Trusting Miracles or Christ?

Miracles or the Master?

“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 

Like all Latter Rain deceivers, in his pride Todd Bentley believes he can go into the heavenlies and the glory of God anytime he so chooses and get whatsoever he wishes to get. He is simply and plainly “intruding into those things which he hath not seen.” That’s why this is written here – to warn us of people who do such. In other words, he is his own god and in control – in place of the one true God. This is antichrist, which means in place of the real Christ/God. This is a classic example of what the Holy Spirit was warning us about here in Colossians 2 when He warned us all of those who do not uphold Jesus Christ as the only Supreme Ruler and “Head” of His body. He speaks of those who are “intruding into those things which he hath not seen” as they are “vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” Bentley and many other popular false prophets today are presumptuously venturing into things they know nothing of – if they did they would not dare do such a thing. These men do not fear God. The preposterous stories Todd Bentley tells are things he “hath NOT seen” by the LORD but rather in his own depraved imagination and that which is fueled by devils. He is speaking of visions of his own sinful heart like the false prophets have always done. Jeremiah 23:16 says: “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.” No true disciple speaks of things on his own (1 Pet. 4:11). In fact, the deceiver is identified by not teaching only from God’s Word (Isa. 8:20). The one who is true to the LORD Jesus comes only from God’s holy Word. He is true to the LORD alone and this is proven in that he refuses to preach any other gospel.

Anytime someone goes beyond what Scripture tells us, he is “intruding into those things which he hath not seen.” (Col. 2:18) Speaking of “intruding into those things which he hath not seen” and being “vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,” check this out:

Here are a couple of excerpts from Todd Bentley’s 2003 article entitled Angelic Hosts:

• “So when I need a financial breakthrough I don’t just pray and ask

• God for my financial breakthrough. I go into intercession and

• become a partner with the angels by petitioning the Father for the

• angels that are assigned to getting me money: ‘Father, give me

• the angels in heaven right now that are assigned to get me money

• and wealth. And let those angels be released on my behalf. Let

them go into the four corners of the earth and gather me money.’”

There is no mention of Jesus Christ here in Bentley’s praying. He just partners with angels to get what he wants as he presumptuously intrudes into things he has no true knowledge of because “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov. 1:7) Any person who does things like this openly reveals (as their true fruit) that they do not fear God and therefore do not have His true knowledge and understanding because they do not know Him.

Bentley has figured out what works to create the phenomenon to draw the crowd and yet there are no verifiable miracles and true biblical fruit to validate his claims and the claims of the deceived people who support him. It’s all hype. Though he throws in some Gospel here and there to court those who care, in the overall picture, there is no true divine substance in his meetings. He is what the Bible calls a cloud and wind without rain (void of true divine substance – Prov. 25:14; Jude 12). People support this movement and “revival” because they are wanting something to happen. Because they are looking to man and for a sign, they forfeit relationship with Jesus and in fact, He calls them “evil and adulterous.” (Matt. 12:39) – Jesus said: “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign.” Left without His discernment due to not seeking His face with a whole heart and placing His Word as final authority, these sign-seekers are willing to believe the hoax and further the cause of a false prophet against the LORD Almighty (2 Jn. 7-11). Their faith is not grounded in Jesus so they are left to desire seeing something that will help fill the void only Christ fills in the hearts of those who simply and fully trust Him. Those who know and seek Him are “complete in him.” (Col. 2:10) He is their all sufficiency and supplies their every need and desire – spiritually and otherwise.

Not only are miracles not the sign of a true prophet, God foretold that false prophets would actually utilize lying signs and wonders to deceive those who do not truly love Him and His holy truth (2 Thess. 2:9-12; Rev. 16:14; 19:20). Signs, dreams, miracles, or prophesies, are not proof that a person is a true prophet. The LORD actually foretold us that especially in the last days lying signs and wonders would be performed by those who actually call Him “Lord, Lord”and yet do not know Him and are on their way to hell as they lead others with them (Matt. 7:21-23; 2 Thess. 2:9-12; Rev. 16:14; 19:20). It’s about doctrine and godliness, not signs and wonders (Deut. 13). Jesus is coming and He told us that it is “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign.” (Matt. 12:39)

Looking to these externals (signs, wonders, dreams, miracles, etc.) is tied with looking to mere men. They become idols of our hearts. If we are going to look to men, look to the apostle Paul, John, and Peter. They were authentically His disciples, filled with His Spirit, honored His holy Word above all else, and walked with Him. The Bible tells us they were “holy men of God.” (2 Pet. 1:20-21) God Himself approved these men as opposed to the many self-proclaimed prophets and self-promoting deceivers on the scene today. Look to Jesus Christ. His Word is final authority (Rom. 3:3-4). Didn’t Jesus tell us that false prophets who come in His holy name would deceive “many”? (Matt. 24:5, 11, 24) Also, did He not foretell that “MANY” who call Him “Lord, Lord” and even use His name in vain to do miracles, prophesy, and do many wonder works, are going to hell? (Matt. 7:21-23)

Do you really know Him? Do you truly desire more of Him? Do you really love and seek His face? Where re the affections of your heart?

We are to “be not moved away from the hope of the gospel.” (Col. 1:23) Why such a warning if there were no possibility of being “moved away from the hope of the gospel”?Is God a lunatic? Or, was He, as “the great shepherd of the sheep” lovingly warning His sheep/people to beware of the wolves who are sent by their master Satan to move you away from Christ using any method they so choose? (Heb. 13:20)

The whole verse of Colossians 1:23 says: “IF ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”

Looking to man is a sin – it is spiritual adultery and idolatry. Looking for signs and wonders reveals that we have an un-redeemed heart and is “evil and adulterous.” (Matt. 12:39)

“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:22 

God is Calling Us to Get our Feet on the Ground!

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” Psalms 1:1-4 

It is essential to the believer to be rooted and built up in Christ and this comes from learning of Him and walking daily with Him and not be seeing supposed signs and wonders or getting prophetic words. The book of Colossians establishes His utter and exclusive supremacy as the only Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. God be praised forevermore! This wonderful, marvelous, and monumentally important book of Colossians is especially so vitally important in this late hour as we look for the soon return of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. I don’t believe there has ever been a day where the following passage is more pertinent to the saints of Christ:

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 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. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:6-10 

The Christian life is all about being “Rooted and built up in him” – Jesus! Chasing signs and wonders is not consistent with being a disciple of Jesus. Those who truly know Him seek and love Him and walk with Him by faith in victories, testings, chastening, and fruitfulness. They do not abandon the eternal Savior by going to seek after a mere temporal sign.

Colossians 2:10 tells us that we are “complete” (perfectly filled up and supplied) in Christ and not in signs and wonders or miracles.

The Greek word for “spoil” here is sulagōgeō and means to be seduced away from Christ.

Before we close, let’s break down the Colossians 2:18-19 passage we began with:

“Let no man beguile you of your reward” – the reward of eternal life can be forfeited. Just a few verses prior this warning the Holy Spirit issued another warning. He warned us of being spoiled which means robbed of eternal life through philosophy, tradition, etc. Why in the world would God warn us of something if there were no danger of losing out? Are we not warned in the New Testament Scriptures how Esau gave up his very birthright for a temporary bowl of soup? (Heb. 12:14-17)

“in a voluntary humility” – this speaks of self-imposed false humility undergirded by a self-serving agenda.

“and worshipping of angels” – a preoccupation with angels. Involving angels outside of what Scripture reveals and thereby moving the heart affections of God’s people away from Jesus Christ (Col. 3:1-4).

“intruding into those things which he hath not seen” – this is when people tread into places that Scripture does not sanction such as the worshiping of angels and today’s so-called “prophetic” movement, etc. This comes from people who are not rooted and grounded in a relationship with Jesus and therefore use God’s Word for their own personal agenda – to deceive others (2 Cor. 2:17; 4:1-5; 2 Pet. 3:16). These beguilers use Scripture with private interpretation in an unsound and out-of-context manner.

“vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind” – deception emanates out of a prideful heart that does not put God first and foremost and does not fear the LORD though it sports an outward image of doing so – a “form of godliness.”  (2 Tim. 3:5)

“And not holding the Head” – this is the whole crux. The true disciple loves, clings to, studies about, and preaches Jesus Christ. The counterfeit is identified in that he simply emphasizes something (anything) other than the Person of Jesus Christ revealed in Holy Writ.

“from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God” – proper nourishment from Heaven and spiritual growth can only flow to and through believers who are set apart to, upholding, and looking to Jesus Christ and not angels or mere men or any other idol.

It is essential to believe what God has revealed to us about Jesus Christ. We must remain in those fundamental doctrines of Christ or we will lose out in the end. The mission of the enemy is to use one of his many deceivers to move you away from the doctrinal and spiritually pure worship of Jesus Christ our LORD. Examine this next passage closely. 2 John 7-11 says:

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not (does not remain) in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth (remains) in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 

Let’s Get Fat!

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.” Psalms 92:12-14 

PRAYER to be set apart to the LORD completely: Father in Heaven, I this moment return to You! I repent of seeking to something or another person or angel in place of You. Thank You Jesus for shedding Your sinless blood for me on the cross and rising from the dead to justify me completely. I am complete in You alone. I love You my LORD Jesus and am looking to You and Your soon return. In Jesus’ name Father, Amen!

MORE

“So is God still working miracles today or not, or are you taking a cessationist position?”

ANSWER:

Jesus Christ hasn’t changed (Heb. 13:8). So, we know He still heals and does miracles (Mal. 3:6). Yet He told us repeatedly to TEST all who come in His name and He also warned that “MANY” who prophesy and cast out devils and do many wonderful works don’t know Him (Matt. 7:21-23). “Beloved, believe not every spirit but try (test) the spirits to see whether they are of God, for MANY false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1) See Deut. 13. Also, it seems that many times in the book of Acts and in the sequence of Mark 16:15-20, there is FIRST the preaching of God’s Word (to bring forth the greatest miracle – men coming to repentance and being born again), and then miracles. In either case (regardless of what happened first) there WAS ALWAYS THE PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD at the forefront and as the centerpiece of the work of the kingdom. “Preach the Word…” – and especially in light of the foretold reality that many would turn away their ears from the truth, not enduring sound doctrine, and would be turned to fables (2 Tim. 4:2-4). In His ministry Jesus Himself preached, taught, and did miracles (Matt. 4:23-25). He taught and preached the kingdom of God and then healed and cast out devils, THEN He gave (preached/taught) the “sermon on the mount” which was a long teaching about His kingdom (Matt. 5-7). THEN, immediately following in Matt. 8:1, Jesus heals a leper…wow. LORD, please grant us understanding. Seems like the preaching of God’s kingdom Word and healings, miracles, etc., were intertwined – yet we should remember that the true works of the kingdom are never divorced from the Word of God and communicating it boldly. The point is, that when someone like Todd Bentley gets up and is supposedly doing miracles and signs and doesn’t preach the Word of God, he should immediately be marked for what he is – FALSE (Rom. 16:17-18). There “is NO light” in those who don’t preach God’s Word (Isa. 8:20). In fact, it is the very Word of God that gives the light of God (Ps. 119:105, 130).

God the Father answers prayer and does miracles in the name of Jesus and on His perfect merit alone! (John 14:13-14; 16:23-24) Anything added is of Satan in order to draw attention from and steal the glory from Christ! (Colossians 2:18-19)

THE NEW “APOSTOLIC REFORMATION” DECEPTION

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