Jesus Christ, His Teachings Vs Modern Revivals
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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