 The Todd Bentley story is an object lesson for the church as a whole with particular reference to false prophets in our midst with their accompanying deception. Such a story ought to awaken the church to the serious and spiritual issues involved in so-called ministries of this kind. We live in a strange religious and philosophical milieu these days to which only a few dynamics may serve to point.
First, naturalism is the prevailing mindset concerning what is real. Only what may be observed by the senses is real; there is nothing beyond the physical realm; there is nothing metaphysical. Our world and all life forms in this world are merely the product of evolutionary processes. The supernatural is rejected.
Second, the vast majority of those who name Christ in this culture are nominal: Christians in name only. Cultural Christianity is the norm as millions walk quietly and confidently into Hell. Liberalism, easy-believism, and pharisaism continue to choke the life out of biblical Christianity. Sad is the state of the church in our day.
Third, the noetic effects of sin are legion in this culture. Sin has affected our thinking just as it has affected our actions. The convoluted thinking of so many may be seen in a postmodern mindset. Relativism is king. Persons are content to live with logical inconsistencies in their worldview: hence the term non-sense. Further, the postmodern is open to a spiritual realm: the metaphysical. Combine this growing postmodern commitment with the naturalistic worldview upon which so much of contemporary culture is built and one can readily see the truly schizophrenic nature of the society in which we find ourselves. To make matters worse still, an increasing number of Christians, (some 25% of evangelicals according to a recent study), are not only influenced by naturalistic and postmodern thinking, they are given to embracing a Gnostic, mystical brand of Christianity grounded in false signs and wonders that serve only to confuse at the very least and destroy in the main. Spiritual non-sense has gripped our culture and Christians are flocking behind.
We truly live in a naturalistic, nominal, and non-sense age. But the Lord has a word for us and we do well to heed. There is a metaphysical realm and there are things that are supernatural including God and indeed the activity of Satan. Furthermore, only those who are born of the Spirit by the grace of God are truly saved. Those who are saved will evidence that salvation in some way. Believers then must be given to clear and biblical thinking. They must not be carried away by spiritual non-sense no matter how many believers and so-called believers run to it. The warnings concerning the man of sin in the Thessalonian correspondence certainly apply to that time when he will be revealed. At the same time, there are many antichrists that have already gone into the world who seek to deceive (1 Jn. 2:18). Those who are deceived only typify or picture those who will be deceived in the great apostasy to come. Let us understand that Satan is the father of lies and seeks to deceive today just as he always has and always will. Let us be informed and keep our eyes fixed upon Christ that we might persevere to the end.
In 2 Thes. 2:9, the apostle Paul expands upon the character and activity of the coming man of sin. He simply states, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.” The lawless one is not Satan, but, his coming is according to the working of Satan. It is Satan who energizes and influences him. Indeed Satan energizes all lost people (Eph. 2:1). Paul’s point is that Satan is at work through human beings, and in particular this one, to deceive and destroy the souls of men, women, boys, and girls.
Further, this working of Satan in the lawless one will have a supernatural affect. He will come with all power, signs, and lying wonders. He will have a power that is not natural to perform signs or wonders that will serve to deceive people into thinking that he is either God or at least God’s messenger. Obviously the word “all” does not mean that he will have power to do anything. He will not have the power that God has. Paul simply means that he will have great power to deceive. The wonders that he will perform are lying wonders. That is, they are not from God and they are intended to deceive.
The reality is that there are those who are energized by Satan in this way even today. Those individuals, along with those who believe their lying wonders, are typological of the lawless one and those nominal Christians who fall away in the great apostasy. The warning is clear: don’t follow a man simply because he can do extraordinary things or simply because he makes extraordinary claims. Follow those who preach and teach the truth of the Word of God. |
David add Ellen Liles
Written by 'Guest' on 2008-09-08 07:21:20
THE CHURCH: THE ROCK;
GOD’s EARTHLY PURPOSE !
Mat:16:13: When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Mat:16:14: And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Mat:16:15: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat:16:16: And Simon Peter answered and said,
Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat:16:17: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jon: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat:16:18: And I say also unto thee,That thou art Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church;
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat:16:19: And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat:16:20: Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
(1Pe:2:5: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, )
( to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. )
Act:1:15: And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said,
(the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
Act:1:16: Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
Act:1:17: For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
Act:1:18: Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
Act:1:19: And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
Act:1:20: For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
Act:1:21: Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Act:1:22: Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
Act:1:23: And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
Act:1:24: And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
Act:1:25: That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
Act:1:26: And they gave forth their lots;
and the lot fell upon Matthias;
and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Mat:19:26: But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Mat:19:27: Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee;
what shall we have therefore?
Mat:19:28: And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you,
That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory,
ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luk:22:28: Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
Luk:22:29: And I appoint unto you a kingdom,
as my Father hath appointed unto me;
Luk:22:30: That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom,
and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luk:6:13: And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples:
and of them he chose twelve,
whom also he named apostles;
CHRIST Said “UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH”
So far then we have : 11 Apostles
+ 1 Matthias
108 Together in the upper room with the Apostl
Act:2:41: Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:
and the same day there were
3,000 added unto them
about three thousand souls.
Act:4:4: Howbeit many of them
which heard the word believed;
5,000 and the number of the men was about five thousand.
Act:21:17: And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
Act:21:18: And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
Act:21:19: And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
Act:21:20: And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother,
how many thousands of Jews there are which believe;
and they are all zealous of the law:
Act:6:7: And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly;
and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Mat:26:18: And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
Mat:26:19: And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.
Mat:26:20: Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
Mat:26:21: And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Mat:26:22: And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
Mat:26:23: And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
Mat:26:24: The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
Mat:26:25: Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
Mat:26:26: And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Mat:26:27: And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Mat:26:28: For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mat:26:29: But I say unto you,
I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you
in my Father's kingdom.
Rev:11:15: And the seventh angel sounded;and there were great voices in heaven, saying,
The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ;
and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Eze:37:1: The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which [was] full of bones,
Eze:37:2: And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, [there were] very many in the open valley; and, lo, [they were] very dry.
Eze:37:3: And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
Eze:37:4: Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Eze:37:5: Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
Eze:37:6: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.
Eze:37:7: So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
Eze:37:8: And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but [there was] no breath in them.
Eze:37:9: Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
Eze:37:10: So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
Eze:37:11: Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
Eze:37:12: Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
Eze:37:13: And ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
Eze:37:14: And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken [it], and performed [it], saith the LORD.
Rev 5:10 AndG2532 hast madeG4160 usG2248 unto ourG2257 GodG2316 kingsG935 andG2532 priests:G2409 andG2532 we shall reignG936 onG1909 theG3588 earth.G1093
1Pe 2:5 YeG846 also,G2532 asG5613 livelyG2198 stones,G3037 are built upG3618 a spiritualG4152 house,G3624 an holyG40 priesthood,G2406 to offer upG399 spiritualG4152 sacrifices,G2378 acceptableG2144 to GodG2316 byG1223 JesusG2424 Christ.G55****************************************
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ereas we:
TODAY, are THE BODY OF CHRIST, GOD’S HEAVENLY PURPOSE: Eph 2:13-17
PREPAIRED BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN Eph 2:6,7; Col 1:13; 1 The 4:13-18; 2 Cor 4:16-18; This is clearly REVEALED**Act 9:1-15-22; through Philemon. Gal 1:11,12; THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD. Act 20:24; Eph 3:1-9; to Paul for us, BELIEVERS, today. Act 16:30,31; Rom 10:9—13; Col 2:9,10; BELIEVERS are COMPLETE IN CHRIST.
David and Ellen Liles
THE LORD’ JESUS CHRIST’S AMBASSADOR’S TRUST
44+(0)2083972719
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