By Kato Mivule
June 9th, 2008
Revivals or Sound Bible Doctrine
So, what is important, Revivals or Sound Bible Doctrine? I have had some emails from Christians who are really not happy that anyone would criticize the Todd Bentley Revival in Florida. These Christians believe that the Todd Bentley Revival is God sent and the angelic manifestations and visions are similar to what happened in the Book of Acts.
Email from Lily…
Sir,
I will not comment on all that you said in your article for each person in America has the freedom of speech. So, here in America that is your freedom. But I would like to point out what scripture says on the way you handled what you written about Todd Bentley.
1. 1 Chronicles 16:22
"Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm."
2. Psalm 105:15
"Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm."
This scripture is in reference to when David was in hiding from King Saul whom was trying to kill David. The scripture clearly states that the Spirit of God had left Saul, so was he still anointed? David beleived so and had the chance to kill Saul in a cave. But He feared the Holy God of Israel and would not touch King Saul nor try to take the kings throne. I question your motives on your article as you are touching God's anointed whether you beleive so or not. Remember Saul lost the anoinoting. Whether you think Todd is anointed or not you must repent for touching him in the way you did so that your heart remains pure before God. God is his judge. And "Only God knows the heart of Man". Yes, He gives us discernment and we are to work out our own salvation. Why do you feel you have the right to sway anyone with the strong opinion that you have against Todd instead of teaching the people to use their discernmant and increase that ablitiy? I just have great concern and question whether or not your are helping the Body of Christ here in America or are you hindering the Body of Christ from growing in discernment and truth? May God grant you mercy as you search for the best that God has for you.
Covered in the precious blood of Jesus who washes away every sin,
Lily
Email from Marty…
I am also a born again spirit filled christian and I went to Lakeland myself to find out what was going on and if it was real.
I felt the weighted glory of God during the worship. I could not stand but had to support myself by leaning over the speakers for 45 minutes. That was during worship. After the worship people all around me were reverently petitioning God and laying hands on others and praying for those who were clearly sick or in wheelchairs. There was one man, named Emmet, in the last stages of cancer who had been ministered to by the Lord, according to his own testimony, and Todd had also prayed for him. As Emmet was leaving the meeting hundreds were reaching out to touch him and minister to him. I did as well. He had to pause every few feet while people laid hands on him and blessed him.
This is a genuine move of God. Many today are seeing the operations of angels, the ministering spirits of God according to scripture. You are sitting in judgement of God himself by your biased and false testimony. You really need to go yourself and find out if it's God rather than bashing Todd because he isn't churchy enough for you.
Having said that, I believe that The Lord does renew the love of His Children but to obey His Commands and keep His sayings and Teachings… I believe this happens at a personal level and every Christian should rightly pray that The Lord renew them so that they will love Jesus Christ, obey His Commandments, and keep His teachings and Sound Doctrine.
Anything other than that is just puff and fluff from Satan to derail Christians from Sound Doctrine. Any spiritual renewal or revival that focuses people on miracles, healings, angels, visitations, and material prosperity is false and from Satan. True spiritual renewal will focus the individual on Jesus Christ, His Commands, Sound Doctrine, and walking a Holy and Righteous life before The Lord.
Many Christians simply following emotions…
Many Christians simply follow after emotions and if it sounds good and looks good, then it surely must be from God. However, the Devil preys on Christians with such a mentality. It is easy to deceive them by false signs, wonders, and miracles.
The other bait that the Devil uses is the Healings and Miracles. One Christian critiqued me by email simply because I discounted the Miracles that are happening at the Todd Bentley Revival in Florida as being false. The argument was that since healings and miracles were taking place, then it must be a true revival. This show how far the Church has fallen in going after miracles yet forsaking Jesus Christ…
It is amazing even after all the exposing of the false Toronto, Brownsville, and Pensacola revivals, many Christians reject discernment and still follow after false preachers and revivalist…
Many claim that true signs of revival is the “power of the Holy Spirit” and the signs that follow like people falling down, making screaming sounds like animals, angelic visits and gold dusts, including prosperity and increase of riches as a sign of God’s approval.
True Renewal begins with your Heart obeying Christ…
However, it is important to note that true revival begins with you and your heart and life before The Lord. If you truly love Jesus Christ, you will love His words and obey His commandments daily. You will seek after righteousness and holiness before The Lord and you will seek to please The Lord daily in your life…
The Coming Great Deception…
When we search the Bible, especially in the New Testament, we don’t find any reference to revivals or even the Apostles writing to the saints to await a revival. We don’t see any reference in the New Testament about Gold dust, Gold Teeth, visiting the heavens, falling – slain in the spirit, or screaming sounds like that of animals.
We see that in the New Testament the Apostles instead warning Christians about False Doctrines, Demons that appear as angels of light, Antichrist, false prophets, and false teachers.
We see that in the New Testament, the Apostles strongly warns the Church about the coming great deception. We also see in the New Testament that the apostles strongly warn the church to watch out for false doctrines and false teachings. The Apostles do this so that the Church remains firm on the words, commandments, and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ said that if you love Him, then you will keep His Words and Obey His commandments….and that is what I call a true revival. If you truly love Jesus Christ, then you will have the hunger for His Word and hunger to obey His Commands. You will love His teachings and as such reject all false teachings that are not His.
Jesus Christ is very concerned about Doctrine in the Church…
As we shall see, Jesus Christ is very much concerned about Doctrine and what we believe. We shall see later on that Jesus Christ rebukes some Churches in Asia because of the false doctrines that they had allowed in the church and their alliance with idols…
We don’t see Jesus Christ rebuking the Churches in Asia so that they would get miracles and healings, no. We see Jesus Christ address the issue of their love growing cold and also their acceptance of false doctrines… Jesus Christ called the churches to repent and renew their first love for Him and also to keep Sound Biblical Doctrine – The Teachings of Jesus Christ…
Today many Christians keep following Todd Bentley and his Angel called ‘Emma’, yet much evidence points out that this is demonic and the worship of fallen angels. The Bible is clear that God has spoken to us in these last days through His Son Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1) who has preeminence in ALL things in the Church…He is Head of the Church and therefore speaks to us through His Word and not some third party emissary like Todd Bentley’s angel called ‘Emma’…
More info on Todd Bentley and his angel ‘Emma’ here…
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3209777/TODD-BENTLEY-DEATH-SPIIRITS-DEAD-SHEEP-EMMAO-KING-OF-HELL
You cannot separate Jesus Christ from His Teachings…
It is sad that many Christians forget that they cannot separate Jesus Christ from His Teachings. The teachings, commandments and doctrines of Jesus Christ are part of Him and you cannot say that you love Jesus Christ yet at the same time disregard His teachings and Sound Doctrine… This is one way to detect true revival or renewal in an individual…
Many denominations bring preachers to hold a week long revival yet at the end of the week, what they have is nothing but emptiness. These denominations stay the same, they still hold to their previous false teachings and doctrines, they still choose and pick which “comfortable” sayings of Jesus Christ that they should keep and disregard the others. In other words, when it comes to sound doctrine, they walk in rebellion towards The Lord yet claim to have experienced Revival simply because everyone in the room was ‘slain in the spirit’ and cried and made animal like screaming sounds…
If you love Jesus Christ, you will keep His Commands…
If you love Jesus Christ, then you shall Obey and Keep His Commands…
John 14:21
(21) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
If you truly love Jesus Christ, then you will keep His Words – His Teachings…
John 14:23-24
(23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
(24) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
If you truly love Jesus Christ, you will keep His Commandments – Teachings… You cannot separate Jesus Christ from His Teachings…
John 15:7-10
(7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
(8) Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
(9) As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
(10) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Another Jesus, another Gospel, and another Spirit out there…
Watch out! There is another Jesus, spirit, and gospel being preached today…
2 Corinthians 11:2-4
(2) For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
(3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
(4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Satan has his Apostles out there… Satan also transforms himself into an angel of light in order to deceive… No wonder many Christians are believing in angel 'Emma' from Todd Bentley…a demon actually disguising itself and an angel of light… Is it not surprising that we also have many so-called apostles today, yet they totally contradict what Jesus Christ taught?
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
(13) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
(14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
(15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
The writer of Hebrew tells the saints that they are to give earnest heed to things which they have heard – sound doctrine, least they slip away from it…
Hebrews 2:1
(1) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
The Antichrist will come with all power, signs and lying wonders… So miracles and healings cannot be used as a measure of truth… God will send a strong delusion to many because they believed not the truth…. They rejected the Words of Jesus Christ…
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
(9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
(10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
(11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
(12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Beware of Doctrines of Devils and Demons…
Paul warns Timothy that in the Last Days, many would follow after doctrines of devils and demons… These demons speak and teach lies in hypocrisy… Many pulpits have been given over to Satan and his demons from which they teach and instruct the undiscerning Christians…
1 Timothy 4:1-2
(1) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
(2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Keep Sound Bible Doctrine…
Paul admonishes Timothy to keep to Sound Doctrine… Remember Jesus Christ said if you love Him, then you will keep His sayings and commandments… You cannot say you love Jesus Christ yet hate Sound Bible Doctrine…
1 Timothy 4:13
(13) Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
It is by Sound Bible Doctrine that you will save yourself and others…you neglect it at your own peril…
1 Timothy 4:16
(16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
We are cautioned to hold fast to Sound Words…in Christ Jesus – that is the teachings and sayings of Jesus Christ…
2 Timothy 1:13-14
(13) Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
(14) That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
Timothy was to preach sound bible doctrine…He was to preach the word and nothing else…for a time will come when folks will not endure sound teachings but follow after doctrines of demons as we see it today…
2 Timothy 4:1-4
(1) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
(2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
(3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
(4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Paul cautions Titus to keep to sound bible doctrine…
Titus 2:1
(1) But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Titus 2:7-8
(7) In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
(8) Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
The Grace of God has appeared to all men, teaching us to deny ungodliness and looking for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ… There is nothing like revivals that will come so that we can take over cities and nations for Jesus Christ… The Grace of God given to us leads us to Holiness, Righteousness and wait for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ….
Titus 2:11-15
(11) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
(12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
(13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
(14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
(15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Most Revivals center on Man and Angelic beings, and not Christ…
It is amazing that most of revivals today center around a “man of God” and this “Man of God” in turns promotes some angelic beings like angel ‘Emma’ in Todd Bentley’s case. Why is it that Jesus Christ and His teachings are never fully acknowledged? It is because false teachers are found of always denying the Lord Jesus Christ in one way or the other, some subtly but other overtly and instead focus attention on Man and Angelic beings…
2 Peter 2:1-2
(1) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
(2) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
We are to Test and Discern every spirit…
We are cautioned in the Bible to Test every spirit because these are the last days and many lairs and false teachers and preachers backed by doctrines of Demons are out there teaching in Christian communities…
Some Christians were offended because Todd Bentley’s Angel ‘Emma’ was exposed as a fraud. However, we are not to believe every spirit simply because healings and miracles are taking place in a revival. Satan also does signs and wonders but to deceive the masses…
It is important to note that false teachers and false prophets will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord yet they will deny His overall authority in their lives. They will deny His sayings, teachings, and lifestyle. These are they that say Lord, Lord but practice wickedness…
1 John 4:1-3
(1) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
(2) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
(3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
If you love Jesus Christ, you will keep His Teachings…
True spiritual renewal in a believer has to do with a renewed desire to keep the commandments of Jesus Christ. John the apostle is very clear in his letter to the saints that if we truly love God and have The Love of Christ Jesus in us then we shall do His commandments and keep His sayings and teachings. So, a true revival is one that involves taking audit of ones doctrines in light of the teachings of Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:2-4
(2) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
(3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
(4) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
The True Love of Jesus Christ demands that we not only talk about His commandments but obey them, do them, and walk in them…
2 John 1:6-7
(6) And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
(7) For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
True Spiritual Renewal involves a renewed desire to abide in the Doctrine of Jesus Christ. Like I stated earlier, you cannot separate Jesus Christ from His Doctrine. You cannot separate Jesus Christ from the whole counsel of God’s Holy Word.
You cannot claim to have a revival and say that you are renewed yet it transgresses and conflicts with Word of God. Jesus Christ is the Word of God! John the Apostle gives us a warning that anyone who teaches any other doctrine other than the Doctrine of Jesus Christ should not be welcome in our homes… Sound Bible Doctrine is central of any Christian’s life…
2 John 1:7-11
(7) For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
(8) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
(9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
(10) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed:
(11) For he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.
The Lord rejoices when His children walk in Truth…and truth according to His Holy Word… A revival that does not cause people to hunger for Truth is a fake revival. A revival that causes people to ignore and contradict God’s Holy Word is deceptive and from Satan…
3 John 1:3-4
(3) For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
(4) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Contend earnestly for Sound Bible Doctrine…
We are to contend earnestly for Sound Doctrine as laid out in God’s Holy Word… There are folks out there claiming Lord, Lord yet they deny the full authority of Jesus Christ in His Word…
Jude 1:3-4
(3) Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
(4) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Rebukes the Church at Ephesus…
The Lord rebukes the Church at Ephesus in that they had all the discernment yet they had forsaken their first love for Jesus Christ. In context with the letters of John in 1John, we see that this love ties in to the obedience of Christ’s commandments. “If you love me you will do my commandments…” 1 John says that we love Him if we obey and keep His commandments… So it is not enough to have head knowledge about God’s Word but obedience is imperative…
Revelation 2:4-6
(4) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
(5) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
(6) But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
Jesus Christ rebukes the Pergamos Church over False Doctrines…
Jesus Christ was clearly concerned with the doctrines taught at the church in Pergamos… The Lord Jesus Christ rebuked the church at Pergamos over the doctrine of Balaam and the Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes that they taught and He called for them to repent… Doctrine is a very serious issue here. The repentance required of the church at Pergamos had also to do with their repentance from false doctrines of Balaam and Nicolaitanes… Today that would be similar to the Prosperity Gospel and Elitism in the Church….
Revelation 2:14-15
(14) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
(15) So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
The Lord rebukes the Thyatira church over the Jezebel doctrines…
We see that when The Lord addressed the Church in Thyatira concerning ‘that woman Jezebel’ and what she taught… Sound Doctrine is very important and surely The Lord will question your doctrine. There is no way we can hide away from a responsibility to hold onto Sound Bible Doctrine. Jezebel taught people to eat things offered to idols and commit sexual immorality… Today we have many preachers who preach a ‘positive possibility positive thinking messages’ yet they lead Christians to fall in love with self and the world once again…
Revelation 2:20-21
(20) Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
(21) And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
Revelation 2:24-25
(24) But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
(25) But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
It is our responsibility to hold on to Sound Bible Doctrine…
There is no way we can flee from the responsibility to hold to sound bible doctrine as laid out by the teachings of Jesus Christ and His apostles in the New Testament. Any Revival or renewal that does not challenge folks to reexamine their doctrines in light of God’s Holy Word is fake and a lie and from Satan.
Any revival or renewal that contradicts God’s Holy Word and sets focus on miracles, healings, and wonders but tramples down Truth in God’s Word is a fake and a scam….flee from such because in such do Demons find room to teach their doctrines…
So, you have a choice, either to choose Jesus Christ, His sayings and His Teachings or emotional miracle healing Revivals…
In Christ Jesus
Kato Mivule
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NT Studies & Discernment Jesus Christ, His Teachings Vs Modern Revivals
NT Studies & Discernment Jesus Christ, His Teachings Vs Modern Revivals
Jesus Christ, His Teachings Vs Modern Revivals
