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Is Todd Bentley a False Prophet? –
Is Lakeland a False Revival?

“Strong Delusion”
 2 Thess. 2:11

Someone might say: “How can you imply that Todd Bentley is a false prophet?!” My reply: Because I can read. Can you read? Have you and are you daily searching the Holy Scriptures? (Jn. 5:39; Acts 17:11) If not, you have no discernment and are ultimately going to be “ashamed.” (2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 5:11-14). Read God’s Word and repent of trusting men and not Him alone – “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart…” (Prov. 3:5-6) – “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exod. 20:3)

Any thrill-seeker who does not put this Lakeland “revival” to the biblical acid-test is in disobedience to the Almighty who instructed us to believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because MANY false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 Jn. 4:1)

Bentley seldom uses Scripture which alone makes him completely false – “If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isa. 8:20; Ezek. 3:4; 2 Tim. 2:16-17; 1 Pet. 4:11)

Certainly, when Scripture is seldom mentioned, it will never be “Deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus” or that God is holy and hell is coming to all the unsaved.

I want to warn those who would support in any way or even be so brazen as to defend this deceiver, that you are going to answer to the LORD and be partaker of his evil deeds (Ezek. 14:1-; Hos. 4:9; 2 Jn. 7-11). Also, if you do repent and come out of this deception, you are going to be very embarrassed personally for having endorsed this wolf.

The Bible instructs us to “buy the truth, and sell it not” and to “hate every false way.” (Prov. 23:23; Ps. 97:10; 119:104; 128).

The frivolity/lightness by which he operates also identifies Bentley as a false prophet.

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:18

God’s people, in their backslidden and rebellious state, were divorced by Him for their lightness toward Him (Jer. 3:8-11).

Todd Bentley’s false visions, dreams, and lightness (instead of fear) toward the LORD are telltale signs that he is false:

“Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:32 

Did you catch that last part of this verse? – “they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.” There will be no good fruit from this “revival” because of Bentley, yet perhaps people are being healed because of their own faith, or maybe there are no authentic, verifiable healings? In fact, beware because lying signs and wonders are connected to deception in 2 Thessalonians 2:

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 

As we read in Jeremiah 16 (below), some are set in their hearts to shun His holy light of truth and go on in the lie. To them will be sent a “strong delusion” by God Himself:

“Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.” Jeremiah 16:17-19

Bentley grossly over emphasizes angels and even leads people to chant for angels to invade the meetings. Fallen angels (demons) oblige. The Heavenly Father/God’s Word tells us that He has spoken unto us in these days by His Son and that it is in His Son (not angels) that He is “well pleased.”

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” Hebrews 1:1-2 
“And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Mark 1:11 

BEWARE: We are warned about those who do not uphold Jesus Christ but rather direct people to look to and worship angels:

“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Colossians 2:18-19 

It is being said that the angel that enables Todd Bentley’s ministry is the same angel as enabled the ministry and false teachings of William Branham in the 1940’s. William Branham began the “Latter Rain” movement out of which much of the dominionism theology comes today through a myriad of Word of faith deceivers.

The angel that visits Bentley’s meetings is a fallen angel. He is an angel for sure and he is either Satan or one of his fallen angels (1/3 departed from God). Jesus Christ, the nail-scarred, risen Savior is not glorified but rather the angel. There is no reconciliation with this angel showing up and the ministry of Christ and His apostles. Also, Todd Bentley calls the angel “Emma-O” and yet there is no mention of a female angel in the Bible. The Bible reveals Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer…all male angels. Note that Bentley (the one selling this whole bag of goods) is speaking here. He acts like he hears God as natural as one breathes. If so, why didn’t John, Paul, Peter, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Moses, or David hear God that clearly? Has the LORD changed? – “I am the LORD, I change not.” (Mal. 3:6) Is Bentley closer to the Almighty than these men whom we know walked with the LORD? Pfftttt He’s not even saved. Also, what happened when John saw the LORD? What was his reaction? He fell to the ground as one who was dead (Rev. 1:17). Bentley speaks as if he has this hearing ear and life that is always being visited by the Almighty…daily. Hardly. He is selling the crowd with these made-up stories. Not even the prophets and apostles mentioned above had this kind of relationship with the LORD. They certainly didn’t make common (profane) the LORD by acting as if He was their chum buddy. Can’t we see that he is making naïve people believe this so they will follow him and believe he is some great man of God? It’s a mere marketing scheme. Bentley is a circus conductor. He knows the formula for “revival” that gathers a crowd and that includes creating a phenomenon that makes it look like something is happening and act as if “God” is moving by doing physical things and psycho-suggestively seducing people to believe something is actually happening.

As we witness in the book of Acts, the apostles of Jesus “preached Christ” and gave glory to Him alone and it was in His holy name that devils were cast out and miracles were wrought by the LORD – not through an angel (Acts 3:16; 8:5; 9:20). Obviously the angel that accompanies Bentley is Satan, the fallen angel or one of the (one-third) angels that departed from God with him (Ezek. 28; Rev. 12).

There are gaping holes in his claims. For example: EVERYthing he is doing is being filmed and yet not 1 (not even one) of the numerous people he is claiming to have raised from the dead is on film. Not one resurrection has been validated by any independent organization. How interesting. Bentley and his marketing team claim that thousands have been saved through his ministry. How are people being brought to repentance and led to Christ when he doesn’t even preach the Word? Who/what is he leading them to? Pandemonium? This guy is the most obvious false prophet I think I have ever seen. There are many other things that reveal him as counterfeit.

Psychosomatic suggestion occurs when people’s minds are induced with an idea or notion and they are purposely conditioned in a certain direction or course of thinking. The whole atmosphere, tone, and ambiance of the Lakeland “revival” has been orchestrated to bring the desired results of its perpetrators. The attendees have not idea what planning has gone into those meetings. They think it is God. The place is charged with a type of hypnotic suggestion. From the tone of Bentley’s voice to the supposed claims and testimonials of miracles, to the false prophecies and words, to the well-trained stage hands, etc., all is intentionally set forth to suggest that something is really happening.

Like most so-called revivals today, the hypish marketing is a mere sales pitch to get people to come – and they do, by the thousands. Basically nearly any circus act that comes to town has an audience. People are so void of truth from personal elevation of Jesus Christ, denial of self, and study of God’s Word, that they are susceptible to any clown who comes on the scene with a new circus act, claiming it is of God.

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Ephesians 4:14-15 

That’s all these “revivals” are – The architects create a phenomenon and make it look like things are really happening and the self-seeking and clueless flock. It’s a simple formula and hucksters know it – perhaps they are literal Satanists.

    “False teachings always point Christians to man, man made organizations, denominations, self, material things of this world, and how to please men. Many times false doctrines have some element of truth in them but the end result is always deception. Many times false doctrines might seem to use Scriptures as their basis but in many cases, scriptures are twisted so as to promote a tradition or false teaching…so, watch out.”

http://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2007/11/25/consequences-of-false-doctrines-on-a-christian/

Are things beginning to come clear as to what our LORD warned us was coming in the final days of this age?

“And MANY false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive MANY…For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:11, 24 

The names of these conferences always include the words “signs and wonders” to draw sign seekers, not Savior seekers (Truth seekers). Truth seekers know better. They are not blinded by their lack of seeking God and diligently studying His Word and therefore will not be ashamed or embarrassed in the end (2 Tim. 2:15).

What did Jesus say concerning those who seek signs and not Him? – “But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it…” (Matt. 12:39)

Jesus commanded His people to go forth and preach the Gospel to every creature and THEN signs and wonders would follow – The LORD Himself would confirm His Word (Mk. 16:15-20). But Todd Bentley is not preaching the Word, so who is it that is doing the signs and wonders (if any) that are being done in these crowds of sign seekers who reject the truth? – “Even him, whose coming is after the working of SATAN with all power and signs and lying wonders…” (2 Thess. 2:9-12)

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles…” Revelation 16:13-14

After listening to and watching Todd Bentley for several hours, the discerning disciple will perhaps find that he is simply telling stories. They are preposterous. His stories are endless and the crowd just laughs and goes along with anything he says because of the supposed signs and wonders he is doing. It seems that the gullible just drink in anything that he says while completely ignoring the words of the One they claim to serve. How foolish.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18 

To deceive some people, all a person has to do is have a stage act and it doesn’t even have to be a good one. All that is needed to gain a large following and draw international attention, is to have something to say and sound like you know what they are talking about. It’s just that simple in these last days because most “Christian” leaders are not right with God and therefore haven’t taught people to study to show their own selves approved unto God and test every spirit and doctrine against God’s Word (Acts 17:11; Eph. 4:11-14; 1 Jn. 4:1).

Look around you at the flakes who show up to see Bentley. No offense meant. The bottom line is that most people do not want to daily walk with Jesus by denying themselves, taking up the cross and following Him in a real way. So, they run to the next Mr. wonderful who claims that “God” is moving to get that quick fix to make up for their own personal rebellion and disobedience. Instead of getting the Holy Spirit, they get devils (2 Thess. 2:9-12). Quick fixes that are dependent on a mere man just isn’t how the LORD works. He also doesn’t bandaid our rebellion. We can’t shortcut the simple program He set up for us to love and learn of Him as we walk with Him through times of great joy and times of great tribulation and suffering and persecutions as He is conforming us to His holy image (Rom. 1:19; 1 Pet. 4:1-2; 12-13; 5:10, etc.).

This whole movement, like Brownsville and Toronto, is guided and controlled by subjective experiences and very bizarre ones at that. This foolishness is not reconcilable with biblical Christianity which is founded upon truth and doing it (Jn. 8:31-32; 17:17). The clowns who run these circuses pretend to be able to control or turn on and off the very Holy Spirit of God at any time THEY so desire. The LORD is not in control but rather THEY are. Their anthem is that of Satan and all rebels – “Not Thy will but rather MINE be done!” These men are utterly deluded. They pretend to have “faith” to “go up” to Heaven any time they so desire.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 

Being gullible is a curse, not a blessing – “The simple (gullible, naïve) believeth every word: but the prudent (wise) man looketh well to his going.” (Prov. 14:15)

They say things like “The things of the Spirit cannot be understood by the natural man.” BUT, they refuse to mention that the Holy Spirit will NEVER contradict what He gave us in His written Word – LOGOS (1 Cor. 14:33; 2 Tim. 3:16). These deceivers speak of being moved past the written Word to the “rhema word.” In this they are “beguiling unstable souls” who are not grounded in the LORD via His Word (Col. 2:6-10; 2 Pet. 2:14). The written Word is given by inspiration of the Holy Ghost and more authoritative than God the Father’s voice speaking audibly from Heaven (2 Pet. 1:16-21). – “Let God be true and every man a liar.” (Rom. 3:4)

“Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” 2 Peter 3:17 

I believe it is highly possible that Bentley is a warlock and so are the other false prophets/apostles who have endorsed him. They are channelers of demons and have converged upon the gullible masses. Listen in these videos to the hideous laughter Bentley and others belch out. It sounds more than human as they laugh mockingly at how gullible people are to buy their bag of goods which they know is empty. This writer believes that this whole movement is a well-organized, premeditated infiltration being perpetrated by warlocks and witches. Some of the witches are out in the audiences channeling demons into those services.

While watching the videos, one will notice that Bentley is always forecasting and planting seeds about other nations to go before him in order to export or project this same demonic revival upon the souls of the people in those nations.

In these false revivals, it’s all about suggestion, posturing, and gimmicks. That’s why he has to say “fire, fire, fire…..” and “angels, angels, angels…” He is building people up into a frenzy and it is working. The power of pyscho-sematic (?) suggestion is one of the tricks he is using. Only those who study and know God’s Word will escape the “MANY false prophets” coming on the scene using Christ’s name to propagate these delusions and falsehoods (Matt. 24:5, 11, 24). Jesus is coming – ready or not!

The story telling clown has gimmick after gimmick that the naive buy wholesale without question….“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”(Rom. 16:18) – the very verse before this tells us that deceivers like Todd Bentley are to be marked/exposed and not followed and supported.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 says: 
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (stories).”

People who refuse to seek God in His Word to know Him, are being turned over to Bentley’s  “fables.” Bentley is anything but a true preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He bears no resemblance of a godly man. This all just brings to focus of what the Holy Spirit forewarned us would be going on in the final days of this age before Christ’s return – people are so void of biblical truth in their personal lives and hearts that deeply hunger and thirst to know Jesus, that they look for something physical and so anyone who says something physical (sign, wonder, dream, vision, story) is happening in their ministry, becomes an overnight sensation.

Notice that Bentley’s endless stream of preposterous stories/fables are not on video – the actual event is never on video – because they never happened. Wake up! Neither are any of the people he claims to have raised from the dead on video. This is why he has to tell the story – because they never happened! How gullible can we be!?

QUESTION: Where in the Bible do we have even the slightest resemblance of kicking someone in the face or God telling a man of God to close line someone? Anyone who refuses to become a Berean believer is going to be led astray and ultimately damned –
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

They speak of “releasing the glory of God” as if God Almighty is being controlled by them. How arrogant!

The bottom line is that so many people just want to travel to some place and get an impartation of something because they are too lazy to seek God for it themselves. God only anoints those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). Disobedient people do not want to obey the LORD by denying themselves, taking up their crosses and following Jesus in a real way daily (Lk. 9:23-24). No, instead they want to go to a false prophet, believing he has an “anointing” to impart to them, not realizing that demons are being released into their lives.

Now, watch these videos below: Could it be that witches and warlocks (knowingly) have descended upon what is called “revival,” since there are so many gullible people willing to jump, shout, hooray, and travel hundreds and even thousands of miles to a sign-seeking thrill? Watch those who are laughing hideously. Seems to me they are laughing AT the naive who have gathered to receive of their lord Satan, captured by their own unwillingness to study, learn, and discern truth from error (1 Jn. 4:1). Where and how is Jesus Christ being glorified through this? Where is this reconcilable with Scripture and the true moving of the LORD? What is the point of just laughing and being intoxicated? Is it not a selfish thing? Where do we see such senseless nonsense in the New Testament Church in the Scriptures? If you are going to defend this, the burden of proof is upon you to produces several Bible references to what is transpiring in Lakeland (2 Cor. 13:2). Where are the changed hearts and lives? Where is the call to repent and lay down one’s life, be water baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost? (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4, 38-39; 19:1-6, etc.). Is sin being exposed? (Isa. 58:1; Lam. 2:14; Acts 3:1-26; Gal. 5:19-21) If there are true signs and wonders, where is the associated preaching of the truth as seen throughout Acts? Where is the fruit of the Holy Spirit being produced, calling and manifesting the love and holiness of God? Where is the witness to the world? (Acts 1:8)

NAR Delusion! Watch the video ordination of Todd Bentley by all the top NAR Warlocks

EXPOSE’ LINKSWatch these and notice that as in any false revival meeting, the more foolish the stage actor becomes by falling over, acting like an animal, telling preposterous stories, chanting, or laughing hideously, the more the crowd responds positively as if that indicates that God is moving? How absurd! When the LORD moves people to repentance for their wickedness, then you have revival – but not until then. He is “holy, holy, holy.” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8) Also, notice that Bentley and some of the other people have to shake unnaturally to try to make people think that God is somehow working big in their lives – this is more marketing…it is suggestive and is supposed to be proof that THEY are super special, that something is really happening, and those who aren’t moved to shaking aren’t. Don’t be fooled by these gimmick “revivals.”

False Revival

David Wilkerson on this False Revival – http://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/i-cant-laugh-when-they-make-the-holy-ghost-look-like-a-fool/

Todd Bentley’s Occultic Tatoos http://www.toddbentley.org/todd-bentley.htm (these tatoos were done recently)

Exposing Todd Bentley: Part 2

Todd Bentley Videos http://www.toddbentley.org/todd-bentley-videos.htm

Wrestle Mania with Todd Bentley!!!

http://earthless.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/todd-bentley-lakeland-revival/#comment-423

Signs and Wonders and the Lakeland Revival – Part 2

Lakeland/Bentley Tribal Dance

The Luminous Vibrating Todd Bentley (more preposterous stories)

Aping the Practices of Pagan Spirituality

In this next video, you will see several name brand, known false prophets getting on the bandwagon since Bentley is now so popular. Was his “commissioning” for his sake or for their advantage to be associated with this and get free publicity? Also, since when do we see a woman in the Bible laying hands on and sending forth a minister? A woman can’t even be an elder (1 Tim. 3:2). Notice that there is no admonition whatsoever. Watch what is spoken over Bentley in these videos. You will notice (from the other warlocks) that the whole thrust of Satan here is to get rid of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and to replace it with something “new” and send it into the nations. Oh this whole movement is not new, it is a continuation of the manifest sons of God movement which began with William Branham and has been continued through false prophets like Benny Hinn, etc. It is “new” only in the sense that the enemy of souls wants to replace God’s Word and the true moving of His Holy Spirit which always brings a revelation of God’s holiness, the need for repentance, salvation, water baptism, the in-filling of the Holy Spirit and discipleship (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1-3, etc.). According to Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so we know His Great Commission hasn’t changed and is still being carried out by those who are true to Him in this last hour. Now watch this foolishness if you must as you keep in mind what the LORD told us was to come in this final time before His return – “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Rev. 12:12) Demonic Manifestation during Todd Bentley’s Apostolic and Prophetic Commissioning 

READ EZEKIEL 34 JEREMIAH 23.

Has Todd White Repented?

CAUGHT ON CAMERA! Todd White and Shawn Bolz – Proven Cold Readers!

Is Your “Church” Apostate? by todd tomasella

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Abiding

Chosen, Ordained, Joyfully Fruitful [podcast]


“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,

and ordained you, that ye should go and bring

forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that

whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name,

he may give it you.” John 15:16

  • “Ye have not chosen me”
  • “I have chosen you”
  • “and ordained you”
  • “that ye should go and bring forth fruit”
  • “and that your fruit should remain”

Of this truth, the Believer’s Bible Commentary notes the following:

“15:16 Lest there be any tendency for them to become discouraged and give up, Jesus reminded them that He was the One who chose them. This may mean that He chose them to eternal salvation, to discipleship, or to fruitfulness. He had appointed the disciples to the work which lay before them. We should go and bear fruit. Fruit may mean the graces of the Christian life, such as love, joy, peace, etc. Or it may mean souls won for the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a close link between the two. It is only as we are manifesting the first kind of fruit that we will ever be able to bring forth the second.

The expression “that your fruit should remain” leads us to think that fruit here means the salvation of souls. The Lord chose the disciples to go and bring forth lasting fruit. He was not interested in mere professions of faith in Himself, but in genuine cases of salvation. L. S. Chafer notes that in this chapter we have prayer effectual (v. 7), joy celestial (v. 11), and fruit perpetual (v. 16). “That whatever you ask … .” The secret of effective service is prayer. The disciples were sent forth with the guarantee that the Father would grant them whatever they asked in Christ’s name.”

Adam Clarke writes;

“The first ministers of the Gospel were the choice of Jesus Christ; no wonder, then, that they were so successful. Those whom men have since sent, without the appointment of God, have done no good. The choice should still continue with God, who, knowing the heart, knows best who is most proper for the Gospel ministry.

To be a genuine preacher of the Gospel, a man must –

1. Be chosen of God to the work.
2. He must be placed in the true vine – united to Christ by faith.
3. He must not think to lead an idle life, but labor.
4. He must not wait till work be brought to him, but he must go and seek it.
5. He must labor so as to bring forth fruit, i.e. to get souls converted to the Lord.
6. He must refer all his fruit to God, who gave him the power to labor, and blessed him in his work.
7. He must take care to water what he has planted, that his fruit may remain – that the souls whom he has gathered in be not scattered from the flock.
8. He must continue instant in prayer, that his labors may be accompanied with the presence and blessing of God – Whatsoever ye shall Ask.
9. He must consider Jesus Christ as the great Mediator between God and man, proclaim his salvation, and pray in his name. – Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, etc. See Quesnel.”

God alone ordains His people to His work and brings them

through many purging seasons to cause His fruitfulness in

them, preparing them to bear more of His fruit.

God chose us and blessed us with the ability to repent and

receive Christ. As His people, He’s also ordained us to “go

and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

As we read this discourse from our LORD (John 15 and 17),

we discover that He is speaking of that abiding fellowship we

have with Him, and how out of it is borne the good fruit of

His ministry in and through our life.

Being rooted in that oneness, the abiding relationship with

Christ, is all-important to our relationship with Him and the

Father. As his student, His disciple, may the reader be

encouraged to pour prayerfully over these truths captured,

and given to us in John, chapters 15 and 17.

Isaiah 43

“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3  For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4  Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5  Fear not: for I am with thee … “

Prayer: Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, please make me one with You. Please deeply root and establish my life in an abiding fellowship with You dear LORD.

Moments with Our Master [book] 365 Day Devotional book available at STORE and amazon. English and Spanish.


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Articles

The Truth about Tradition and Church Membership [podcast]

Is Church Membership Biblical?


Godly and Ungodly Tradition and True and False Church Membership

YOU KNOW you are in a fake church when they have “membership classes” to get you to join yet spend little or no time preaching the Word on the necessity of repentance, forsaking your life in this world, denying self, taking up the cross, and following Jesus daily! Run!

Membership means money to them!

They have a busine$$ plan.

“Prove (test) all things; hold fast (keep and do) that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Of the 13 times we find the word “tradition(s) in Scripture, only twice is it used positively. The other 11 times it is used negatively because men put their foolish traditions above Christ.

History of Church Membership: The history of church membership in Protestant and Evangelical churches begins with the Catholic Church, which implements its discipline over all the baptized (christened, water sprinkled), through a tradition-based sacramental system, governing the lives of their captors from cradle to grave. Essentially, in this way the Roman cult corrals and coerces the insistence of membership upon every initiated, water-sprinkled/christened catholic child. Without that cult-initiation rite, that membership to the Roman religion, that person is considered outside of salvation, outside of the “one true church.” Through church membership in the Catholic church, the completely un-biblical sacramental system is enforced. The Catholic sacramental system is the creation, the strategy of devils, designed to strengthen the piety of the Catholic faithful throughout their lives, guiding them safely into the bowels of eternal damnation. Jesus died and rose again that He alone might have preeminence over His true worldwide body. Church membership to a local church or church organization is perpetrated by cross-less wolves and is a direct affront to the Headship of the one, nail-scarred Savior (Colossians 1:18; 2:18-19, etc.).

The vast majority of so-called pastors today are more interested in getting you to join their church club, to become a member of their church, than they are about truly feeding the flock of God with the whole counsel of Scripture, equipping you for ministry, and winning souls to Jesus (John 21:15-17; Acts 20:20-32; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.). Prove it wrong.

Church membership today is nothing more than a device of wolves to corral and exploit the people! There’s no biblical justification for it.

Church membership is a tool to run a scam on the people – to number them as Satan led David to do (1 Chronicles 21). The LORD judged David for doing this and is judging the wolves today who coercively promulgate their church membership scam. God’s people belong to HIM and no other (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 7:23, etc.).

Church membership is for nobody’s good except those peddling it. Church membership is designed to make you loyal to their church club, not Christ.

APPLE CARTS FLYING: THE TRADITION AND DECEPTION OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: BEWARE!

Can anyone find church membership in God’s Word among the earliest followers of Jesus? No. If someone is concerned about you becoming a member of their church, that’s a red flag. Make no mistake: They are corralling you in order to control you. Think about it: WHY can’t they just love you as a member of the one blood bought body of Christ? (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4) Church membership as it’s done by the 501(C)(3) government churches is against Holy Scripture and is a device of evil men, wolves. Run.

Beware of the agenda saints. Church membership is a corralling of God’s people for the self-serving purposes of hirelings.

“Church membership” as it’s carried out in the modern church world, quenches the Holy Spirit in my opinion. It ruins the organic, spontaneous, pure fellowship true believers enjoy due to being in Christ. Church membership seems to be a learned device to coral believers in order to exploit them. Think about it: Seminarian pastors are taught this scheme to build their church busine$$.

Denominations or church organizations reinforce this to secure people and funds. It’s a business model. No such thing as church membership in the Bible except that membership Christ alone procured by His own blood. ALL of His saints’ names are written in Heaven (Luke 10:20). Jesus says that this is what we rejoice in!

“Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20

We are Christ’s kingdom disciples. We belong to HIM.

“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23

Local level “church membership” diverts the heart affections of those corralled by hireling wolves! Beware.

Only Abiding in the Truth Protects

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield (protection) unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6

Is church membership not adding to God’s Word?

God gave us His written Word so that we can be safeguarded from being misled. As we will see in a moment, the traditions of men have and will continue to lead many astray and into eternal damnation. Tradition is passed along from one religious, truth-despising generation to the next. Concerning rightly dividing the truth of God’s Word and how twisting Scripture transpires as a tradition and applies to interpretation of God’s Word, Charles Koller writes:

“There are pitfalls of interpretation into which devout believers may fall, resulting in distortions of the truth. A preacher may borrow an interpretation from a devout Bible scholar, who had previously borrowed it from another equally devout but perhaps misguided Bible scholar. And so the inventions of devout men may unwittingly be passed around as ‘the Word of God.’ Let the Bible speak for itself! What does it actually say? And what does it mean?” Charles W. Koller, How to Preach without Notes, p.65

“Tradition(s)” as it Appears in Scripture:     

Matthew 15:2     Why do thy disciples transgress the TRADITION of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 

Matthew 15:3     But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your TRADITION? 

Matthew 15:6     And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your TRADITION. 

Mark 7:3     For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the TRADITION of the elders. 

Mark 7:5     Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the TRADITION of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 

Mark 7:8     For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the TRADITION of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 

Mark 7:9     And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own TRADITION. 

Mark 7:13     Making the word of God of none effect through your TRADITION, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. 

Galatians 1:14     And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the TRADITIONS of my fathers. 

Colossians 2:8     Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the TRADITION of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

2 Thessalonians 2:15     Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the TRADITIONS which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 

2 Thessalonians 3:6     Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the TRADITION which he received of us. 

1 Peter 1:18     Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by TRADITION from your fathers; 

Did you notice that in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Christ’s apostle Paul says we are to “hold the traditions WHICH YE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT, whether by word, or our epistle.” The roman catholic cult deceitfully seeks to justify the use of its myriad of Bible-contradicting traditions using this verse. Yet read the words of this verse and carefully note that Paul taught these “traditions” and so they came from God who sanctioned the apostle to pen Holy Scripture (2 Peter 1:19-21). “Traditions” that glorify God are found in God’s Word, not in the writings of some religion of mere sinful men that diametrically contradicts what we read in Holy Scripture. Also, these “traditions” that we received from Paul are tangibly recorded in an “epistle.” The saints at the city of Thessalonica were receiving this divinely-inspired, written letter or “epistle.” This later became part of Holy Writ for all New Testament Scriptures and one of the books of the New Testament canon. What New Testament disciples “have been taught” is now canonized in the 27 books of the New Testament canon of Holy Scripture and is final authority for the faith and practice of all narrow way believers (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.).

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Testing and Discerning what is True Tradition and What is False

All who cling to their religion and/or religious tradition in lieu of Christ and His Word, are as sure for hell as if they were already there (Mark 7:6-9).

We are warned in Colossians 2:8 to “Beware” of false “tradition” which leads us away from the pure worship of “Christ.”

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the TRADITION of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8      

Many times people in local “churches” are seen or heard saying “That’s just how we do things around here!” Well, if what you do around you stupid “ministry” is not according to God’s Word, it’s time to repent and change it. Now!

Testing the Concept and Practice of Modern Church Membership

No such thing as church membership in the early church. Totally false.

Church membership is a tool of controlling leaders to corral souls for their own self-serving purposes! Beware! (Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34; Matthew 23) They discount your place in Christ by telling you that membership is important in the church business they are building to their own glory.

JESUS came to make captives free. SATAN’s agents seek to put you in bondage! (Luke 4:18; John 10:10; Galatians 5:1)

—- MOST “good church members” are lost due to following a pastor and program instead of truly following Christ on HIS terms. See Mark 8:34-38 and Luke 9:23-24 and you will see why Jesus says only a “few” will be in Heaven Matt. 7:13-14. Your pastor is not your judge, God is and so you better please Him according to what He told you in His Word or you will be cast into the lake of fire as a disobedient, idolatrous rebel (Matthew 7:21; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4; Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:14-15, etc.).

Church membership as we know it today, is a tradition of mere sinful and self-serving men “whose god is their belly.” (Philippians 3:18-19)

“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.).” Philippians 3:18-19

There is nothing found in Scripture that directly teaches people that they should “join a church.” So, did the Almighty, all-knowing God somehow forget to tell us something we needed to know, OR, has someone added something foreign to the practice of the Christian faith?

The Bible student must conclude that “joining a church” as we know it in this apostate age, is not by divine decree but is rather a tradition of sinful men and therefore a “false way” that we should “hate.” (Psalms 119:104, 128) So, church membership in an earthly organization is not a tradition any disciple of Christ should hold and should stay clear of such in order not to dilute his allegiance to the one and only “Head” of His true body, Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18; 2:18-19; Ephesians 5:23). This is after the workings of sinful men to secure the allegiance and loyalty of men’s hearts, intercepting the affections of their hearts from the “Head.” Was it not rebellious Absalom who “stole the hearts of the men of Israel”? (2 Samuel 15:6) Is this not the subversive, insidious “spirit of antichrist” at work today to rob God of the glory due to Christ’s holy name alone?

Did Jesus or any disciple in the New Testament Scriptures ever instruct anyone to “join a church” or become a good church member as we know these thing to be today in westernized “Christianity”?

Such a question poses a threat to some pastors who are far too possessive, un-submitted, and un-abandoned to Christ. Though not truly submitted to the LORD, which would mean they trusted Him in all things, many of these same leaders seek for coerce others to submit to them, to join their church, to support them, etc.

Posing such a question as this one on church membership, is an example of testing all things against the counsel of Scripture like good Bereans (Acts 17:11). Testing what is being accepted in a local gathering of saints can shake up a leader who is not truly broken before the LORD. Testing all things helps us rightly divide the word of truth and begin to examine what is truth and what is tradition in the things we do as His body and as individual saints. We must live and oversee only as our LORD has revealed in the divine wisdom of His Word and as He enables and leads – which will always be in accordance with His Word (Psalms 11:105; 2 Timothy 3:15-17, etc.).

Jesus says “follow me” and if one is going to know and follow Him, that person must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him “daily.” (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24).

Church membership as we know it today in the modern church system, is clearly a tradition of mere men and not a part of true, New Testament Christianity. At this point, many will say: “But brother, the Bible says we are to fellowship!” Yes, true, but remember that church membership is completely unneeded for true Christian fellowship as defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 2:42-47; Colossians 3:16-17, etc.). Yes, the Bible teaches us that Jesus’ true disciples are to fellowship with one another and modern church membership is completely unneeded for such unless you factor in the hirelings who perpetrate such for their own personal purposes. In fact, self-serving ambition is the root of most traditions. The whole church-building centered modern church system is designed to benefit and profit the business-owner or franchisee (the pastor), not the LORD and His people. Christ’s true saints are not lukewarm weekly church members but rather, on fire disciples are fellowship daily and “exhort one another DAILY” and so much the more as His return draws nigh (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrew 3:13; 10:24-25).

You see, if a pastor can get you to sign his roster, he knows he has your allegiance and therefore you money.

Most people claiming to be Christians have this tradition in their minds that they need to find and join a church. Yet, it’s a nearly impossible task to find a body of true believers who are walking in the New Testament definition and revelation of what God calls fellowship where Christ is supreme. 99% of local churches are entertainment centers that offer little or no elements nor the spirit of the early church believers.

The test of true Christian fellowship is whether or not there are the following elements as found in the book of Acts (partial list):

  • continuing steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine (written Word)
  • breaking bread together
  • fellowship
  • prayer
  • sharing one to another whatever each member of the body of Christ needs – having all things common
  • ceasing not to teach and to preach Jesus Christ (Acts 5:42)

You see, when you find – if you ever find – a pastor who tells the people to give among yourselves, having “all things common,” you have found something very rare. Regrettably, the modern church is a business and that CEO pastor who refuses to truly pastor the people, needs to pay a mortgage and many other unnecessary expenses they are wasting. So, in his mind, following Christ has nothing to do with it – making the mortgage and building his church business is what matters to him.

Perhaps we should cease searching for a church and simply be Christ’s church.

The LORD Himself, nor any of His apostles ever hinted of or instructed anyone to “go join a church” or to “become a good church member” and yet this is the order of the day in the apostate modern church world which is piloted or hi-jacked by self-serving hirelings who are farming their communities to build their own local church franchise, competing against other CEO type entrepreneurs. Now grant it, being an entrepreneur is not a sin if done uprightly in the business world and yet, the Church of Jesus Christ is no place to employ entrepreneurial tactics. Christ’s church is not a business. Yet this is the way much of the modern church world is set up. Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us that “There is no new thing under the sun” and so we know we can peer into history and see the same things happening as we see transpiring today.

“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:13

God’s house or dwelling place in individuals and in groups is to be dedicated to the worship of Him alone and yet, many today are intercepting the worship due only to the LORD and exploiting His people for their own self-serving purposes (Isaiah 56:10-12; Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34; Philippians 3:18-19; 2 Peter 2:1-3, etc.).

Setting forth such an idea that subverts the modern tradition of church memberships may be scary to some. To make the case that true New Testament fellowship is what is important and not joining a church, makes some pastors nervous because they are entrenched in following tradition instead of Christ. Perhaps they are threatened by this because they have not fully released themselves and therefore the people to the LORD, acknowledging Him alone as their Maker, God, Redeemer, and “Head.” (Colossians 2:18-19) Today would be the best day to denounce these idolatrous sins and begin to “lean not to thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5-7)

Please don’t read rebellion against God into this – but do read rebellion against man and satan into it please. You can put my name on that! It’s time to sift through and test every notion, philosophy, and practice of today against what we observe in Holy Scripture to be truth and according to the mind of Christ. See Acts 17:11 and Jeremiah 1:10. The erroneous traditions and contradictions to holy truth must FIRST be removed and torn down before a proper foundation can begin to be built. Study and memorize and put into action the divine principle and order of Jeremiah 1:10.

Christ and His redemptive work on that cross is despised by church membership. How? Well, church membership dishonors that Christ bled to make us members of HIS one body or church. Read Ephesians 2; 4; 1 Corinthians 12.

It’s only where Jesus Christ is upheld as the supreme KING, God, Counselor, Truth, Way, and Life that divine virtue flows from Heaven into His people! See Colossians 2:18-19.

Until we first put to the test the very reasons for which we assemble/meet and embrace the priorities set forth in Scripture, our assemblies will be limited at best.

Blindly following or going along with tradition instead of what is taught in God’s Word, always leads to dismal results as we have the pharisees for an example.

We should ask “What is the biblical precedence for ….” and “What saith the Scriptures?”

This doesn’t mean we won’t find things that are biblical, but how can we possibly have a clear heart about things until we do?

“Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” 2 Samuel 15:6

Traditions of Mere Men are Meant to be Broken – Rooted Out

A reading of the Gospels reveals to us that Jesus often upset the religious bafoons of His day by breaking their foolish, man-centered, Christ-denying traditions. Their foolish traditions trumped divine truth.

“For laying aside the commandment (Word) of God, ye hold the TRADITION of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.” Mark 7:8

Do you know what Jeremiah 1:10 says? This verse gives us extremely valuable and necessary insight into the order and workings of the LORD.

“See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10

What is the LORD’s order of working in our hearts?

  • “to root out”
  • “to pull down”
  • “to destroy”
  • “to throw down”
  • “to build”
  • “to plant”

First we should diligently examine why we do what we do. All teachings and practices must be acid tested against Holy Writ (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1). Questions to explore:

  • “What did the early church do” is a very good starting question.
  • And, “What do we see the apostles and Christ doing”?
  • “What does the Bible teach?”

Your Prayer: Holy Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I come to You in the name of Jesus, asking that You would please begin to purge out any notion or philosophy or belief in this life You gave that is not of You – that is not according to the whole counsel of Your written Word. Please make me Your authentic disciple. Root out all from my life that does not glorify You and fill this vessel with the fruits of Your righteousness to bring glory to You and to serve others as unto You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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