Ears that Hear what the Spirit of Truth is Saying to the Church...

By Hazel Holland

It has been a couple of months now since I posted anything on my blogs. Breaking my toe slowed me down tremendously. Adjusting to life with crutches and a wheelchair while trying to take care of my "adopted" mom who has Alzheimer's was quite a challenge. Thankfully the worst is over now, and I'm slowly getting back to writing and painting what I sense is on God's heart...

My mind was restless last night as I tried to grapple with what I have seen and read online over the past couple of weeks regarding the healing revival that is breaking out in Florida. I was equally concerned with the many ministries and well known “prophetic” people (in the charismatic movement) who appear to be giving their total support to the “supernatural” events happening in the Lakeland Revival led by Todd Bentley.

Those of you who know me know that I am not against supernatural manifestations that have their source in the Holy Spirit of God, and I am not against divine healing. But last night I was troubled in my spirit as I watched this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGCTMEoifqQ&feature=related on Youtube. I continued to toss and turn until five o'clock this morning.

To be quite frank and blunt, I received a strong witness in my spirit that there is a mixture of spirits in what I witnessed online here. I have great concern that the Holy Spirit is NOT behind this kind of stuff. I believe this is opening up the door to spiritual deception!

I have had reservations and discomfort about some of Bob Jones' and Patricia King's teachings for awhile now, because I have sensed a lack of biblical support for them. Learning that Todd Bentley is also eager to participate in this “third” heaven teaching, I am very concerned and saddened by what I see--people flocking to get on this bandwagon.

I don’t deny that something “supernatural” is going on in Florida, but I do not believe that everything I am witnessing online regarding these “revival” meetings has the Holy Spirit as the source of that power. I believe there is a mixture of spirits at work… Knowing that people are flocking to these meetings from all over the world to “come and get some” as Todd Bentley has suggested disturbs me greatly!

Since leaving Adventism, I have a very strong desire NOT to repeat the error of falling into cultic teachings that have no foundation in God’s word. So when I hear Todd Bentley talk about an “angel” talking to him and telling him that he’s the healing angel that Bob Jones said was coming to bring a healing revival to Florida, I get concerned because this doesn’t seem to ring true with God’s Word. Immediately I see a red flag! Since when do angels bring healing and revival anyway?

Or if someone whom others consider an “apostle” or “prophet” describes an “experience” they had that seems to go off on a tangent and beyond what God has already revealed in His Word, and does not draw attention to Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, then I receive a caution in my spirit to wait and see the fruit of such an “experience”. I am not one to run after everyone who says, “Come and check out this person or this teaching or this supernatural event.

After watching many of my friends over the years run after this “anointed” leader and that “anointed” teaching or word, I realize that we do not have to go anywhere to experience more of God’s presence, love or words than right where we are.

We don’t need to climb up to the "next level" to get God’s attention! We don’t need to follow some religious protocol or ritual in order to get more of God. God is NOT more accessible during one month than another month. He is not in one place more than another place. God has already made Himself accessible to you and me in Jesus Christ. We only need to respond (usually in repentance) and by the obedience of faith to the urging of His Spirit.

I believe that trying to achieve a higher realm of awareness in the Spirit realm by accessing the “third heaven”, as Todd Bentley and others are teaching, is opening doors for satanic delusion. Believing that some victories can only be obtained on certain “watches of the Lord” (Jews divided the night into military watches instead of hours, and each watch represented the period for which sentinels remained on duty), and that certain spiritual dynamics happen in each “watch”, finds people clamoring after “products”, such as various scented candles (Elijah List promotes and sells such things) that are supposed to be “tools” that the Holy Spirit can use to help develop our prayer life in each watch.

Tickling People’s Ears

What I am seeing and hearing lately disturbs me greatly! It appears that many people in the body of Christ are not studying God’s word to see if what is being taught is sound doctrine! For instance, I recently heard Kim Clemente on YouTube (who is revered as a “prophet” by many), say that the difference between an Old Testament prophet and a New Testament prophet is that the New Testament prophet is more fun, because he is now under grace and not the law.

Kim Clemente claims he is in the office of a New Testament prophet, and he says he “does not deal with the sin factor as much”. He says that he is not going to direct a people, but rather “affirms and reveals” what people already know and “releases” what is inside of them so they can move to the next higher level. He says, “Usually all hell breaks loose after that”. He says, “I am not going to join preachers speaking against sin. I am here to draw the treasure out of a person so they can be what they were destined to become…”

Isn’t this kind of “prophet” tickling people’s ears? Isn’t this a people-centered gospel instead of a Christ-centered gospel that is being promoted? Isn’t this kind of theology self-absorbed? Doesn't it encourage people to run after another “high” in the Lord? Doesn't it encourage people to run after excitement and hype instead of the cross of Jesus Christ?

Elijah List Quote

Here’s a quote from the Elijah List this week that troubled me also. “Last year's Growing in the Supernatural conferences gathered together prophets, preachers, and expectant believers from all over the world. As we worshipped, dug into the Word, prayed, and combined our faiths to put a demand on Heaven, something was unlocked in the Spirit, releasing believers to all new levels of supernatural encounters and experience.

This year, we continue to press in by again gathering together with some of the weightiest prophets in the land and hungriest believers on earth to reach out and receive more of God. More presence! More encounters! More miracles! More signs and wonders! More revelation! More of the fruits! More of the gifts! And more of His heart!

Gather with us to add your faith to the cry for more. Receive revelation, impartation and downloads from the glory realm that will leave you forever changed and fueled to advance the Kingdom in more glorious ways. Come and... grow in the supernatural!”

Here are a few of my comments about this quote… Since when does our faith in Jesus Christ put a “demand on heaven”? God is sovereign! We don’t tell Him what to do and “demand” Him to act. He is a holy, righteous and awesome God. He knows what our needs are before we ever ask Him!

Believing that praying unlocks something in the Spirit that releases “believers to all new levels of supernatural encounters and experience” suggests that we don’t believe what Paul teaches us in Ephesians--that we already have the fullness of the godhead bodily dwelling in us by faith.

How can we go to higher levels when we have the fullness of the Spirit in us already?Perhaps it is our lack of faith in that reality because we do not feel that we do. Perhaps we are waiting to have a spiritual experience that will confirm the truth rather than accept by faith what Jesus has already revealed to us in His Word. Scripture must be the final test, not my experience. My experience must line up with Scripture.

Finally, to be encouraged to come to a conference and “grow in the supernatural” instead of to come and “grow in the Lord” is another huge red flag for me! I’m sorry, but something is just OFF here that it makes me want to run in the opposite direction!

Protection from Deception

I read the first chapter from Derek Prince’s book, “Protection from Deception” this week and found some very helpful reminders that can help us navigate through the minefield of supernatural signs and wonders. I was reminded that signs and wonders in and of themselves do not determine truth. Truth is already determined and established—it is the Word of God that point to Jesus as Truth. Here are some thoughts that I gleaned from my reading…

Remember the first thing Jesus said about the events leading up to His return in Matthew 24? "Take heed that no one deceives you." In these verses I discovered that Jesus actually warns us four times against deception. Therefore, we can conclude that the greatest single danger in these end times is not sickness, or poverty, or persecution, but deception!

Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2 that there are lying signs and wonders. Scripture here make is very clear that Satan is fully capable of supernatural signs and wonders. True signs attest the truth. Lying signs attest lies.

Sadly I find that many in the Charismatic movement today have the attitude that if something is supernatural, it must be from God. But there is absolutely no scriptural basis for that kind of assumption. Satan will produce signs and wonders to confirm his lies, and the reason people will be deceived is because they did not receive the love of the truth.

The Scripture says that God will send strong delusion on those who do not receive the love of truth. I think that is one of the most severe judgments of God recorded in Scripture! People will receive a delusion and be condemned, because they did not believe the truth.

There is only one sure way to know the truth that makes us free, and that is to, not only know the Word of God and apply the truth of God’s Word to our hearts, but to know the heart of the Father who gave us His Son. The Father’s will is that we be found in His Son, because the Son is the only One whom the Father is looking at! It’s His righteousness alone that gives us access 24/7 to God’s throne. With all the talk of the “glory cloud” coming down and feeling the “glory” in Todd Bentley’s meetings, I am reminded that the Scriptures talk about the “glory” that is found in the face of Jesus Christ!

My heart is heavy as I realize that this recent explosion of signs and wonders appears to me to be a mixture of the biblical and the bizarre. To me there seems to be a mixture of spirits, both the Holy Spirit and unholy spirits. Truth and error are mixed together, and it is something which the Scripture warns us against.

This mixed message brings confusion because part is true and part is false. People respond in one of two ways. Some will see the good and focus on it, and therefore also accept the bad. Others will focus on the bad, and therefore reject the good. In either case, it does not accomplish God's purposes, and confusion is the result!

Some of the unusual manifestations that accompanied the ministry of John Wesley, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards and Charles Finney, etc. were always preceded by the strong preaching of God's Word, and they always made a strong call for repentance. That was their primary demand on the people to whom they ministered.

Some people call what we are seeing in this revival today "a refreshing”, but in Acts 3:19 Peter says that refreshing must be preceded by repentance. Any refreshing that bypasses repentance is not scriptural.

Also in the ministry of the above mentioned men there is no record as far as I know that any of them laid hands on people. Although it is scriptural to lay hands on people, is there perhaps a danger that a mixture of spirits could be transmitted by way of a “vessel” which is not always pure.

Since Todd Bentley is laying hands on everyone every night during this revival in order to impart the healing anointing, it seems that the important question to ask then is, “Are Todd Bentley’s hands pure channels through which only the Holy Spirit can flow? Since this “anointing” seems to be very contagious and easily imparted to others, I am seriously concerned about what is being imparted.

Listen to the following comment by a British Bible teacher: “Some Christians take the text "God is love" and turn it around to mean "Love is God." In other words, nothing can be wrong if it is rooted in love. However, any love that comes between us and God is an illegitimate love… Likewise any love that diverts us from obedience to God's Word is illegitimate.

Distinguishing the Holy Spirit from other spirits

So how do we recognize the Holy Spirit? How do we distinguish the Holy Spirit from other spirits? I believe witchcraft is the attempt to control people and get them to do what we want by the use of any spirit that is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, and no one uses God.

It is important to see that there is a difference between the Holy Spirit as a Person, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 11:29, Paul tells us that the gifts of God are irrevocable. In other words, once God has given us a gift, He never takes it back. That means the opportunity exists for the gift to be used to bless others, but also it can be misused.

Paul tells us that when the gift of tongues is misused it is an empty clanging noise. Of course it is possible to misuse other spiritual gifts also, such as a word of knowledge or a gift of healing in order to promote a person, or a movement, or for personal gain.

Jesus gives us a glimpse of the Holy Spirit's ministry and activity when He says, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak on His own authority (literally: from Himself) but whatever He hears He will speak: and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you" (John 16:13-14).

The Holy Spirit does not speak from Himself—He only reports to us what He is hearing from the Father and the Son. His aim is NOT to glorify Himself, NOT to attract attention to Himself, but ALWAYS to glorify and focus His attention on Jesus Christ. Therefore, any spirit that focuses on the Holy Spirit and glorifies the Holy Spirit is not the Holy Spirit. His purpose is ALWAYS to glorify the One who sent Him.

Father, You say in your Word that love is expressed by the obedience of faith. Any kind of love that we express to You that does not result in that kind of obedience is NOT scriptural love. It is a counterfeit—a substitute for the real thing.

God, You say in Your Word, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent" (Revelation 3:19). If we are disobedient, Your love is expressed in rebuking us and correcting us in order to bring us to repentance. Lord, once again You know that we have this problem of trying to get what You have promised us, but bypassing repentance. You call that deception.

Oh God, break our hearts with the Truth of who You are and what You have already given us in Your Son! We do not want to be in that group of professed believers who receive a spiritual delusion because we will not repent and receive a love of the Truth! In Jesus Holy name I pray that You give us ears to hear what the Spirit of Truth is saying to the church. Amen.