In this sermon - which is thought to be the earliest outside the New testament (c. A.D. 100) - the author makes an earnest appeal that his fellow Christians repent and obey the commands of their Saviour. Indeed, he stresses the need for obedience throughout his discourse, prompting them with warnings, such as: ‘Let us, therefore, not just call him Lord, for this will not save us. For he says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will be saved, but only the one who does what is right “‘ (4.1,2).
Again, the writer exhorts: ‘For if we do the will of Christ, we will find rest, but if we do not, if we disobey his commandments, then nothing will save us from eternal punishment. …While we still have time to be healed, let us place ourselves in the hands of God the Physician, and pay him what is due. What is that? Sincere heartfelt repentance. …For the Lord also said, “My brothers are those who do the will of my Father “‘ (6.7; 9.7,8, 11).
He urges: ‘Let us wait, therefore, hour by hour for the kingdom of God in love and righteousness, since we do not know the day of God’s appearing’ (12.1).
The ‘kingdom of God’, according to the writer, is yet to come. However, in the same passage, he provides instruction, as from the Lord, as to how that kingdom might become evident now. ‘Therefore just as your body is visible, so also let your soul be evident in good works. …When you do these things, he says [the Lord], the kingdom of my Father will come.’ According to the writer, the kingdom of God should be visibly evident in our lives - not hidden, but openly seen through our obedience to the will of Christ.
This brings us back to the beginning. If we call Jesus ‘Lord’, it must be in Spirit and in truth. The writer exhorts us to strive as athletes in the contest of God, for we ‘are being trained in this present life in order that we may be crowned in the life to come’ (20.2).
The ‘Lord’s prayer’ comes to mind. It is not one to be uttered by mindless repetition. One should speak it from the heart with intensity of feeling:’Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as in heaven.’ Our words must reflect our lives - or else they are just empty and devoid of meaning. We must ’seek first the kingdom of God’ (Mat 6:33). This, indeed, should be our earnest desire and prayer - for without God, holiness is impossible. Amen.
Emboldened and showing no fear, Peter stood up and preached his first public sermon. This was the man who at the time of Christ’s arrest had fled and been too frightened to admit, when questioned, to even knowing Him. But, this was also the man who had later repented and affirmed his love, to whom Jesus said: ‘Feed My sheep’ (John 21:17). The miracle had caused a large crowd to gather and they were ready to listen, earnestly wanting to know what it meant. (Part One)
Some in the crowd began to question whether it was really a miracle and not the result of drinking too much wine. Knowing this, Peter began to speak.
First he countered these doubts by appealing to natural reason – it was only 9 O’clock in the morning – too early for wine! Then, Peter’s clarity of speech and sharpness of mind soon dispelled any uncertainties. A miracle of God had occurred; but for what good reason?
It had happened as predicted by the prophet Joel, Peter continued: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy …’ (Joel 2:28-32, NKJ). What had occurred had been predicted in the holy writings. It had scriptural support. He spoke of the predicted signs to occur in heaven and on earth before the coming of ‘the day of the Lord’. - What had happened was a clear sign that ‘the last days’ were now upon them. The ‘day of the Lord’ referred to the time of God’s imminent judgement on the world. Lastly, at the end of this quotation, Peter stated the prophetic means of salvation: ‘And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Acts 2:21, NKJ).
This last statement provided the means of escape. To be saved: One had to call on the name of ‘the Lord’.
Without hesitation, Peter then went on to explain that Jesus is that Lord of the prophecy. The One whom they had crucified, God had made ‘both Lord and Christ’ (Acts 2:36). Jesus of Nazareth, he told them, was a man attested to by God through miracles, wonders and signs – as they also knew. He, by God’s foreknowledge, had been taken by ‘lawless hands’, crucified and put to death; but God had raised Him up – just as foretold by David: God would not allow His ‘Holy One to see corruption’ (Ps.16:8-11; Acts 2:25-28). Peter then explained that because David was still buried in his grave, he, being a prophet, had not spoken of himself, but of the Christ – that His soul would not be left with the dead, nor His flesh see decay (Acts 2:31).
Boldly, Peter asserted that Jesus had not only been raised from the dead, of which the disciples were witnesses, but also that He had been exalted to the right hand of God and had received the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This outpouring had inspired the miraculous words of praise that the crowd had heard in their own languages.
Confirmation was given from Scripture: ‘The Lord said unto my Lord. Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool’ (Ps.110:1). The One called Lord by David would ascend into the heavens and would sit at God’s right hand.
Then came the convicting truth: ‘God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ’ (Acts 2:36).
The sudden realization of all that had transpired had an immediate impact.
‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ came the response. - No more evidence was required. Those drawn to hear, convicted in the heart, wanted to know what had to be done. There was a genuine awareness that Peter had spoken God’s truth.
Peter replied: ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:38, NKJ). ‘For the promise is to you,’ he continued, ‘and to your children, and to all who are far off, as many as the Lord God will call’ (v39).
Peter provided a convincing message that led people to repent with faith in Christ. - So, what is required for salvation?
We need to accept Jesus as Lord and repent. When we do, we are given the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. It is as simple as that.
Notice, Peter went to great lengths to convince those listening that Jesus is the Lord of whom the prophets spoke. We need to know the name of the Lord – we need to know the One through whom is salvation. When witnessing before the Sanhedrin, Peter said: ‘Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12, NKJ).
Why did Peter also mention baptism? As an outward sign and witness of inner faith, baptism can signify the washing away of sins to live life anew. It can mark the transition from the kingdom of darkness to the Lordship and kingdom of Christ. It can signify death and resurrection as the old self dies and we are raised up in the righteousness of Jesus. Baptism allows us to demonstrate our faith in Christ, but we need only to repent in that faith to be saved.
An historic gathering of 1148 orthodox Anglican lay and clergy participants, including 291 bishops from around the world, met in Jerusalem to mobilize reform within the Anglican communion. The meeting ‘was called in a sense of urgency’ in the belief that ‘a false gospel’ has ‘paralysed the Anglican Communion’ requiring that ‘this crisis must be addressed’. The cause for this impasse is the perceived erosion of core Anglican beliefs and standards relating to the authority of Scripture and the ordinance of clergy within the Anglican communion. The recent blessings of homosexual unions in North America and the U.K., even between members of the clergy, has brought a reaction of consternation and alarm amongst conservative members of the Church. On 29th June, the bishops in Jerusalem issued a declaration, presenting their views and the tenets to which they uphold.
The agreement reached recognizes the authority of the Old and New Testaments: ‘to be respected in its plain and historical sense’, the 39 Articles of the Church for doctrine, and the 1662 prayer book as an authoritative standard. The movement intends to create its own province in North America, to set up theological colleges and its own Primates Council. It stays in communion with the Church of England but recognizes Canterbury only as an historic see. In particular, the following tenets clearly define the distinguishing boundary lines that set it apart:
8. We acknowledge God’s creation of humankind as male and female and the unchangeable standard of Christian marriage between one man and one woman as the proper place for sexual intimacy and the basis of the family. We repent of our failures to maintain this standard and call for a renewed commitment to lifelong fidelity in marriage and abstinence for those who are not married.
13. We reject the authority of those churches and leaders who have denied the orthodox faith in word or deed. We pray for them and call on them to repent and return to the Lord.
What will be the outcome of this declaration? What impact will it have on the Church of England and on the Anglican Church in America?
I, for one, rejoice that a stand has been made to uphold the plain teachings of Scripture and the biblical standards for those appointed to positions of pastoral leadership in the Church. God bless their efforts!
Reference GAFCON
The following teaching on financial giving comes from the writings of Todd Bentley and Stephen Strader (the pastor of Ignited Church, Lakeland, and an associate of Todd Bentley). The full texts are given in the sidebar link. Here are some extracts:
Keys to grow in the Anointing by Todd Bentley
It’s a precious power that God allows to come on your life—a supernatural grace to enable you to do what you cannot do in the natural. The anointing is God’s power on your flesh, supernaturally enabling you to do the impossible and the supernatural.
Well, who wouldn’t want this - if this is of God?
A significant symbol of the anointing is oil, and certain servants of God possess it. The prophet Elisha was such a servant. So let’s learn more by studying 2 Kings 4:8–17 because this passage of scripture reveals how a prominent Shunammite woman found the oil [anointing/Elisha] and made a demand on “it” through her giving.
Emphasis mine …
She said she didn’t need anything! Yet, her generosity still made a demand on the anointing because when she honored the prophet she was due to receive the prophet’s reward! God attaches rewards to honor! (See Matthew 10:41.) What was the prophet’s reward? It was connected to Elisha’s question: “What is to be done for you?” That was the prophet’s reward. It was the blessing that the prophet would give—his prophecy: “About this time next year you shall embrace a son” (2 Kings 4:16). And she did!
Here, the Shunammite woman gave without thought for reward.
Now don’t miss this: To make a demand, you do that by giving. Now here’s one practical way for giving that I can share from my own experience: My wife and I make a demand by writing checks! We don’t just give to a ministry. We walk up to a man or woman of God and say, “This is for you.” We see that person’s anointing and realize, “Bam! I want it!”
Bam! Do you see the difference. By giving to a man of God, you will receive his anointing. If you want to receive, you have to give. (Checks or credit cards will do fine, thank you!). That is what Todd Bentley teaches.
Listen! We don’t, and we can’t, buy the anointing. But we can make a demand on the anointing, and that’s by giving. In other words, if you want to receive the anointing you need to give as you are led by God’s Spirit, and when you do you’ll start seeing the person/ministry that you give to, their mantle, coming on your life.
O.K., you can’t buy it - good! You just demand it, by giving - bad! Only an unruly child will demand of a father. The Lord said, ‘Ask, and you shall receive.’ He didn’t say: ‘Make a demand’! Only children who are disrespectful make demands. - ‘If you want to receive the anointing, you need to give.’ Todd Bentley said so, right here.
Now, Pastor Stephen Strader of Ignited Church, Lakeland provides:
Notes from Todd’s sermon … Squandering the Anointing!
Towards the close of the meeting, an illustration of giving to receive was used, as it became time for the offering:
These two young people demonstrated for all of us to SOW INTO REVIVAL. We have found a PRECIOUS TREASURE and BUY IT. Of course you can’t “buy” the revival… but you can make an offering that “costs you something” just like David did at the threshing floor.
We can’t receive until we GIVE. It’s more blessed to give than receive.
When Todd prayed for them – the Holy Spirit hit them so hard it knocked them AND the ushers back 10 feet and down on their faces!!!
TAKE IT FOR YOURSELF NOW!!!!
‘We can’t receive until we GIVE.’ - There, he said it again.
In the words of Todd Bentley, ‘Do you want it?’ - Consider wisely.
This post follows on from my previous posting: ‘Todd Bentley’s Conversations with the Apostle Paul et al’.
Todd Bentley is presently causing a lot of interest amongst Christians around the world. Are the alleged healings and miracles genuine? From what I have seen, in spite of the claims, I remain unconvinced. Nevertheless, many firmly believe that what is happening at his services is proof that God is working through him.
Todd Bentley – Looking at the Fruits
If we focus on the fruits of Todd Bentley’s ministry, what do we see? For some, it is miracles, signs and wonders. These things, they say, give support to the veracity of his revelations and words of knowledge. After all, didn’t Jesus say; ‘If you do not believe Me, believe the works’ (Jn.10:38, NKJ). The opponents of Christ could not argue against the works – none were false or imagined. To all who believe the scriptures, the Gospels testify to this fact.
Can the same be said of the alleged miracles of healing we see in the services of Todd Bentley? When you witness a person coming in a wheelchair, being ministered to and then leaving in a wheelchair, you are inclined to doubt. An obvious stroke victim, suffering from the affects of damage to the brain is brought up on stage, Todd claims a healing of paralysis is taking place – does the lady leap up out of the chair and shout hallelujah. - Not at all. This pitiful woman, barely able to talk and hardly able to raise her legs, continues to exhibit the same effects of her stroke as before. Yet, it is claimed a healing has begun – not all healings happen straight away, we are told. – Even so, I very much doubt we shall see this woman back to confirm the alleged healing. (See video)
‘Yes, that may have been doubtful, but look at the testimonies of others claiming to be healed,’ supporters might say. No. Let’s stay with the doubts, shall we. Incidents such as that recalled above give cause for concern. What else happens during his services? Do we see ‘all things done decently and in order’ (1 Cor.14:40) – providing a good witness to those without? - No, not at all! Rather, we witness disorder and commotion. Some are seen to exhibit violent shaking, twitching and jerking movements of body or head – especially when touched by the minister. Others break out into loud bouts of laughter. – Not that laughter is a bad thing – normally, but when the laughter just goes on and on and on, then we start to realize that something is wrong. It becomes alarming. Yet, this behaviour – the shaking, twitching, uncontrolled laughter - is attributed to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Such confusion appears ugly and insane. To the outsider, it is yet another example of why Christianity should be despised and rejected. For every one person attracted to such meetings, how many from Christ will they drive further away? - This is not the product of good fruit.
Now, what is Todd Bentley teaching? Is there any cause for concern here? – Plenty. Let’s take his teaching on angels. He wrote of one visitation from ‘an angel called Emma’:
‘During this visitation the pastor’s wife (it was an AOG church) got totally whacked by the Holy Ghost- she began running around barking like a dog or squawking like a chicken as a powerful prophetic spirit came on her’ (Angelic Hosts: Emma, Angel of the Prophetic, 2003).
Well, do we need to ask if ‘barking madness’ is a fruit of the Holy Spirit? How about ‘running around …squawking like a chicken’? So much for Todd Bentley’s spiritual powers of discernment! This example should serve as a warning. Not only this, but by attributing such crazy behaviour to the Holy Spirit, he blasphemes. (This is very serious, although I hope a sin to be forgiven as one of ignorance.)
What else does he teach? He alleges to have had the blessing of Jesus and Paul, to whom he claims to have spoken. The following comment is attributed by him to Paul:
‘Paul told me that essentially there would be no gospel and there would be no Israel without Abraham. He said too, that there would be no gospel without David because there would be no divine Son of David (Jesus Christ) in order for the kingdom and His throne to be built upon the throne of David (Luke 1:31, 32). Jesus came through the lineage of David and with Jesus’ coming, the gospel was released’ (Encounter with Heaven, 05/07/07).
Of course Jesus would not have been called the Son of David if David had not lived, nor would prophecies mention the establishment of David’s throne without David. David came first - the prophecies later. The prophecies do not establish the need for David, but Christ.
However, ‘Paul’ said that there would be no Son of David - no Jesus Christ - no gospel without Abraham and David? The Lamb who was ’slain before the foundation of the earth’ needed Abraham and David for the gospel? Our salvation depended on these men? Somehow, I can’t imagine Paul ever making such a remark – neither on earth, nor in heaven!
What is happening through Todd Bentley is deceptive. On the surface, he appears to be serving God, but in reality his ministry projects a false image of the Church and true Christianity. The Church already has a poor image in the minds of many, who consider it in the light of recent scandals involving ‘gay clergy’ and child abuse cases. American TV evangelists are viewed with both cynicism and scepticism – and not without due reason. The emphasis placed upon a prosperity gospel is akin to preaching simony – you can have ‘all this’ is you believe and become a co-worker (a euphemism for a financial donor). The Church is often viewed as either out-of date or out-of-touch with reality. In the case of Todd Bentley and his followers, it is the latter.
The Church does need a fresh outpouring of the heavenly gifts – but are we ready? The Lord says, ‘Whom shall I send?’ (Is.6:8) – Are we capable of making ourselves available?
Some videos for reference:
‘Todd Bentley ministering’ Laughter and commotion at Dudley
Todd Bentley and violence in meetings Todd Bentley ministers to stroke victim
Jun
22
Todd Bentley’s ‘Conversations with the Apostle Paul’ et al
Filed Under Atonement, Todd Bentley, Uncategorized
… Eh?
Paul. … The apostle! You know, the one who wrote all those letters in the Bible.
Your joking?
No. The apostle even invited him to see his house …
Yes, Todd Bentley, a Canadian preacher of current fame (see ‘Lakeland Outpouring‘), has claimed to have had meetings with Jesus, Paul, Abraham, King David and an angel called Emma - besides encounters with numerous other angelic beings.
The descriptions of these encounters were written by him and were available at his FreshFire website. They are enlightening for anyone wanting to know more and are made available here for anyone now having difficulty trying to access this information. To read the full texts, just click on the sidebar link. Below are some revealing extracts:
I wonder what you make of it? :
Encounter with Heaven
An Encounter with Jesus:
In the chair, with my eyes open, I had an open vision. Jesus appeared right in front of me. It was as though He stepped right out of heaven, the Lord Jesus Himself, and stood before me as a Man. …
Now … the main thing that I was drawn to was Jesus’ eyes. He had brown eyes, and I know it sounds funny, but I immediately thought of Bambi! He had these big brown eyes and he was wearing a simple garment; it was almost brown, like the dust of the earth …
The Lord (of course) knew what I was thinking! He spoke to me without words— “These are My eyes as I had eyes on the earth. But if you were to see Me in heaven I have eyes ‘blue, like revelation eyes,’ like fire. These are My human eyes, not My God eyes.”
Like ‘revelation eyes’? Ah, yes - revelation eyes. Of course … I should have known. … Pardon??
Out of the Lord came beams of white and golden light. …
Then I saw what Psalm 23 and Isaiah 35 describe. I began to have a vision of the Paradise of heaven.
Then the Lord did two things to me. He walked up to me and He put His hand inside my belly and He gave me a supernatural enablement to live through what was about to take place. He was establishing me so I wouldn’t die. …
Then the vision faded and I was numb, honestly.
So would many be hearing him say this - numb, but for different reasons.
[Enter Paul, Abraham and King David]
This week I want to begin exactly where I left off last week—sitting on the bridge, in the peace of God in heaven …
Now it could have been anyone, or any thing, but by God’s design as unbelievable as it may sound, I actually saw the apostle Paul come walking toward me onto the bridge. You might be wondering how I knew immediately that it was Paul. I just perceived it by divine knowledge and revelation. Some things you just know. …
Or, think you know … Or, just imagine you know. Oh, sorry, this is ‘divine knowing’ - no room for doubt.
He sat next to me and he took his hand and placed it across my chest not saying anything. But I felt like I was receiving an apostolic blessing from a father—“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established” (Rom. 1:11). While he touched my chest, Abraham and David appeared out of the cloud of witnesses (Heb. 12:1). Although they were very close (and yet somehow at a distance), they weren’t the main focus. They were simply there as witnesses to an encounter.
O.K. That’s it. Todd is now an apostle and who could ask for better witnesses?
… Paul told me that essentially there would be no gospel and there would be no Israel without Abraham. He said too, that there would be no gospel without David because there would be no divine Son of David (Jesus Christ) in order for the kingdom and His throne to be built upon the throne of David (Luke 1:31, 32). Jesus came through the lineage of David and with Jesus’ coming, the gospel was released. [My emphasis]
Woah! ‘Paul’ said that there would be no Son of David - no Jesus Christ - no gospel without Abraham and David? The Lamb who was ’slain before the foundation of the earth’ needed Abraham and David for the gospel? Our salvation depended on these men ? I don’t think so, ‘Paul’! - I am glad you didn’t write that in your letters! Of course Jesus would not have been called the Son of David if David had not lived, nor would prophecies mention the establishment of David’s throne without David. David came first - the prophecies later. The prophecies do not establish the need for David, but Christ.
Paul also said that—in the sense of the revelation of the gospel to the Gentiles—he was the greatest carrier of that revelation to them.
Paul said: ‘Of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities,’ 2 Cor.12:5. That doesn’t sound like Paul.
Because he didn’t actually walk with Jesus Christ when He was alive on earth like the other apostles did, Paul said that people doubted he was a true apostle. So, he had to fight against that doubtful mindset, because he really was a true apostle.
Do we need the association spelled out for us? Well, just in case there is any doubt, perhaps we do …
Furthermore, think about this: Jesus Christ put his hand inside my belly (see Part Two: Heaven is much more than we think), and Paul laid his hand on my chest to give me a father’s blessing. Listen! We need more blessings like this from Jesus Christ and the true apostles. I believe that similar experiences need to happen to you for your encounter in heaven and also for the church today . . . which brings me to my final crucial question. Do you want this?
Who, me? - Well, actually …
Back to Paul! I discovered while conversing with Paul that it wasn’t only Jesus Christ who taught him in heaven. I say this because Paul told me: “Abraham taught me, in heaven, and that’s how and why I wrote the book of Hebrews. What I heard was from the lips of Abraham himself.” …
What’s more, several days later I was taken back into heaven to Paul’s house! But this time I didn’t go inside. I stayed outside where I saw a ladder in his back yard like the one described in Genesis 28, Jacob’s ladder. [I’ve come to understand that there are ladders like that in heaven in order to ascend and descend into different realms because heaven has places, geographical places. For example, the first heaven is where we live on the earth; the second heaven is the invisible realm of Ephesians 6: 12; and the third heaven where I was with Paul, it’s the Paradise of God (Rev. 2:7).]
So Paul has a house with a backyard - now isn’t that interesting. The ladder seems a bit out of place in the backyard, but I guess with no thieves in heaven it will be alright. O.K., so what if this is all symbolism? What is this meant to say? Who is this about? Ah yes, I was forgetting …
So I jumped onto the ladder and began to climb up into another realm. …
God is establishing the reality of heaven in our hearts if we will allow Him! Once again, do you want this?
Let’s rephrase this: Do I want to submissively fall down when pushed or laid hands on? Do I want to emulate the twitching, jerky movements, the hysterical laughter and exhibitionism of persons I see on stage? Do I want to join in with all of this commotion? … No. Why not? Ask:
Is this how we glorify God? Is this how we glorify Jesus? Does this really glorify the Holy Spirit?
It bears repeating—God wants you to experience the reality of heaven, that heaven is real! And that’s why this teaching-article was written. Yet, ultimately, remember that it’s about Jesus! It all comes back to Him! He is the door and it’s only through Jesus Christ that you and I can enter in to the greater glory and the joy of our Lord. He is the only door to every true encounter with heaven.
Oh! Thank you for saying that! I had the impression this was all about you.
To read the complete text, click on the page in the sidebar or click here: Todd Bentley: ‘Conversations’
* SEE MY RESPONSE: Todd Bentley - Looking at the Fruits
The following is an extract from Todd Bentley’s article: ‘Angelic Hosts’. In this, he records a conversation with a fellow minister ‘Bob Jones’ - not the Bob Jones of the B.J. University!:
EMMA, ANGEL OF THE PROPHETIC
Now let me talk about an angelic experience with Emma. Twice Bob Jones asked me about this angel that was in Kansas City in 1980: “Todd, have you ever seen the angel by the name of Emma?” He asked me as if he expected that this angel was appearing to me. Surprised, I said, “Bob, who is Emma?” He told me that Emma was the angel that helped birth and start the whole prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980s. She was a mothering-type angel that helped nurture the prophetic as it broke out. Within a few weeks of Bob asking me about Emma, I was in a service in Beulah, North Dakota. In the middle of the service I was in conversation with Ivan and another person when in walks Emma. As I stared at the angel with open eyes, the Lord said, “Here’s Emma.” I’m not kidding. She floated a couple of inches off the floor.
Did she walk in or float? I am trying to picture the scene.
It was almost like Kathryn Khulman in those old videos when she wore a white dress and looked like she was gliding across the platform. Emma appeared beautiful and young-about 22 years old-but she was old at the same time. She seemed to carry the wisdom, virtue and grace of Proverbs 31 on her life.She glided into the room, emitting brilliant light and colors.
O.K. Got it.
Emma carried these bags and began pulling gold out of them. Then, as she walked up and down the aisles of the church, she began putting gold dust on people. “God, what is happening?” I asked. The Lord answered: “She is releasing the gold, which is both the revelation and the financial breakthrough that I am bringing into this church. I want you to prophecy that Emma showed up in this service-the same angel that appeared in Kansas city-as a sign that I am endorsing and releasing a prophetic spirit in the church.”
Well, I must have had a word of knowledge. I was sure finances would come into this.
See, when angels come, they always come for a reason; we need to actually ask God what the purpose is. Within three weeks of that visitation, the church had given me the biggest offering I had ever received to that point in my ministry. Thousands of dollars! Thousands! Even though the entire community consisted of only three thousand people, weeks after I left the church the pastor testified that the church offerings had either doubled or tripled.
Yes. Give and you shall receive the blessing of God on your finances! Watch the money roll in (especially to the pastor). Obey those in church authority if you want spiritual blessings - don’t be rebellious, just hand over the cash. Hey, it works! - Soon your minister might be flying in his own jet! Your right, I am skeptical.
During this visitation the pastor’s wife (it was an AOG church) got totally whacked by the Holy Ghost- she began running around barking like a dog or squawking like a chicken as a powerful prophetic spirit came on her. Also, as this prophetic anointing came on her, she started getting phone numbers of complete strangers and calling them up on the telephone and prophesying over them. She would tell them that God gave her their telephone number and then would give them words of knowledge. Complete strangers. Then angels started showing up in the church. [Emphasis mine]
Well, I hope the pastor’s wife was not barking down the phone! Oh, boy! You really do have to set reason to one side to accept this one. No. Barking madness is not a fruit of the Spirit. Running around clucking like a chicken does not glorify God - and to suggest that such behaviour is the product of the Holy Spirit is blasphemy. However, although I will concede that those claiming this might not really understand what they are saying, there needs to be heartfelt repentance and confession. This is a very serious matter - if it were not due to ignorance, we would be talking here about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
I believe Emma released a financial and prophetic anointing in that place. That was the first angel that I have ever seen in the form of a woman. Some angels I’ve seen seemed like they were neither male nor female. However, Emma appeared as a woman who was like a Deborah, like a mother in Zion. When she came, she began to mentor, nurture and opened up a prophetic well. The people in the church began having trances and visions and the pastor began getting words of knowledge and moving in healing. That congregation also saw more financial breakthrough than they had ever seen before.
Todd Bentley
Well, I believe you have an idea what I think. What is your view?
To read the complete text, click on the page in the sidebar or click here: Todd Bentley: ‘Conversations’
* SEE MY RESPONSE: Todd Bentley - Looking at the Fruits
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My thanks this week go out to Chris Tilling and Phil Groom for providing links to my book: The Biblical Revelation of the Cross - A Bible Study of Jesus Christ the Righteous Servant
It is now available free online.
Click the image to read the Online Edition
Chris refers to my book here: http://www.christilling.de/blog/ctblog.html
and comments on the review of my book here:
http://www.christilling.de/blog/2008/06/cross-is-means-by-which-what.html
Phil’s comment is found in his recent article: The Atonement Debate …
Phil’s review here: http://www.christianbookshops.org.uk/reviews
Peter Kirk has placed some interesting information at his website concerning the recent Anglican ‘marriage’ blessing of two ‘gay’ clergy of the Church of England. It happened at the The Priory Church of St. Bartholomew the Great in London between the Revd. Peter Cowel and the Revd. Dr. David Lord, officiated by the Revd. Martin Dudley. The complete order of service is available from here, dated 31st May, 2008. The service began:
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation to join together these Men in a holy covenant of love and fidelity …
It went on:
Peter, wilt thou take this man as thy partner in the sight of God? Wilt thou love him, comfort him …
I Peter take thee David as my partner…
In all but name, it followed a marriage service - whatever it was called.
The following is an extract from my reply to Peter Kirk:
Please don’t read into this that I am down on homosexuals - I am not. In my view, they are handicapped in such a way that disqualifies them from holding pastoral leadership positions - whatever other qualities they may have. Lovable though a Down’s person may be, such a person would be unsuitable for pastoral leadership. We accept this, because of the mental condition. The same should apply to homosexuals. A minister needs to be an exemplar for others to emulate, especially children. Through perhaps no fault of their own, this they cannot be.
This is my position on the matter of whether homosexuals are fit to minister in the Church.
The practice of homosexuality is clearly forbidden in Scripture - even if the law of the land forbids it not. Rather than blessing homosexual partnerships, those with Church authority should be condemning.
It has happened as it is written: ‘God gave them up to vile passions … they not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them’ (Rom.1:26-32). However, let us keep everything in perspective. Many within the Anglican communion deplore what has been happening at home and in America. These Christian brothers and sisters need our prayerful support as they struggle - for they battle not against flesh and blood, but against the ’spiritual forces of evil in high places’ (Eph.6:12).
Help!
That normally gets attention, doesn’t it? Help. HElp! HELp! HELP! Yes, what? What?
I am trying to put together a page that will provide links to ’sites of interest’ that may also be useful (if not stimulating) for biblical studies. This will include links to other blogs, reference material and other resources. - Well, these will be sites that interest ME in the final analysis, but I would like the list to be open and available for others of a like mind - no, that is going too far! others. … No doubt there will be persons out there ready to point me (and others) in the right direction - at least I hope so. (Mmm, perhaps there is some doubt!) If you can make a short comment to go with your entry, I would be obliged - and yes, you can. Can what? Include your own, of course!
So, please help.
Thank you.
The Message of Pentecost
The message that Peter delivered on the first Day of Pentecost of the Christian era led to three thousand persons coming to faith in Christ. What was that message? It is important that we know, so that we understand just what is required to be understood and how we are to react to the Gospel message in order to be saved. We can be sure that Luke, who recorded Peter’s words, retained all the essential elements of that address for our benefit; but first, let us review all the main events that led up to that momentous day on which the Church was born:
In the cruelest manner, Jesus had been arrested and sentenced to death by crucifixion. Unknown to those who killed Him, He was the Passover Lamb of God and died at the very time the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in Jerusalem. He was buried in a tomb, but on the very day that the wave sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest had to be raised before God (on the day after the Sabbath, according to the law), Jesus rose from the dead - ‘the firstfruits of them that slept’ (1 Cor.15:20). Elated and overwhelmed by these events, the disciples needed both help and time to prepare for what lay ahead. In the evening of the first day, Jesus came into their midst and gave them both His peace and the inward presence of the Holy Spirit, to provide for all their spiritual comforts and needs. Breathing on them He said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ (John 20:19-22). The Comforter had come. Jesus had promised: ‘I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. … The Holy Spirit … will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you,’ (John 14:16-26).
The next forty days were a time for preparation. During this period, Jesus showed Himself to His disciples on many occasions, teaching them ‘of things pertaining to the kingdom of God’ (Acts 1:3). The apostles and other disciples were given understanding and guidance for the ministry that lay ahead. Jesus had told His disciples, just before His ascension, to wait in Jerusalem for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gift of power that would enable them to go out and be His witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but also ‘to the ends of the earth’ (Acts1:4, 8). This was ten days before Pentecost – the second festal period of the holy calendar, held exactly fifty days from the Sabbath after Passover, on the first day of the week.
At the time of the first Pentecost under Moses, as commonly believed through Jewish tradition, the teachings of the law were given for the guidance of the fledgling nation. These were instructions that were written on tablets of stone. Now, the Holy Spirit would give guidance to the nation of spiritual Israel inwardly, as though writing the law of the Spirit on the table of the heart (2 Cor.3:3). The apostles had a growing understanding about what all this would mean, although they were not told exactly when the promise of the Holy Spirit would come.
On the day of the Feast of Pentecost, about a hundred and twenty disciples, we are told, were gathered together in a house of the city (Acts 1:15; 2:1). At about nine in the morning, the ‘power from on high’ came (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8). Suddenly, there was a sound of a mighty wind; flames of fire appeared to rest on all present; and they began to speak in many different languages of the world—previously unknown to them—in praise of God. Immersed in spiritual power, in a moment they had become empowered to evangelize and witness for Christ. Crowds of people who had rushed to hear what had happened were startled by what they saw – and by what they heard. Many who had travelled to celebrate the feast in Jerusalem from numerous foreign places were hearing their own tongues being spoken in miraculous words of praise.
Emboldened and showing no fear, Peter stood up and preached his first public sermon. This was the man who at the time of Christ’s arrest had fled and been too frightened to admit, when questioned, to even knowing Him. But, this was also the man who had later repented and affirmed his love, to whom Jesus said: ‘Feed My sheep’ (John 21:17). The miracle had caused a large crowd to gather and they were ready to listen, earnestly wanting to know what it meant.
Peter began by affirming the miracle that had taken place and by appealing to natural reason against the comical mockery that had claimed the disciples to be drunk. On hearing Peter’s clarity of speech and on perceiving his sharpness of mind, the doubts were soon dispelled. A miracle of God had occurred; but for what good reason?
Part 2
Read Acts chapter 2 again – Your homework!
(I will write more on this very soon.)
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