephesians 2:19 “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
The question as to whether or not you are truly saved is crucial, because the answer will depend on where you spend your eternal destination, heaven or hell. Many think that their eternal destination is set because they go to church or access church online and listen to someone preach and guide them. Who you listen to, believe and follow is another part of the question. Are you sure you are listening to someone speak, preach or teach the truth? Many think that because they listen to someone’s teaching and accept their doctrines and theology that their eternity is secure. Why? Because that is what they have been told. The problem is that so few actually check to make sure by testing the spirts to make sure that who they are listening to is really proclaiming truth. Are you sure the person you are listening to is preaching / teaching the true gospel? Are you sure that they are teaching the same gospel Jesus and His disciples taught or are they teaching another gospel? Are they distorting scripture for their own benefit and profit even though as Paul said 2 Corinthians 2:17 “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.” It is imperative that you know the difference. We are told 1 John 4:1 “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.”
We were warned throughout scripture about false prophets. Jesus said, Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Paul said, Acts 20:29 “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” Jeremiah 23:1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 16 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17 They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’ In days to come you will understand it clearly. 21 I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. 30 “Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’ 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the Lord.” Ezekiel 13:2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: ‘Hear the word of the Lord! 3 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins. 5 You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord. 6 Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words. 7 Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken? 8 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord.” 2 Peter 2:1 “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” Following these people means you are also following other gospels. This happened almost immediately in the church. Paul talked about the savage wolves coming as soon as he leaves and here he said, Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” All this is still happening today and over all these years these false teachers have only gained strength and multiplied. This is why we need to know the truth from that which is false and why we need discernment to tell those who speak truth from those who do not. Psalm 119:125 “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.” But sadly, there is not a lot of discernment in the church today as Deuteronomy 32:28 “They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them.”
Jesus was asked after He said that the temple would be destroyed, Matthew 24:3 “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Not only would the second temple be destroyed, the church would also be destroyed. The answer Jesus gave was Matthew 24:4 “Watch out that no one deceives you.” So, the answer was a warning about deception which is why we were warned so many times about false prophets and teachers. Jesus would then describe how this would happen, so we can’t say we were not warned. Jesus also would describe what would be standing in place of the temple, but remember that the temple since Jesus came is no longer a building. Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.” Jesus would then describe the abomination that causes desolation and the severe devastation that would come upon the church. Jesus described the severity of this devastation when he said, Mathew 24:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” It is important to understand how severe these days are because if God was not merciful, not a single person would make it. Mark said Mark 13:19 “those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.” Daniel had seen these days. Daniel 9:27 “And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” Paul also described this desolation. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” This would not only be a time of deception from satan but a time of delusion from God because of disobedience and rebellion. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” The church is not only deceived but deluded which describes the mess we call church. As we saw earlier, this desolation happened because the church rebelled against God’s word almost immediately just as Paul described in Galatians. “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” Daniel also saw this. Daniel 8:12 “Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.” Isaiah’s words could also describe the church. Isaiah 59:15 “Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.” We live in a time where there is no truth. These days people say whatever they want and call it truth and sadly, people believe them. Jeremiah was told Jeremiah 9:6 “You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the Lord.”
We were also warned that Luke 21:9 “When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” 10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” You might have noticed the world is imploding. Floods, fires, earthquakes, tornadoes and are happening everywhere, but even worse is famine but not a famine of hunger, even though famine is also happening, as this is more severe. Amos 8:11 “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” The church has a heart problem but also has a hearing problem. When Isaiah said here am I send me, Isaiah 6:9 “He (God) said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” 11 Then I said, “For how long, Lord?” And he answered: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, 12 until the Lord has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken. 13 And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”
Today the church is in ruins and lies in desolation, totally powerless against our enemies. Jesus said Matthew 13:13 “This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” This is why it is crucial to seek God with everything you have. The good news is that God said Amos 9:11 “I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be.” God had promised David there would always be a remnant and there always has been down through the ages, and even in the midst of rebellion, God would always raise up His servants to speak the truth. Paul said, Romans 11:1 “Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.”
In this time of deception, delusion and desolation, there will be false prophets / teachers and lots of them. These people will bring their own message and speak against God’s true message by distorting it and disregarding it. For example, the false prophet Hananiah spoke against what God’s servant Jeremiah had said. Jeremiah had said, Jeremiah 25:11 “This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” Hananiah said Jeremiah 28:2 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the Lord’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’” Of course that would sound good to the people as he decided to cut down the length of time and free Jehoiachin. That did not happen because he did not speak for God as Jeremiah did. 2 Kings 25:29 “So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. 30 Day by day the king gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived.” He would not return and as Jeremiah had said, the length of time would be seventy years. Jeremiah 28:15 “Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. 16 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.’” 17 In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.” Daniel said Daniel 9:2 “I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.”
False prophets / teachers turn people away from God’s word. It is usually done by these prophets telling people what the people want to hear and what the prophets want them to hear. Jeremiah 29:8 “Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.” When King Ahab called on the prophets, they all told him what he wanted to hear. 1 Kings 22:6 “So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—about four hundred men—and asked them, “Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?” “Go,” they answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.” 7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here whom we can inquire of?” There was and his name was Micaiah. He was told 12 All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.” 13 The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably.” As we saw with Elijah, God’s prophets are fewer but more powerful. 1 Kings 18:19 “Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table. 37 Answer me (Elijah), Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!” The people would remain in captivity for the seventy years just as Jeremiah said and King Ahab would die just as Micaiah said. 1 Kings 22:23 “So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you. 28 Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!” King Ahab would then die. Notice that it wasn’t just men speaking but deceiving spirits speaking through the false prophets.
What is interesting is that false teachers say they speak the truth and those who speak truth are false. The Jews did this with John and Jesus. Matthew 11:18 “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’” Matthew 12:22 “Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” John 7:19 “Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” 20 “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?” John 8:48 “The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” 52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!” John 10:19 “The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” When Jeremiah spoke the truth of God’s word, they wanted to kill him. Jeremiah 26:8 “But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, “You must die! 9 Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted? 15 Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.” Jeremiah 43:2 “Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to settle there.’” So obviously if they thought he was lying, then his words were not from God but satan. Jeremiah had told the people not to go to Egypt to save themselves, but they would not listen. This is what often happens when God’s servants speak His words. Matthew 10:24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!” You will also hear false prophets calling each other false. For example, John MacArthur speaks against the charismatic movement, yet both are false. I really haven’t followed since, but Costi Hinn, nephew of Benny Hinn, who was involved in Benny Hinn’s ministry, turned away from the prosperity gospel because he said his eyes were opened, yet he connected with John MacArthur. This is called “out of the frying pan into the fire”
This is why it is so important to test the spirits. Jesus said Matthew 24:5 “For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.” There are those who say they are Jesus or the Messiah but more often than not, those who deceive are those who change / distort the word of God to make it say what they want it to say, thus making their words become God word, which is not possible, but it happens all the time. Lamentations 2:14 “The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading.” Jeremiah 23:34 “If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ I will punish them and their household. 35 This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36 But you must not mention ‘a message from the Lord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the Lord Almighty, our God.” By distorting God’s word, you make yourself out to be the Messiah. Jesus said during this time of desolation, delusion and deception, Mark 13:21 “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.” We saw this increased with the rise of the charismatic movement with false revivals, miracles, signs and wonders. And yes, the elect could be deceived, even though you may have been told they cannot. 2 Peter 3:17 “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.”
My experience in the charismatic showed me it was more like a cult than the church Jesus started. I too was looking for more but that wasn’t it. I realized God wasn’t pouring out His Spirit as they said He was, but it was satan infiltrating the church. People really wanted to believe that the Holy Spirit was present so when they saw manifestations, it appeared that the Holy Spirit was present. So being slain in the spirit looked like the spirit manifesting. The prophet would wave their arm over them or touch their foreheads and people would fall to the ground on their backs as if the Holy Spirit had taken over their bodies. Yes, some faked the experience but there was a real presence and people would go down, but the presence wasn’t God but satan. Bowing on your face before God is what we see in scripture. Ezekiel 44:4 “I looked and saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple of the Lord, and I fell facedown.” Lying on your back is sexual submission in the animal kingdom. After some carpet time they would get up unchanged. This whole idea of lying on your back is so absurd because even with human kings and queens, people bowed before them; they didn’t line the streets on their backs. It is just as absurd as the tongues that people think is a sign of the Holy Spirit. The mumbo jumbo of tongues was cult-like and served no purpose whatsoever. I have shared this before, but I heard a missionary who said he went to people in a far-off land and spoke with an interpreter, yet here in Canada spoke in tongues when he prayed and this was at a men’s breakfast. Prophets would tell people what they wanted to here, like they would speak in stadiums to thousands of people. For some reason that was said a lot. There would be lots of enthusiasm but no sustenance. There was always talk of healing but little to no healing would actually take place. I saw a so-called prophet one time say he saw the blood of Jesus across the front and people who wanted to be healed just had to come and stand. No one was healed. I sat near two little girls who had a severe sickness who came back crying because they were not healed. If the Holy Spirit was so present, you would have seen what Jesus did. This would have happened. James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.” You then have the holy laughter, repetitive singing, drunkenness in the spirit, gold dust (glory clouds), and money / prosperity and so on. The false teacher is usually the only one who prospers and prosper they do as they are treated like gods. The charismatic movement is filled with gullible people who have failed to test the spirits. But it is not just the charismatic movement that treats their leaders like gods and there are just as many gullible people in other movements.
Many Christians have fallen for false signs and wonders with false teachers like Benny Hinn and false revivals like The Toronto Blessing (1994). You may think that was thirty years ago. Take a look at Bethel, Redding California, as Bill Johnson came out of the Toronto Blessing and look at the damage that continues to happen. Covid exposed the powerlessness of the church and during covid, Bethel went online and their Supernatural school of ministry and healing rooms were shut down. I am sure you can see the irony of their belief in healing and what actually is happening. There is lots of show like their glory cloud, but no actual glory. You have to be very careful and use discernment if miracles or signs and wonders take place. As Paul said 2 Thessalonians 2:9 “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie.” 2 Corinthians 11:12 “And I (Paul) will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” 1 John 2:18 “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” A lot of people use that verse to describe those who, they say were never saved because their falling away doesn’t line up with their doctrines, but the reality is they themselves are those people who have fallen away.
The charismatic movement has done a lot of damage to the church but that is just one side of the coin. Those who do not believe in the power of God, signs and wonders, healing and casting out demons have done just as much damage. Many have turned away from wanting the power of God because they were afraid because of what they saw in the charismatic movement. This is built into their belief system as they say we don’t believe as they do. Not only did they turn from the charismatic movement, but they also turned from the word of God. They turned to different kinds of false prophets / teachers who were teaching something just as demonic as what you see in the charismatic circles. satan doesn’t even have to do anything supernatural as they already don’t believe. They also wanted to hear what these men and woman had to say, just like those listening to the prophetic words of the charismatic leaders, believing they spoke from God. 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 1 Timothy 4:1 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” Oddly both often believe in similar end-time theology like the rapture and imminent return of Jesus to reign on earth as king. The doctrine of cessationism, rapture (not the second coming of Jesus) and Jesus setting up His kingdom on earth are just as bad as anything you will see in charismatic circles.
Yes, as we saw, satan uses signs and wonders but it doesn’t mean signs and wonders are evil. Jesus also said John 4:48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” Signs and wonders are not bad but wanting Jesus to prove Himself is. Many people then believed signs, wonders, miracles, true tongues (understandable languages not unintelligible noise) were of the devil and did not seek truth. For there to be counterfeit, there has to be something real. If someone gave you a Canadian four-dollar bill (we don’t have those), you would know that is not real. Some false prophets are that easy to tell. But a five-dollar bill could be counterfeited and be hard to tell the difference. To tell the difference you need to know what the real one looks like. God also uses signs and wonders. To authenticate them, you use scripture. Words like healed immediately, (Mark 10:52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” Sitting at Jesus feet and not flailing around. (Luke 8:35 “and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.”) When you see hysteria, people laughing, barking rolling on the ground or comatose, that would be what you see in a cult. With God there is a purpose for signs and wonders but with satan there is chaos and no purpose other than the manifestations.
We see signs and wonders all through the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 4:34 “Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?” Daniel 4:2 “It is my (Nebuchadnezzar) pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.” The New Testament is also filled with signs and wonders. Acts 2:22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.” Acts 2:43 “Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.” It wasn’t just apostles who did them. Acts 6:8 “Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.” Acts 8:5 “Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.” Romans 15:17 “Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God.” Acts 19:11 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” Hebrews 2:4 “God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” You have to ask yourself why you wouldn’t want to be part of this. Many people say they just want to love as commanded but it is interesting that this love passage, 1 Corinthians 13, is in the middle of the gifts. We are told 1 Corinthians 14:1 “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.” Nowhere does the bible say these gifts do not exist and will not be available after the apostles. Pentecost wasn’t just for those people then but was the beginning of what the church was supposed to be. Acts 2:38 “And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” All the gifts would be given including these. 1 Corinthians 12:9 “to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.” Cessationism says they are not.
Some will say they were only needed to authenticate the early church. Do you really believe the church today doesn’t need this power today? Are there no sick people today or people plagued by evil and impure spirits? So, we should be asking as Gideon asked, Judges 6:13 “Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’” We should be asking where are all the wonders of Jesus? Where is the power and authority that Jesus said He would give His disciples? Jesus is alive and we are His disciples, so where are they? Since the bible does not say they ceased, there has to be another reason for their absence and the bible makes clear what that reason is, and it is rebellion / disobedience. Rebellion always leads to a lack of power and defeat and that explains why there is no power in the church. We were supposed to learn from the Old Testament. 1 Corinthians 10:6 “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” The good news is as we seek the truth and turn from wicked ways back to the true gospel of Jesus Christ, once again signs and wonders will follow and the church will once again do as Jesus and the disciples did. This is how the church is supposed to look. Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.” Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” Mark 16:20 “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” When the church actually starts preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ once again, signs will accompany it just as Jesus said.
Since truth has been thrown to the ground, false teachers, prophets, preachers, evangelists and apostles are everywhere in the church, just as we have been warned. This means we are in the end of the end times. Even those who run the doomsday clock think so. “January 24, 2023 - A time of unprecedented danger: It is 90 seconds to midnight: 2023 Doomsday Clock Statement” These people who teach what is false are not always obvious and many do not know they are false but since satan is so arrogant he will let you know and you can usually tell if you stand on God’s word and listen carefully. With some you can tell right away, while with others it takes some digging, but you must dig. Revelation gives us this warning as you dig; don’t lose your first love. Revelation 2:2 “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.” You need to stand firm on the word of God so that you can know the difference between what is false and what is truth. You may wonder how is that possible, I didn’t go to seminary. God loves those who seek Him and those who seek Him find Him. Here is the answer; we need to fear God, seek Him and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Joel 2:28 “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” Even though the disciples went out with power and authority, the Spirit of God had not yet been poured out. John 7:39 “By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” The day of Pentecost came and Acts 2:1 “they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” As Peter said Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” We then see a very different Peter from the Peter before Pentecost who doubted, was fearful, spoke his own words and thoughts and denied Jesus. After Pentecost he became a powerful man of God who spoke the word of God boldly without fear he went out in power. Acts 5:15 “As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.” After healing a man lame from birth, they were put in jail. God said they did not have to fear because Luke 12:11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” So Peter and John are brought out to be questioned. 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Here is the answer to not having enough knowledge. Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” Proverbs 2:6 “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” After Peter spoke, the people were amazed. Acts 4:13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.” Because they had been with Jesus it did not matter whether they were schooled or not. It did not matter whether they were ordinary or not because God was with them. God gave a vision to Amos who said, Amos 7:14 “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. 15 But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ 16 Now then, hear the word of the Lord.” Luke 2:8 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Matthew 28:5 “The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” God uses ordinary and even people of lowly status to spread His word.
Even if someone is schooled like the Apostle Paul was, they would be unschooled for lack of a better word. Paul said, Acts 22:3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.” After his vision of Jesus and he was transformed, he spends time in the desert. Here is the amazing part as Paul describes in Galatians after talking about other gospels. Galatians 1:11 “I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they praised God because of me.”
So whether you are unschooled and ordinary or elite like Paul, the power of God changes you for His purpose and our lives are no longer our own. The message will be the same when the power of God moves in you. It doesn’t matter where you live or who you are, God’s word will be the same everywhere. There will not be different messages as there is in the church today. As Paul said Ephesians 4:4 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” The gospel that Jesus preached is the same gospel the disciples preached and the same gospel Paul preached. The church should also be teaching that same gospel. The power and authority will also be the same as Jesus, the disciples and Paul. The church was supposed to also have that same power and authority just as Peter, Paul, Philip, Stephen had as they were the church. That will happen when God turns His face back to the church.
That power was to continue. John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” But instead of listening to the true voice of God, the church listened to what was false and rebelled against God. Other gospels were preached and to this day the church continues turning away from truth. Jeremiah 7:2 “I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. 24 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. 25 From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. 26 But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their ancestors.’” The church did not imitate the truth of the gospels. Paul said 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:6 “You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13 “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.” Paul even prayed that we would understand there is power available to all who would believe. Ephesians 1:17 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
In today’s church most of what you hear is false as each church teaches their own distinct doctrines and theology. You know it is false because there is no power. Yes, there is enough of God’s word to make you think it is truth, hence the counterfeit, but it is either the word of God or it is not. It can’t be partly God’s word and satan’s words. Even if it is just a little bit of satan, it will still kill you. Think about it this way; drink a glass of water with a teaspoon of cyanide or arsenic in it, you will be fine. No you will not be fine. If you saw someone put it in, you would say no way, but if you didn’t see, you would be dead. This is what has happened to the church. Most people have no idea that they have been poisoned. The true gospel has been replaced with the poison of other gospels. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” So instead of truth being preached, truth has been thrown to the ground and the false has been elevated. Hosea 9:7 “The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac.” The church has been decimated by deception and delusion because the people of God once again rebelled against His word and refuse to turn from wicked ways. Jeremiah 5:3 “Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent. 4 I thought, “These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God. 5 So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.” But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds. 30 A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” The church refused to listen to all the warnings and now sits in desolation just like Israel and Judah.
All throughout scripture God’s word was proclaimed by His servants. As these servants proclaimed the truth, there were always false prophets who attempted to distort the truth and turn people from God. People would either listen or not listen to the truth of God’s word. Like today, they chose to listen to what was false over truth. Ezekiel was told Ezekiel 2:3 “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.” He was also told Ezekiel 3:4 “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel— 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.” Here is what happened when God’s word went out to a people of obscure language. Jonah was sent to Nineveh to say these simple words, simple yet God was behind them. Jonah 3:4 “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The people listened. “5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.” Yet God’s own people refused to listen.
The prophets would speak but the people refused to listen. Ezekiel was told Ezekiel 3:10 “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.” Jeremiah was told Jeremiah 1:17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.” The people refused to listen and were destroyed except for a remnant but even the remnant went into captivity. Prophets were often killed for speaking the word of the Lord. Jesus said Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” They killed Jesus. Just as the people refused to listen to the prophets, they even refused to listen to Jesus and to this day the Jews refuse to repent and turn to Jesus and millions both Jew and Gentile have died without ever knowing the truth. True prophets speak the words of God that people do not want to hear. They do not add to God’s word or take His words away. The church also refuses to turn from their own way and that has led to disaster as the abomination that causes desolation has decimated the church.
Throughout scripture, God has always raised up His servants to preach and teach truth. As we saw with Israel, Judah, the Jews and now the church, most did not listen, but some did and were saved. Peter said to the people at Pentecost repent and Acts 2:40 “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Ezekiel said, Ezekiel 18:30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” The church was to go out into the world and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” The church was supposed to go to the ends of the earth and proclaim the gospel with authority and power from on High just as Jesus sent out His disciples. The gospel is not just talk as Paul said 1 Corinthians 4:20 “the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” Luke 9:1 “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Instead of twelve, that number would multiply and disciples would go to the ends of the earth proclaiming the kingdom of God, healing the sick and casting out demons.” Pentecost was just the beginning and was not a one-time event that we look back on and tell stories about. Actually, out of the three big events in the church, Christmas, Easter and Pentecost, Pentecost is the least focused on. Even after Pentecost we saw the power of the Holy Spirit poured out. Acts 4:31 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” The church desperately needs God to pour out His Spirit on us once again.
God had a plan for the church and He doesn’t need the gurus to add to His plan but follow it. If the church would follow God’s plan and not rebel against His word, God would turn His face back to shine upon us. Zechariah 1:2 “The Lord was very angry with your ancestors. 3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. 4 Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.” Don’t be like those who refuse to listen to God’s word but only listen to those who speak from their own minds. We are told how the church was supposed to be set up and yes some are called / chosen for these positions. Jeremiah 1:4 “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. 9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Acts 9:15 “the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” Paul tells us Ephesians 4:11 “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Malachi also tells us Malachi 2:5 “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. 7 “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.”
The problem is satan has infiltrated the church and has filled these positions with his followers. If you are not following God’s word then you are following satan’s and many have taken him up on his offer, the same one he arrogantly offered Jesus. Luke 4:5 “The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” We are supposed to reject that offer, just as we are to reject satan’s question did God really say that. Men and women everywhere distort God’s word by adding to it and taking away from it and just flat out ignoring what God’s word states. Every church does this so they can stay true to their own distinctions. Malachi goes on to say Malachi 2:8 “But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the Lord Almighty.” Even though this is happening, most believe they are teaching the truth, even though they have been indoctrinated to believe the doctrines and theology of the church they go to, otherwise known as other gospels. The followers have done the same. For example, if you are teaching or following the demonic doctrine cessationism, you are no longer following the gospel of Jesus Christ and are part of another gospel. I mentioned Costi Hinn above and his church says this. He doesn’t say the scriptures say power has ceased but in the same breath ignores and rejects what scripture states. This is off his church’s website. “While the Scriptures do not teach that certain gifts have ceased. We believe that God the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowing of all His gifts for the perfecting of saints today, and that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles in the beginning days of the church were for the purpose of pointing to and authenticating the apostles as revealers of divine truth, and were never intended to be characteristic of the lives of believers.” Scripture does not say that, so yes, they believe they have ceased and refuse to believe what scripture clearly states. Others say they believe if God so desires, he would bring healing but again scripture says he heals with His disciples. Matthew 10:10 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” Luke 10:1 “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” 1 Corinthians 12:9 “to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers. to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues” These are gifts God wants to give to His church.
The question is are you sure the person you are listening to you is preaching the gospel or another gospel. If you don’t see signs, wonders, healing and demons cast out, ask why. If they say it’s not possible then leave and seek God. If you do see signs and wonders but other gospels are being taught, then leave and seek God. As Paul said 2 Corinthians 11:3 “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” Are you testing the spirits? It is important that you do because there are deceiving spirits everywhere. Micaiah said, 1 Kings 22:19 “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’ “One suggested this, and another that. 21 Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 “‘By what means?’ the Lord asked. “‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’” These deceiving spirits are everywhere in the form of false prophets, apostles, preachers, teachers and evangelists, so make sure you are not being deceived.
The church is not the church it is supposed to be. Like Israel and Judah, the church has been taken captive and the land is desolate but as Jeremiah said, freedom came, and the remnant returned to the land. Today the church needs to repent and turn from wicked ways so that our teachers are hidden no more. Isaiah said Isaiah 30:15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” Don’t be those people, repent! Isaiah 30:18 “The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! 19 People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 22 Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!” The church needs to be ashamed of ourselves for our rebellion. Ezra prayed Ezra 9:6 “I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. 7 From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today. 8 “But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. 9 Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.”
God will also be merciful to His church, but we must turn back to Him. Our eternal destination depends on us making sure that those we listen to are speaking the truth and the salvation we think we have is real. So, we ask God to have compassion on us and turn His face back to shine upon us. Isaiah 54:7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.” 1 Chronicles 16:35 “Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.” Daniel 9:17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Numbers 6:22 “The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 ‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ 27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
