Unbiblical Doctrines, Teachings and Phenomena
of the Third Wave Counterfeit Revival Movement
compiled by Sandy Simpson, 1997


It is hoped that this compilation of material will help Christians wade through the deception of the Third Wave and cultivate the type of discernment we are all called to have as Christians, particularly in the last days.

This paper is divided into four sections:

(1) Five criteria with which to determine if a person or movement is teaching sound doctrine, as well as a comparison to what the Third Wave movement teaches and does.

(2) Unbiblical doctrines, teachings and phenomena of the Third Wave counterfeit revival movement; the unbiblical teaching, substantiating quotes, and what the Bible has to say about them.

(3) Guiding principles on how to deal with unbiblical doctines and the people and movements that promote them. Also given are practical guidelines on deliverance from demonization.

(4) Some valuable resources including published and online books, pamplets, videos and audio tapes.

This paper may be freely distributed as long as the content is not altered in any way.


FIVE CRITERIA WITH WHICH TO DETERMINE IF A PERSON
OR MOVEMENT IS TEACHING SOUND DOCTRINE

Here are five recognized basic doctrines of orthodox Christianity with which to gauge if a person or movement is doctrinally orthodox, abherant or heretical. Persons or movements with minor deviations from these doctrines would be defined as "abherant" doctrinally. Major deviations from these five doctrines constitutes heresy. Judge for yourself if the Third Wave is simply abherant or heretical.

1. The Trinity: God must be one "what" and three "who's" with each "who" possessing all the attributes of Deity and personality.

Third Wave deviations: (See Unbiblical Teachings #7, #15, & #16)

a. When the Spirit is treated as a substance both Deity and personality is denied.
b. When God is "on call" Deity is compromised and God is blasphemed.
c. Many of the manifestations lower man to beastly or sub-human levels. The Spirit's actions always raise man to the character of Christ. Thus, to call these manifestations the work of the Spirit is a (not "the") blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

2. The Person of Jesus Christ: Jesus is 100% God and 100% man for all eternity.

Third Wave deviations: (See Unbiblical Teachings #3, & #7)

a. "More Jesus" - Jesus treated as a substance instead of a person.
b. Visions of Jesus often redefine the scriptural picture of Jesus.
c. Kenneth Copeland with his denigration of Jesus' death and seeing Jesus as brother of Satan

3. The Second Coming: Jesus Christ is coming bodily to earth to rule and judge.

Third Wave deviations: (See Unbiblical Teachings #10 & #13)

a. Dominion theology- spiritualizes the 2nd Coming - Jesus returns "in the church", etc.
b. Revival theology denies the "great apostacy" that must take place before Jesus' return.
c. The church's job is to preach the gospel and disciple, not take over structures of the world system

4. Salvation: By grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Third Wave deviations: (See Unbiblical Teachings #1, #2 & #20)

a. The Brownsville/Toronto "gospel" is "repent and come to Jesus" without mentioning the cross or resurrection.
b. Anything that denies the full indwelling of the Spirit at conversion denies, ultimately, the biblical definition of salvation.
c. Need for "impartation" is denial of gospel by grace.

5. The Scripture: It is entirely inerrant and sufficient for all Christian life.

Third Wave deviations: (See Unbiblical Teachings #4, #6, #11, #20 & #22)

a. "Empty your mind, don't think" assumes that something outside scripture must enter mind, body; occultic technique.
b. "New revelation" needed for modern church, "new picture" denies sufficiency of "faith once for all delivered".
c. Signs and wonders needed beyond gospel.
d. Emphasis on experience over doctrine is backwards.
e. Witchcraft techniques used for direction instead of scripture.


UNBIBLICAL DOCTRINES, TEACHINGS AND PHENOMENA
OF THE THIRD WAVE COUNTERFEIT REVIVAL MOVEMENT

Following is a short list of more unbiblical teachings of the Toronto "Blessing" and Pensacola "Outpouring", which are part of the same Third Wave counterfeit revival movement. They are not in any particular order. For a more complete list of the unbiblical and heretical teachings of the Word-Faith Movement, Latter Rain/Manifest Sons Of God, Kansas City Prophets, John Wimber & The Vineyard, and other pillars of the Third Wave, please refer to my paper called "Influence Links Of The Third Wave Movement".

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #1

Brownsville A/G and its adherents have advertised repeatedly that the revival started as a repentance-based revival where the gospel is being preached. *

Even as recently as the March 1997 issue of Christianity Today, it is being promoted as a revival that started on Fathers Day of 1995 with people falling down under under the conviction, confession and repentance of sin. Since all other recorded "revivals" have started that way, this has led many people to believe that this is a true and classic "revival". However, upon viewing the video tape of the first day of the revival, there were no cases of falling down under conviction of sin but rather people coerced to come to the front of the church so that Steve Hill could lay his hands on them and confer the "anointing" that he had received at the Holy Trinity Brompton church in England. Steve Hill gave a lengthy message, most of which was prepping the audience that they were going to receive something when he laid hands on them.

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

In John Kilpatrick's entire sermon not a single Scripture was referenced, the Gospel was not preached, and the bizarre manifestations appeared to be the point of the whole evening. John Kilpatrick's description of the beginning of the Brownsville revival seemed very similar to the service that I attended. The gospel was not preached (a message was not given according to Kilpatrick), and the evidence that revival had come was not that people were saved, but because people fell down on the floor out of control. (I Experienced the "Pensacola Outpouring" and Came Home Crying Tears and Praying, Shawn Paul Sauve, 1997, http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/8473/kilpatri.html )

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

Clearly this is either a misunderstanding of what a classic revival is or an outright deception designed to fool people into thinking that this is a repentance-based revival where the gospel is being preached when in fact it clearly started as a fairly typical "laying on of hands" "transference-of-power" type of service. No doubt there are some in their meetings who come to true repentance when the gospel message is preached clearly, because Rom. 1:16 says: " I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." At the meetings we attended, repentance was preached, but little was mentioned about the penalty of sin, the blood of Christ, trusting in Christ for salvation, and nothing was said about Christ dying or that He rose from the dead the basic elements of the gospel message. If the gospel is not preached in its entirety, a person is not trusting and standing on the right foundation and his belief will be in vain (1 Cor. 15:1-11). It was also observed by many witnesses that these meetings were full of people who came for the obvious purpose of receiving the "anointing" from the hands of one of the "anointed". This will be dealt with in the next point, but it is clear that this "revival" is not and never has been as advertised. The Scripture is clear about deception:

Isa 32:7 The scoundrel's methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.

Pr 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free.

Ps 144:11 Deliver me and rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.

2Co 4:2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #2

Most people attend the Brownsville phenomenon meetings for the "laying on of hands" experience, and though the gospel is sometimes preached, the high point of the meeting is always the "anointing", not repentance and salvation. *

Steve Hill was a fairly successful repentance evangelist before he got the "anointing". He still continues to operate in the gift the Lord gave him in this regard, so there are occasions where people are still coming forward at Brownsville to repent of sin and accept Jesus as Savior. The problem is that the emphasis has been changed from salvation by Jesus Christ when the Holy Spirit indwells the believer as soon as he believes (not needing to be transferred or activated by human hands), to the "anointing" session that is always the highlight of every Brownsville type service.

This same emphasis on experience rather than Scripture has been observed by many witnesses in the Brownsville phenomenon meetings in Micronesia.

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

"The evangelist (Steve Hill) came to the pulpit and read two verses of Scripture (Rev. 12:10-11). He spoke for approximately forty five minutes. Every ten minutes or so he would say, "Don't leave me now ... just hang in there ... we'll get to the good stuff soon" ("good stuff" meaning prayer time, when everyone would come up front to receive the "power" and be "slain in the spirit".) Isn't that pathetic? What could be more important than the word of God? Jesus said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matt 4:4)" (Revival ... or Satanic Counterfeit?, Jimmy Robbins, 1996, http://www.midcry.org/revival.htm )

"In an article in Charisma magazine, "pro-Pensacola" writer Lee Grady described one famous scene from the Brownsville revival which has been videoed and sent out everywhere. This event occurred on August 18, 1995, when 19 year-old Alison Ward got up to give her testimony. Mr. Grady says: "As she spoke, Alison shook in a manner so awkward that a casual observer might think she suffered from cerebral palsy. Then, while trembling violently, she issued a plea so heartfelt that those in the room say they heard God speaking through her. Chocking back tears she said intently: `God is in a hurry. There's not much more time. He aches and He grieves for your spirit.' At that moment Alison fell to the floor. A deafening chorus of moaning and wailing filled the room as people were moved by an almost eerie sense of God's love for lost souls ... Alison's eight-minute testimony, which was captured on videotape, represents the defining moment of this revival."

If this statement was the "defining moment" for the Brownsville AOG "revival" then something is clearly amiss. It is very doubtful that this was a "word of knowledge" or "prophesy" from God. The young lady at Brownsville said "God is in a hurry". God never hurries. God operates outside of time and space. (Ps. 90:4, 2 Pet. 3:8) There may, indeed, be "not much more time left" for us before Jesus returns. However, we do not know the day or the hour of Christ's return. Only the Father knows the answer to that question. (Mark 13:32) Remarks like that should always be prefaced by "I believe there to be" or "The indications are that there is", not said as a statement of fact, because God the Father is not going to reveal the time of Christ's return to anyone, and certainly not to a teenager at Brownsville AOG. The one statement she made that is true was "He aches and grieves for your spirit". Although not stated in Scripture in specifically those words, we can be confident that God is not willing that any should perish and is patient and longsuffering with his creatures (2 Pet. 3:9) and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groans to the Father (Rom. 8:26) as well as other references to the love of God for His creatures. (Sandy Simpson, A Different Gospel?, 1997, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/differ.html )

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

We are told in Scripture to repent and seek Christ, not "signs and wonders".

Mt 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.

The sign of Jonah is also the message of Jonah. It was a message for the city of Nineveh that it would surely be destroyed because of its wickedness. The context shows that the account of Jonah being in the belly of the fish for three days and nights may also be taken as a sign of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Mt. 12:39-40). The message of "repent or be destroyed" is, in our generation, enjoined with the fact that Jesus shed His blood for the remission of our sins, died and rose again to conquer death and bring us eternal life. Jesus is now our salvation. Praise Him!

Jonah 1:1-2 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."

The message of Jonah is that we need to repent of sin or be destroyed. It is an integral part of the gospel message, only that in our day if we repent of our sins and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9a), God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (1 John 1:9) and by His grace He covers our sins by the blood of Jesus (Eph 1:7) and saves us (Rom 10:9b), at which time the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our lives, without the aid of human hands (1 John 5:7-12, Rom. 8:9-11, Acts 2:38, Eph. 1:13, 1 Cor. 6:19-20). Man has a God-created void that can only be filled by being born again and by an ongoing personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.

"There is something very wrong and very evil about seeking anything other than Christ our Lord. We shouldn't seek an experience, manifestation, or any type of phenomenon. Simon the "sorcerer" was rebuked by Peter for his evil desire for "the power" to do what Peter and the other apostles were doing. (Acts 8:18-21) The great preacher, Dr. A.B. Simpson said, "You don't need healing; you need the `healer.' You don't need deliverance; you need the `deliverer.' You don't need salvation; you need the `Savior.'" (Revival ... or Satanic Counterfeit?, Jimmy Robbins, 1996, http://www.midcry.org/revival.htm)

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #3

The "signs and wonders" that are being done by this group are not substantiated by Scripture. However, the Scriptures they use do apply to cases of demonic possession and results of God's judgment. *

The "signs and wonders" or "manifestations" of this movement have been listed by Pastor John Kilpatrick of Brownsville AOG. "Falling on the floor (mostly backwards) for deep inner healing, preparation for ministry, physical healing, receiving of visions, feeling the love of God. Laughter. Shaking of head, hands, feet and body. Deep bowing."

In their meetings, here in Micronesia, identical "manifestations" have been observed, by multiple witnesses, as well as the following: howling, wailing, hysterical laughter, violent shaking, falling backwards to the floor and laying in a trance-like state for a time, palsy-like jerking, and bending down in apparent deep pain. It has also been observed by many witnesses that the leaders who transfer this "anointing" usually have a weird look of glee and clenched teeth on their faces after someone they have laid hands on has fallen backwards to the floor. Some also, strangely, make similar hissing and whooshing sounds when conferring this "anointing" on someone. They also, often, shout at the Holy Spirit, shouting "More! More! More!", as if the Holy Spirit were a vending machine where you just put in your quarter and out pops the product in greater and greater amounts as you put "more, more, more" quarters in.

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

"When you ridicule those whose bodies are twitching or shaking under the influence of God's glory, beware! Have you forgotten that God's Word and the annals of Church history are filled with the supernatural dealings of our supernatural God?" (Stephen Hill, The God Mockers, chapter 1, 1997, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html )

God does deal with his creatures supernaturally, but God's Word is silent about God ever sending His Holy Spirit to produce these types of manifestations, except in judgment, and certainly not as a blessing or by laying on of hands. Church history is full of stories of these manifestations which have been roundly dismissed as unbiblical and demonic by former church leaders such as Edwards, Spurgeon, Tozer and many others.

"These God mockers are writing "position papers" about external physical manifestations while totally ignoring the deeper work of God that is saving hundreds of thousands of souls and permanently changing lives." (Stephen Hill, The God Mockers, chapter 1, 1997, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html )

The deepest work of God is the work of salvation, not signs and wonders, lest Hill forget. People who disagree with this movement are trying to warn people of the awful danger of listening to a "different gospel" and coming away thinking they are saved but may have believed "in vain" because the gospel message is overshadowed many times over by false signs and wonders.

"After John Kilpatrick completed his anecdotal stories about manifestations, things went from bad to worse. His "speaking in tongues" for a long period without an interpretation was a red flag. I guess that what he was doing would have been labeled "speaking in tongues," but it sounded more like an Indian chant "Oo-ee-ah-oo-ee" (with occasional "whoosh" and "shew . . . Holy Ghost" sounds made into the microphone etc.). This "chanting" went on for a period of over twenty minutes." (I Experienced the "Pensacola Outpouring" and Came Home Crying Tears and Praying, Shawn Paul Sauve, 1997, http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/8473/kilpatri.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

None of the above phenomena associated with this group can be substantiated by Scripture. Verses or even phrases are routinely pulled from their context and quoted as justifications for what would normally be considered manifestations of demonic possession. Here are some examples of this group's attempts at backtracking and finding Scriptural justification for these manifestations:

Slaying in the "Spirit" - e-mail has been received from this group where they use the accounts of Saul and the prophets, where he fell down and prophesied and of the account of Jesus when He said "I AM" to the people who came to arrest him and they fell backwards. These two accounts were decidedly not "anointings" but a judgment from God. It should make thinking Christians wonder if this phenomenon is really an "anointing".

Howling, screaming, crying or otherwise acting like an animal - "Some pull verses out of context that speak of God roaring like a lion. There are two problems with using verses of this nature: First of all, the Scriptures never say that God will make His own people roar like lions and act like animals; second, in those passages that view God as roaring like a lion, it is always in preparation for judgment, and not blessing. The roaring is against unbelievers. It is never said that He causes believers to roar like lions or bark like dogs. Another passage I have seen defenders use to try to justify the animal actions if Daniel 4, where God made Nebuchadnezzar act like an ox. Here, again, this was not a blessing for Nebuchadnezzar, but a judgment on an unbeliever who saw himself as a god." (The Toronto Phenomenon, Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, 1997, http://www.chafer.edu/CTSjournal/journals/96a-03.htm )

If the Brownsville people are pulling out these types of justifications from Scripture, perhaps this really is a judgment from God on His church for not remaining in "sound doctrine". These are just a few examples of the horrendous Biblical exegeses in answers from this group. Similarly bad examples of lame justifications pulled out of Scripture can be found in the false doctrines of the Kenneth Copeland "Faith Movement" group that uses Isa 40:12 "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?" to prove that God's hand span is the same as a human handspan, therefore God must have a body like us. (This is available on cassette tape in his own voice. The Word-Faith Movement is part of the backdrop of doctrines espoused by the leaders of the counterfeit revival). Scripture should not be used to prove something we have decided to believe before checking it out with the Scriptures. Scripture is to be understood on the basis of the purpose for which is was written, to whom it was written and the context in which it was written. It is only then that Scripture can be properly understood, with the aide of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

"One of the curious phenomena of recent times is how Christians have been using the Bible. Rather then recognize that it is a book made up of 66 books, which was written to a specific people for a specific reason, we tend to wrench verses right out of their contexts because the words agree with what we already believe ... What's wrong with that? Two things: First, this approach to Scripture does not honor the divine authorship of Scripture. God gave the verse at least 1900 years ago. You may have discovered it today, but it's been there all along. To say that God gave you a verse today (to bolster a personal theology or church doctrine)3 is really an existential statement, as through the Bible didn't become alive until we read it a certain way. (Scriptural) revelation has ceased. It's all there in the Book. This manner of speaking almost sounds as if (Scriptural) revelation continues. But the work of the Spirit today is decidedly not on a cognitive level: he is not bringing the message as new (Scriptural) revelation. His work in relation to the Bible is primarily in the realm of conviction: he helps to drive home the message of the Bible, once it is properly understood. Second, this approach to Scripture does not honor the human authorship of the Bible. When Paul wrote to the Galations, he wrote a coherent, holistic message. He never intended for someone a couple millennia later to rip verses out of their context and wield them any way they choose! Certainly we have the right to quote verses of Scripture; but we do not have the right to ignore the context, or to make them say what the language cannot say. Otherwise, someone could come along and say "Judas hanged himself"; "Go and do likewise"! Hence, one reason for the abuse of Scripture is due to a lack of respect for the Bible as a divine and human work. In this approach it becomes a magical incantation book almost a book of unconnected fortune cookie sayings!" (Scripture Twisting: Read me First!, Daniel B. Wallace, 1997, http://www.bible.org/docs/soapbox/twist1.htm )

Other Scripture twisting is done from sheer laziness in reading verses out of context and outright dishonesty in adding to or subtracting from what is actually stated in Scripture, which is our record of God's dealings with man from the beginning of time. Every major cult group today twists Scripture to suit their doctrinal desires. Every time a part of the body of Christ begins to twist Scripture, it inevitably marginalizes itself and eventually, if the malady persists, becomes a cult group. This seems to be what is happening in the Brownsville group today.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #4

People who attend the Brownsville phenomenon meetings are told to "leave your mind at the door", "empty your mind", and "stop analyzing". *

Many people have heard the above phrases in these meetings in Micronesia. They are repeated frequently at Brownsville AOG and the Toronto Airport Fellowship churches.

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

"... one of the ministers interrupted the song service to exhort the congregation to "let themselves go" ... "do not think about what you are doing" ... "just give yourselves completely to the `spirit'". My Bible says that we are to "sing with the spirit and with the understanding also." (1 Cor. 14:15) On another occasion the visiting evangelist stopped the song service to say this: "The devil is here tonight and wants to hinder this service. Well, I've got news for him - he has to go. He (the devil) has analyzers here tonight." During the song service this young evangelist glanced at Elmer, Felton and myself on more than one occasion. I am sure we were sticking out like sore thumbs, since we were obviously not taking part in the "wild frenzy" called worship. He (the evangelist) went on to say "If you must analyze, then look at me, look at the musicians and singers, look at the congregation, look at the person to the left of you and to the right of you, and just analyze, analyze, analyze get it out of your system. Now let yourselves go: don't even think about what you are doing, forget about those around you and what they are doing. Release your mind release your spirit and let the mighty river of the "Holy Ghost" take you wherever He wants you to go." I thought to myself ... "I certainly wasn't going to open my spirit up to this "wild, anything goes atmosphere." Jesus said, "Ye worship ye know not what - But the hour cometh, and now is when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him." (John 4:22-23) (Revival ... or Satanic Counterfeit?, Jimmy Robbins, 1996, http://www.midcry.org/revival.htm)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

"Empty your mind" is a favorite mantra of many false religions and cult groups, including and especially the Hindu Kundalini cult, whose methods and manifestations are virtually identical to the counterfeit revival. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can abide in us and work through us with our minds and willpower totally intact. It takes an act of the will to let the barriers down in our minds and spirit, and this often gives the enemy an opening, through sin in our lives, to come in and do his work either through oppression or outright possession. We must never empty our minds as Christians, for it is with our minds that we can test the spirits.

The Scriptures say:

Ro 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is his good, pleasing and perfect will.

When we are born again, God gives us a new mind. This mind is to be used to find out what God's will is.

Mt 22:37 Jesus replied: "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

One thing that God wants us to do with our mind is to love Him with it. We cannot love God by disengaging our minds that He created. We must love Him at all times with our whole being.

Isa 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

God is not a God of disorder and chaos. He keeps our minds peaceful as we keep our minds steadfastly on Him. We are also to fill our minds with Scripture and the word of Christ.

Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #5

Tongues were spoken in the assembly of mainly Christians in the main meetings, and in the assembly of only Christians in the pre-meeting "intercession" time constantly and with absolutely no interpretation. *

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

"After John Kilpatrick completed his anecdotal stories about manifestations, things went from bad to worse. His "speaking in tongues" for a long period without an interpretation was a red flag. I guess that what he was doing would have been labeled "speaking in tongues," but it sounded more like an Indian chant "Oo-ee-ah-oo-ee" (with occasional "whoosh" and "shew . . . Holy Ghost" sounds made into the microphone etc.). This "chanting" went on for a period of over twenty minutes." (I Experienced the "Pensacola Outpouring" and Came Home Crying Tears and Praying, Shawn Paul Sauve, 1997, http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/8473/kilpatri.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

The Scripture is crystal clear on this:

1 Cor. 14:26-28

"What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two or at the most three should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God."

There were many, many people speaking in tongues loudly in the Brownsville phenomenon meetings. There was never any interpretation that any witnesses heard.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #6

The Brownsville group continues to preach and proclaim, concerning the phenomena it is experiencing, that "God is painting a new picture" and that it is a "new revelation". *

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

"The second mark of a God mocker is a fear of confrontation and change. They are so stuck in religious tradition that they are closed to new revelation. The pastor who mocked God as he left the Brownsville Revival was steeped in religious legalism. He was in bondage and totally closed to the moving of the Holy Ghost. (How anyone can come into a revival meeting in Brownsville and fail to feel Jesus is beyond me! I can't imagine it.)" (Stephen Hill, The God Mockers, chapter 1, 1997, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

Christians are not to be open to "new revelation" that is extra-Biblical in nature. We believe in the finished revelation of the Word of God and are told many times to remain in sound doctrine. The pastor who had objections to what is happening at Brownsville was not being legalistic, but decided to stand firm on God's Word (I have an article where he and others who left Brownsville articulate their reasons for leaving). As to the ascertain that you cannot possibly attend Brownsville meetings without feeling Jesus many have attended and sensed just the opposite there. But the most important point is that we are not called to "feel Jesus" as much as we are to "know Jesus". If we base our doctrines on feelings we can be led astray by any wind of doctrine that blows through. This statement by Hill illustrates the height of egotism to which these false teachers and false prophets have aspired.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

Heb 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

God does not change His character nor His revealed way of doing things. His "modus operandi" continues to be the same and is consistent throughout Scripture. The Bible is the picture that God has painted for us.

Matt. 5:17-19 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practises and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

The Old and New Testament are still alive today. We are still to "teach others" from the Scriptures.

Ro 15:4* For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

We are also to remain in sound doctrine.

Tit 1:9* He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Tit 2:1* You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

If the types of manifestations that are being attributed to God in this movement are a new picture He is painting for His church, then the picture is one of chaos, wild "whirling dervish" experiential highs, ugly manifestations like demonic-type howling and grotesque body twisting and shaking, little or no deep Scriptural teaching, and the preaching of a gospel that is overshadowed by signs and wonders.

The manifestations of this movement being attributed to the Holy Spirit are not in keeping with the character of Almighty God described to us in the Word through the Spirit.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #7

"This anointing/"impartation" is transferable". *

This was stated a number of times in the Brownsville phenomenon meetings. Though this anointing/"impartation" seems to be transferable as demonstrated, this is clearly a false anointing with spirits, not of the Holy Spirit, as demonstrated by the "manifestations". The word "impartation" is not used in the Bible with reference to the Holy Spirit, even though it is used interchangably with the word "anointing" by Third Wavers.

Their support for this transferable anointing in Scripture is very weak. They have twisted the meaning of the laying on of hands, which was for the commissioning of elders and other Christian leaders in agreement with God as well a sign of unity and comfort in prayer over the sick, and are making the same mistake as Simon the Sorcerer did in Acts 8:9-23 in thinking it is some kind of magical sorcery giving Christians the ability to manipulate the Holy Spirit. They use laying on of hands references in the Bible, in different places, to claim that is how the Holy Spirit is transmitted from person to person - or - that is how He is activated or set afire.

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

"Wouldn't it be great if there was somewhere you could go and just get really filled up with power and love, the love of God? But it doesn't stop there. What happens is, there's a transference of His anointing where, not only do you see it, not only do you experience it for yourself, but you're going to take it home to your people." (John Arnott, Pastor of the Toronto Airport Fellowship, pastor's Meeting, October 19, 1994, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

If this statement doesn't typify "fast food Christianity" teaching, I don't know what does. These types of statements continue to be made over and over again at the Brownsville group meetings in Micronesia. When someone accepts Christ as Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit indwells that believer.

Eph. 1:13 "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit."

1 Cor. 12:13 "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."

No human being with hands can control, transfer or activate the Holy Spirit. God is not some force or substance that can be manipulated by man, or pressed into someone's forehead, or brought to bear by shouting "More Jesus". This is a concept right out of Word-Faith teachings. The Spirit moves and does the work of the Father, always testifying and pointing to Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 5:5), in complete and utter sovereignty (Acts 10:44-46). How dare people assume they can control and manipulate the Holy Spirit of God!

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #8

People are told not to pray while receiving the "anointing" because it may interfer with it. *

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

"Another thing that hinders (receiving the Holy Spirit or anointing) is people pray all the time." (John Arnott, at Holy Trinity Brompton, England, February 14, 1995, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

Rodney Howard-Browne said "Stop praying now and let the joy bubble out your belly. Joy. Joy. Joy. Don't pray! Laugh!" (Holy Laughter, Albert James Dager, 1996, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

1Th 5:17 "pray continually;"

Eph 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints"

Lu 21:36 "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

1Pe 4:7 "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray."

We are told to pray without ceasing, in full control of our minds, and at all times.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #9

People who are deemed "intercessors" are told to pray using their prayer languages exclusively, if possible, and not to make requests of God on behalf of others, but to simply worship God. 1

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

Those who came for "intercession" before the meetings were told that Brownsville AOG had found new, improved ways to intercede. They were told to only praise and worship the Lord, to walk around the building liberally using their hands through the air, to not petition the Lord for anything during "intercession", and to use their prayer languages exclusively. When this "intercession" started, those who had already received the Brownsville experience, began to walk about the room, some speaking loudly in tongues or repeating the name of Jesus over and over again. Some went to the doors, the doorknobs, the chairs and every article in the room and drew crosses on each of these items with their fingers. Some walked madly about waving their arms and obviously getting worked up into a frenzy. This is what got them properly prepared for the service later. (A Different Gospel, Sandy Simpson, 1997, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/differ.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

Worshiping God is very important, that goes without question. But intercession by definition is to stand in the gap on behalf of someone else before God. The Random House College Dictionary says that intercession is "the act or and instance of interceeding; a prayer to God on behalf of another or others." What is described by Brownsville is not intercession as properly defined. It is simply the adaptation of another cultic technique to disengage the thought processes and make the person hyper-suggestable and even open them up to demonization. There was no prayer for lost souls at the meetings we attended or that God would send the unbelievers to the meetings. This was because the primary goal was to "anoint" the Christian leaders and Christians who attended. A Christian cannot intercede on behalf of another person unless they make their requests known to the Father. It is true that God knows our requests even before we make them. But we must and should make them nonetheless.

1 Cor. 14:14-15 "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind."

Disengaging the mind is not a Scriptural way to pray. We must pray with our mind and our spirit.

1Ti 2:1 "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--"

We cannot make requests and and intercede for people unless we pray for them specifically. Praying in tongues is "unfruitful" for intercession.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #10

They say there will be a great revival from God in the end times before Christ's return and that their revival will lead to a great awakening and national repentance. *

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

"I want to close by giving ten proclamations about how things are going to be. Mr. Hanegraaff, and all other devils, listen up. Number 1: This revival - I'm making a proclamation. I'm speaking this not just to you, friends, to impress you, but I'm saying this as a man of God from behind this holy desk in this holy environment of a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And I'm not saying this to you, but I'm saying this for the ears of God. And here's what I'm saying. This revival shall not diminish and this revival shall turn into a national awakening." (John Kilpatrick, BAG, "Prophesy Against Hank Hanegraaff", April 6, 1997, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/transcrp.htm )

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

The true great revival will come AFTER Christ returns. This "revival" is a revival of spirits. The concept of end times revival is taught, especially in the lyrics to many songs they sing. However, the Bible is full of references to a falling away, a great apostacy, and false doctrines being taught in the end times, not a great awakening. All Christians yearn for revival and spiritual awakening and there will be times of repentance and salvation for non-believers and repentance and renewal for Christians. But the Bible clearly teaches that the end times will be a time of deception. When Jesus was asked what the sign of His coming and the end of the age would be, it is not an accident that the first words out of His mouth were:

Matt. 24:4 "Watch out that no-one deceives you."

Read the rest of that chapter to get a clear picture of the end times. False doctrines and false teachers abound today telling people that there is a golden age ahead starting in the year 2000, a time when the whole world will be Christianized and revival will turn the world upside down, preparing the way for Christ to return. But the Bible is clear that deception will be the norm rather than great revival. (Mark 13, 2 Th. 2:3, 2 Pet. 2:1) You may reply that Matt. 24:14 tells us that the gospel will be preached to the ends of the earth before Christ returns. This is being done now in missions, television, and evangelistic outreaches (much more effectively, by the way, than the "power evangelism" being offered by these groups). The reason for this is that the gospel of the cross is rarely being preached at the churches in the Third Wave movement. The message of the redemption of Jesus Christ on the cross for us and the new life He creates in us is being superceded by a gospel of signs and wonders in the Third Wave churches. The Bible does not say that angels rejoice over signs and wonders. (Lu. 15:10) Perhaps we shouldn't either.

Lu 10:20 "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

With regards to revival preceeding awakening, they have that exactly backwards. Every true revival in the history of Israel and the church has started with repentance and confession of sin which led to masses being saved. Revival does not preceed awakening. Awakening preceeds revival and refreshing.

Ac 3:19 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,"

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #11

Signs and wonders must accompany the proclamation of the gospel in our time.

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

Steve Hill said "In these latter days preaching and simply teaching the word is no longer sufficient, the Spirit has to get involved, through signs and wonders due to much sin that abounds." (What We Saw, Robert C. Gray, 12/14/96)

"So in 1978 I left the Charles E. Fuller Institute of Evangelism and Church Growth to become pastor of what is now called the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Anaheim, California. It was in this environment, a small group of fifty people, that "I first tested my theories of power evangelism." Note that John Wimber, the pragmatist, admits he was testing his theories, not expounding the Scriptures. Wimber continues this dangerous practice even to this day. He is continually trying to find out "what works" in the realm of healing, prophetic messages, casting out demons, etc., so that he can then teach it to others. Pragmatism is the exact opposite of faith. Pragmatism says, "If it works, I'll accept and believe it." Faith says, "What I accept and believe is based entirely upon God's written Word, the Bible." (Commenting on John Wimbers theories of "Power Evangelism", False Prophets...Pseudo Apostles, & A New Gospel, Fundamental Evangelistic Association, 1996, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

Mark 16:17-18 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (KJV)

Mark 16:17-18 "And these signs will accompany those who believe: ..." (NIV)

There is nowhere in the Bible that says that signs and wonders MUST accompany the gospel. These verses (though also disputed as to whether they were a part of the original writings of Mark) only say that signs and wonders will follow or accompany those who are truly Christians. They follow, not overshadow as they are promoted by the Third Wave.

There are many quotes that verify that Third Wave leaders called down the "power" by threatening God if He didn't comply, most notably Rodney Howard-Browne. Because they did not understand Scripture and thus were not praying in God's will, they opened themselves up to deception by the enemy. They have now passed this deception on to others.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #12

There are three evolutionary waves and the church is in the Third Wave, where prophets and apostles will be greater than those of Biblical times.

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

"The first wave was the Pentecostal movement, the second, the Charismatics, and now the Third Wave is joining them." (C. Peter Wagner. The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit. Vine Books. Page 25., http://www.hutch.com.au/~rlister/charis/randles/randle1.htm )

"No prophet or apostle who ever lived equaled the power of these individuals in this great army of the Lord in these last days. No one ever had it, not even Elijah or Peter or Paul, or anyone else enjoyed the power that is gong to rest on this great army." (Bob Jone and Paul Cain. "Selections from the Kansas City Prophets," audiotape (tape: 155C) http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

"God's raising up a new standard, a new banner, if you will, that's going to radically change the expression, the understanding of Christianity in our generation...God has invited us to have a role in establishing a new order of Christianity...God is offering to this generation something He has never offered to any other generation...beware lest old order brethren rob you and steal this hope from you." (Paul Cain, "You Can Become the Word!", 1989, Vineyard Prophetic Conference, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

These "waves" are not mentioned in Scripture. The concept that Christians are evolving upwards smacks of the same error that evolutionists have been foisting on the world with regards to origins. Though it is true that the church has gone through different difficulties and has had to withstand all kinds of errors that have come upon it, the church remains the same as it was when it was instituted by Jesus.

Mt 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it"

"This rock" is Jesus. He is the cornerstone, the foundation stone of the Church. Any movement without Christ as its foundation, but rather with undue emphasis on the Holy Spirit, who Himself does not desire worship but always points to Christ, is not really a church at all.

Mr 9:35 "Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

The model for authority in the church is not the same as the model of authority in the world. The one who aspires to be greatest is to be the very last and servant of all. The concept of Christians in the last days becoming far superior to those in the first century is therefore erroneous. The idea that there will be apostles and prophets today far greater than the apostles and prophets of the first century, as prophesied by Paul Cain, is also presumptuous. Instead, if anything, when churches of the last days think they are really something, that is when they are not.

Rev. 3:16-17 "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, `I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

We are to, instead, pray and strive to be "overcomers". This is because our age is full of self-deception and delusion, not some glorious Third Wave that will result in the ultimate holiness and purity of the church on this earth before the second coming of Christ.

Rev. 3:19-21 "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."

The prophesy for this generation is to be "earnest and repent"; it is the sign of Jonah, the sign of the cross.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #13

They teach that the church is Christ, or the physical body of Christ on earth.

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

"Yes, Lord, we're going to go for it, we're gonna try to do our part to bring the kingdom of God here...and wouldn't it be wonderful if the Lord would start to move in power and restore the church to its proper place and make us the head and not the tail?" (John Arnott, TACF, 10/19/94, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

"We (the church) are Christ." (Kenneth Hagin, As Christ is -- So are we, Tape #44H06, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

"THE FIFTH FUNCTION OF THE CHURCH IS TO CONQUER THE LAST ENEMY, WHICH IS DEATH, AND TO BRING REDEMPTION TO THE BODY OF CHRIST ... WHEN THE CHURCH BECOMES SO CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE THAT THOSE WHO DIE DO NOT PASS THROUGH THE GRAVE, BUT BECOME INSTEAD GLORIOUSLY CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, IT WILL BE THAT CHURCH WHICH WILL BRING THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO PASS ON THE EARTH ... JESUS CHRIST CONQUERED DEATH INDIVIDUALLY, BUT IT IS LEFT TO THE CHURCH TO CONQUER DEATH ON A CORPORATE BASIS ..." (Earl Paulk, "The Proper Function of the Church" (Atlanta: K Dimension Publishers, undated), p.13., http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

Eph 3:21 "to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Eph 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour."

Lu 5:35 "But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast."

The church is the body of Christ but also the bride of Christ. It is not actually Christ. Christ is Christ. Christ is the Head of the church.

Heb. 9:27-28 "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

Re 20:6 "Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years."

Christ will bodily return to earth to reign for a thousand years. Christ is a person, not a force.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #14

A "paradigm shift" to two-thirds world worldview from an evil Western worldview is needed.

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

Why is the Third World so much more open to God's kingdom power then the developed world? It is, according to Wimber, primarily because of world view. The Third World mentality is one in which Satan, demons, angels, elemental spirits, and even household gods, are interacting with us in everyday life. Those with this paradigm, or, world view, seem to have no problem with believing in a supernatural God or His miracles, in fact, they would expect God to perform miracles. Supposedly because their world view allows for this, it happens. With that kind of world view, God can be God! (Bill Randles, Weighed and Found Wanting, 1995, http://www.hutch.com.au/~rlister/charis/randles/randle1.htm)

His book, Christianity with Power, is a virtual testimonial to the influence of Wimber and the "Signs and Wonders" course, which he also took in 1982. But, his book is much more than that. It is a call for a "Paradigm Shift," from a "Western Mind set" to a more experiential paradigm. (Bill Randles, Weighed and Found Wanting, 1995, http://www.hutch.com.au/~rlister/charis/randles/randle1.htm)

"What's Missing? Power. Politicians crave it, money buys it, and some people will do anything for it. In a world where New Agers rely on crystals and channeling to tap into spiritual power, the Christian is reminded that Jesus used supernatural power to heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. Two thousand years later, the world still desperately needs a Saviour who works in power. Charles Kraft believes that many modern Christians have become embarrassed and reluctant to preach a gospel accompanied by supernatural power. Our Western World view conditions us to fit God into a neat, predictable, mold." (Charles Kraft. Christianity With Power. Vine Books. back cover, http://www.hutch.com.au/~rlister/charis/randles/randle1.htm)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

Ga 3:22 "But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe"

Eph 2:12 "remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world."

The world is at odds with Christ, along with the worldviews associated with it.

Col 2:8 "See to it that no-one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

Any shift of worldview should be towards God's worldview through Christ, not some cultural/ethnic humanistic worldview. We need to let God change our worldview through His Word, not attempt to do so on our own to a worldview that is just as sinful, and maybe worse, than a Western worldview.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #15

The emphasis is on the Holy Spirit more than on Christ. The Holy Spirit is being invoked, prayed to, commanded, and pressed into people's foreheads. *

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

Of the frightening manifestatioins in evidence in the Toronto "Blessing" John Arnott says the problem is that we have been conditioned to believe "that the Holy Spirit's a gentleman" who would never do anything "rough or impolite". That, says Arnott, is simply "not true!" (John Arnott, Discovery Church, Orlando, FL, 1/29/95, audiotape, commentary from Counterfiet Revival, Hank Hanegraaff, 1997, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

Jack Deere on the subject of modern day prophesy: "But you know what? God is in the process of offending our minds in order to reveal our hearts. And I don't know any place where it's going to be 100% right. There's going to be stumbling blocks in every ministry that the Holy Spirit is really responsible for." (Jack Deere, TACF, 11/20/94, audiotape, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

"Had He (Jesus) not offered Himself through the Holy Ghost, He would not be accepted in the eyes of God the Father. Nor would He have endured the sufferings of the cross. Had He not presented Himself through the Holy Ghost, His blood would not have remained pure and spotless. And let me add this: Had the Holy Spirit not been with Jesus, He would have sinned." (Benny Hinn, Good Morning Holy Spirit, (Word, 1991) p.135, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

"Fill, fill, fill, come to me, fill, fill" (Howard Browne shouts at the Holy Spirit to fill Randy Clark) (Rodney Howard-Browne, Taken from a Toronto Vineyard video and included in "A Plague in the Land" a video recording of a talk by Alan Morrison (1995, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

" ... how can you glorify God in your body, when it doesn't function right? How can you glorify God? How can He get glory when your body doesn't even work? ... What makes you think the Holy Ghost wants to live inside a body where He can't see out through the windows and He can't hear with the ears? What makes you think the Holy Spirit wants to live inside of a physical body where the limbs and the organs and the cells do not function right? ... And what makes you think He wants to live in a temple where He can't see out of the eyes, and He can't walk with the feet, and He can't move with the hand? ... The only eyes that he has that are in the earth realm are the eyes that are in the body. If He can't see out of them then God's gonna be limited ..." (Frederick K.C. Price, "Is God Glorified Through Sickness?" (Los Angeles: Crenshaw Christian Center, n.d.), audiotape #FP605, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

1Jo 5:6 "This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth"

Jo. 16:13-15 "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

The Holy Spirit Himself always point to Christ. We may worship Him as part of the Trinity. But our focus, brought about by the focus, infact the very essence of the Holy Spirit, should be on Jesus Christ and the gospel message of the cross.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #16

The force of faith produces miracles.

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

"Faith is a power force," he claims. "It is a tangible force. It is a conductive force." (Kenneth Copeland, The Force of Faith (Fort Worth: KCP Publications, 1989), 10., http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

"The force of gravity...makes the law of gravity work...this force of faith...makes the laws of the spirit world function." (Kenneth Copeland, The Laws of Prosperity (Fort Worth: Kenneth Copeland Publications, 1974), 18-19., http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

The "force of faith is released by words." (Kenneth Copeland, Authority of the Believer II (Fort Worth: Kenneth Copeland Ministries, 1987, audiotape #01-0302), side 1., http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

"The force of faith was controlling His (Jesus') ministry." (Kenneth Copeland, The Force of Faith, 9., http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

"Sow a big seed, when you confess it, you are activating the supernatural forces of God." (Benny Hinn, Praise-a-thon (TBN), recorded November 1990, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

"Words create pictures, and pictures in your mind create words. And then the words come back out your mouth....And when that spiritual force comes out it is going to give substance to the image that's on the inside of you. Aw, that's that visualization stuff! Aw, that's that New Age! No, New Age is trying to do this; and they'd get somewhat results out of it because this is spiritual law, brother." (Kenneth Copeland, Believer's Voice of Victory (television program), TBN, 28 March 1991., http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

Ac 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know."

Ps 77:14 "You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples."

God produces miracles. We need to be obedient to His will concerning these things. He is sovereign.

Joh 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

2Pe 3:5 "But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water."

God doesn't use a seperate force to create. God creates by His Word. We are to meditate on God's Word.

Col 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God"

The Word of God needs to dwell in us, not some force of power to use.

Isa 40:8 "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands for ever."

God's Word is forever.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #17

Christians cannot be demonized. God would not give a serpent to one who asks for bread. *

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

Don't "even entertain the thought that (you) might get a counterfeit." (John Arnott, TACF, 12/16/94, audiotape, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

"I'd rather be in a church where the devil and the flesh are manifesting than in a church where nothing is happening because people are too afraid to manifest anything... and if the devil manifests, don't worry about that, either. Rejoice, because at least something is happening." (Rodney Howard-Browne, The Coming Revival. 1991, p.6, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

Third Wavers use this verse to claim God would not allow them to be demonized. Luke 11:10-13 "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened. Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" They are using this verse, saying, “We know Toronto is true, because if we ask for a fish, we are not going to get a serpent; if we ask for bread, we are not going to get a stone.” The typology of the serpent is Satan the deceiver — in Genesis the serpent beguiled the woman; in Revelation the dragon and serpent are cast down to earth. Look at the context. How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Spirit ... The New Testament teaches two ways of receiving the Spirit: the Holy Spirit indwelling and the Holy Spirit outpoured. As far as the Holy Spirit indwelling goes, that is what happens when you are born again. These people admit that they are born again Christians, so they cannot be talking about receiving the Holy Spirit to be born again — they already say they are born again. The Holy Spirit outpoured is the Baptism of the Spirit. These people are already Charismatics and Pentecostals, so they are not talking about the Baptism in the Spirit. I don’t know what they are talking about but, whatever it is, it is not what Jesus was talking about. They already claim to have received the Spirit, but they have some other spirit now. I wonder what spirit it is? True, if you ask the Father for a fish, He is not going to give you a snake. But that is the test — If you get a snake, you know it wasn’t God who gave it to you. And, boy, have they got hold of a snake! (Three Years and Still No Revival, Jacob Prasch, 1995,  http://www.moriel.org/sermons/3_years_toronto.htm )

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

See paper Scriptures That Confirm That Christians Can Be Demonized by Sandy Simpson, 1997 for references.

The Bible is full of references to believers being demonized, or teachings that show us how to "put on the armor". The extent to which a believer can be demonized is an open question. But we must be wary at all times, not knowing the extent to which God will allow the enemy to influence out lives. If we leave a foothold to Satan, God may allow him to use it to test us to see if we are truly faithful or not.

There is also an open question as to whether or not many people in this movement were ever born again Christians to begin with.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #18

Christians who are not healthy do not have enough faith. *

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

Benny Hinn said: "This spirit-man within me is a God-man. Say after me, he’s born of heaven, he’s a super-being…Say I’m born of heaven - God-man. I’m a God-man. I’m a sample of Jesus. I’m a super being. Say it! Say it! Who’s a super being? I walk in the realm of the supernatural. Get the spirit-man renewed…when he’s strong, he’ll hold off sickness…you want to prosper? Money will be falling on you from left, right and center. God will begin to prosper you, for money always follows righteousness…Say after me, I hold my destiny." ("Joel’s Army," Jewel van der Merwe, Discernment Ministries, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

Paul Cain promises credulous Christians that in the fullness of endtime restorationism "all the sick are gonna be healed, the dead are gonna be raised and nations are gonna turn to God in a day." (Bob Jones and Paul Cain, "Selections from the Kansas City Prophets," audiotape, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

Ro 8:26 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."

1 Cor. 14:42 "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. "

2Co 11:30 "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."

2Co 12:9 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

This is a most devilish teaching in this movement. What about handicapped Christians like Joni Ericson Tada? God often uses sickeness in our sanctification process, as well as other difficult situations, even persecutions and death. This was demostrated when a lady from Yap who has had epilepsy for many years and had just found medicine that was helping her, was prayed over and told to stop taking her medicine. Her symptoms came back either due to lack of medicine, the manifestations, or a little of both.

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #19

There is little or no discernment or testing of the spirits. There is disorder and "pandemonium" at Third Wave meetings. *

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

"God sent pandemonium in the church," he said. "I think it's time that we have grand pandemonium in the Baptists, in the Lutheran, the Episcopal, the Assembly of God [churches]. God send pandemonium!" Kilpatrick exclaimed. (The Brownsville/Pensacola Outpouring. Revival or Pandemonium?, Matt Costella, Staff Writer ©FOUNDATION Magazine, March-April 1997)

As Kilpatrick looked over his shoulder, he said his ankles slipped, his knees bowed out, and a sudden "river of the glory of God" moved between his legs. "It felt like a telephone pole," he said. "An endless telephone pole was coming through my legs and it was coming in the church." (The Brownsville/Pensacola Outpouring. Revival or Pandemonium?, Matt Costella, Staff Writer ©FOUNDATION Magazine, March-April 1997, http://www.fundamentalbiblechurch.org/Foundation/fbcpensa.htm )

Steve Hill said "If you must analyze, then look at me, look at the musicians and singers, look at the congregation, look at the person to the left of you and to the right of you, and just analyze, analyze, analyze get it out of your system. Now let yourselves go: don't even think about what you are doing, forget about those around you and what they are doing. Release your mind release your spirit and let the mighty river of the "Holy Ghost" take you wherever He wants you to go." (Revival ... or Satanic Counterfeit?, Jimmy Robbins, 1996, http://www.midcry.org/revival.htm )

"My God, church, get in! This is it! Revival's come! This is what we've been praying for! Get in!" (John Kilpatrick, Counterfeit Revival, Hank Hanegraaff, audiotape version, 1997, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

The "manifestations" of this movement are clearly not of God, because "manifesations" are clearly outlined in 1 Cor. 12.

1 Cor. 12:7 "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."

None of the manifestations listed by John Kilpatrick at BAG are mentioned in this only passage listing "manifestations". The demonic manifestations at BAG are often attributed to the Holy Spirit, and not to flesh and demons, which they should be. These things should not be happening in the gathering of believers.

1Co 14:40 "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way"

Col 2:5 "For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is."

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #20

The preaching of the Word is not important. *

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

Steve Hill said "In these latter days preaching and simply teaching the word is no longer sufficient, the Spirit has to get involved, through signs and wonders due to much sin that abounds." (What We Saw, Robert C. Gray, 12/14/96, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/acct.htm)

"'One night I was preaching on hell,' Howard-Browne says, 'and [laughter] just hit the whole place. The more I told people what hell was like, the more they laughed'" (Rodney Howard-Browne, Charisma, August 1994, pg. 24, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html).

On Calvary Chapel: "Calvaryites are sometimes a little too heavily oriented to the written Word." (John Wimber, "Healing: An Introductions," (audiotape no. 5) and "Church Planting Semnar," as quoted in Stephen F. Cannon, "Kansas City Fellowship Revisited", http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

This has been stated many times by various individuals, and by both pastors at Brownsville. The Word is practically the only objective truth we have left in our time. We's better hold on to God and His Word or we will be set adrift, like this movement, without an anchor.

2Ti 4:2 "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."

We are to preach the Word in preparedness to rebuke and encourage others.

Tit 1:9 "He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it."

Tit 2:1 "You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine."

We must hold to the Word and the sound doctrine that it teaches. This is because men today do not want sound doctrine, but rather want subjective testimonials, visions, prophesies, and myths told to them instead.

2Ti 4:3 "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #21

A modern day prophet can be innacurate and still be considered a true prophet of God.

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

It's always revealing, the attitudes people have about critical thinking. A common problem with leadership today is their refusal to criticize or judge the false. This is a tragedy for we need that kind of leadership more now than ever! A prime example is John Hinckle's prophecy that on Thursday, June 9th, the Lord would rip all evil off the face of the earth. That "prophecy" was later spiritualized and revised to say that the "spiritual vail of darkness would be torn, allowing people to see the light!" The Kansas City Prophets and others allegedly had received "words from God" to the effect that for New Testament times, the standard for prophets was different than Deut 18. According to them, a "prophet" can be 40% inaccurate and still be considered valid! Unfortunately, thanks to people like John Wimber, their teachings have been widely accepted. You can see this lax view of prophetic standards in this Arnott observation! This quote may well have been said before June 9th. [Arnott] "People get funny when things like this happen...June 9th, there was a prophecy given by a reputable man,...that the Lord would tear open the vail, the shroud of darkness that is over the earth, that is blinding the earth, and as He tore the vail of the temple when Jesus arose, now He's going to tear open the heavens and allow the glory of God to come down...I really hope it comes true...I know that He's up to something...Don't get too excited about dates, sometimes prophetic people are right about the event, but wrong about the date." (Bill Randles, Weighed and Found Wanting, 1995, http://www.hutch.com.au/~rlister/charis/randles/randle1.htm)

Bob Jones, in the tape "Shepherd's Rod" told us that God had revealed to him that the Rhema (spoken word) would be two thirds accurate in the days to come. In other words, up to two-thirds of the time these prophets would be "right on." Why not 100% of the time? If you listen to Bob Jones, you would be glad for inaccurate prophets! Why? God showed Bob, supposedly, that if enough power was released to give us 100% accuracy, we would have dead Ananias' and Sapphirra's all over the place! (How's that for making people actually thankful for inaccurate prophets?) Jones says we shouldn't worry about inaccurate prophesies, for God told him that prophets are like guns and prophecies are like bullets and inaccurate prophecies are like blanks. And he also says that God told him, "l'm loading the guns, I'm putting the blanks in!" Incredible! Jones would have us believe that God is responsible for innaccurate prophecies! Supposedly, even when we shoot blanks, it scares the enemy! Bob Jones complains about people who "try to make us Old Testament prophets" meaning to hold them to the standard of Deut 18. He then quotes I Cor 14, about giving prophecy in church and judging to see if they are all right. I must reply to this. There is a huge difference, I agree, in giving a prophecy, "To edify, exhort, and comfort" the church, and in being a prophet, who presumes to speak in the name of the Lord. But, we aren't trying to make these modern "prophets" into Old Testament prophets, they are. They are the ones who emphatically say, "The Lord said this," or "I saw the Lord face to face, and He said thus and so..." that's a far cry from supernatural utterance to edify, exhort, and comfort. Standing up and making bold pronouncements to the church universal in the name of God is a serious matter, New or Old Testament. Leading the church into error as a teacher is bad enough, but to claim direct revelation while doing it is even worse. Bob Jones is a man who claims to have five to six visions and revelations per day. We are talking about a man who thought he was a backslider when two days went by without a visitation from Jesus. He actually stands before the Lord on the day of atonement, remember? And Mike Bickle enthusiastically promoted it! (Bill Randles, Weighed and Found Wanting, 1995, http://www.hutch.com.au/~rlister/charis/randles/randle1.htm)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

This prophesy by the Kansas City Prophets to let themselves off the hook is shameful. The Bible is clear that if a prophet has not heard from God, he is a liar and we are no longer to listen to him and that God will judge him.

2 Peter 1:1-3 "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping."

If a person is a false prophet, they are also a false teacher, and vice versa. The "Spirit of Truth" does not empower a person to speak lies. That comes from sin and the deceiver, the father of lies.

1 Timothy 6:3-12 "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

2 Timothy 4:3-5 "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

On false prophets the Bible says clearly:

De 18:20-22 "But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death. You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."

Jeremiah 23:16-18 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They keep saying to those who despise me, `The LORD says: You will have peace.' And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, `No harm will come to you.' But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?

Ezekiel 13:1-23 "The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: `Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! Your prophets, O Israel, are like jackals among ruins. You have not gone up to the breaks in the wall to repair it for the house of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the LORD. Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, "The LORD declares", when the LORD has not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled. Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, "The LORD declares", though I have not spoken? "`Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign LORD. My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD. "`Because they lead my people astray, saying, "Peace", when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, "Where is the whitewash you covered it with?" "`Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury. I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the LORD. So I will spend my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, "The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign LORD."' "Now, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them and say, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? You have profaned me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live. "`Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds. I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the LORD. Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practise divination. I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the LORD.'"

UNBIBLICAL TEACHING #22

The proofs, for them, that this is revival or a move of God are based on feelings, experiences, manifestations, subjective testimonies and zealous witnessing. *

SUBSTANTIATING QUOTES

"I finally start to ask Carol, "Honey, what do you feel?" (Carol), "Oh, it's just wonderful." (Arnott), 'Well, help me," you know, and so she says, "Now, just tune in," and so I'd be tuned in and I'm there, going like this,...and maybe I'd even start weaving a little bit, and I'm thinking "Lord, do I feel something on my hands or am I just making this up? Is there something here or am I so wanting this?"...And Carol would say, "No, no, I can feel Him going in, I can feel Him going in, Just keep focused!" You know and then...she'd say, "Oops, where did you go?" I'd say, "What do you mean?" She'd say, "I feel it coming back on me, where did you go?" And I would realize my mind had drifted off again someplace." (John Arnott, Receiving the Spirit's Power, 1995, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

Arnott says about manifestation expectations: "People ask us all the time, "What do you feel?" and that's a valid question. At first, it's almost imperceptible, but you think your hands are feeling a little heavier, this is my experience, and as you love Him, and stay tuned to that and say, "Oh, Lord, more of your presence," and it gets heavier and they begin to tingle, kind of, sort of like electricity and it can flow all up and down your arms and all over your face and up and down your legs and when it really increases, it's like you're being electrocuted, almost." (Bill Randles, Weighed and Found Wanting, 1995, http://www.hutch.com.au/~rlister/charis/randles/randle1.htm)

God decided to throw a party for His people because they "already feel so icky about themselves." (Randy Clark, Catch The Fire, TAV, 10/14/94, audiotape, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

"The second mark of a God mocker is a fear of confrontation and change. They are so stuck in religious tradition that they are closed to new revelation. The pastor who mocked God as he left the Brownsville Revival was steeped in religious legalism. He was in bondage and totally closed to the moving of the Holy Ghost. (How anyone can come into a revival meeting in Brownsville and fail to feel Jesus is beyond me! I can't imagine it.)" (Stephen Hill, The God Mockers, chapter 1, 1997, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

A real revival always begins with the preaching of the gospel and confession and repentance. When manifestations begin to appear that are contrary to God's Word, they should be dealt with or else they will grow and quench the Spirit and become a revival of spirits. This kind of "revival" is not revival at all, in fact it prevents revival altogether.

Jude 19-20 "These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost."

James 3:15 "This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish."

Sensual experiences and ecstatic experientials highs are a poor substitute for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in a Christian's life.

Mt 6:6 "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

The public spectacle of this Third Wave movement has resurrected the faith healer medicine shows that came to town earlier in the twentieth century. This new circus has given a stage to many people with deep emotional problems to act out on their spiritual fantasies. To top this off, in the "Big Top" of the counterfeit revival, people are praying openly for "more power". In praying for something we are not told to pray for in the Bible, these poor people are "praying amiss" and are opening themselves up to deception from the spirit world on a scale never seen before in this world. The antithesis of this is spelled out in Mt. 6:6. This is one of the marks of a true Christian.

IN CONCLUSION

Some words from Scripture to consider:

2 Peter 2:1-13

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, revelling in their pleasures while they feast with you."

Matt. 24:23-27

"For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, `There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, `Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it." 


GUIDING PRINCIPLES
ON HOW TO DEAL WITH UNBIBLICAL DOCTRINES
AND THE PEOPLE AND MOVEMENTS THAT PROMOTE THEM

(1) Test the spirits

1Jo 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

(2) Judge whether any movement, teacher or prophet is from God.

For an excellent article on "judging" and discernment, see "Judge Not?" by Jacob Prasch.

We are not the eternal Judge (James 4:12, Acts 10:42). We are not to judge hypocritically while sinning in the same way (Matt. 7:1-5). We are not to judge and cause divisions over minor issues (Rom.14). But we are to judge, even if we don't like that word today. Judging entails being a good Berean:

Ac 17:11 "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

We should test, research, read the Word, allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in deciding if something is of God. Here is a brief teaching on the subject of "judging".

Paul said to the Corinthians:

1Co 10:15 "I speak to sensible people; JUDGE for yourselves what I say."

Paul on JUDGING people in the church who are sexually immoral, etc.:

1Co 5:11-13 "But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to JUDGE those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."

John says we are to TEST, that also means judge, use our judgment:

1Jo 4:1 "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but TEST the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

If a person or even a whole movement is found to have a different spirit and false prophets, God pleads with us to leave that movement behind:

Re 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

One of the most misused verses in the Bible is, "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matt. 7: 1). Every Scripture verse should be read in its context, if we are to properly understand the true meaning. In vs. 2-5 of this same chapter it is evident that v. 1 is referring to hypocritical judgment. A brother who has a beam in his own eye should not be judging the brother who may have a mote in his eye. The lesson is plain, you cannot judge another for his sin if you are guilty of the same sin.

Those who cling to "Judge not, that ye be not judged, " to condemn those who expose error should read the entire chapter. Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing... " (v. 15). How can we know false prophets unless we judge them by the Word of God? If we know the false prophets, how can we fail to exam the sheep of these "ravening wolves?" All through the Bible we find proof that they should be identified and exposed.

Examples of TESTING:

A fornicator is described in I Cor. 5:1-13. Paul "judged" (v.3) the man even though he was absent, and he told the Church at Corinth that they were to "judge" (v. 12) those that were within. The Greek word for "judge" is the same here as in Matt. 7: 1. Paul did not violate "judge not, that ye be not judged, " in judging the man, nor in instructing the Church to judge also. All of this judgment was according to the Word of God.

Is it right to expose error in the church? YES! We are to JUDGE them, but righteously:

John 7:24 "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

We are to TRY them:

I John 4: 1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they be of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world"

All doctrine and teachers are to be tried according to the Word of God:

Isa. 8:20 "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them"

Every message, messenger, and method is to be judged according to the Word of God. The church at Ephesus was commended because they had "tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars " (Rev. 2:2).

The church at Pergamos was rebuked because they tolerated those that held "the doctrine of Balaam, " and "the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate" (Rev. 2:14,15).

It is never right to tolerate false teachers, but they are to be tried by the Word of God, and exposed. Of course those who want to disobey the Word of God will seek by every means to avoid this teaching.

We are to MARK them and AVOID them:

Rom. 16:17 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them "

Those whose conduct and teaching contradicts the Word of God are to be marked and to be avoided. This requires discernment and judgment in the light of the Bible. The Third Wave movement will resist any effort to obey this Scripture. They cannot be marked and avoided, unless they are judged according to the Word of God.

We are to REBUKE them:

Titus 1: 13 "Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith "

This was written to Titus, because there were those going from house to house and subverting whole houses with false doctrine (v. 10-16).

Oral Roberts, Robert Schuller, John Arnott, Paul Cain, Kenneth Copeland, Pat Robertson, John Kilpatrick, Steve Hill, and many others are subverting whole houses with their false doctrine today. Are we to sit silently by, while they do this, without rebuking and admonishing people to avoid their teaching? No, the faithful servant of the Lord is to be "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers " (Titus 1:9).

We are to have NO FELLOWSHIP with them:

Eph. 5:11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them "

Reprove means to censure, condemn, find fault, rebuke, and to refute. How can we obey this Scripture unless we try them by the Word of God?

We are to WITHDRAW from them:

II Thess. 3:6 "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh DISORDERLY, and not after the tradition which ye received of us "

We are to withdraw from those whose doctrine and conduct does not conform to the Word of God. The context clearly shows that obedience to sound doctrine is what Paul has in mind, for he says, "if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet, count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother" (II Thess. 3:14-15). Paul admonished Timothy to "withdraw thyself " from those who "consent not to wholesome words ... and to the doctrine which is according to godliness." (I Tim. 6:3-5).

We are to TURN AWAY from them:

Concerning the last days, he says that some will have "a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. From such turn away" for such people are "never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (11 Tim. 3:5,7).

How can we turn away from them if we do not identify them, and this requires that their message be compared to the Word of God. It is the business of the true preacher to: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine " (II Tim. 4:2). This is usually an unpopular and thankless task but it is the duty of the God-called man. If a movement does not preach the gospel, adding NOTHING, then that movement has no real power because "it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Rom. 1:16) The displays of power in this movement are false signs and wonders. The real power of God is the power to change lives. Angels rejoice when a sinner repents. There is no mention in Scripture about angels rejoicing over sings and wonders. They know what a real miracle is.

We are NOT to RECEIVE them into our house:

1 John 1:10 "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his, evil deeds "

There is no doubt about who John is speaking about, it is "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ... " (v.9). By radio, TV, music and literature, false prophets are brought into the homes of many Christians today. Even by e-mail. This should not be.

We are to REJECT HERETICS:

Titus 3: 10 "A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject "

We should reject those who teach a different atonement through Christ, as do the Faith Movement. If you doubt, read Hanegraaff's book "Christianity In Crisis" and read their statements. There are many who deny this and other basic doctrines and tenets of the Christian faith from the Word of God. If they will not respond to being admonished, then they are to be rejected.

We are to look out for those who preach another gospel. Paul warned about those who preached "another Jesus ... another spirit ... or another gospel" (II Cor. 11:4). How can we know them unless we judge their Jesus, their spirit, and their gospel by the Word of God? Paul called such preachers "false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ" (11 Cor. II: 13). He explains in v. 14-15 that these preachers are the ministers of Satan. The God-called man must be just as faithful today in exposing the ministers of Satan.

Paul warned the Galatians about those who "pervert the gospel of Christ." He also said, "If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (See Gal. 1:6-9). Multitudes today are preaching a perverted gospel. Those who teach salvation by baptism, or by works, or by signs and wonders, are teaching a perverted gospel. Those who preach a salvation that you can lose, are preaching a perverted gospel. The Third Wave movement is preaching a perverted gospel. Yet, we are supposed to cooperate with them in evangelism and Christian work, according to many today. If we fail to expose these false prophets, then we have betrayed Christ and His gospel.

We are to SEPARATE from them:

II Cor. 6:17 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch no the unclean thing; and I will receive you "

This makes it plain. God's people are to come out of apostasy and religious error. How can any Bible believer remain in the National Council or World Council of Churches? How can they remain in a movement that is bringing demonic control into the churches of the world, splitting apart families, bringing nightmares to children, bringing epilepsy and other abnormalities to otherwise healthy individuals, bringing the teaching of the "second blessing" to a whole new low whereby every Christian must now exhibit demonic manifestations to be considered holy?

(3) If a movement is not of God because it fails the test of sound doctrine and practice, do not attend meetings of that movement or use their materials.

Counterfeit revival leaders have admitted that there is demonic activity happening in their churches.

"I'd rather be in a church where the devil and the flesh are manifesting than in a church where nothing is happening because people are too afraid to manifest anything... and if the devil manifests, don't worry about that, either. Rejoice, because at least something is happening." (Rodney Howard-Browne, The Coming Revival. 1991, p.6, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

"Don't even entertain the thought that (you) might get a counterfeit." (John Arnott, Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, 12/16/94, audiotape, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

"God sent Pandemonium in the church," he said. "I think it's time that we have grand Pandemonium in the Baptists, in the Lutheran, the Episcopal, the Assembly of God [churches]. God send Pandemonium!" Kilpatrick exclaimed. (The Brownsville/Pensacola Outpouring. Revival or Pandemonium?, Matt Costella, Staff Writer ©FOUNDATION Magazine, March-April 1997, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html)

Pandemonium is derived from two Greek words as defined in Webster's Dictionary: "Noun - New Latin, from Greek pan- + daimOn = evil spirit"

If that is the case we should take the advice of a man who studied and wrote books on just about every occult and Christian group in existence in his time, Kurt Koch

Kurt Koch, Occult ABC - "I advise Christians not to watch (occult activities). If one unwittingly finds oneself among a crowd where such things are being performed, one must put oneself under God's protections. If necessary, we must also command the powers in the name of Jesus Christ."

Also consider these verses:

II Thess. 3:6 "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh DISORDERLY, and not after the tradition which ye received of us "

Eph. 5:11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them "

Kurt Koch and others are documented as having prayed a prayer of protection in faith healer meetings and, not only were they protected, but the faith healer could not perform his false healings:

Kurt Koch, Occult ABC - Years ago (William Branham) told his interpreter, Pastor Ruff, "If my angel does not give the sign, I cannot heal." Ruff noticed several features of spiritism in the work of Branham, and therefore stopped working with him. These "angels" of whom (Harry) Edwards and Branham spoke are evil spirits masquerading as angels of light. As in many areas of the occult, we are here reminded again that the devil appears as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14) Another evidence is the fact that neither Edwards nor Branham were able to perform cures when faced with born-again Christians who had committed themselves to the protection of Christ. In the case of Branham, I have experienced this myself. When he spoke in Karlsruhe and Lausanne, there were several believers among the audience including myself who prayed along these lines: "Lord, if this man's powers are from You, then bless and use him, but if the healing gifts are not from You, then hinder him." The result? On both occasions Branham said from the platform, "There are disturbing powers here. I can do nothing."

Many people, including myself, have also been protected from counterfeit revivalists who wanted to lay hands on us, by praying something like this: "Lord, if this is from your Holy Spirit, then bless both myself and the one laying hands on me; if it is not of your Holy Spirit, please protect me because I never want another demonic spirit to have influence over me. I put myself under the protection of the blood of Jesus Christ, and I also pray that You will bring this person to repentance."

(4) Do not allow people who have received a false anointing to lay hands on you or anyone else you know, if possible. If it is unavoidable, then pray a prayer of protection.

At the laying on of hands another spirit sometimes interposes itself and begins to demonize the individual who is the target of the procedure. The Holy Spirit is already in you if you have been born again. He cannot be activated or transferred to you by another person. The Spirit of God is sovereign and empowers whom He will, when He will. The Holy Spirit is a person, a "He" not an "it". He is the "agent" of the filling, not the "substance" of it. We can pray that ourselves or someone else be empowered by the Holy Spirit and even lay hands on someone in prayer petitioning God for their empowering or healing. But if someone claims that they can activate or transfer the Holy Spirit to you via the laying on of hands, beware. This will certainly result in either a fleshly experience of latent soul power, hypnosis, delusion brought on by hyper-suggestability, or may also allow demonization to occur if the subject is lasking in discernment and if the person laying hands on them is already demonized.

(5) Realize that there are many Christians who are being deceived and need our help.

Do not take a superior attitude when witnessing to counterfeit revivalists. Remain humble. Show them the Scriptures. Be patient with them. If they will not listen after rebuking them, then avoid them and tell others to until you see that they are searching for answers again. God still does miracles and can deliver them, especially if you pray diligently for them. Realize that God is still trying to bring them to repentance and salvation, or to bring them back from wandering.

Mt 18:14 "In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost."

2Pe 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

He is not willing that any should perish. But also be bold in standing up for the Truth, because God will not tarry forever and His judgement is looming over those who walk in disobedience to His Word.

We need to make the following verses our creed in these end times:

2 Tim. 4:2-5 "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encouragewith great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

(6) If someone is demonized as a result of being slain in the spirit at the laying on of hands and seeks your help, here are some principles to guide you.  This also applies to people who have become involved in more traditional occult activity.

If you are at all nervous or unsure about dealing with a demonized individual, you should not hesitate to contact your pastor or an elder in your church. This paper will give you and your leaders some helpful guidelines. This is offered because we as Christians should ALL be equipped to deal with these issues, especially in our day and age, because they are and will become more commonplace. This is the era of the "priesthood of the believers". God has all the power and control. If we are submitted to Him in obedience, He can deliver the most vile demoniac through the humble prayers of a faithful servant.

(a) They need to seek out a counselor who has spiritual authority before whom they declare themselves free.

Renuniciation, or declaring oneself free is an act of faith on the part of an oppressed person who wishes to become free. Declaring a person free is an act of faith on the part of the counselor, who has the authority in the name of Jesus to loose a person who is bound. This declaration is based on Matt. 18:18, "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." In the case of a person who has been demonized as a result of having been "slain in the spirit" or at the "laying on of hands", it is important for the person to be able to come to point where they renounce the "impartation" or "anointing" they received and the person that it came by. This has proven itself to be true in case after case, because this is a bottomline issue, especially with Christians who think they have had an "impartation" of the Holy Spirit. You must show them that an "impartation" of the Holy Spirit is an unbiblical concept and that is why what they experienced can only be an "impartation" of spirits. Only those who truly wish to be free can come to this realization.

(b) They need to come to Christ.

If people are suffering from occult oppression, they will get no help from a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or an adherent of the counterfeit revival. Nor is there help to be found in yoga, meditation, or any other religion or god of this world. In this situation only Christ can help. This exclusive claim is made in Acts 4:12: " Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." In Matt. 11:28 Jesus calls all those who are burdened to come to Him. In John 6:37 Jesus promises that "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."

(c) They need to recognize and confess their sin.

John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." James 5:16 says: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

(d) They need to understand clearly that deliverance is possible only through Christ.

John 8:36 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
Ac 4:12 "Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Joh 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me."

(e) They need to place themselves under the protection of Jesus' blood.

The blood of Jesus Christ is the only thing that paid for and cleanses from unrighteousness. Heb. 9:14 says: "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" We must allow God to bathe us in the blood of Christ. Heb. 10:22: "... let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." Redemption and righteousness is only possible through the blood of Christ. Eph. 1:7: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." God is the great protector of our bodies, minds and souls. He says of those who claim His protection in Zech. 2:5: "And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the LORD, `and I will be its glory within.'" Luke 10:19 also says in this regard: "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."

(f) They need to renounce and declare themselves free from Satan and any sins of sorcery of their forefathers.

There is generational sin, and the judgment of God can come down to the third or fourth generation because of it.

Ex 20:5 You shall not bow down to them (idols or false gods) or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ..."

If there is anything in a person's past like witchcraft, sorcery, spiritism, divination, necromancy, or any occult practices, these need to be renounced and placed under the blood of Jesus Christ.

(g) They need to command the enemy in the name of the Lord.

The example for this is given by Paul in Acts. 16:16-18. Faced with the spirit of divination in this fortuneteller of Philippi, the apostle Paul commanded it in the name of Jesus Christ, and the woman was set free. Acts 2:21 says: "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." The name of Jesus, however, is not to be used as some kind of magic formula, as the sons of Sceva found out. Matt 10:1 tells us: "He (Jesus) called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness."

(h) They need to be willing to dedicate themselves fully to Jesus.

Half-heartedness will only lead to further bondage. The person under oppression from demons must believe, with no doubt, in the blood of Jesus. James 1:6-8 says: "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." Instead, he should draw near to God: Jas 4:8 "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

(i) They need to accept the forgiveness of God by faith.

Without faith in Jesus Christ it is impossible to please God and to have true deliverance. Heb. 11:6: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." They must demonstrate that faith by doing as Rom. 10:9 says: "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

(j) They need to make diligent use of the means brought about by the grace of God.

In Acts 2:42 the means of grace are listed: "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." This verse gives us the four elements which form the spiritual bricks for building up the Christian life: the Word of God, the fellowship of believers, the Lord's Supper, and private and corporate prayer.

(k) They need to obey the Lord in all things.

Rom. 1:5 says: "Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith." Peter speaks of obedience to the truth in 1 Pet. 1:22: "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." The old hymn goes: "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

(l) They need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

We receive the Holy Spirit when we are truly born again. 1 Cor. 12:13 says: "For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one bodywhether Jews or Greeks, slave or freeand we were all given the one Spirit to drink." We must not stand still at that starting point only for we are also told in Eph. 5:18: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." This does not mean we need a baptism of the Spirit as a second experience of full salvation. We need, rather, a continual filling of the indwelling Holy Spirit after we have been born again and have become part of the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be who Jesus Christ wants us to be and do what God wants us to do.

(m) They need to put on the spiritual armor.

Eph. 6:10-18 calls for us to put on the armor. This needs to be a conscious decision. This is war. If we miss one piece of armor we are open to attack from the enemy. The devil does not fight fair. He will look for any opening. Eph. 6:11 says: "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." The enemy will use any scheme to try to tempt us, oppress us, even demonize us. It would be a good idea for the person who has been demonized to pray a prayer every day, confessing sins that deal with each piece of armor, and put on the armor.

(n) They need to realize the victory of Jesus over the powers of darkness.

1 John 4:4 says: "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." Satan has already been defeated. He was disarmed at the cross. Col 2:15 "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." God reigns supreme over all His creation and creatures, one of whom is Satan himself.

(o) They need to be careful not to get stuck halfway.

If a person has been born again but allows Satan a foothold in their life, they may go back into bondage again, into oppression, into demonization. Anger and lies are a few of the things that can give the devil a foothold. Eph. 4:25 says: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Also, refer to (h).

(p) They need to guard against the return of the demons.

In Luke 11:24 we are warned that demons which have been cast out are eager to return. They find the house swept and in order, enter in, and the last state of the man is worse than the first. To guard against this happening, we must follow the steps involved in this paper, and put on the armor of God in Eph. 6:10-18.

(q) They need to destroy all occult objects.

Occult objects, dedicated to spirits and demons, can have the presence of demons in or around them. We can find this in the Bible in a number of places. Re 9:20 "The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshipping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and woodidols that cannot see or hear or walk." Here demons are associated with idols made by human hands. Again in Duet 32:16-17 demons are associated with objects of worship: "They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols. They sacrificed to demons, which are not God -- gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your fathers did not fear." Objects of adoration and worship can also include items associated with a form of Christianity such as prayer cloths, pictures, icons, statues, crosses, crucifixes, "prophetic" notebooks, Mormon "holy underwear", and on and on.

(r) They need to break off all contacts with the counterfeit revival or the occult.

We must give up all contact with those who practice sorcery and magic, with or without a Christian label. Le 19:31 says: "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God." The faith healers that are held in such high esteem by this current counterfeit revival movement were clearly seen as practicing spiritism by the orthodox Christian community. William Branham, Kathryn Kuhlman, and Benny Hinn among many others have been proven to be practicing spiritism in the name of Christianity. Mal 3:5 says: "So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty." All you need to do is watch TBN for awhile to see that this indictment is heading their way.

(s) They need to join a prayer group.

Dealing with demonization or other problems also requires teamwork. The Bible says in Matt. 18:19: "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. " This is the authority Jesus Christ has given us. Acts 16:25 and Acts. 12:12 are examples of how the first century Christians prayed together.

(t) They need to practice prayer and fasting.

Matt. 17:21 says: "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Although a disputed verse, the concept is certainly Biblical. Lu 5:35 states of Jesus: "But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast." Jesus has not yet returned. We are still to fast and pray. Leaders were appointed by the Holy Spirit through worship, fasting and prayer: Ac 13:2 "While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Fasting should be a facet of worship, not a legalistic act. Prayer is the most important element. Eph 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" Prayer, in the context of God's will, changes things. Joh 16:24 "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." We "ask" primarily through prayer.

(u) They need to fellowship with a local church that is not into the counterfeit revival and where they can get solid Biblical teaching.

Ac 2:42 "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Fellowship is crucial. Regular attendance at local church body meetings, in whatever form they take, provides fellowship, teaching, study of the Word of God, and prayer. Heb 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching." We are living in the end times, as its evident from Scripture. Now is not the time to "give up meeting together". This is how we can truly grow and be molded by God to be more like Jesus Christ. This is also how we can learn to stand against the flesh, the world and the devil. 


RESOURCES 

"Deception In The Church" web site is at:  http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com

Please visit this web page for the most up to date articles, books, radio programs, and other materials regarding the Third Wave movement.


Here are some books that are excellent resources:

(1) Counterfeit Revival by Hank Hanegraaff, 1997
This excellent book on the subject of the Toronto/Brownsville movement is available from Christian Research Institute, Evangel.Com, or at Chrisitian Book Distributors, Price: Hardcover, $14.95, US ISBN 0849911826, CBD11826. Here's a review from A Closer Look magazine.

(2) New Wine Or Old Deception by Roger Oakland, 1997
How extrabiblical experiences such as the "Toronto Blessing" are seducing Christians with great delusions couched in biblical language. Available from The Berean Call, P.O. Box 7019, Bend, OR 97708. Price: $6.00 Catalog #BK28629, or from Understanding The Times.

(3) Twisted Scriptures - A Path To Freedom From Abusive Churches by Mary Alice Chrnalogar, 1997
"Leaders of many religious groups, including several mainstream churches, are twisting the Scriptures to subtly coerce cooperation from their members. In the process, personalities are changed and lives are ruined." Price: Softcover, $ 15.95, US ISBN 0-9649588-0-5

(4) The Serpent of Paradise by Erwin W. Lutzer, 1996
"This book is a modest attempt to put the devil in his place," Erwin Lutzer begins. How can one book strike a blow to our adversary? By pointing out that although Lucifer rebelled so he might no longer be God's servant, he still is. Even today, Satan cannot make a move without God's express consent. Lutzer contends that we cannot properly understand Satan unless we first understand God. When we stand in awe of God, we will find it unnecessary to stand in awe of Satan. "The Serpent Of Paradise" will challenge popular conceptions of Satan that play into the enemy's hands. Lutzer demonstrates that Satan's bid for independence was fatally flawed that moment he sinned. Here is a book that will stimulate your faith and lead you to worship a God who does not lose -- even when Satan appears to win. You will come away with a deeper understanding of Martin Luther's words, "Even the devil is God's devil." Another quote from the book that deals with the subject material of this page: "C.S. Lewis perceptively realized that the highest form of deception would be for demons to duplicate religious experiences ... And so it is that throughout the centuries the lie of Eden has taken hold. Millions claim to have had an "opening of the eyes", the experience of enlightenment. They claim to belong to the initiated who understand one another because they belong to the inner circle. The seeds of Eden have borne bitter fruit." This book can be found at Chrisitian Book Distributors, Price: Softcover, $7.95, US ISBN 0802427200, CBD 42700

(5) The Confusing World of Benny Hinn by G. Richard Fisher and M. Kurt Goedelman, 1996
Available from Personal Freedom Outreach, PO Box 26062, Saint Louis, Missouri 63136. USA May 1995, price L5.50 ISBN 1-885591-94-2 Here is one review of the book "He is a man who is literally being "tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14)

(6) Christianity In Crisis by Hank Hanegraaff, 1993
A comprehensive book on the Word-Faith movement. It is available from Christian Research Institute or at Chrisitian Book Distributors, Price: Softcover, $9.95, US ISBN 1565076966, CBD 76966.

(7) The Laughing Revival by David Cloud, 1993
"The "laughing revival" is sweeping through many segments of the Charismatic world. This booklet deals with this phenomenon and its key leaders. Covers the "Toronto Blessing" and the "Pensacola Outpouring." The Second edition contains a report on the author's visit to the Holy Trinity Brompton in London, England. Included is a chapter entitled "Slaying in the Spirit: Is It Biblical?" This booklet is available from Way of Life Literature, 1701 Harns Rd., Oak Harbor, WA 98277 (360) 675-8311 (voice), (360) 240-8347 (fax), Catalog Number: WOL333B, $3.00

(8) The Toronto Blessing And Slaying In The Spirit - The Telling Wonder by Nader Mikhaiel, 1995
"Since the beginning of the Pentecostal Movement, many groups have claimed a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. These "outpourings" have been accompanied by extraordinary manifestations: shaking, jerking, jumping, and speaking in tongues. The most common of these manifestations is what is called Slaying in the Spirit, and recently, uncontrollable laughter which has become known as the Toronto Blessing. This book examines the Pentecostal, Charismatic and subsequent movements in the light of these manifestations." Order from: Nader Mikhaiel, P.O. Box 170, Earlwood 2206 NSW Australia. Fax 0011-61-2-6462620, email: naderm@ozemail.com.au; $20.00, bulk purchase rates availalble.

(9) When New Wine Makes A Man Divine by Roger Oakland, 1997
"Today there are many different voices proclaiming contradicting messages in the name of Christ. Some say the whole world is in the the progress of experiencing a great Christian revival. Others say that the church is in the final stages of apostasy and the counterfeit bride is being prepared for a counterfeit Christ." Available from Understanding The Times for $6.00.

(10) Weighed and Found Wanting: Putting the Toronto Blessing in Context by Bill Randles, 1994
"With TBN, CBN, and Charisma Magazine and a host of other sources, error is having a field day these days! Never has the scripture been so easily fulfilled. II Timothy 3:6-7 "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." Eleven chapter e-book with appendix from a Pentacostal minister's perspective. EXCELLENT!


ENDNOTES

* NOTE: This false teaching, false doctrine, or phenomena was also observed by multiple witnesses at Third Wave meetings in Guam and Micronesia in 1997. For proof of these treachings or phenomena in Third Wave meetings around the world, there are excellent videos available from Paw Creek Ministries and Moriel Ministries. Audio tapes are also available from Christian Research Institute.


compiled by Sandy Simpson, 1997
This document may be freely distributed as long as the content is not altered in any way.