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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.

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

Is Your “Church” Apostate? by todd tomasella

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Articles

Grounded in Grace [podcast]


“What a powerful message! Life changing for sure. It truly blessed me. Every believer should listen to this video! But God! Two little words that I missed. And found this phrase used at least 44 times in the KJB. Those little words takes the focus off us! If it wasn’t for God coming to save our wicked souls we would be doomed forever to burn in hell. Psalm 49:15 “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me. Selah.” We are saved by the grace of God and kept by the power and grace of God. To which none of us can boost! (Ephesians 2:8, 1 Peter 1:5).” Karen Cochran | Grounded in Grace [podcast]

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) :  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10

Satan continues to pick off people with the same exact law-keeping deception he snared the Galatians with. They become in unbelief about Christ’s perfect sacrifice and begin to add law to salvation’s equation. This is deadly. Having begun in faith, in the Spirit, they fall away from the faith by trying to help God save them through self-effort, law-keeping (Galatians 3:3; 5:4). Many of those snared are seduced into this by way of the sabbath keeping deception, foolishness.

Being established in the saving grace of God is the only defense against the many deceptions creeping in among God’s people.

When the self-righteous legalist hears someone preach that Christians are saved by grace and not under the old testament law, they react – because they are still trusting self and have not truly repented/surrendered and putting their whole faith in christ. Law and grace don’t mix! You MUST choose! (John 1:17) Either you are saved by Jesus or your own law keeping works. There’s no in-between! It’s time to get into God’s Word, asking Him to give you a NEW Testament clue!

Especially with the upsurge of Judaizers and the law-keeping doctrines they perpetrate, every true born-again believer should pray, seek out, and study to be grounded in God’s saving grace in Christ.

SAINTS, we are saved by the LORD Himself, by His grace and not our own works. People who are still self-righteous, thinking THEY are earning their own justification, get very uneasy when the saving grace of God is preached. They are not yet students of NEW Testament truth. WE MUST have an ever-deepening biblical revelation of God’s justification by grace and faith! Please begin by memorizing Romans 5:1-2. AND, please read Romans chapters 3-5 prayerfully and over and over, this week.

To the Galatians, when Paul said “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump”, he was saying that trying to mix even “a little” law keeping into the equation of salvation Christ alone 100% earned for us, ruins your whole relationship with God (Galatians 5:9). In fact, you don’t have one if you don’t 100% trust Jesus Christ!

Remember when Jesus saved you? He found and saved our wretched soul alllll by Himself!!!!! Right? Please pause and let that soak in. …. In light of this reality, this sheer mercy, how is it that we still strive in the flesh, thinking we are going to earn divine forgiveness, merit His blessings, etc. – “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:4-5)

“But God”

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” Ephesians 2:4

After hanging the backdrop (vv. 1-3), reviewing our alienation, our past life of trespasses and sin, how we are now found and rescuedbrought back to life from our dead stateby the LORD, the writer now transitions upward.

Of Ephesians 2:4, William MacDonald writes:

“The words, But God, form one of the most significant, eloquent, and inspiring transitions in all literature. They indicate that a stupendous (astonishing, stunning) change has taken place. It is a change from the doom and despair of the valley of death to the unspeakable delights of the kingdom of the Son of God’s love.

The Author of the change is God Himself. No one else could have done it, and no one else would have done it.

One characteristic of this blessed One is that He is rich in mercy. He shows mercy to us by not treating us the way we deserved to be treated (Psalm 103:10). Though it has been expended by Him for six millennia, and myriads and myriads have been partakers of it, it is still an unexhausted mine of wealth, as Eadie remarks.

The reason for His intervention is given in the words, for his great love wherewith he loved us. His love is great because He is its source. Just as the greatness of a giver casts an aura of greatness on his gift, so the surpassing excellence of God adds superlative luster to His love. It is greater to be loved by the mighty Sovereign of the universe, for instance, than by a fellow human being. God’s love is great because of the price He paid. Love sent the Lord Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, to die for us in agony at Calvary. God’s love is great because of the unsearchable riches it showers on its object.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1917

Satan attempts to make God out to be an unloving Father. Only mankind is created in God’s image, and He loves us beyond words (Ephesians 2:4-9). He loves us so much so that He gave His only begotten Son to die a horrible yet redeeming death on the cross, raising Him from the dead three days later to fully, completely justify us (John 3:16). God still has a remnant who trust Him and not self (Romans 5:6-8).

Justification

ARE YOU justified by sinful self or the Savior? Good luck flashing those “filthy rags” at the Throne of the Almighty who sent His only begotten Son to die for you! (Isaiah 64:6) You have called Him a liar! (Galatians 2:21) Righteousness comes from knowing and trusting the only One to ever keep the law perfectly and not from trying to keep the law (Galatians 2:16). Though the law be righteous, there is NO righteousness in the law other than repenting of your own efforts and putting your full trust in the only One who ever kept the law! (Romans 10:4) You deserve judgment and hell. You have nothing to offer God except a deeply repentant, honest, contrite, humble heart! (Psalms 34:18; 51:17; Matthew 5:3) You are a guilty sinner and must trash your stupid, ridiculous, laughable religious fig leaves which are a sham at best! True NEW Testament saints are dead to the law (Romans 7:1-4). Law keepers, do-gooders, and moralists are completely self-righteous antichrists who’ve put themselves in place of Jesus Christ as their own savior – denying Christ that place while vainly believing they can earn their own justification before a holy God and Judge of their eternal soul (James 2:10). Anti in the biblical word “antichrist” means “in place of.” Selah (meditate on that) God doesn’t want His children trying to keep the old law but rather to choose to worship, love, trust, and obey Him who is the only One to keep it and then nailed it to the cross and took it out of the way!

Revelation 2:8 “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”

Revelation 3:9  “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”

William MacDonald writes:

“His kindness toward us (2:7)

“His grace in His kindness toward us (2:7)

“The riches of His grace in His kindness toward us

“The exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us

“Now it follows that if God will be disclosing this throughout eternity, then we will be learning throughout eternity, then we will be learning forever and ever. Heaven will be our school. God will be our Teacher. His grace will be the subject. We will be the students. And the school term will be eternity.

“This should deliver us from the idea that we will know everything when we get to Heaven. Only God knows everything, and we will never be equal with Him.

“It also raises the interesting question: How much will we know when we get to Heaven? And it suggests the possibility that we can prepare for the heavenly university by majoring in the Bible right now.

“2:8 The next three verses present as clear a statement of the simple plan of salvation as we can find in the Bible.

“It all originates with the grace of God; He takes the initiative in providing it. Salvation is given to those who are utterly unworthy of it, on the basis of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“It is given as a present possession. Those who are saved can know it. Writing to the Ephesians, Paul said, ‘are ye saved.’ He knew it, and they knew it.

“The way we receive the gift of eternal life is through faith. Faith means that man takes his place as a lost, guilty sinner, and receives the Lord Jesus as his only hope of salvation. True saving faith is the commitment of a person to a Person (Christ).

“Any idea that man can earn or deserve salvation is forever exploded by the words, ‘and that not of yourselves.’ (2:9) Dead people can do nothing, and sinners deserve nothing but punishment.

“‘It is the gift of God.’ A gift, of course, is free …. The gift of God is salvation by grace and through faith. It is offered to all people everywhere.

“2:9 It is not of works, that is, it is not something a person can earn through supposedly meritorious deeds. It cannot be earned, for instance, by:

Confirmation

Baptism

Church membership

Church attendance

Holy communion

Trying to keep the Ten Commandments

Living by the Sermon on the Mount

Giving to charity

Being a good neighbor

Living a moral, respectable life

“People are not saved by works. And they are not saved by faith plus works. They are saved through faith alone. The minute you add works of any kind or in any amount as a means of gaining eternal life, salvation is no longer by grace (Rom. 11:6). One reason that works are positively excluded is to prevent human boasting. If anyone could be saved by his works, then he would have reason to boast before God. This is impossible (Rom 3:27).

“If anyone could be saved by his own good works, then the death of Christ was unnecessary (Gal 2:21). But we know that the reason He died was because there was no other way by which guilty sinners could be saved.

“If anyone could be saved by his own good works, then he would be his own savior, and could worship himself. But this would be idolatry, and God forbid it (Exod. 20:3).

“Even if someone could be saved through faith in Christ plus his own good works you would have the impossible situation of two saviors – Jesus and the sinner. Christ would then have to share the saviorhood with another, and this He will not do (Is. 42:8).

“Finally, if anyone could contribute to his salvation by works, then God would owe it to him. This, too, is impossible. God cannot be indebted to anyone (Rom 11:35).

“In contrast to works, faith excludes boasting (Rom 3:27), because it is non-meritorious. A man has no reason to be proud that he has trusted the Lord. Faith in Him is the most sane, rational, sensible thing a person can do. To trust one’s Creator and Redeemer is only logical and reasonable. If we cannot trust Him, whom can we trust?

“2:10 The result of salvation is that we are His workmanship – the handiwork of God, not of ourselves. A born again believer is a masterpiece of God.  When we think of the raw materials He has to work with, His achievement is all the more remarkable. Indeed, this masterpiece is nothing less than an new creation through union with Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passes away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17).

“And the object of this new creation is found in the phrase, for good works. While it is true that we are not saved by good works, it is equally true that we are saved for good works. Good works are not the root but the fruit. We do not work in order to be saved, but because we are saved.

“This is the aspect of the truth that is emphasized in James 2:14-26. When James says that ‘faith without works is dead,’ he does not mean that we are saved by faith plus works, but by the kind of faith that results in a life of good works. Works prove the reality of our faith. Paul heartedly agrees: ‘we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.’ (2:10)

“God’s order then is this:

“Faith->Salvation->Good Works->Reward

“Faith leads to salvation. Salvation results in good works. Good works will be rewarded by Him.

“But the question arises: What kind of good works am I expected to do? Paul answers, Good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. In other words, God has a blueprint for every life. Before our conversion He mapped out a spiritual career for us. Our responsibility is to find His will for us and then obey it. We do not have to work out a plan for our lives, but only accept the plan which He has drawn up for us. This delivers us from fret and frenzy, and insures that our lives will be of maximum glory to Him, of most blessing to others, and of greatest reward to ourselves.

“In order to find out the good works He has planned for our individual lives, we should: (1) Confess and forsake sin as soon as we are conscious of it in our lives; (2) be continually and unconditionally yielded to him; (3) study the Word of God to discern His will, and then do whatever He tells us to do; (4) spend time in prayer each day; (5) seize opportunities of service as they arise; (6) cultivate the fellowship and counsel of other Christians. God prepares us for good works. He prepares good works for us to perform. Then He rewards us when we perform them. Such is His grace!” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1918

“Riches” appears five times in Ephesians

Ephesians 1:7 – “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

Ephesians 1:18 – “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”

Ephesians 2:7  – “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 3:8  – “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”

Ephesians 3:16  – “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”

Ephesians 2:1-10
WHAT GRACE HAS DONE by FB Meyer

“Evidently dead men may walk; that is, they may be dead to the eternal world but alive to this world, which is moving past like the films of a moving picture. The death of the spirit is compatible with much active interest in the course of this world. Behind the shifting scenes of the material is the great enemy of souls. As the Spirit of God works in the obedient, so does the evil spirit work in the disobedient. Note this trinity of evil-the course of this world, the lusts of our flesh, and the prince of the power of the air. If we desire to save men, we must be in living union with the all-conquering Spirit of Christ.

Notice, also, the past tense which describes the finality of Christ’s work, Eph_2:5-6. In the purpose of God we have been raised from the grave of sin and are seated with the risen Lord in the place of acceptance and victory. We were one with Christ when He lay in the grave and arose. In God’s thought we have already taken our seat with the glorified Christ upon the throne; only the pity is that we do not believe this or act as if we had done so. All this is the gift of God’s unmerited love. By grace have we been brought into this position, and by grace are we maintained in it. We are of God’s “making;” such is the Greek word for workmanship, Eph_2:10. We have been created for good works; they have been planned for us and we have only to walk in them.”

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Abiding

5 Soul Damning Sins Named! Learning from History! [podcast]


THE 5 SINS THAT KEPT ISRAEL (God’s own covenant people) OUT OF THEIR PROMISED LAND OF BLESSINGS and will keep us out if not relinquished. Friend, please read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 with all your might. Make this text your meat.

The world seeks to romance sin but if God says it’s sin, that’s what it is. Toning down the terms changes nothing. Judgment Day is on the way.

We are fighting the good fight of faith, “striving against sin” and “more than conquerors” over sin through Jesus who loves us and bought us with His own blood! (1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 12:4; 13:12; Acts 20:28; Romans 8:37)

There are the 5 sins listed here that kept God’s people out of His blessings. We all need to L.I.F.T.M. up to the LORD in repentance and for His perfect forgiveness and cleansing. God the Holy Spirit warns us here through Paul’s pen (1 Cor. 10:1-13), that Israel and these sins are “examples” (vv. 6, 11) to all NT believers. God destroys those who go back on Him after knowing Him (transgressors – Ps. 68:21; 73:28; 125:5, etc.). If not ridden out of our lives, any one of these 5 sins WILL keep us out of our promised land. God is holy (Heb. 12:14). As taken in order from 1 Cor. 10:6-10, here are those 5 sins:

  • Lust

  • Idolatry

  • Fornication

  • Tempting Christ

  • Murmuring

This simple acronym should help us to remember these sins and remain separate from them as we grow today to know and love our Savior more fervently. “Keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22).

Committing the sin is one thing (1 John 1:8-10, right) and refusing to repent of it is yet another. Refusing to acknowledge, repent, confess, and cease is what snares the soul and ousts us from Christ (Proverbs 28:13).

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

If the Holy Spirit has quickened any offences of your heart, simply L.I.F.T.M. up to Christ the Redeemer, Forgiver, Cleanser, and Transformer of lives.

WHATEVER it takes – those who choose to get real with God will sever themselves from anything and anyone who causes them to sin. This is what Jesus says about sin and hell:

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 
44  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 
45  And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 
46  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 
47  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 
48  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 
49  For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 
50  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” Mark 9:43-50

NOTICE: When a believer or group of believers backslides, they no longer separate from the transgressors who are unrepentant:

Fornication Defiles

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have (Gr. possessed and wouldn’t repent) his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 

1 Corinthians 10 completely destroys the OSAS / eternal security argument.

Notice the word “OUR” in verses 6 and 11. This is directly spoken to warn NEW Testament saints that they are going to hell if they live and die in sin.

Case closed.

1 Corinthians 10:1-12

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were OUR examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also LUSTED.

7 Neither be ye IDOLATERS, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit FORNICATION, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us TEMPT CHRIST, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither MURMUR ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for OUR admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Eternal security is a false teaching. 1 sin separated Adam and Eve from God and “The wages of sin is (still) death” because God is Holy (Rom 6:23, etc.). Moral coward counterfeits hate, despise the Gospel essential of the cross, the crucified life. They want Jesus to save them to Heaven but not from sin. These are the sin-justifying, grace-perverting “ungodly men” Jude warned us about (Jude 4).

The divine declaration that “The wages of sin is death” which means separation from God, appears throughout Scripture (Romans 6:23).

“He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.” Proverbs 19:16 

Die or death always means separation.

OSAS/eternal security is a lie from hell. OSAS was Satan’s first lie and so it’s blasphemy to teach this doctrine of devils and claim it’s part of the Gospel. You are attributing Satan’s lie to the LORD Jesus. Repent now sinner. See Genesis 2:17; 3:4; Romans 11:20-22; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21; Jude 4, etc..

The concept of an un-conditional eternal security is not established in Scripture … Except for it being Satan’s first teaching, His first lie – the “Ye shall NOT surely die” lie (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).

Eternal Security/Once saved always saved is a lie from hell.

PEACE with GOD

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Abiding

“The Unalterable Basis of an Open Heaven is a Grave” [podcast]


Concerning the raising up process of the Gospel of God, T. Austin-Sparks wrote:

“The unalterable basis of an open heaven is a grave, and a crisis at which you come to an end of your own self-life. It is the crisis of real experiential identification with Christ in His death.”

Though we entered into His death upon initial salvation, accepting and experiencing that death is still a daily choice, an individual decision to be made on an ongoing basis. One’s choice to continue to persevere, following Christ as He clearly prescribed, will determine his eternal destination (Luke 9:62; 19:13; 21:19; Romans 6:16; Galatians 6:7-9).

The insidious circumventing of the cross can come in many clandestine ways that are masked with pious outer garb. Today, while refusing to utter the full counsel of the One they claim tobe representing, smiling and charismatic men stand in sheep’s clothing, promising heavenly life to those who live in sin. They only prosper due to the volitional biblical illiteracy of the masses. Ignorance of the truth is a choice with eternal consequences (Hosea 4:6; Matthew 22:29; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:24-25

Of seeds, one source notes:

Seeds do not technically ‘die’ when planted; rather, they germinate, transforming from a dormant state into an active, growing plant. While the outer shell breaks and the original form changes, the embryo inside remains alive.”

Just as nothing in hell could have held Jesus in that grave, NOTHING in hell can hold down the crucified saint! The divinely volcanic resurrection life of Christ bursting forth in the life of the crucified consenting disciple will be utterly unstoppable!

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive, raise up) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

The true disciple is always “delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:11). He has “crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). He is daily putting to death “the deeds of the body” and being “raised up” by the power of the same Holy Spirit “that raised up Christ from the dead” (Romans 8:11, 13). He rejoices in “Christ Jesus” and has “no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3).

“I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31)

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake … that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you” 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12.

The disciple who is dead and buried with Christ is “dead to sin” (Romans 6:2). There are tell-tale symptoms in one whose self life has not been terminated, put to death. When we justify the sinful things we do, and call those who point them out “legalistic,” it is symptomatic of a life that is not crucified with Christ. The Bible says, “Lie not against the truth” (James. 3:14). If we argue against the truth when we are shown it, we are manifesting rebellion. The “corn of wheat” must be planted and remain planted in order to bud and bring forth new life. The one whose life is laid down does not make excuses when he realizes that he harbors sin. No, instead he rejoices to be yet more sanctified and dwelling in the place of blessing and holiness with the One He delights to please and serve.

Prayer: LORD Jesus, I am crucified with You. I am dead and my life is hidden with Christ in God. Here and now I lay my life in Your holy hands, this moment. Please use me now and here forward in the Father’s business of the Great Commission as we eagerly look for Your soon return. I love You LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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