Snakes, Scorpions, and Stones...Where's the Holy Spirit?
While I'm no longer going to pick apart Lakeland or Todd Bentley (unless specifically told to by the Holy Spirit), I do still believe that clarifying points and moving forward are valid topics...and necessary! Many have come to this site seeking answers, and I believe this is a responsibility that I cannot drop--but as I've said, I do not feel that I need to look any deeper into Lakeland. We MUST transition into action rather than reaction. Let's move forward!
I recently came across an issue, though, that involves Lakeland. I actually believe this is bigger than Lakeland and is spread throughout the Charismatic Movement at large, so that's why I'm addressing it. Many have been arguing in favor of Lakeland and other movements with the words of Jesus when He said things like (paraphrase) "If your son asks for a fish, will you give him a snake? If he asks for bread, will you give him a stone? Or if he asks for an egg, will you give him a scorpion? No way! In the same way, your Heavenly Father will certainly give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (see Luke 11:11-13 and Matthew 7:9-11)
I agree completely with these verses. The problem that arises, however, is that many people are looking for a snake rather than a fish! They may be asking for the fish with words, but the mental picture they've been conditioned to expect looks like a snake. So when the fish is offered, they are more likely to reach down and pick up the snake because that better fits their understanding of what a fish is.
Why? Because of false teachings and false manifestations that have been allowed to run rampant in the Church for decades. Charismatic Christians and even new converts have been conditioned to expect certain manifestations, and so they chase after anything that meets their expectations whether God is actually causing it or not! It is evidence of a weak relationship with God (if any relationship at all). Those who truly know God are not the least bit phased by false manifedstations. They know if their Friend is present or not.
But we are entering a time when the line of distinction between the false and the true is being blurred, and many are being confused. In Matthew 24:24, Jesus warns, "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible." By the way, the word "Christs" here literally means "anointed ones." Jesus prophesied that false "anointed ones" and false prophets would appear before the end of the world who would perform great miracles. Wonders so great, in fact, that even the most seasoned saints could fall victim to the deception.
Did Jesus prophesy that the miracles would be false? Did He say that they would not be performed in His name? Nope. He just said that the people would be false. And He said that they would be so hard to distinguish from the true prophets and "anointed-ones" that even the "strong" Christians would be deceived. Could we be experiencing such a thing right now? Of course real miracles are happening! Jesus said they would! And of course they are being done in His name--how else would "even the elect" be deceived?
Snakes and fish both have scales--it is not difficult to be confused between the two when all you can see is a small cross-section. You need to see the whole picture to rightly distinguish, and that can only be granted through a relationship with God.
But where did we go wrong? Over the past several years, the life-bringing Bread of Jesus Christ, revealed through true prophetic words, has been exchanged for useless, bread-shaped stones (prophecies of the prophets' own minds) that offer no benefit. The egg, which is a bearer of life, has somehow been confused in our minds with a scorpion, which is a bearer of death. We've even gone so far as to put snakes in the goldfish bowls that sit in our children's bedrooms. God doesn't make the exchange. We do.
People have been conditioned over time to expect the Holy Spirit to look and act a certain way. We want Him to make us shake, jerk, wiggle, vibrate, and fall over. We want Him to make us laugh, cry, shriek, or shout. We want Him to make us act drunk--staggering around, swaying limply, and slurring our speech. I'm not going to say that it is impossible for the Holy Spirit to actually do these things (He can do whatever He wants), but I am going to say that it is wrong for us to have put God into such a box.
The moment you expect a specific manifestation is the moment when you shut off discernment. It becomes mechanical rather than personal. In your mind, if it doesn't match your idea of what should happen, it must not be the Holy Spirit...and worse yet, if it does match your expectations, you readily accept and receive that spirit!
What if the Holy Spirit does not wish to move according to your expectations? What if He's doing a "new thing?" If the Holy Spirit is NOT moving in the way you anticipate, are you are more likely to accept what He's actually doing or ignore Him and grasp after any spirit that WILL meet your expectations?
If you have allowed yourself to box God in with these expectations, then you may very well have fallen victim to the deception Jesus Christ foretold. The fish was offered in response to your request; but out of ignorance and preconceived notions, you rejected it for a snake. This isn't an insult--it means you rank among "the elect" as Jesus put it! You are not beyond forgiveness, and God may very well be using this message to bring you back to reality.
Yes, God will offer the Holy Spirit freely to those who ask; but it is up to you to keep your relationship with Him alive. Knowing God is not based on a formula, a method, a system, logic, or even our expectations. He is a PERSON. You cannot know Him apart from a genuine personal relationship, which can only happen through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We must see that He is a sovereign, sentient Being, capable of doing as He pleases. He is not an impersonal force that sways according to our presumption!
There's a difference between faith and presumption. Faith means you expect your Friend to do what He promised He would do. Presumption means you expect God to do what you expect Him to do. Presumption is not based on realtionship, and it almost always leads to error. Faith, on the other hand, is the means by which we KNOW God in an intimate way and steer clear of the end-time deception prophesied of by Jesus Himself.
Where do you stand? Are you experiencing things based on presumption, or are you experiencing what God has already promised to you that He would do? When you ask for a fish, are you looking for a snake, which you presumptiously assume is actually the fish you wanted? When you ask for bread, do you grab a stone instead because it looks more solid? When you ask for an egg, are you more intrigued by the shell-like exoskeleton of a scorpion? Are you one of the "elect" or others who Jesus said would be deceived by false "anointed-ones" and false prophets? Are you swayed by miracles and the name of Jesus into puting your trust in a false "anointed one" or "false prophet?"
Weigh carefully what has been presented here and do not answer too quickly. Judge your own heart and see where your position stands.
Your brother,
--Art--
I recently came across an issue, though, that involves Lakeland. I actually believe this is bigger than Lakeland and is spread throughout the Charismatic Movement at large, so that's why I'm addressing it. Many have been arguing in favor of Lakeland and other movements with the words of Jesus when He said things like (paraphrase) "If your son asks for a fish, will you give him a snake? If he asks for bread, will you give him a stone? Or if he asks for an egg, will you give him a scorpion? No way! In the same way, your Heavenly Father will certainly give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (see Luke 11:11-13 and Matthew 7:9-11)
I agree completely with these verses. The problem that arises, however, is that many people are looking for a snake rather than a fish! They may be asking for the fish with words, but the mental picture they've been conditioned to expect looks like a snake. So when the fish is offered, they are more likely to reach down and pick up the snake because that better fits their understanding of what a fish is.
Why? Because of false teachings and false manifestations that have been allowed to run rampant in the Church for decades. Charismatic Christians and even new converts have been conditioned to expect certain manifestations, and so they chase after anything that meets their expectations whether God is actually causing it or not! It is evidence of a weak relationship with God (if any relationship at all). Those who truly know God are not the least bit phased by false manifedstations. They know if their Friend is present or not.
But we are entering a time when the line of distinction between the false and the true is being blurred, and many are being confused. In Matthew 24:24, Jesus warns, "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible." By the way, the word "Christs" here literally means "anointed ones." Jesus prophesied that false "anointed ones" and false prophets would appear before the end of the world who would perform great miracles. Wonders so great, in fact, that even the most seasoned saints could fall victim to the deception.
Did Jesus prophesy that the miracles would be false? Did He say that they would not be performed in His name? Nope. He just said that the people would be false. And He said that they would be so hard to distinguish from the true prophets and "anointed-ones" that even the "strong" Christians would be deceived. Could we be experiencing such a thing right now? Of course real miracles are happening! Jesus said they would! And of course they are being done in His name--how else would "even the elect" be deceived?
Snakes and fish both have scales--it is not difficult to be confused between the two when all you can see is a small cross-section. You need to see the whole picture to rightly distinguish, and that can only be granted through a relationship with God.
But where did we go wrong? Over the past several years, the life-bringing Bread of Jesus Christ, revealed through true prophetic words, has been exchanged for useless, bread-shaped stones (prophecies of the prophets' own minds) that offer no benefit. The egg, which is a bearer of life, has somehow been confused in our minds with a scorpion, which is a bearer of death. We've even gone so far as to put snakes in the goldfish bowls that sit in our children's bedrooms. God doesn't make the exchange. We do.
People have been conditioned over time to expect the Holy Spirit to look and act a certain way. We want Him to make us shake, jerk, wiggle, vibrate, and fall over. We want Him to make us laugh, cry, shriek, or shout. We want Him to make us act drunk--staggering around, swaying limply, and slurring our speech. I'm not going to say that it is impossible for the Holy Spirit to actually do these things (He can do whatever He wants), but I am going to say that it is wrong for us to have put God into such a box.
The moment you expect a specific manifestation is the moment when you shut off discernment. It becomes mechanical rather than personal. In your mind, if it doesn't match your idea of what should happen, it must not be the Holy Spirit...and worse yet, if it does match your expectations, you readily accept and receive that spirit!
What if the Holy Spirit does not wish to move according to your expectations? What if He's doing a "new thing?" If the Holy Spirit is NOT moving in the way you anticipate, are you are more likely to accept what He's actually doing or ignore Him and grasp after any spirit that WILL meet your expectations?
If you have allowed yourself to box God in with these expectations, then you may very well have fallen victim to the deception Jesus Christ foretold. The fish was offered in response to your request; but out of ignorance and preconceived notions, you rejected it for a snake. This isn't an insult--it means you rank among "the elect" as Jesus put it! You are not beyond forgiveness, and God may very well be using this message to bring you back to reality.
Yes, God will offer the Holy Spirit freely to those who ask; but it is up to you to keep your relationship with Him alive. Knowing God is not based on a formula, a method, a system, logic, or even our expectations. He is a PERSON. You cannot know Him apart from a genuine personal relationship, which can only happen through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We must see that He is a sovereign, sentient Being, capable of doing as He pleases. He is not an impersonal force that sways according to our presumption!
There's a difference between faith and presumption. Faith means you expect your Friend to do what He promised He would do. Presumption means you expect God to do what you expect Him to do. Presumption is not based on realtionship, and it almost always leads to error. Faith, on the other hand, is the means by which we KNOW God in an intimate way and steer clear of the end-time deception prophesied of by Jesus Himself.
Where do you stand? Are you experiencing things based on presumption, or are you experiencing what God has already promised to you that He would do? When you ask for a fish, are you looking for a snake, which you presumptiously assume is actually the fish you wanted? When you ask for bread, do you grab a stone instead because it looks more solid? When you ask for an egg, are you more intrigued by the shell-like exoskeleton of a scorpion? Are you one of the "elect" or others who Jesus said would be deceived by false "anointed-ones" and false prophets? Are you swayed by miracles and the name of Jesus into puting your trust in a false "anointed one" or "false prophet?"
Weigh carefully what has been presented here and do not answer too quickly. Judge your own heart and see where your position stands.
Your brother,
--Art--
Labels: Charismatic Movement, demons, discernment, false prophets, false teaching, healing, Holy Spirit, Lakeland Healing Revival, power, repentance, Todd Bentley, truth
posted by Art Thomas | Saturday, May 31, 2008
2 Comments:
These are great questions that must be asked. I want to say that I started walking with the Lord a long time ago. This will be a really long post but it will explain my point of reference. I plan on reading your blog. I have added your RSS feed to my reader.
I was reared Pentecostal and became exposed to Charismatic things when I went to college. I have always been somewhat adventurous when it came to the things of God. However I knew when I was pretty young that I did not fit the mold of the 'typical' Pentecostal. There were only two things I have ever wanted: (1) to be a nice person and (2) walk like Jesus did on the earth. It was much more important for me to be a nice person and treat people like I want to be treated than to fit in a pentecostal/charismatic crowd. Before I understood that gifts could be performed by spiritual babes (Corinthians) I would judge a person's walk by how they behaved or treated people. I had no use for Christians that flowed in the gifts that were meaner than snakes.
I also had the 'opportunity' to be in a couple of churches where the leadership fell into deception. One of them has been featured in Charisma and other Christian media, Bishop Carlton Pearson. I quit attending six years before this issue became nationally known. He had not started his full blown gospel of inclusion at that time but would slide pieces of it in from time to time. He started teaching it locally in 1998. I attended there for almost 12 years. I saw the slow slide into deception. It absolutely frightened me. However I had enough of a walk with the Lord to see what was happening. Many that attended there did also. In 1998 many people left the church. However some I knew that I thought would have left remained there for several years. A few people that I knew then are still attending his new 'church'.
After I quit attending there I started attending another church that had been touched by the Toronto Blessing. In the beginning I did not see the barking, crowing, roaring, etc. I began to see what I used to see as a girl in Pentecostal churches. I thought nothing about it. They were on the word, especially when it dealt with healing and salvation. I was checking the place out. HOWEVER when the shift went from the word and experience to just the experiences things went downhill. The healings stopped. People were getting unexplained illnesses, premature deaths, calamities like you would not believe. The sweet presence of the Lord changed into the most demonically filled place I had ever been in. One of my friends for a time worked in maintenance. She would tell me that the demonic presence was worse the day after intercessory prayer. It was an absolute nightmare. I stayed and prayed hoping things would change. When I began to see what was happening to the people I knew not to seek anything other than those things that were in the parameter of the word of God. I truly believe it saved me from being sucked in. It was the saddest time I ever experienced in a church because I saw people that for the most part were really sweet became more caustic in their behavior. A few changed from Jeckel to Hyde. Many of the people had that demonic look in their eyes. Many on the prayer and deliverance teams were tormented (by their own admission). The belief was that they were being assaulted because the enemy did not want them to press forward into 'God'. I finally left when I saw a new Christian come into the church. She was fine for about a month. Then she had that same look in her eyes. I could not take it anymore and left. From time to time I would try and say something to different ones in leadership. I was either dismissed or chastised. When I quit attending I told the pastors that I really enjoyed them as leaders. At the time they were the nicest pastors I had ever had. When I mentioned my concerns about the demonic activity that had increased dramatically I was told that I was either in error or hurt. That was in September 2003 and I have not returned. I drove by the church and they are broadcasting the Lakeland Revival.
In both instances the environments were not open to sincere questioning and discernment. You either accepted what was going on or you were off-base. After these two experiences I quit attending anywhere for over a year. I felt that the safest place for me was me and the Lord alone. When I did that I started my walk with the Lord over. This was my plumb-line: (1) I am saved, (2) I am spirit-filled and (3) I know the Lord loves me beyond measure. Everything else was subject to change. I asked the Lord to let me know of any beliefs that I held that were not right. I also asked Him to reveal any supernatural experiences that I had embraced that were wrong. I was willing to throw it all out. I could care less about the spectacular. That was the best year spent in my walk with the Lord. I was able to focus on Him without filtering the word through teachings that I heard from preachers. I was able to analyze and reject teachings where scriptures were taken out of context. For the first time in my walk with the Lord I was reading the word without immediately thinking about what i heard a preacher say about it.
After that year or so I started attending a church here where they are seeking the Lord for revival. There are these differences that I see that I have not seen in the other places I have attended. They emphasize (1) spiritual maturity, (2) your own communion with the Holy Spirit (the true teacher of God's word). This is such a place of safety for me. The congregation wholeheartedly believe in the last day revival. However they realize that not only will there be signs and wonders. Their heart is to see a revival of doctrine. They feel that wrong doctrine will not only hinder the moving of the spirit like we see in the Bible BUT will also hinder a person from experiencing the Lord like He desires for every human being. I have been attending there for almost four years. It has been a relief. They do not put chains on the people but really trust the work of the Holy Spirit to work with people. Last year I became a part of one of the worship teams. I am still stunned that I'm anywhere. I was ready to spend the rest of my life away from the organized church because I did not want to risk seeing another leader slide into deception.
I'm so grateful for the precious Holy Spirit. Communion with Him is the most secure thing a Christian can have. It is a true place of safety. We will see power in our lives but the peace of knowing that we can have a true close walk with Him is the best thing in the world.
Great post, Art. That was a very enlightening way to look at the bread/stone and fish/snake parable.
(not don't get prideful... stay humble... even though you are writing all these great articles! LOL)
Pamela: Thanks for sharing your experience and testimony. It is so, so, so very true that our conduct and character are what matter. I have had my own share of people who were flowing in the gifts but were as mean as snakes. How sad.
It's reassuring to read that what kept you sane, was the knowledge that God loved you and you were His. It's the truth I have clung to, when nothing else seemed to make sense...
Lea Maria
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