THE REALITY OF CHURCHMEN DENYING CHRIST’S COUNSEL

     The luciferian stranglehold over the world is tightening its grip. All are feeling the clench in both religious and secular society. And the sacrifices being imposed on people by denying their basic needs for "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" come from morally bankrupt men. The Bible gives every boundary that will save a soul, a nation—and even the world from destruction. But these guidelines are not being honored, in or out of the church: from the care of the land to the care of our children. And as the Spirit of GOD leaves the hearts of men, Satan is eager to fill the void to weaken further the needed judgment to discern right from wrong. Step by step, Satan has usurped every aspect of life on Earth, both in and out of the church. And we are called to understand how, and where this course is leading the race of sinful men.

     Even among Christians, the knowledge that is needed to both know and obey the words of Christ’s salvation is imperative, as GOD mournfully declares: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hos.4:6. Jesus provided two warnings: One deals with sin, while the other addresses our response to His promised deliverance. When Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath day, a word of warning was given to him: “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” Jn.5:14. This is a lesson that all should take to heart. By repeatedly entering the temptation that leads to sin its effect weakens the strength of will to resist the temptation. Only by continued communion with the "King of glory" and following His Counsel in the Bible can the humble petitioner find the strength and resolve to remain steadfast in resisting the sin that holds the life in bondage.

     The Apostle Paul wrote encouraging words on this all-too-common snare: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Heb.12:1-4.

     The second warning addresses the corrupt religion of professing Christians like Rod Parsley, Benny Hinn, and a host of others who not only evangelize sin but actually promote the heathen practices that counterfeit the gifts of GOD'S Spirit. I've witnessed on TBN Rod Parsley lead his congregation into a frenzy that is akin to an insane asylum. And when they are worked up into a fever pitch of chaotic sounds and motions, Parsley declares, “Now the spirit is here!” Yes, a spirit is there, but it is in total denial to the Spirit that GOD calls us to, which is diametrically opposed to the charismatic demonstrations today: “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” Ja.3:17.

     Although a different direction is employed, the evil of Benny Hinn may also be readily seen as antagonistic to the Word of GOD. His own words condemn him. When he begins his altar call and individuals come forward to be “slain in the spirit”, he stated in a TBN interview: “I don’t remember what I say or who I heal.” There is not a single verse of Scripture where GOD uses Amnesia to shepherd His children. In layman’s terms, Benny Hinn goes into a trance. And concerning Hinn’s counsel on demon possession, he plainly stated in that same interview, “Demons must be cast out every few months.” In other words, you keep having to go back to Benny Hinn.

     His words are in direct opposition to the counsel of Christ: “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” Matt.12:43:45.

     I have personally dealt with two “ministers” who have followed Hinn’s Antichrist theology. The one man would fast and pray for weeks at a time. Afterwards, he would look worn and haggard with bloodshot eyes. One day he was visited by a mother who brought her demon possessed child, begging for his help. This professed minister of Christ, David Singh, cast the devil out of the child. The very next day the child committed suicide.

     Another Benny Hinn disciple had a street ministry. He was very bold in his preaching. One time he and I prayed together. And in his prayer to GOD he started talking to the devil: “I bind you Satan! You have no power over me…” A conceited spirit ruled this man’s heart. I rebuked him for talking to the devil during our prayer to our Father, and that Christ’s power alone overrules the authority of Satan, and how we have no power in and of ourselves. At the end of our debate, in which he was jumping up and down praising the lord, he ended by stating: “If GOD won’t heal, and Satan will, I’ll follow Satan!” Twice through his own lips he spoke these words to me. This was the true spirit behind this "Christian."

     This experience taught me the value of John’s words: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” I Jn.4:1. So, how do we “try the spirits?” “To the law, and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa.8:20. This “light” only comes from Jesus Christ, as He said: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Jn.8:12; 6:63. To stay under the banner of Christ’s counsel is our only safety. He left nothing out of His Word for our knowledge, understanding and wisdom as He admonished our faith in His counsel, which includes every book in the Bible: “But take ye heed: Behold, I have foretold you all things.” Mk.13:23.

     One last testimony: My next door neighbor had a son with AIDS. He went to Benny Hinn to be healed of his terminal disease. He went forward at the altar call. He was then “slain in the spirit” and was told he was healed of his infirmity. He went home rejoicing. He died shortly thereafter.

     In summation, this common miracle of “slain in the spirit” is absolutely condemned of Scripture because it is nothing short of demon possession, which is one of only three reasons in Scripture for the loss of strength in the presence of Divinity: 1. Rebellion against Christ: Jn.18:6; Matt.28:4; 2. Direct vision from GOD: Dan.10:16-18; Hab.2:2; and 3. Demon possession: Mk.3:11.

     When the power of Christ delivers a soul from Satan’s control, and the freewill is restored from that moment forward to choose the direction for one’s life, great care must be made so as to not go down the same road that brought the devil’s affliction in the first place. But many go back to the lifestyle that brought on the evil. And Satan is patient to lead the steps that cause the sinner to stumble and fall again. Scripture has given clear instruction on this: “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” II Pet.2:22. All too often we hear of poor souls who have surrendered their lives into an old trap that they know full well the danger, and yet they succumb to the temptation of false assurance that all will be good.

     From Catholicism to Protestantism, multitudes will follow any miracle, regardless of its source, and the destiny to which it leads. But the Bible is clear: the existence of miracles is no evidence of GOD being the source of the miracle (Deut.13:1-4; Isa.8:20 Gal.1:8). All should study every parameter of this—in detail. The Apostles Paul and John sum up the issue of Satan’s use of miracles to deceive the world by declaring that these counterfeits are “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion [allow Satan to work his deceptive magic], that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” He warned that in constant crescendo, “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” II Th.2:9-12; II Tim.3:13; Rev.16:14.

     The key issue for the Bible believing Christian is simply this: faith and sin are not partners in salvation. For GOD to empower any minister who encourages any sin is unthinkable. That would make GOD a contributor to their destruction in the judgment. Only as men desire to be led, are they led because GOD'S gift of freewill is as eternal as Himself. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Rom.6:16.

     Any sin in the life prevents the Presence of the Holy Spirit as it is written: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isa.59:2. But it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit, carrying the Presence of both the Father and the Son into the heart (Jn.14:23), leading one to truth and virtuous living that raises the soul to glory as it is written, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Rom.8:11.

     This is where faith in Christ shines light into the darkness of our hearts: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” II Cor.4:6; I Pet.1:7.

     So, here we are today, watching both the church and the world being deceived, and awaiting that first wake up call when Christ’s prophecy will be fulfilled: "Fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven." Jesus said that there would be, as a result of these fearful sights, "men's hearts failing them for fear of what is coming upon the earth." Lu.21:11,26. What is to come? Let the world’s wisest man, King Solomon, choose the direction of our research. As a wise old man he wrote, "The thing that hath been it is that which shall be." The history of our past is the prophecy of our future. What does Scripture teach about fearful sights and great signs from heaven? In the book of Job, it is written that Satan caused fire to fall from the sky and burn to death both people and animals (Job 1:6).

     The Bible teaches that Satan is about to do it again, but on a much grander scale (Revelation 13:13). This is the coming threat to man's survival that will bring the final competition between men over who will rule the world. Remember the old proverb, "There are no atheists in fox holes." Religion will become the object of adoration at this time; and the world's most influential and wealthiest religion is Christianity. Therefore, it is today's Christian leaders who will be given the throne of human government. Men like the pope, the Robertsons’, the Parsleys’ Hinns’ Hagees’ Jakes’ Ankerbergs’ among “the prophets of Baal” [the sun god (I Ki.18:40)], these "enemies of the cross of Christ" (Phil.3:18) will be handed the authority to influence laws in the vain attempt to preserve a fundamentally immoral race of men. They all unite in their blind pride to one purpose: perpetuate the sins that bring the annihilation of the human race. This course is the path to suicide.

All one has to do is to study how the history of the ruling churches bear a record of unfaithfulness to GOD. The LORD has brought many opportunities to edify the church and purge the sins that corrupt the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And the church has failed every time! This includes all the major denominations (without exception)! Papal Rome and Protestant America to this day have proven themselves unfit to govern themselves let alone anyone else. Their ill procedures of handling corruption are well known: everything from the Catholic bishops and cardinals covering up the sodomy of little boys to world famous Protestant evangelists swindling little old ladies out of their homes: ladies who came to these men for healing from their afflictions. The healing never came but they still lost their homes. These people entrusted their lives to their religious leaders for guidance and truth just as the Jewish people trusted their leaders in the days of Christ. Their trust was betrayed then. And people’s trust is being betrayed today. False assurances and blood money built the cathedrals of old, while the “peace and safety” message has built the crystal cathedrals of America. The betrayal of truth has always led to building monuments that have no right to exist; for they are founded on the sand of self-exaltation, not the rock of truth, “as the truth is in Jesus" (Eph.4:21). The recommended course of action by our apostate religious leaders will be to impose “the tradition of men,” while “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt.15:9.

     The age-old traps that have ensnared the multitudes are as affluent today as they were in the days of old. The LORD appeals: “Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship [statues of Christ, the Cross, Mary and the Saints]. They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. Remember this, and show yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors [all who trample GOD’S Holy Law]. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, my counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness: it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.” Isa.46:3-13.

     So, while all eyes are on the nation-state of Israel, the words of Paul concerning who are "the Israel of God" (Gal.6:16) have been overruled just like the Holy Law of GOD has been overruled: “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac [who was born from above] shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Rom.2:28,29; 9:6-8. The Savior concurred: “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.” Mk.3:35.

     Said Christ of today’s “lukewarm” church: men who worship their own religion above the GOD of heaven: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth [Your self-righteousness makes Me nauseous to the point of throwing up]. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Rev.3:15-17. To be lukewarm is to be self-righteous (Isa.65:2-7). To be self-righteous is to work against humility. To work against humility is to refuse repentance. To refuse repentance is to reject salvation. To reject salvation is to condone the murder of GOD on the Cross. At the end of time GOD the Father will ask every fallen angel and sinning man, “What did you do to My Son?

     In summation, both the church and the world have united to refuse the perfectly magnificent words: “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Ps.19:7. By rejecting GOD’S Holy Law they reject His Testimony (Ex.25:21,22; Rev.15:5), wisdom (Prov.1:20-33) and converting power (Isa.26:12). To reject the Law is to reject its Author, Who was none other than Jesus Christ Himself (Jn.8:58), for He gave to the world those Sacred Tables of Stone: “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

     Our Creator who became the Christ has always been with us, and He will always be with those who hear His Word and honor His Law, forever, just as He promised: “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt.19:17; 28:20.