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Recognizing False Biblical Teachings and Teachers / Signs Of The Times
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Cornerstone
Research Ministry
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Recognizing False Biblical Teachings and Teachers / Signs Of The Times |
Cornerstone Newsletter
Part 2 - NAR Infiltration Into The Culture And The
Church
Part 3 - Using Patriotism and Biblical Citizenship
Classes To Infiltrate The Church
This is Part 1 of a 3 part message: These messages are progressive and build on each other in order, and helps to be read in this order.
(Note: Those of you who live in countries other than the United States, there is a message for you here too. For what I am writing about has most likely come into churches in your country. Perhaps too you can see how God is dealing with this country in it's apostasy and maybe glean some lessons in remaining true to the true God)
January 16, 2024
by Greg DesVoignes
Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Ezekiel 22:26
Jesus provided His believers with spiritual gifts in order that His church would be equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to do many things that Jesus did after He departed into Heaven. But today, an entity of ideologies called the New Apostolic Reformation has maligned these gifts and use them to deceive people using "experiences", signs and wonders. Having done that, they have caused most in the church to ignore these gifts.
I am going to discuss this, but first I want to reveal what this New Apostolic Reformation ideology is, and a little of it's history and leaders.
The New Apostolic Reformation aka Dominion Theology
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| C. Peter Wagner |
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| Cindy & Mike Jacobs |
The NAR is not an organization as say, the Masons, for instance, of which there is an actual membership. It is an ideology, a concept, a belief system that involves millions of people and thousands of churches today. I would venture to say that most people who follow the beliefs of this concept have not even heard the term, "New Apostolic Reformation". Thus, when confronted with the fact they they are following the "New Apostolic Reformation", they would deny it, not knowing the aspects of what it is. On the other hand, there are those who deny being part of this by name, but know exactly what they are following and are involved with is NAR.
The NAR along with its concepts and term, came about by the self proclaimed prophet and self proclaimed apostle, C. Peter Wagner. Wagner himself was a key leader in the demonic Church Growth Movement that had its apostate movement in the 80s and 90s. It is still going on today in many churches who are still followers of Willow Creek and their defrocked pastor, Bill Hybels. Most of the material for that movement came out of Wagner's Fuller Institute of Church Growth which was operated out of Fuller Seminary, and Willow Creek. (see "The Church Growth Movement's Evolution Into The Emerging Church")
However Wagner morphed into manifesting the heretical "Dominion Theology" into what he termed, the "New Apostolic Reformation" (NAR). It is also known by; "Joel's Army" and the "Manifested Sons of God". It's followers are referred to as "Warriors" and "Dread Champions" and the "New Breed". It's Apostolic leadership are called "Generals". The reason for this will become apparent here shortly.
Wagner wrote an article in Renewal Journal in April of 2012 called, "The New Apostolic Reformation". In this article he outlined, and gave a history of it. In his view it started in the early 1900's in Africa within the African Independent Church. Of interest is that this is the same period that the "faith healer", John G. Lake started his Apostolic Faith Mission in South Africa around 1906. He is the legend among the NAR followers. I will discuss more on him in Part 2. You can read Wagner's article at https://renewaljournal.com/2012/04/12/the-new-apostolic-reformation-byc-peter-wagner/
Wagner assembled and anointed a number of false prophets and self proclaimed apostles as the foundation of this movement. One key "prophet" and "apostle" was a friend, Cindy Jacobs. Cindy and her husband Mike have a ministry called "Generals International. According to Cindy in a 2021 prophecy update by the Apostolic Council of Prophetical Elders (started by Wagner), she took part in the beginning of the NAR as it seen today. She said,
"The Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders was convened 22 years ago under the leadership of C. Peter Wagner and steered by Cindy Jacobs of Generals International." https://www.prayalabama.org/the-apostolic-council-of-prophetic-elders-word-of-the-lord-for-2021/
So basically, it has been around for 24 years, since about 1999. This relationship between Wagner and Jacobs, and the time is important to note as it exposes two influential people who have been trying to fly under the radar of association to at least the term, "New Apostolic Reformation". This will come up in Part 3.
Aside from those examples listed above, some were:
Todd Bentley (anointed and then exposed)
Stacy Campbell (Shiloh Global)
Georgian Banov (globalcelebration, Georgian Banov)
John Arnott (Toronto Airport Vineyard ["Toronto Blessing" manifestations], Catch
The Fire, John & Carol [current]
Rick Joyner (Morning Star Ministries, Knights of Malta)
The Seven Mountain Mandate (Seven Spheres Of Cultural Influence) : The NAR Ideology
 |
As noted, this concept in "word" was originated by the founder of the NAR, Peter Wagner. The phrase, "Seven Mountain Mandate", was alleged to have been coined by one of the groups main "Apostles", Lance Wallnau. It is the belief of that that those who follow this thinking that their version of "the church" is mandated by God to influence and take over the seven mountains. These seven spheres of the culture which are listed below.
1. Arts / Entertainment
2. Family /health
3. Business
4. Media
5. Education
6. Government
7. Religion / The Church
Their goal is to take over and force their religious views of their
philosophies of Christianity in each of these areas of the culture. Their given reasons are so
that they can
1. Perfect the Church
2. Perfect America
3. Perfect the world
They believe that that by doing this, it will usher in the coming of the "Messiah". They believe that their Messiah cannot come back until they complete this mission. This is not a Biblical view of the coming of the true Messiah, Jesus.
This concept is actually the same concept as the "New Age Movement" as laid out in a 1981 book by Marilyn Ferguson titled, "The Aquarian Conspiracy". According to the author, this movement has been infiltrating the same areas of the culture that the NAR is infiltrating. Actually when you look at the two, their ideals are the same, as well as their goals. The major one is to usher in global peace, a utopia (the Age of Aquarius) under the ruler ship of a "messiah". I have explained this religion in an article "The New Age Movement". Reading it will reveal the similarities between it and the NAR and what is coming in another part of this message.
Some Methodology To Infiltrate The Seven Cultural Spheres
The NAR movement has a number of ways and attractions that they have been infiltrating these realms. Here are a few major ways.
1.
Signs and Wonders: Their version of the manifestation
of spiritual gifts. Especially tongues, physical manifestations in the
body, healing, etc.
2.
Alluring Through Worship Leaders / Music: These are the
pied pipers of NAR churches that have infiltrated most churches today with their
songs / concerts.
3.
Ecumenism: Joining together of opposing theology
churches to fight a common enemy - the tyrannical government, partly through the
Patriot Movement.
NAR Church Government
NAR Apostles
The ideology of their church government is comprised of what they believe are the called leaders of it; the top being the Apostles and then the Prophets. Some of these are listed previously in this message. And they are only some. As noted previously, these leaders are also referred to as Generals. Within this group of Apostles and Prophets is a group who call themselves, the "Apostolic Council Of Prophetic Elders". Similar to the the "Watch Tower" society of the Jehovah Witnesses, this council is supposed to be the prophetical arm of this government which utters prophetical words alleged to be from God. They control and manipulate with these prophecies.
These Apostles are considered the highest of the spiritual leaders, having been empowered by God. They declare that they can receive divine revelation as Prophets and have the power of "impartation" to commission others as Apostles and Prophets to be leaders within the various "spheres" of the culture. In other words, these leaders can commission a person to be an Apostle / Prophet to influence the realm of the government, the church, media, arts / entertainment, etc. And they are. We will later see some of these influences and influencers.
But many times their prophecies are wrong in what they say God said.
For instance, in the council's word from God for 2023, one major event that was not present, was the attack of Hamas on Israel and the subsequent actions of Israel against this. These utterances for 2023 were given during the beginning of 2023 and were relayed in a video and in writing on the website of one key leader of this movement, Apostle and General, Cindy Jacobs. Conveniently enough, at the beginning of the video, Jacobs gives a disclaimer that what they got from God may not be all of it for the year because they only "know in part" and so "prophecy in part". Yet, this event is probably the largest manifestation of the possible fulfillment of prophecy in our time since Israel became a nation ( Source: Generals International - https://www.generals.org/blog/word-of-the-lord-for-2023)
Many of these prophesied that Trump would win the 2020 election. When this did not happen, some made excuses while others called on their contemporaries to admit their prophesies were wrong. Even these who admitted they did not get it right (thus not from God, but their own imaginations), said it was acceptable saying that it is ok for a prophet to be wrong sometimes. Not so.
Now according to the NAR leaders, true maturity of a Christian lies only in those who submit to the authority of these Apostles and Prophets. These NAR leaders state that these Apostles / Prophets will develop greater and greater supernatural powers and that the signs and wonders they perform are meant to encourage a massive wave of converts to Christianity (their ideological form). These supernatural powers are supposed to have the ability to perform mass healings. These Apostles are also supposed to be recipients of a great transfer of wealth in the last days. You give your money to them, and they will distribute it among their idea of "believers". The alleged purpose is supposed to aid in establishing God's kingdom (What is the New Apostolic Reformation? | GotQuestions.org -https://www.gotquestions.org/New-Apostolic-Reformation.html)
This of course is just like the World Economic Forum's "Great Reset's" transfer of wealth. It would seem that this NAR version is the purpose behind the "Prosperity Doctrine" teaching. You bring in the money and give it to these Apostles, who, by the way, are already wealthy from people throwing away their money to them.
It is thought these false Apostles / Prophets of the NAR got this from how at the beginning of the Church after Pentecost. For instance this distribution of wealth is first spoken of in Acts 2:44 and then in Acts 4: which is below.
32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. Acts 4:32-35.
Yesterday I heard a message on these very verses by the late Chuck Smith, the pastor who started the initial Calvary Chapel. I found his transcribed message on the Blue Letter Bible website that house his commentaries. Chuck noted in his message that what the early church did as seen in Acts 4 was not a Biblical mandate, but something that these early leaders came up with. Chuck Smith noted that while their hearts may have been in good in wanting to do good, it became a disaster. Here is an excerpt of this message below;
"Now, in a sense, this was an attempt in the early church for a form of
communism. That is, a sharing together of their assets. Seeking to sort of
divide among themselves the assets of the entire body.
It should be noted that it was a failure.
That in time, the early church in Jerusalem became broke and destitute. And Paul
the Apostle went among the Gentile churches taking up an offering for the poor
brethren in Jerusalem. And then Paul later writes about the work ethic, "If a
man doesn't work, he shouldn't eat. There are some among you who are acting
disorderly. They are not working; they are trying to live off the body."
Parasites. Don't support them. If they don't work then don't feed them. Let
every man work, laboring with his own hands in order that he might provide those
things which are honest.
So this was a move that was motivated by love. It was very commendable. And I
don't fault them for what they were doing. I think it was a marvelous,
commendable, beautiful thing that was happening as they sought for equality
among the brethren. Unfortunately, it didn't
work. It ended up
disastrously. Though the
motive behind it was right and all,
yet, God has declared that man shall earn his
bread by the sweat of his brow,
and we can't just say, "Well, we're not
going to work any more. We're just going to serve the Lord and
get holy and righteous and God is going to take care of us. God will feed us;
God will provide for us. We don't have to work. We can just trust in God. After
all, our Father feeds the birds and He'll feed us."
No, the Bible doesn't teach that kind of
haphazard living. Jesus said, "Occupy until I come." Let every
man work laboring with his own hands. BlueLetterBible, Chuck Smith
Commentary Titled:
Verse by Verse Study on Acts 3-4 (C2000) by Chuck Smith (blueletterbible.org)
How interesting that this very mindset is the thoughts and intents of the minds of many of the people in the United States today after getting a government free ride after Covid! And this is what is being pushed by the World Economic Forum for the world. This phrase, "You will own nothing and be happy", came out of an article on the WEF website written in 2016 by a member of the Danish Parliament by the name of Ida Auken titled, "Welcome To 2030: I own nothing, have no privacy, and life has never been better". Source- Welcome to 2030. I own nothing, have no privacy, and life has never been better | World Economic Forum (archive.org).
After much pushback, the author denied that their intent was to push for a utopia based on not owning anything and being happy. They said it was to show possible alternatives to how the world is today and then discuss them. Yes, the mantra today is, "We need to have a conversation about...."(whatever evil)
And so we see numerous people in the United States that want to have a Socialist / Marxist / Communist ideology so they don't have to work, but be taken care of by a nanny State. So sly, so devious. But back to the NAR Apostles who declare the same thing.
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| Copeland's Gulfstream V donors logo |
Consider the Apostle Paul in contrast to these NAR "Apostles". He never asked for money to sustain him wherever he preached. He either worked as a tent maker where he preached or was provided for by another church so he would not give the appearance of preaching for money as the false Apostles and teachers did at that time, and do today. But today's self appointed Apostles are even worse. Multi-million dollar homes and private jets are the norm with a number of them.
Kenneth Copeland is probably the most outlandish of these self proclaimed Apostles having a net worth of $760,000,000. Copeland is noted as the richest "Pastor" in the United States. Whereas, Paul the first Apostle to the Gentiles, had nothing.
Consider the following and the photos to the left.
The photos to the left are;
(Top), Copeland, wife and his Gulf Stream V jet, valued: 10 to 12 million dollars. He has two more aircraft including a Cessna Citation 750: valued today: 5 to 14 million dollars.
(Center) Copeland's runway and hanger complex on his property. He asked for an addition 17 million to upgrade the Gulfstream and the runway / hanger avionics complex.
(Bottom) Copeland's lakefront house on 24 acres with the airport. Value: 6.5 million. The house is owned by his church and is considered a "parsonage". No taxes or house payments here for this Apostle.
In comparison, Paul either walked or went by ship to all the places he taught. He spoke to the Corinthians of the dangers of his travels and the persecution he came under. His dwelling was in other people's homes, probably a lot of camping, and having prisons as his home. In one instance he tells the Corinthians;
"9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now." 1 Corinthians 4:9-13
Compare what Paul said to what Copeland said below to the donors of one of these jets. The donors are called "Elite CX Team".
"Dear Elite CX Team Partner,
First, I want to apologize for taking so long to personally thank you for the Gulfstream V! What a marvelous airplane. It is so quiet and comfortable in the cabin that study and preparation to preach is wonderful. I know I’ll be writing my Partner Letter from there a lot, even when the aircraft is sitting in the hangar.
This airplane is a very special, anointed sanctuary. It is a place of separation and peace, especially on long trips.
Kenneth Copeland"
https://blog.kcm.org/thank-elite-cx-team/
The contrast between one of the greatest Apostles and that of these self proclaimed Apostles and Prophets is obvious of this attempt to create another Pentecost of their own making. While Copeland glories in writing is "Partner Letter" in the comfort of his aircraft cabin "sanctuary" while it is parked in a hanger, Paul noted he wrote some of his letters to some churches while in a prison cell.
Paul said of these to the Philippians and to the Romans;
18 For
many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that
they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose
end is destruction, whose
god is their belly,
and whose glory is in
their shame—who set their mind
on earthly things.
Philippians 3:18
17 Now
I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses,
contrary to the doctrine which you learned,
and avoid them. 18 For
those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus
Christ, but their own belly, and by
smooth words and flattering speech
deceive the hearts of the simple.
Romans 16:17-18
That word "simple" (akakos) means: Innocent, harmless, unsuspecting.
And so it is. Millions of people flock to, and donate that which many do not have, their money to these men AND women; thinking they are furthering the Kingdom of God and expecting to gain prosperity. Copeland even has a page on his website for donating your stock. Goodbye retirement. He, and other's like him, have no shame.
NAR Prophets
Aside from the Apostles who are also alleged to have the gift of prophecy, there are also those that are the self proclaimed Prophets, those of which the NAR Apostles laid hands on them and claimed them to be Prophets. Some them are;
Kris Vallotton (Pastor - Bethel Church, Redding, CA
Sean Feucht (Bethel Church Worship Leader, Bethel Music) Shown again for a
reason seen later.
Kim Clement (Deceased)
Shawn Boltz (Bolzt Ministries)
Jeremiah Johnson (Global Altar Ministries)
Loren Sandford (Son of the late false teachers John and Paula Sandford of Elijah
House)
Kat Kerr (The Revelation Zone)
James Goll (God Encounter Ministries)
Hank Kunneman (One Voice Ministries - Kenneth Copeland's "Flashpoint" regular panel
member)
Lance Wallnau (Wallnau Ministries Inc. - Kenneth Copeland's "Flashpoint"
regular panel member)
Of note in this list above are two false prophets; Jeremiah Johnson and Loren Sandford. Both, among many others in the NAR, prophesied that God told them Trump would win the 2020 election. Of course he did not. Both "repented" of their false prophecies (they lost followers). Bethel Church's Associate Pastor Kris Vallotton is another prophet who had to "repent".
On this same list is another false prophet, Hank
Kunneman. While on the Benny Hinn show sometime in 2021, Kunneman said
that God told him that Mike Pence would become President in 2024 (Video - Pastor
Benny Hinn Special Guests Hank Brenda Kunneman - YouTube, April 3, 2021, 1
hr 30 min in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h9bT62MxXA ). Of course we see that while Pence did start to run in the
GOP primary, he dropped out on October 28, 2023. Again as we see from
Scripture; if even one prophecy does not come to pass, that person has not
spoken God's word and is not to be listened to. God's word is specific on
recognizing false prophets. If their prophecy does not come about, they
are not of God; period (
Next is one of the pioneers of this ideology, Lance Wallnau. Wallnau, like Kunneman, is a regular on Kenneth Copeland's "Flashpoint" panel of other prophets in the realm of the NAR. He prophesied that Trump would be a "Cyrus" liberator. You can read what he said on this, in other places so I won't get into the whole thing. In the short, Wallnau had an impression he believed was from God, in which Wallnau associated Isaiah 45 (on Cyrus) with Trump being the 45th President and liberating the United States and world from a Babylonian government.
On a Copeland "Flashpoint" show on January 7, 2021 the day of the riot at the Capitol, false prophet Kat Kerr told host Gene Bailey that God told her that Trump would be in office eight years in a row, not broken up. She also said that God did choose Pence for eight years after Trump's. Not only is she discounted as a prophet, Kerr also said in this show that God woke her up and appeared to her. Again, what she claims to see as God, cannot be God according to God's word because it plainly says, He cannot be seen (Deuteronomy 4:15, Exodus 3:20, 1 Timothy 6:16, and more).
NAR prophets Hank Kunneman, Dutch Sheets, Lance Wallnau, and Mario Murillo were also on this panel and no one countered what Kerr said. In fact, Kunneman noted that Kerr had a perfect track record. So, these all were in agreement with the the words that Kerr spoke. But, they did not come about. (https://www.facebook.com/CopelandNetwork/videos/873330120161024)
There is a common denominator between Wallnau, Kunneman, and many of the other prophets in this ideology. That is their use of word associations. In other words, they take something they see or read and turn it into what they believe is God's word to them. So with Kunneman and his prophecy that Pence would be President, he took the word "recompense" in some verse to mean, "recom Pense". In the same way Wallnau decided since Cyrus was spoken of in Isaiah 45, this must mean that Trump, being the 45th President, is a type of liberating Cyrus. Problem is, the prophecies on this and the actual event was spoken by God of the nation of Israel, not a future one.
While Trump did a lot of good things that Biden's evil administration removed, Trump was, and still is, a glory hog, promoting himself in his words of self exaltation. I remember thinking back when he was President that if he did not shut up about himself and give credit and glory to God, he was going to be removed.
Keep Wallnau and Kunneman in mind; they will come up later.
Experiences, Signs & Wonders - Healings and Miracle Gifts
While believers have all been given the gifts of the Spirit, the Word has forewarned us that there would be those false ones who would manifest powers, signs, wonders, miracles and healings that are not of God. In Matthew 24, Jesus tells his disciples that this will be a sign of the end of this age. This includes those Apostles and Prophets of the NAR ideology as we will later see. As I previously noted, these Apostles declare that they will have this power that they allege is from God, to do mass healings.
All this will peak at the coming of the anti-Christ at
the beginning of the Tribulation so as to deceive people into thinking he is the
"messiah". Jesus says of his demon possessed false prophet;
12 And he exercises all the authority of the
first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to
worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 He
performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on
the earth in the sight of men. 14 And
he deceives those who
dwell on the earth by those signs…
Revelation 13:12-14
26 Her priests have violated My law and
profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between
the
holy and unholy, nor have
they made known
the difference
between the unclean
and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from
My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
23 “And they shall teach My people
the difference
between
the holy and the unholy,
and cause them to discern
between the
unclean and the clean.
And here is the danger. Signs and wonders are not always an indication of a true person of God. Jesus gives us this in a dark warning in Matthew 7. He warns;
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" Matthew 7:21-23
This then begs the reason to be able to discern those who, while having a power, and attempting to use the name of Jesus to perform miracles; are not of Jesus. They are pretenders. They are the "instead of Christ" version; the anti-Christ seductive verson. Take into consideration the seven sons of a Jewish exorcist by the name of Sceva. They were going about casting out demons "in the name of Jesus". But look at the reality as seen in the verses below.
13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Acts 19:13-14
These were finally exposed as pretenders. They apparently had a power and declared an authority; but it wasn't from Jesus. Many out there today utter, "In the name of Jesus", but Jesus does not know them either. Be careful whom you follow.
So before we continue with the NAR, let's look at what God's word teaches us about some of these gifts of the Spirit so we can take the truth and compare it with what we see manifesting in NAR churches.
The Promise of the Holy Spirit and His Gifts
This is not a lesson or message on Spiritual gifts. I will be using three of the numerous gifts as an example to illustrate the misuse of what they call "spiritual gifts" by those who are involved with the ideology of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). Hopefully it will help in being able to discern the holy and the unholy of many things that come out of the NAR. So let's start.
When Jesus was telling his disciples about his departure from their presence and earth, He gave them a promise that they would receive the Holy Spirit, His Spirit, and that the works He was doing, His disciples would also do. He also told them why
He said in John 14:12-17
12 “Most
assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that
I do
he will do also;
and greater works
than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13 And
whatever you ask
in My name, that I will do,
that the Father may be
glorified in the Son.
14 If you
ask anything in My name, I
will do it.
Now how was this to be accomplished by His disciples? He continues in
verse 15;
15 “If
you love Me,
keep My commandments.
16 And I
will pray the Father, and
He will
give you another
Helper, that He may abide with you
forever—
17 the
Spirit of truth,
whom the world cannot receive,
because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells
with you
and will be
in you.
18 I will
not leave you orphans; I will
come to you.
He also said in John 15:26-27
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall
send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,
He will testify of Me.
27 And
you also will bear witness,
because you have been with Me from the beginning.
So just in these few verses we see what are later called "gifts of the Holy Spirit": Healing, power an authority over demons, miracles, prophecy, and discernment. Again, why? To glorify Jesus and the Father.
The Power Of The Holy Spirit Is For Today
It is interesting that there are many today that say these things are not for today. Are they right? When you look at what Jesus said in John 17, we have to conclude that these things are for today.
In John 17 Jesus ended his discourse in the upper room to them by praying for his disciples; including in this, those believers who would come after them (Us). His prayer was long and directed to God for his disciples. In the closing statement of the prayer, Jesus said,
"15 I
do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that
You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They
are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify
them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As
You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into
the world. 19 And for
their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth
20 “I
do not pray for these alone, but
also for those who will
believe in Me through their word; 21 that
they all may be one, as You, Father, are in
Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may
believe that You sent Me. 22 And
the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that
they may be one just as We are one: 23 I
in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and
that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved
them as You have loved Me.
John 17:15-23
Again, the promise of the Holy Spirit was not just for those present disciples, but for all believers who came after them. And that promise came to them forty days after the resurrection of Jesus when he ascended into heaven. In Acts 2, Peter, speaking to those who saw the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus when they were speaking in the languages of those present "the wonderful works of God", repeated the words of Jesus that the promise of the Spirit would continue, saying
….38 Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and
be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive
the
gift of
the Holy Ghost.
39 For
the promise is unto
you,
and to your children,
and to all that are
afar off,
even as many as
the Lord our God shall call.
This "Body" (The Church) Needs All The Gifts To Exist
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul informs us of what most of these gifts are that, as he says, ALL, are needed to make this spiritual organism called the church, work and to profit all in this spiritual entity.
Here is this list
Apostles
Prophecy
Pastors
Teachers
Evangelists
Healing Gifts
Word of Wisdom
Word of Knowledge
Faith
Miracles
Discerning Spirits
Tongues
Tongues Interpretation
Helps
Administrations
Serving
Encouragement
Giving
Mercy
Leadership
And again Paul says of these gifts in Chapter 12,
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit,..... etc as listed above.
Paul then says in verse 12;
12 For as
the body is one and
has many members, but all
the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also
is Christ.
Now what Paul says next is important, just as he said the gifts were to continue until Jesus appears. Both will come up later. Paul notes;
20 But now indeed
there are many members,
yet one body. 21 And
the eye cannot say to the hand, “I
have no need of you”;
nor again the
head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
Plu
"2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."
What is different in this time from the Old Testament Prophets is that there is no new revelation as some would declare. Charles Spurgeon said this on the subject
“I have heard many fanatical persons say the Holy Spirit revealed this and that
to them. Now that is very generally revealed nonsense. The Holy Ghost does not
reveal anything fresh now. He brings old things to
our remembrance. “He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance whatsoever I have told you.”
The canon of revelation is closed; there is no more
to be added. God does not give a fresh revelation,
but he rivets the old one. When it has been
forgotten, and laid in the dusty chamber of our memory, he fetches it out and
cleans the picture, but does not paint a new one.
There are no new doctrines, but the old ones are often revived. It is
not, I say, by any new revelation that the Spirit comforts. He does so by
telling us old things over again; he brings a fresh
lamp to manifest the treasures hidden in Scripture; he unlocks the strong
chests in which the truth had long lain, and he points to secret chambers filled
with untold riches; but he coins no more, for enough is done. Believer! there is
enough in the Bible for thee to live upon for ever.”
The Comforter — John
14:26 - Hear Spurgeon https://hearspurgeon.com/5-2
In this time this gift is to bring into remembrance those things that Jesus spoke of to compare scripture with the times and exhort and comfort people with God's promises and declare his truth. Prophecy is a means to warn people of things God previously warned us to be alert to, i.e. false prophets and teachers. Prophecy is a means to declare the prophecies of Jesus as in Matthew 24 and in the book of Revelation in warning us of things to come in accordance with the signs of the times. The NAR ignores this and say they can bring new revelation. Revelation 19 notes as an angel appeared to John and John said,
And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10
What Jesus said, his servants have; and that is His testimony. His testimony is the spirit of prophecy and has already been spoken. There is no further revelation as the NAR prophets declare.
Prophecy also warns us not to exceed what is written as seen in Revelation 22.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18-19
Deuteronomy 13-1-3 - If a prophecy does come to pass, but it leads one
away from Biblical truth, i.e. does not fit the Scripture, the prophet is false.
2 Timothy 4:3 - False teachers will tell you what you want to hear.
2 Peter 2:1-3 - By deceptive means they introduce doctrine that only appears
to be Biblical, but is not.
Matthew 24:23-25 - They use signs and wonders to amaze and deceive.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 - They are wolves in sheep's clothing. While
acting as righteous people, they are servants of Satan
-The spirit is subject to the prophet. The
prophet is not subject to the spirit.
-And, in a public setting
where an
alleged prophet is supposed to be giving prophecies, there are to be two or
three other prophets to judge the prophecy (1
Corinthians 14:29). Keep these things in mind too as they will come up
later.
"19 So then,
after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down
at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached
everywhere, the Lord working with
them
and confirming the word
through the
accompanying signs. Amen.
4 And my speech and my preaching
were not with persuasive
words of human wisdom, but in demonstration
of the Spirit and of power,
5 that your
faith should not be in the wisdom of men
but in the power of
God.
29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and
grant to Your servants that with all boldness
they may speak Your word,
30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and
that signs and wonders may be done through the
name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
33 And with
great power the
apostles gave witness
to
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
18 And when Simon saw that
through the
laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given,
he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give me this power also, that
anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish
with you, because you thought that the gift of
God could be purchased with money!
21 You
have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the
sight of God
1. Cessationism (Out of Enlightenment - America's Founding Fathers)
Examples: Deism of Thomas Jefferson – George Washington, John Adams
2. Cessationism
In this more modern view of Cessations, the gifts of tongues, apostles, prophecy, and miracles have ceased. The proponents of this view say that these gifts were just for the first century church. They say that it is only occasionally that God works in supernatural ways, but there are no supernatural gifts.
Examples: Calvinism, Justin Peters, John McArthur.
One pastor who follows this view said,
"If someone believes that he must have additional experiences from the
Holy Spirit for his spiritual vitality (whether prophecy, tongues, or miraculous
healings), then at some level he believes that Scripture is not enough. We need
more to live the Christian life. The Holy Spirit must provide us with some kind
of supplemental revelation to grow in the gospel and draw close to God. This
will subtly undermine our commitment to God’s Word.
When we rely on the treasure of God’s Word, then we don’t need anything
more."
John Divito: Pastor Cornerstone Fellowship Church in Newburgh, IN Southern
Baptist Convention
https://founders.org/articles/living-the-cessationist-life/
Now in one sense this is true; especially in the “experiences” realm
3. Continuationism
This viewpoint, which does follow the examples I have shown previously in the Word, says that all gifts of the Spirit are necessary today.
Example:
Chuck Smith – Founder,
Calvary Chapel
"Now there are those who say that the gifts of the Holy
Spirit and the divine miraculous manifestations of God ceased with the apostles.
They say that God gave the apostles the supernatural power and these
extraordinary manifestations to help get them started in a world that was
antagonistic toward Jesus Christ-a world for the most part that did not know of
Jesus Christ. Since they did not have seminaries and great cathedrals, the
disciples needed a little extra boost in the beginning. But now that we have our
educational facilities and now that we are so well organized, we no longer
really need the divine manifestations of the Spirit to convince the world. They
believe we can intellectually challenge the world and
give our apologetics, and thus, we can convince this world that they
need Jesus Christ. That might sound good in theory
but it has not worked practically, as they have tried to put it
into practice. "
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/smith_chuck/HolySpirit/hs_17.cfm
Examples:
Bill Johnson (Bethel Church, Redding, CA)
Che Ahn (Apostle /Pastor (Harvest Rock Church)
Brian Houston (former fired leader of Hillsong Church)
Sean Feucht (Bethel Church worship leader)
Rodney Howard-Browne (River Church - Brownsville Revival - Toronto Blessing
manifestations)
Paula White, (Trump's former spiritual advisor / associate of Howard-Browne)
Cal Pierce (Healing Rooms International)
Chuck Pierce (Glory of Zion International, Kingdom Harvest Alliance, and
Global Spheres Inc)
Mike Bickle
(International House Of Prayer - IHOP)
Kenneth Copeland (Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Eagle Mountain
International Church)
James Goll (God Encounters Ministries)
Cindy Jacobs (Generals International)
This is where the problem begins with the spiritual gifts within the church. For these so called power gifts used by the NAR prophets and apostles are of some other spirit and are not of God.
Back To The NAR: Seeing The Difference Between The Holy And the Unholy
The problem with the Priests of Israel is that they did not teach the people the truth of God's word so as to give them understanding of how to discern the truth from the false. It is the same today. This issue is not all on the pastors of churches, but also on the people because they do not study, nor know the word of God to be able to see through the falsehoods out here today. God said to "test the spirits" to see if they are from him, warning that many false teachers would be around. But many do not do this. These may find out later that they wished they would have taken the time to do this. They, like so many in church leadership, blindly accept some person(s) or some system into their churches because it looks good or fits their own thoughts. So these false teachers, apostles and prophets have had successful inroads to thousands of churches.
So let's use some of the aforementioned NAR ideologists and compare some actual video of their antics with the Word of God while they are implementing what is supposed to be, gifts of the Spirit. For it is by the Word of God we can tell the difference between the holy and unholy.
So, below are some video clips of NAR ideologists Kenneth Copeland, Heidi Baker, Benny Hinn, Rodney Howard-Browne, and Paula White, while some "manifestations" are happening. As you watch these, consider if what you are seeing is something the Word of God says about the manifestations and use of these gifts and impartations. Does what we see in these videos hold true to the Word of God in the use of these gifts?
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| Kenneth Copeland | Heidi Baker | Benny Hinn | Rodney Howard-Browne | Paula White |
Note: This video is embedded from the Rumble website and may be on autoplay on your computer and will continue to the next video on their site. To stop it from continuing to the next videos on their site after mine is complete, click on the small "Cancel" below the video "start" icon, or click on the equal sign pause button.
The first clip is faith healer Benny Hinn putting on a show of throwing people to the ground.
The second is Copeland and Howard-Browne having a conversation between each other in some unknown babble in what is supposed to be "tongues".
The next clip is of Howard-Browne at his River Church who has laid hands on the person. The manifestation is supposed to be of the Holy Spirit. Note the person laying on the floor to the left of Browne's feet and his body reacts to the man running off the stage and the others dancing around.
The next clip is Paula White, Trump's former "Spiritual Advisor" and pastor of her church, speaking in an unknown babble in what is supposed to be "tongues" as she lays her hands on a guy while attempting to impart the "fire" of the spirit on him.
Next is false prophet Heidi Baker at Bill Johnson's Bethel Church in Redding, CA. She is calling down "fire" upon the people. Note she has laid her hands on a young man and what is manifesting out of him is supposed to be the result of the "fire" of the Holy Spirit. Johnson directed two of his security staff to remove this young man as he writhed on the floor.
The last clip is of Kenneth Copeland speaking as the voice of God, commissioning Heidi Baker at his church, to be an Apostle to the United States. Listen to the audience ooh and ah when Copeland (speaking as the voice of God) declares special anointing's on her.
Analyzing The "Spirit" According To The Word
What we can see in these clips is first, the Vegas-like show that Benny Hinn does in making a mockery of an aspect of true Spiritual gifts with something that does not exist. No where in the Word of God do we see Jesus or the Apostles making a show of these gifts from God. No throwing people off their feet or to the ground. Perhaps maybe these type things were done by the seven sons of Sceva or Simon the sorcerer before he got saved, but no one else in the Word. By the way, Benny Hinn and Paula White are friends.
Second is the speaking in what is perceived to be the gift of "tongues" in a conversation between Copeland and Howard-Browne. There are a couple of things here. First, according to the Word, a person with the gift of interpretation is needed in a public setting. There was none here. So whatever funnies were being shared back and forth were not understood. Yet the audience was amazed and laughed without even knowing what they were laughing at. The other thing is that Paul specifically said that this gift was for a person speaking to God, not a person to a person. We saw the same thing going on with Paula White as she paced back and forth speaking in some babble that no one interpreted. These things alone show that these three do not abide by the commands on using the gifts. Thus disqualifies them from being trusted as true apostles and prophets.
Now let us look at another aspect of what is manifested in some of these clips. We go back to Paula White being the pastor of a large church, thus giving her authority over a man as head Pastor, and as an Apostle, having authority over men at large. This is common in NAR and Emergent churches. Many have a husband and wife as pastors over the church. Again, comparing this with Scripture we see Paul stating something quite different; that a woman is not to be in authority over men. It is the same with Copeland saying that God has chosen Heidi Baker to be an Apostle over the entire United States. The prophecy was too long to put all of it here, but Copeland uttered, as God, that many people would come to her. Again, there were no persons their to judge the prophecy that Copeland uttered. Yet the people were amazed at the power that God allegedly gave her and accepted it without testing.
The pattern that God has set can be seen in the example of marriage between a man to a woman as Paul points out. He notes that a man is the head of a woman as Christ is head of the church. He notes that in the garden of Eden, it was the woman who was deceived and convinced the man to follow her. Paul says to Timothy,
11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 1 Timothy 2:11-14.
Thus women were not to be over a man in these things. Can a woman prophesy? Yes, but she is not to be in leadership over men. Can she teach? Yes, but in another way that is very important as seen in 2 Timothy 1:5 where Paul notes that Timothy was influenced by the faith of his Jewish mother and grandmother. In the early church it was the parents that taught the children. In this case a believing mother and grandmother. It was so in the Old Testament Jewish religion. There were no Sunday schools; the parents, who knew the Word, taught the children. For instance, God commanded in Deuteronomy 6
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:6-9
But today the church has been extremely influenced by the culture.
And how has that worked out in the public schools and colleges? Through evil and ignorant people, Satan has brought in his doctrines into education to groom our children to rebel against God and create future generations of God-opposing adults. Do you think he has left the Sunday school curriculums alone and not infiltrated these with his false doctrines like he does with churches in general? Shouldn't church leadership and parents also take note of these things too? But this does not appear to be the case.
And what of Baker's calling down "fire" upon people at Bethel Church? Where do we see such weird manifestations in the Word of God? We don't. Where we can see them is in the "kriya" manifestations of Yoga when a spirit enters the body and causes the same manifestations such as the boy squirming on the floor. It is the same with what was going on at Howard-Browne's River Church. The man Howard-Browne has laid hands on loses control, can't talk and just takes off running. And they call this a manifestation of the Spirit. And while they are dancing on the stage, the man laying on the floor to the left of Howard-Browne, is jerking all over. This is more like demonic activity described in the Word; but not of the Word.
One of the sad things is, that these NAR people were Trump's "Advisors", and Paula White was Trump's main "Spiritual Advisor". Again, this is in opposition to the Word; a man under the Spiritual authority and manipulation by a woman. Actually, Trump had a number of NAR "advisors" in his administration. We will get into this further later.
Conclusion
These who are leaders in this NAR ideology, and others associated with them, are not displaying the gifts of the true Spirit of God, but a displaying another spirit. Paul warned of this. Thus, we should understand that the rest of their doctrine is not right, but falsehoods mixed with truth. Their success is in part because people do not know the Word of God to test these people against the Word. None of what these NAR people do fit having the true gifts of the Spirit.
We are supposed to be able to discern the holy from the unholy, which I have endeavored to do above. But the unholy via the NAR has been stealing the true holy of the gifts of the Spirit and maligning it for a long time now. Through their falsehoods they have deprived Christians from partaking in the true gifts of the real Spirit because we do not want to be associated with them. I was healed two times from two different diseases because of being given the "gift of healing" in God's mercy. This healing was not through another person who had this gift and laid hands on me, but a gift directly from God because of prayers and His mercy. Diseased again, I have that same hope in the free gifts from God; but put no confidence in these false Apostles and Prophets of today. Not to trust in any man, that God alone is glorified.
However, we have been given the abilities to see through these false manifestations . We just have to use them. But these leaders and those who follow their ideology are of a spirit that they will later give credence to in the rise and acceptance of the anti-Christ and his false signs and wonders.
End Part 1
Go to Part 2: NAR Infiltration Into The Culture And The Church
A Message To Those Who Don’t Know God and His Salvation
If you are not a believer, but you just might think that there is something to
what you have read here, you may want to learn more.
God does not want anyone to perish eternally, nor to even go through the
Tribulation which is seven years of Hell on Earth.
Here is a place to start to learn about the salvation that God has for
you.
The ABCs of Salvation
Some people think a personal relationship with God is something only theologians
can comprehend. Actually, God’s plan of salvation is simple enough for everyone
to understand. Here are the ABCs of salvation.
Admit
Admit to God that you are a sinner. All persons need salvation. Each of us has a
problem the Bible calls sin. Sin is a refusal to acknowledge God’s authority
over our lives. Everyone who does not live a life of perfect obedience to the
Lord is guilty of sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
(Rom. 3:23). Since none of us is perfect, all of us are sinners (Rom.
3:10-18).The result of sin is spiritual death (Rom. 6:23). Spiritual death means
eternal separation from God. By God’s perfect standard we are guilty of sin and
therefore subject to the punishment for sin, which is separation from God.
Admitting that you are a sinner and separated from God is the first step of
repentance, which is turning from sin and self and turning toward God.
Believe
Believe in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and receive Jesus’ gift of forgiveness from
sin. God loves each of us. God offers us salvation. Although we have done
nothing to deserve His love and salvation, God wants to save us. In the death of
Jesus on the cross, God provided salvation for all who would repent of their
sins and believe in Jesus. “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”
(John 3:16).
Confess
Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to others. After you have
received Jesus
Christ into your life, share your decision with another person. Tell your pastor
or a Christian friend about your decision.
If you do not go to church or have a pastor, ask God to lead you to a
church that teaches truth and the gospel.
Following Christ’s example, ask for baptism by immersion in your church
as a public expression of your faith. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is
Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is
with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Rom. 10:9-10).
Then take the time to learn from, and of God. Study the Bible. Get a
New King James, New American Standard, or a King James version to begin your
study. The first two are easier reading. The King James has more
word study materials with it but the old language may be a little harder to
read.