FALSE PROPHETS

Matthew 16:3... In the morning when the sky is red and lowering you say it will be foul weather....you can discern the face of the sky; but can you not discern the signs of the times?

In the New Testament Jesus Christ warned, that in the last days false Christs and false prophets (preachers) would arise and show great signs and wonders....so much so, that if it were possible they would deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24;24)

False Prophets?

WHY DID JESUS SAY THERE WOULD BE MANY FALSE PROPHETS ARISE IN THE LAST DAYS?

False teaching is a mixture of truth and error. Thus, people may at the same time be encouraged and nourished by some things that are true but unknowingly accept error along with it. Unfortunately, sometimes even a small amount of error may be dangerous. (Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 1Corinthians 5;v6)........

Many christian leaders are in agreement that the teachings of the Faith Movement are not biblical and are harmful to the church.......why then is it so attractive? ...... because it has an outward appearance of great sucess and blessing from God.....But the faith message of health, wealth, and success is also what MANY PEOPLE WISH TO BELIEVE........

THE FAITH MOVEMENT:

IT believes that the human mind and tongue contain a supernatural ability or power...so much so that when ONE speaks expressing his faith in supposedly divine laws,.....his positive thoughts and positive verbal expression allegedly produce a "divine force", that will heal, produce wealth, bring success, and in other ways influence the invironment.....so why pray at all if words are so powerful?

According to the "faith teachers" God automatically responds and accomplishes what we command..... all we have to do is positively confess our needs and DESIRES..........

Biblical faith is distorted in this teaching.......Real faith is not to manipulate God to fulfill our own will in life or escape from life's difficulties............in fact problems are an inevitable result of true faith.......the bible promises us all sorts of difficulties will be our lot in life (2 Timothy 3;12)........In the world ye shall have tribulation: (John16:33.) .....(1Peter1;6-7)....trials and tribulations come in order to perfect your faith ...which is of greater worth than gold..........Real faith is not blind...........it begins with true knowledge about God.....it is not unpractical or romantic........; it does not speculate....it believes facts of which it is certain are true.........

From this misplaced faith springs mysticism (vague speculation about the reality of God..unknowing..uncertain...)....... it is running rampant within the word of faith movement.... it embraces a concept of faith that in effect rejects reality and rationality altogether. Waging war on reason and truth, it is thus in direct conflict with Christ and Scripture. It has taken hold rapidly because it promises what so many people are seeking; something more, something better, something richer, something easier - something fast and easy to substitute for a life of careful, disciplined obedience to the word of christ......and because so many lack certainty that their sufficiency is in christ, mysticism has caught many christians unaware. The charismatic movement has thus swept much of the church into a dangerous world of confusion and false teaching.....

"Fantastic encounters with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are reported as COMMONPLACE. Personal messages from God are supposedly routine. Seemingly omniscient Christian talk-shows claim miracles and healings while broadcasting, and urging the viewer to call in and CLAIM their healings.........Some of the miracles that are reportedly happening:.........one-dollar bills turn into twenties, appliances are "healed," .........empty fuel tanks fill up supernaturally, and demons are exorcised from vending machines.........others claim to have been to heaven and back....talked with Noah, Abraham, Isacc, Jacob........even Jesus himself.....this type of phenomena is attracting large sums of people.......it is accomplishing what the ecumenical movement has been unable to achieve - an external unity that is generally indifferent to any doctrinal concerns.

One faith preacher describes his experiences........."Jesus and I visited a branch of the River of Life. This branch was knee-deep and crystal clear. We took off our shoes and got in. And do you know the first thing Jesus did to me? He dunked me! I got back up and splashed him, and we had a water fight. We splashed each other and laughed.......The third time I saw Jesus was when I was about 11 years old. Jesus walked in through the front door of my home while I was watching "Laverne & Shirley" on television. He came over and sat down beside me on the couch, kind of glanced at the TV, and everything turned off......THIS IS JUST ONE OF HUNDREDS OF SUCH CLAIMS IN THE FAITH MOVEMENT........

More fruit from this movement?......Even though bizarre miracles are regulary reported, most are considered ODD because we dare to question these stories......I have heard reports of gas tanks miraculously filled, people raised from the dead, puppies brought back to life, and even washing machines undergoing miraculous repairs.

I am considered a HAVE NOT..an inferior spiritual being because I don't have these wonderful "MIRACLES OF DIFFERENT KINDS", and supernatural healings. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEAL WITH MOST OF THEIR ADHERENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD AN "EXPERIENCE" AND THE BIBLE BECOMES ONLY A SECONDARY SOURCE ON WHICH TO BUILD ONES CHRISTIAN LIFE............REMEMBER...... ALL CULTS HAVE HAD EXTRA BIBLICAL REVELATIONS............

The mysticism of the FAITH movement breeds a desire to pursue paranormal experiences, supernatural phenomena, and special revelations.....it spins views of God and spiritual truth out of its own self-authenticated, self-generated feelings, which becomes more important to them than the bible. They create experiences in their minds from which they develop a belief system that simply is not true, opening themselves to further deception and even demonic influences..... it is a uncertain theology that gives EXPERIENCE equal weight to scripture.....

THE FAITH MOVEMENT CONTAINS theology that breeds self-appointed prophets with their own dreams and visions....preying on those looking for some secret truth or intimate relationship with christ(closeness) that others do not have........For example.....one charismatic preacher claims Jesus comes to him sometimes in the morning when he is shaving and puts his arm around him....(trying to make people think that he is really intimate with the lord)........According to the bible, all the prophets were frightened to death at a revelation of God........

These gross errors come from the faith movement's misrepresentations of the baptism, filling, and illuminating work of the Spirit. Their overemphasis on miracles, signs, and wonders has misrepresented the Holy Spirit as some sort of divine magician who moves in ways that are always seen, felt, or heard. They have downplayed the Spirit's internal sanctifying work, which is the essence of his ministry.......

Many christians are unwilling to confront the excesses of the charismatic movement or even to speak on the subject of the Spirit's ministries for fear of offending someone who holds a different view. Those who so speak out are often branded unloving or divisive. Consequently, many non-charismatic pastors and teacher avoid the subject of the Holy Spirit altogether, and that has led to widespread ignorance about his ministries...

People who first join the Faith movement are initially enarmored with the prospects of abundance and prosperity and all the excitement they see around them. But sooner or later, the bubble burst. Thousands of former Faith members have learned the hard way: by ruined finances, poor health, the inability to trust..and even personal tragedy...........

Perhaps one reason the FAITH movement is spreading so rapidly is that most would rather witness miracles & hear unusual experiences rather than undertake the discipline of studying God's word......too many are looking for special revelations to elevate themselves.........instead of taking their place besides other christians.......

Why criticize the FAITH movement???? because it is scriptural to be concerned about whether otheres are walking in the truth. Although it may not seem very loving to some, the bible is clear that we are to "speak the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15). True love must act on the truth......

Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers......

we have a biblical mandate to contend for the faith (Jude 3)........All one has to do is study the twisted teachings from the word of faith and see how grossly the bible is misinterpreted ......consider.........I have heard conversations over and over from people who comment about the corruption within this movement.......corruption that hits the headlines from.....Robert Tilton....Jim Baker...... Jimmy Swaggart.......Benny Hinn.......Larry Lea........ What do you think a watching world concludes about Jesus Christ who supposedly teaches this utter nonsense? From what the world sees on TV evangelism.........what do you think they conclude about Christianity?.........to let this kind of faith movement continue without exposure to the turth......... would be sure folly!

For millions of people around the world, Word of Faith teachings are the only basis by which they know American Christianity or even Christianity at all. It is believed that the word of faith teachers present unbalanced, distorted, and false views of Christianity around the world.....

Many claim it is not biblical to argue???......... just according to the faith movement......Why? because it will expose the corruption within its ranks................YET:(ACTS 15).....The Aposte Paul and Barnabas "had great dissensin and debate" with the Judiazers. .......... "the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue".........Because of the great concern of the false teaching something was done about it and the early church resolved the issue at question with great rejoicing .......(Acts 15; 31-32)

We would be wrong to deny the possibility that God could perform a dramatic miracle to give credence to a missionary, but we would be just as wrong to expect such situations to occur regularly......In the days preceding Christ's return, we can expect signs from false prophets and teachers who want people to think of them as ministers of righteousness....... but Jesus warned...........The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the WORK OF SATAN, displayed in ALL KINDS OF COUNTERFEIT MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS, AND IN EVERY SORT OF EVIL THAT DECEIVES those who are perishing........For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan HIMSELF masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.(2 Corinthians 11: 1315)........

Matt. 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2: 9,10)

When people asked Jesus for a sign, He told them "an evil generation seeks after a sign"........they were curious but not ready to repent and follow him...... the same problem exists today.... a lot of believers want a show of supernatural power but have little desire to involve themselves in the spiritual self-discipline necessary for personal growth.....

Are the modern day self-appointed prophets as reliable as the modern astrologers?...... most prophecies i have ever heard are hardly worth the time listening to.... they amount to nothing more than excitement and romanticism..... words of the living God... hardly.......Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing....(Ezek. 13:1-3)

People and preachers who confront false religionist, unbelievers, and the "God of this World", are usually branded as judgmental, unloving, or divisive. Thus a lot of believers have cultivated a TOLERANCE for false and careless teaching, giving the "word of faith" extremist the freedom to propound fantastic views......... One must break the code of silence imposed upon believers because....... we as believers have a mandate from God...... the bible encourages us to......... "hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that (we) can encuourage others by sound doctrine and REFUTE those who oppose it......(TITUS 1;9)..........wherefore REBUKE THEM SHARPLY.....that they might be sound in faith...(TITUS 1;13)...

Jesus said false teaching can lead to harmful consequences..(Mat...7;17...24;11-12.....Acts 20;30.....

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan HIMSELF masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.(2 Corinthians 11: 1315)

We must understand false spiritual leadership not so much in terms of behavior, but in terms of values, which motivate and move the individual......after all even satan can act nice and talk sweet.....but he cannot stand TRUTH.....because it is not in him...he is the father of all lies.....

Rom. 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. .......Rom. 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

1Tim. 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

2Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Hebr. 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

2Pet. 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2Pet. 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

REBUKE< REPROVE<EXHORT:

2Tim. 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ........2Tim. 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. ........2Tim. 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; .......2Tim. 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Jer. 23:16 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.

Destruction of Faith:

one way to destroy faith is to blow it up....make it impossible for other people to live up to a SUPERMAN FAITH..... for instance when those who claim you too can be as superspiritual as they are.... if you only had enough faith....then you could speak in tongues....raise the dead....control the environment....live in wealth....etc ...etc....but this false teaching only serves to drive away a lot of people who would otherwise believe........or after trying to experience this type faith..........find it impossible to live up to....BEWARE THE LEAVEN....

The Apostle Paul warned the Corinthian believers against false teachers who were trying to force them into submission with incredible claims of spiritual authority (Cor. 11: 1 -15)...... they claimed to be superior even to Paul..... the apostle sarcastically called them (Super Apostles).... he was concerned that the believers might be led astray from the simple truth of the gospel.......It is naive to think that we do not face the same threat today.......that is why we must carefully examine our faith, evaluate what we are being told, and test all things by what God has said in his sure and trustworthy Word. We would be wise to evaluate all teaching by the sure word of God....as the Bereans did.... they "searched the Scriptures" to see if what the apostle Paul preached to them was true.....(Acts 17;11)

Neither postive thinking nor postive confession will change the biblical realities concerning the kingdom of God......To claim that the glory of the Kingdom to come may be realizied here and now misleads and confuses sincere christians. To offer the health and prosperity of the kingdom to come for simply confessing that one has them is to violate the plain meaning of scripture.

The theological claim that believers are "little gods" who can have what they desire by claiming their "divine right" is clearly contrary to biblical truth. God has promised to supply all of our needs...(phil.4;19)...but not all our wants.......Any teaching that discounts or destroys the important biblical themes of suffering, cross-bearing, and self-denial, or assumes an elitist attitude toward christians who suffer economic deprivation, is not of divine origin........ Preoccupation with life's basic necessities indicates little faith (math.6:30)...

To lead sincere christians to expect an automatic financial return of a hundredfold simply because they gave their money is to corrupt the very purpose and nature of giving; it leads to selfishness, not godliness.......why is only money singled out as a hundredfold return? (because they interpret scriptures with the flesh).....the scriptures also say....mothers, fathers, etc. (which is speaking of our relationship with others in the church)....in fact it doesn't mention money.......

(Mark 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.)

How must Christ feel about those who are preoccupied with the luxuries of life. If we focus attention on material possessions as we claim the promise of receiving that for which we ask, we place "all these things" before the kingdom we are to seek first (math. 6;33).....(maybe that's what the devil has in mind all along).........

The abundant life jesus spoke about is the blessings of the kingdom........a kingdom characterized by justice, truth, righteousness.....not a kingdom characterized by wealth, glory and power.....(Rom. 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.)

In Phillipians 4:11-12, the Apostle taught that the Christian is to learn how to be content in whatever state he is in, whether in fullness or in hunger. He DID NOT teach that theChristian is to change his situation through positive confession.

Paul wrote to the christians in Corinth who were being taught false doctrines of superiority:

1Cor. 4:8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings WITHOUT US : and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 1Cor. 4:9 BUT I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. ....1Cor. 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but YOU are strong; YOU are honourable, but WE are despised.....1Cor. 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 1Cor. 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 1Cor. 4:13 Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 1Cor. 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

It would appear that many of the heros of faith named in Hebrews 11 did not really have strong faith after all.......IF...... the WORD OF FAITH definition of faith is valid.......Certainly those who experienced scourgings, chains, and imprisonment (v36); who went about in shabby clothes, destitute, afflicted and ill-treated (v37); who lived in the deserts, mountains, caves and holes in the ground (v.38) must not have been very adept at creating their own reality........

Yet they gained approval from God for their faith (v39). That is because Hebrews 11 teaches that real faith has to do with our obeying God....not his giving us material things.

of other Christians who have died from illnesses......THEY write "they did not have enough faith......that kind of reasoning is neither kind nor accurate....

The charismatic movement erects a fence between the common believer and those who think they have attained a higher level of spirituality. this fence is a product of the fruit of the charismatic movement....

YE ARE GODS??

this verse is most often used by the faith teachers as a support for their claim "little Gods" ....

Psalms 82: 6... God says to the rulers of of Earth, : "Ye are Gods,"(He was calling them 'gods' because the Jews called the scribes gods (that is, rulers).... a simple reading of the psalms, reveals that those words were spoken to unrighteous rulers on the verge of judgement... God was deriding them for their haughtiness......It was they who thought they were Gods..... but when you read verses 6 &7 together (in context).... "yet ye shall die like men"... is a clear note of irony in God's condemnation of them.... Far from affirming their Godhead, he was condemning them for claiming to be Gods.....

It would have been a familiar one to the scribes and Pharisees, who understood its meaning as a condemnation of evil rulers. Jesus was echoing the irony of the original psalm....... Walter Martin wrote.....Jesus mocks the people as if to say, "You all think you're gods yourselves. What's one more god among you?" Irony is used to provoke us, not to inform us. It is not a basis for building a theology........

It is also pertinent to an understanding of John 10 that we remember that Satan is called "the ruler of this world" by no less an authority than the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14;30) ......And Paul reinforces this by calling him "the god of this world"...We can make a GOD out of anything, or, as in Lucifer's case, and angel. We can be our own "God". But to call something deity or to worship it or treat it as divine is quite another thing than its being by nature and in essence deity"................God said to the Israelite, "You turn things around! Shall the potter be considered as equal with the clay?"........According to Scripture there is only one God, and beside him there is no other..

Sly and smooth talking Satan comes along and promised Eve...."your eyes will be opened and you will be like God"...(Gen. 3:5) sound familiar?

Consider: Shirley MacLaine......I am a God.....I am a God....I am a God....

In Acts 14;11-14....God healed a man....."and when the multitudes saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The Gods have become like men and have come down to us"...........Paul's response was NOT.."Yes, we are Gods, and you too, can become a God .......INSTEAD Paul's response was........and they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the SAME NATURE as you, and preach the gospel to you in order that you should turn from these vain things to a living God...."

Ezek. 28:2........ Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Deut. 4:35 Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.

Deut. 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

Deut. 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

2Sam. 7:22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Isa. 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Isa. 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Isa. 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

Isa. 45:21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

Isa. 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

1Cor. 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

"Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened...and what is yet to come -- yes, let him foretell what will come...Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?" (Isa. 44:7,8,

"Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord?" (Isa. 45:21)

"Declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so that we may know that you are gods." (Isa. 41:23)

"I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.... Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, `My idols did them.'" (Isa. 48:3,5)

IF WE ALL HAD GODLIKE POWERS...there would simply be too many Gods shuffling "reality" around to suit themselves and in the process conflicting with other "Gods", whose minds were imposing a different form of "reality" according to their own taste. Not only is a Creator-God essential for the universe to exist, but any more than one God is too many and would result in chaos....Nevertheless, to exercise these dreamed-of mysterious powers has always been the secret ambition of the human race........it is in the area of morality that the seduction of the BIG LIE that God is man, bears its most horrible fruit.....

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; 2Ths. 2:4 ........(anti-Christ)...so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Problems with people being Gods?....
PROBLEMS IN WONDERLAND...........It is reasonable and factual to acknowledge that what we believe affects us and our world in many ways. It is unreasonable and FANCIFUL, however, to imagine that our minds create all reality...that if everyone would only think positive thoughts about health and good crops, then all disease and famine would go away....Yogis and various other mystics have been saying for centuries that the universe has no reality but is only an illusion created by our minds.....That this mystical view is not true shoud be evident. Otherwise, how would two scientist, one Chinese and the other American, sepereated by 10,000 miles and looking through microscopes independtly of each other, see the same thing or discover the same virus?

Germs, disease, death and the intricate universe within a single cell are not inventions of human minds, but exist independtly of our thinking......Obviously our thinking determines our perception of the universe; but our perception does not affect the object itself that we are perceiving.........This is obvious from the fact that several observers may each simultaneously perceive the same object differently. We ought to be thankful that our minds do not create the world in which we live, in spite of such teaching my mind control cults..........

Children dream of a magical Alice-in-Wonderland world where the power of thinking creates whatever one wishes. However, such a wonderland would not be a dream, but a nightmare.....Just imagine the chaos if there were no laws of physics or chemistry, for example, but everthing was in a state of flux and took on shapes and qualities and functions that shifted and blurred in a surrealistic pseudo-existence with the changing moods and whims of humans creating it all with their positive or negative thinking....

Some sickness comes from God...Exdous 4;11 "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind? is it not I, the Lord?"..............Some sickness comes from satan..Luke 12;11-13......for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double,......Some sickness is for the GLORY OF GOD (John 9;1-3).......

Why do modern revelations, visions, tongues,healings, and miracles differ so dramatically from those performed by the Apostles?

The types of miracles that THE FAITH MOVEMENT claim today are nothing like New Testament miracles....Jesus and the apostles instantly and completely healed people born blind, a paralytic, a man with a withered hand and crippled legs were straightened......all obvious indisputable miracles.

Even Jesus' enemies did not challenge the reality of HIS miracles.........with the FAITH PEOPLE only "instant" miracles are healings that seem to involve forms of pscychosomatic diseases, invisible aches and pains, heart palpitations, headaches, etc......... People with visible disabilities are rarely if ever helped at all by modern faith-healers.....If they could really heal they would go into the hospitals and such....but they want because they would be laughed out....if they had it would obviously be Headline News....

....(and laying His hands on EVERY ONE of them, HE healed them......luke 9;11)Why have the Faith people not attempted to go into the hospitals, to walk through the crowds of ailing people....healing everyone with cancer, tuberculosis, AIDS, and countless other ailments......why do they not go into the AIDS HOSPICES WHERE MASSES OF PEOPLE ARE RACKED BY DISEASE????........... doesn't it seem strange they never come out into the crowds like Jesus did, away from their tents and television shows....THEIR SHOWBUSINESS seems to always be in a CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT, STAGED THEIR WAY, RUN ACCORDING TO THEIR SCHEDULE.......

Hebr. 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever...........a literal interpretation would mean the ministers of the Lord would continue to heal in the same mannner as Jesus and the apostles did...........

Hebr. 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever...........Did Jesus ever have his helpers take up applications for admittance to healing lines?......Did Jesus ever pass a collection plate BEFORE any healing service?(why not after?)...... Did Jesus ever hold healing services?...... weren't his miracles a by-product of his ministry.......Did Jesus ever advertise he was coming to town to heal the sick?(Jesus told those he healed to keep quite)....

JESUS CHRIST THE SAME YESTERDAY...

Hebr. 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.......Of those who claim to be healers today....those ministers of Jesus....how many raise the dead?......cleanse lepers?...completely heal shriveled hands?.... crippled limbs?....still the storms?.......stop funeral processions?...it is strange that the modern day healers do not attempt these other miracles....IF THEY ARE GOING TO STAY WITH THESE SCRIPTURES THEY SHOULD PUT UP OR SHUT UP.....

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with NEW tongues; .........Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover........

Truly the signs of an Apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds (2 Cor. 12;12).... some religious groups are claiming that all believers today have the same mision the apsotles did.... but nowhere in the New Testament do we find BELIEVERS in general performing the types of dramatic miracles of the apostles....

No doubt quote ...these signs shall follow those.....again I say...Of those who claim to be healers today....those ministers of Jesus....how many raise the dead???......cleanse lepers?....still the storms?.......stop funeral processions?...it is strange that the modern day healers do not atempt these other miracles....IF THEY ARE GOING TO STAY WITH THESE SCRIPTURES THEY SHOULD PUT UP OR SHUT UP.....

Why do modern faith healer not attempt the miracles of Jesus?..still the storms?...raise the dead?.... because these kind, with their pitiful pleas and strong appeals take from the widow her last dollar.....(Matt. 23:14 ............... hypocrites! for YE DEVOUR WIDOW'S HOUSES, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.)

The miracles of Jesus and the apostles healed the sick with a PERFECT WORK.......yet this isn't true of todays healers......many are right back to their same ailments a few days later.....Hypnotism???sounds like the work of the magicians in the Egyptian courts......

Why did miracles cease?...They were for a witness that Jesus was the Son of God....they were for a conformation of Diety.......(John 11;42...That they may believe that thou has sent me...)....to declare and confirm God's message of the New Testament dispensation of GRACE....which could not be declared until it was written......until that which was perfect had come...(the Bible)....Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.......

HEALING IS PROVIDED IN THE BOOK OF JAMES...

healing of the sick is provided for in the book of James...............James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.............James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: ......James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him......HEALING FROM GOD IS NO STAGE SHOW TO EARN POPULARITY AND MAKE MONEY.....

could it be those who claim the gift of healing do not really have it??? Wasn't the gift of healing a temporary sign for the authenticating of the scriptures as the WORD OF GOD......

Searching......... where is it biblical to be 'SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT'...

1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.........HOW CAN YOU TEST THE SPIRITS WITHOUT THE WORD OF GOD?

Instant healing: not I've been healed, and now I am getting better: centurion's servant was healed immeadiately (math. 8:13))....woman with bleeding problem (mark 5:29): ten Lepers (luke 5;13).......crippled man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5;9)

PROBLEMS PAUL AND THE APOSTLES HAD TO LIVE WITH:

It is wrong faith to think one can CLAIM healing and success......The Apostle Paul himself had an infirmity or bodily illness he simply had to live with. (Gal. 4l13-14; 2 Cor. 12; 7-10). Paul told Timothy to take a little wine "for the sake of your stomach (problems) and your frequent ailments" 1Timothy 5;23) Paul said, "Trophimus I left sick at Miletus"(2Timothy 4:20). Paul never once told Timothy or anyone else to "Claim your Healing".

Paul clearly did not believe the death of Christ healed believer's illnesses. Otherwise, how did such great men of faith as Paul and Timothy fail to know and teach that Christ died for our illnesses? Nor was Christ's death a guarantee of success in this life. To the contrary, by worldly standards Paul, the Apostles and the early Church were highly UNSUCCESSFUL (Romans. 8;35, 36;1Cor. 4; 9-17 15;30; 2 Cor. 4 ;7-11). These Godly men accepted the fact of their sicknesses and tribulations. Even Jesus also accepted and expected sickness and hardship among believers (Mt. 25;44; Lk. 21;17). In fact Jesus himself taught that sickness could be to the Glory of God...Jn11;4)

Some of these Faith healers peer into the TV cameras, and supposedly can see into peoples living rooms, and can describe people who are being healed that very moment.....(sounds like a psychic connection)......

STRENGTHENS THEIR FAITH?

the FAITH MOVEMENT claims that their supposed miracles strengthens their faith.......YET after all the miracles Jesus did he was crucified......all the apostles were jailed, persecuted, and even killed.......Salvation does not come through experiencing or seeing physcial healing. Salvation comes through hearing and believing the word of God (Romans 10;17) .........After feeding the multitudes.....JESUS told them..... you do not follow me because you believe in me, but for what I can do for you... (John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. )

A DOCTOR IN SEARCH OF A MIRACLE:

One Faith healer was subjected to an objective testing of the spirit by a man who was out to prove one way or the other the claims of the FAITH MOVEMENT........WILLIAM NOLEN, in his book HEALING; A DOCTOR IN SEARCH OF A MIRACLE...... gives this account:

Finally the healing services were over.......there were still long lines of people waiting to get onto the stage and claim their cures, but at 5 oclock with a hymn and final blessing, the show ended...Miss Kuhlman left the stage and the audience left the auditorium....before going back to interview Miss Kuhlman I spent several minutes watching the desperately ill wheelchair patients leave.......in fact the one who had earlier claimd his healing......was now back in his wheelchair......

As I stood there in the corridor watching the hopless cases leave, seeing the tears of the parents as they pushed their crippled children to the elevators.......I wished Miss Kuhlman had been with me......I wondered to myself how she felt that the joy of those "CURED" of arthritis and such, compensated for the anguish of those left with their withered legs, their imbecilic children, and their cancers......I wondered if she really knew the REAL DAMAGE SHE WAS DOING...............I WONDER IF THE FAITH MOVEMENT REALLY KNOWS THE DAMAGE THAT IT IS CAUSING......WHO CAN CALCULATE THE UNTOLD WRECKAGE IN THEIR WAKE..........HOW MANY ARE FALLING AWAY FROM REAL FAITH ?

Dr. Nolen wrote to those who had claimed their healing through Miss Kuhlman's ministry.....Out of the 82 who claimed healing....only 23 would repond......after investigating their claims there was not one of the so-called healings legimate......

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the WORK OF SATAN displayed in ALL KINDS OF COUNTERFEIT MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS, AND IN EVERY SORT OF EVIL THAT DECEIVES those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2: 9,10)

False Prophets:

Deut. 18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

Deut. 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing....(Ezek. 13:1-3)

16 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. Jer. 23

25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal..

FRUIT from the word of faith teachings

I am reminded of a woman here locally who got "caught up" in the word faith teachings......the teachings from Jerry Savelle, Kenneth Copeland, Jessie Duplantis and all the others..............those that teach you can have whatever you say............now she is in so much debt she can't even pay her bills........it is also causing her to do sinful things she wouldn't do otherwise........on top of all that she is in a constant state of heavy depression...........a real good testimony to the fruit taught by the prosperity gospel.......reminds me of scripture....... V9...But they that are rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lust, which drown men in destruction and perdition.V10...For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some covet after, they have pierced themselves through with many sorrows

(Jude 4 .....who turn the grace of our Lord into lasciviousness a strong desire for material things.)

What seeds are being planted withing the charismatic movement? The seeds of error are in the doctrines that distinguishes the charismatics...that God is still revealing truth beyond scripture......the teaching that Spirit Baptism is subsequent to and seperate from salvation...thus creating two classes of believers;..... and the mysticism that is innate in charismatic teaching, which encourages people to denigrate reason, elevate feeling, and open their minds and spirits to powers they cannot understand.......As long as these ideas lie at the core of charismatic belief......error and extremism will continue to overgrow the movement.

Bereans:

It is a grave error to imagine that the differences between charismatic (FAITH TEACHING) and non-charismatic doctrine are inconsequential or petty. A proper understanding of Scripture is one thing worth guarding aggressively....Like the noble-minded Bereans, let us examine the Scriptures carefully and diligently....."to see whether these things are so" (Acts 17:11).......Are they putting emphasis on God's Living Word in the Scriptures, or on their feelings and experiences?

Ecumentalism:

Supposedly more FRUIT from the charismatic movement is in the name of unity.....most are willing to embrace anyone and everyone ...even if it means overlooking grossly errant doctrinal perspectives...as long as the person has manifested some outward evidence of their movement.......For example....It is not inconsistent that a movement that claims to be in direct contact with the Holy Spirit, to have all the gifts such as prophecy, apostleship, and the word of knowledge, to communicate directly with God by tongues-speaking and other means,............ can at the same time include.............. Roman Catholics, conservative and liberal protestants, amillennialists, premillennialist, Calvinists, Arminians, those who deny the verbal inspiration of the Bible, and even those who reject Christ's atonement on the Cross.

Apparently the Holy Spirit is not concerned with communicating any information to correct all these differences, many of which are crucial and some of which are incorrect. All this direct dommunication with the Spirit has apparently done nothing to correct even basic errors. It has not produced unity among charismatics regarding the nature and purpose of many of the gifts. This movement has solved no theological issue, produced no advance in biblical knowledge, and has not produced no advance in biblical knowledge, and has not produced more spiritual Christians. Would such an effusion of the genuine Spirit of God produce so little?

More Fruit from the charismatic movement......According to a lot of their teaching..... speaking in tongues is the chief mark of a dedicated christian......so much so that even the worship of the virgin Mary is unobjectionable.....if one speaks in tongues.....One can even place tradition on a level with scripture and even assert new revelations from God.....if one speaks in tongues....Even Roman Catholicism is acceptable if only one speaks in tongues.......Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Protestants, and many secret sects are already uniting under the Charismatic banner

Word of Faith ecumenism is steadily eroding any claim the movement ever had to any biblical foundation.....In Asia shocking new charismatic cults are springing up, blending Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and other false teachings with the teachings of Western Charismatics...........In the movement unity is a question of shared religious experience, not commonality in teaching.....If doctrine really does not matter, why not embrace Buddhist charismatic groups????In effect that is exactly what is happening.....

(Locally........One catholic church has even put an ad in the local paper advertising the coming of..... HIS HOLINESS THE MARHARISHI YOGA.........to speak on the effectual use of Transcendental Meditation.......can you believe it?

Building bridges:

More Fruit from the charismatic movement.....They are building bridges with groups and individuals whom Christians are commanded to shun...(2John 9-11)....Many have become participants in the evil deeds of those who deny the teaching of our Lord....many of the FAITH TEACHERS who see the severity of these problems will claim that their movement is more positive than negative.....because they will point to the movements widespread growth... worldwide....they say they are revitalizing churches...and reaching the lost...

yet the sad truth is that the movement is LOST IN CHAOS AND DOCTRINAL CONFUSION....THEIR APPROACH TO SPIRITUALITY IS UNSOUND AND FILLED WITH DISILLUSIONMENT.......the superman spiritual life that many are taught, are leaving many christians exasperated and confused......because they are finding out their super key will not fit the door of life, on a realistic, practical day to day basis...and in effect...like the earlier false teachers of Pauls day, causing many to overthrow their faith.... IT IS FALSE TEACHING.....ITS SONG IS THE SIREN

There can be no division between believers when they meet on the common ground of God's word. Harmful divisions germinates only when someone turns away from the Word and lets error creep in to threaten the flock......

POWER RELIGION:

The word of faith is a power religion....it stresses personal power & spiritual authority as the means to control angels, environment & gain one's own desires...over God's.....It replaces suffering service & servanthood with success, wealth & prosperity....It misplaces FAITH....

The FAITH movement erects a fence between the common believer and those who think they have attained a higher level of spirituality. this fence is a product of the fruit of the charismatic movement....

2Pet. 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Reason from scriptures:

Paul reasoned with the Thessalonican (Acts17 2-3) NOT from his experiences but reasoned with them from the scriptures.....too many do not study the word to know the lord...but instead just want miracles and pleasureable experiences......Yet Paul taught GIVE ATTENDANCE TO READING,TO EXHORTATIN, TO DOCTRINE..... experience cannot be a validation for truth.....

2Tim. 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. .....2Tim. 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. ....2Tim. 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; ....2Tim. 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

2Pet. 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies..........

2Pet. 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

2Pet. 2:3 ......And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: .....
2PE 2:3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.

1TI 1:7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

2TI 4:3 For the time will come when men 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.

1Tim. 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

The Pharisee were not condemned for their legalism... but for their false teaching... adding to the law.. making it impossible for others to live up to....(like the modern day faith teachers who say you could be as spiritual as they are if you could only speak in tongues, heal the sick, etc.)........

MAT 23:5 "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;

MAT 23:6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;

MAT 23:7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'

False spiritual leaders are not to be thought of as well-intentioned but misguided psople who are leading mankind to moral behavior. They are shutting the door to salvation in people's faces. They teach heresy and must be treated in a manner consistent with the damage they do.........

The last public sermon Jesus preached was in Matthew 23...where he warns the people to stay away from false spiritual leaders...(verses 1-12).....False spiritual leaders will come claiming Jesus as Lord and offering to lead the way into the kingdom......BUT their lives will be MARKED by a PUBLIC, rather than a private piety (Also Mathew Chapter 6..BE CAREFUL NOT to do your acts of righteousness in order to be seen of men)...... they will be marked by a concern for rather than an abandoning of material things (Chapter 6 ..."...do not lay up for yourselfs treasures on Earth....): when these marks are seen, BEWARE.....

Jesus reserved his most furious words of judgment and wrath for those who parade themselves as representing God, when in fact they are liars and hypocrites.......they are void of the knowledge of God and strangers to the salvation they say they proclaim.... they are starving while supposedly offering true bread.... and warn other men of a hell that they themselves will populate........ Many appear to be feeding and clothing the flock of God while in reality they are ravaging them............ for a pretense they make long their prayers....

Matthew 26:39.... sin brings the wrath of God.....

JER 7:4 Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these. ( we speak for God)

Apostle Paul warned of false spiritual leaders as "speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron (1 Tim. 4;2).....Paul was saying that their consciences have become so calloused that they are no longer sensitive to the hypocritical nature of their existence. They are liars who have lied so long, hypocrites who have lived hypocritically so long, that they are desenitized to it...

False prophets take self-appointed seats of authority and fill them with their own ideas, traditions, and regulations.....which obscure the true law of God...... When someone questions their authority, they become very hostile...... They are liars promoting false hood and making up supposed visions...... while claiming to represent God and speak in his name they utter lies that lead men the world over into eternal damnation... there's only one authority.... and that is the WORD OF THE LIVING GOD..... those who deviate from it are the false leaders that JESUS REBUKED OPENLY....

No pastor has the authority to do or teach whatever he pleases just because he thinks God is leading him. God has given us the responsibility to "prove all things" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). The Bible says to "try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). The Bible says that when men preach the Word of God, the hearers are to judge that preaching to ascertain if it is sound (1 Corinthians 14:29). The pastor's only authority is the Bible, and if he departs from the Bible, God's people should depart from him! The Bereans were commended because they did not gullibly accept whatever they were taught but "they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). They were careful and tested everything by the Word of God, and God praised them for this trait. Mr. Hanegraaff has every right to test the "Pensacola Outpouring" and to warn of things that he sees that are unscriptural. In fact, he would be accountable before God if he was convicted that the "Pensacola Outpouring" was unbiblical and dangerous and he kept his mouth shut.

Has your hope chest been depleted by the charlatans???...... by the gainsayers??..... by the false prophets on TBN???...... nothing left to hope for??... try THE REAL JESUS.... are you looking for the TRUE riches of heaven??...... he has them..... a new birth...... a second chance.... a clean conscience....... a fresh start............ASK FOR HIM..... and He will give himself to you...SEEK him...and you shall find him.....KNOCK....and the kingdom will be opened to you....... FOR HE IS THE RICHES OF HEAVEN.....

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