SPIRIT OF LICENSE & IDOLATRY RAMPANT IN FAITH MOVEMENT

excerpt:
"God commands us to seek His face and His Presence, NOT His treasures (seek His face not His hand). Jesus is by far the greatest treasure in the universe and we offend Him dearly when we try to use Him as if He were only some cosmic genie whose greatest desire and purpose is to grant us our every selfish whim. If we seek Him and His righteousness– like the greatest loving Father that He is, He will give us what we need, NOT always what we want! AND... God DOES still do miracles, signs and wonders! Praise God for that! But we MUST NOT seek THEM... WE MUST SEEK JESUS AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS... “AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU!”
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The Holy Spirit is prompting me to delineate (lay out) more of the discernments that I have received concerning the doctrines and practices of some current “Faith Movement” ministries. This is not a condemnation of this movement but is meant to divide truth from error.

I am compelled to share a message that may offend many whom I love– some dearly. I ask you to prayerfully and patiently consider what I am about to share because I am impressed in my spirit to share what the Lord has shown me. God has called me and others, to sound the trumpet of warning in the camp! I am sharing this out of love and am convinced that the time is short. This is an urgent call to repentance and a proclamation that God desires to open the portals of heaven and pour out His Spirit so powerfully upon us that none of us will be able to stand in His presence when it first happens (just like in Solomon’s Temple). BUT we must first flee from and repent of all idolatry– especially that which we practice daily as part of our religion. God cannot move anyone to this next mighty infilling, in those places where God is being replaced by putting "faith in faith," (formulas) dead religion and even shamanistic techniques, which are being employed (visualization, creation of reality) by people who call themselves "Christian," but who are actually practicing Charismatic witchcraft!

Did you know that it is possible to make an idol out of almost anything in our lives? We cannot fully serve Jesus if we love something or someone more than Him. Some Christians who don’t realize it, are worshiping the Bible instead of the One who wrote it– the One to whom it directs us– the One whom it glorifies– the Word who became Flesh and is now in us. Some so accentuate the Holy Spirit and certain spiritual gifts and “apostolic authority,” that "signs and wonders" becomes their focus instead of Jesus. Some are so fixated on and put such emphasis on new prophetic revelations that they are losing primary focus on Jesus and His word. Some are so fixated on end time events that they begin to forget that Jesus alone, must be our Blessed Hope and our heart’s desire. It is in our best interest to stay in love with Jesus! A loving, spiritual genuiness and the fruits of the Spirit identify those who worship Jesus in Spirit and in Truth.

The authentic Christian existence is NOT a relationship in which we boss God around and take license to practice extra-biblical dogmas and faith formulas. In the name of "faith" many proclaim every selfish desire that they can vainly imagine, (positive confession) as practiced by the name-it-and-claim-it, "Faith Movement" adepts. The devil is all too happy and eager to "bless" some of these with a "success" that leads them further and further away from the real Jesus as they become more and more power hungry. They also teach that "negative confession" (saying things we don't really mean like "I wish I were dead" etc.) and everything else that we say has power to bless or destroy. There is a certain amount of truth to this and Jesus taught about it but their movement has taken it to dangerous extremes. The majority of Faith Movement adepts become spiritually shipwrecked and bankrupt as they selfishly seek ungodly gain by giving foolishly to rich, phony evangelists who promise them that they will receive back many times what they give to them. If you are "giving to get," you have forsaken God.

Some Christians are so consumed with future apocalypse and the upcoming mayhem of the Tribulation, that they too, are neglecting Jesus and His word. It is also possible to be so enthralled with worship and how it makes us “feel,” that IT becomes the focus instead of Jesus. We are to worship the Manifestor, NOT the manifestation or some ritual or style. The Holy Spirit takes up residence in us to reveal Jesus within us and to glorify Jesus in our daily lives, not to bring focus to the Spirit– though the Holy Spirit certainly is Christ’ Holy Presence within us. Unfortunately, it is quite possible to be preoccupied and lust after what God can give us... to be filled with selfish motives, as opposed to desiring and seeking intimacy with God Himself.

One of the current common spiritual indulgences is reminiscent of the modus operandi of King Saul. Though he was the anointed king of Israel, he indulged himself in many ways. I see this “saulish spirit” in operation in many churches where the leadership (usually one pastor or family) becomes the center of attention and abuses it’s original calling and anointing by systematically making "their" sheep, bow to them (subservient and secondary). The saulish pastor eventually becomes a “prima donna” preacher, who neglects his sheep and instead may condescend to and even abuse the sheep in his pasture. The church he is called to lead becomes “all about him” (or her) instead of nurturing and leading people to the Master Shepherd. This kind of pastor isn’t part of the sheep... he is “above” the sheep and it is displayed in his speech, actions and demeanor. He may not be easily accessible and has little concern or patience when you need to share something of importance. These are men and women who seek to create their own kingdoms and empires. They can’t be “bothered with the little people.”

This type of spiritual “fiefdom” becomes more and more provincial and disconnected from other fellowships because it takes on the personality of the leadership. They become increasingly indulgent in certain practices and most of them incorporate extra biblical teachings or pervert scripture for their own provincial reasons. Some “prophetic ministries,” have assimilated romanticized notions right out of the courts of the middle ages, highlighting: knights, armor, swords, banners, service to the king etc. The pastor’s closest “warriors,” are called “armor bearers” as if the pastor were the king of his own “castle.” Many of these deceived are actually WORSHIPING WORSHIP INSTEAD OF GOD! This indulgent mentality is just dripping in spiritualized and romanticicized narcissism. This is part of that “saulishness” that can become so self-serving and dangerous.

“Saulishness,” is characterized by soulish worshipers who get caught up in fads, styles, fashions, forms, tangents and emotions or a certain musical "sound." They so want to be “on the cutting edge of the Spirit,” that they make the latest prophetic fad their fixation. The end product of such drivel is the behavior that we can see in the Bible of King Saul, who became jealous and murderous of the real servant and work of God, (David) and chased him all around the kingdom in order to slay him. King Saul was the anointed King of Israel and would even “prophesy” on certain occasions to impress the prophets (because he fancied himself a prophet and a king [covetousness]). Selfishness and evil motivated Saul’s heart. Like King Saul, the modern, saulish leader covets attention and having prominence. Many of these leaders can be observed on TBN, just; hooting, hollering, stompin', and running around like headless chickens. They are New Age PRIMA DONNAS, created by idolaters who lust to follow idols and icons. These modern age "Sauls," have perverted the scriptures in order to legitimize every lust that they have, most of which is for $$$$$$$$!

There are some pastors who inflate their status and fancy themselves as stars (prima donnas) among their own flocks. They give themselves permission (license) to promote themselves to a special status. Some of these arrogantly believe that they have been given most, or even all of the five major Apostolic giftings and instead of encouraging and grooming individual sheep to flow in their OWN gifts, (so that THEY can also fulfill God’s calling and minister to the body) they instead stifle, control and manipulate the sheep into being dependent primarily on his or her gifts. This is the OPPOSITE of what you call, “edifying the church.” This is more like a franchise store owner simply promoting and protecting “HIS OWN” territory. To disagree with such a dictator is often to be “banished” from the kingdom, which is the best thing that could happen to you if you are in such a “kingdom.” There is no “special, royal priesthood” in the body, other than the one that Peter describes that we ALL are a part of. “But YOU (the church) are a chosen generation, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a holy nation. His own special people...(1Peter 2:9) this verse should cause us to esteem every believer as a special priest, not just certain individuals! For that matter, James instructs us NEVER to “show partiality among ourselves” (James 2:4).

This “kingdom” building nonsense, derives its inspiration from errant teachings and misinterpretations of prophecies that started the Manifest Sons of God/ Dominion Theology movement. This theology encourages believers to "exercise dominion" over their circumstances but we don't have "dominion" over flesh and blood other than ourselves and our families, only Christ has such a royal right and His kingdom is NOT OF THIS WORLD. Jesus has not yet come to manifest His royal right of having His physical kingdom upon the earth. Though His spiritual kingdom reigns in our hearts, His physical kingdom will only come, when HE appears with HIS heavenly hosts (including the previously Raptured church) in glory, at the last earthly battle (His Second Coming). From that time, His Kingdom will have no end and He will rule the earth with a rod of iron! Errant MSOG/ Dominion doctrines, are the root of many of the wrong ideas and practices in modern “Apostolic” thinking. Extreme license is being taken to “usher in the kingdom of God,” or so their doctrine says. They believe that Jesus can’t return until “we” have physically “manifested the kingdom” and “taken over the earth for Jesus.” They think that they are in the process of doing all of this and are even “postponing long held church doctrines (like the Rapture) in order to accommodate this deception and indulge their own flesh in the process! ("Cuz it takes money to build God's kingdom you know"... NOT)

God commands us to seek His face and His Presence, NOT His treasures (seek His face not His hand). Jesus is by far the greatest treasure in the universe and we offend Him dearly when we try to use Him as if He were only some cosmic genie whose greatest desire and purpose is to grant us our every selfish whim. If we seek Him and His righteousness– like the greatest loving Father that He is, He will give us what we need, NOT always what we want! AND... God DOES still do miracles, signs and wonders! Praise God for that! But we MUST NOT seek THEM... WE MUST SEEK JESUS AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS... “AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU!”

In certain circles, the proof that you are anointed and spiritual, has now become the size of your bank account, what you drive, and what kind of house you own. Seeking “prosperity,” has become a golden calf for some Christians and the primary evidence that they are “successful.” “Success,” has become synonymous with prosperity in these circles and by listening to some teachers, one would think that one was a spiritual failure if you are not wealthy and sow great seeds into their ministries. Some of the services I am now seeing on TV are more like infomercials selling franchises, than anointed preaching. Some are taking extreme license and are indulging their every vain imagination for ungodly gain.

A pompous, self-indulgent, self-deserving and self-serving “clergy,” has arisen. Their power is based on errant and/or over-accentuated, hyped up, high-octane theatrics and manipulation. They deem themselves worthy of million dollar houses and actually look down upon “poor” Christians, who “do not have enough faith,” to break the cycle of poverty. Some of these “preachers” actually have the audacity to bash poor Christians, while taking extreme license to amass great wealth in these last days and brazenly disobey the Lord’s command to meet the needs of the poor... especially poor Christians! Instead they twist Old Testament teachings about tithing and sacrificial offerings so that THEY can “prosper.” What would happen to these selfish “prosperity Christians” if they were forced to do what the first church actually did, which was to sell ALL that they owned to meet the needs of the whole body. Funny how they base their expectations on the Old Testament laws! What was wrong with the church back in Acts, didn’t they know that if every individual just applied and followed certain “spiritual laws” of prosperity, that they could all have been filthy rich? Instead, the members of the first church sold all that they owned and brought it to Peter. The two who lied and held back a portion of their wealth, were smitten by God as an example to how important it was for the body to provide for it’s own and not to hold back on God!


There is a point of demarcation that we all will be tempted to cross but we must not or we will begin to idolize and seek the glorious things that God’s hand can provide us, instead of God Himself. Many know, but fail to understand the saying: “seek My face– not My hand.” Instead, many go about coveting and lusting for what they see other Christians have received from God. God’s kingdom does not run on money, as many would have you believe. Now, don’t read into this that the Lord is against financial giving. He is not. He will lead us to even give sacrificially at times. God does not lead us all the same in this area. We are all to give at the level that God leads us to give. Some are led to tithe 10%, others are not– others cannot. I will not give beyond what my wife and I am in agreement about, although God can even overrule that when He wants me to. Some Christians have been given great wealth and the knowledge to procure great wealth, primarily for the purpose of the edification of the church (helping individuals, meeting great needs). Many of them are called to give constantly to those in need– way beyond what others give– way beyond 10%. This is a manifestation of their spiritual gifting, which is the gift of helps. Remember, the gifts are given “without repentance,” so many that are called and gifted in this area and have great wealth, do not use it righteously. None of us are supposed to “store up earthly wealth” but rather “store up treasures in heaven.”

Now, I’m not advocating that we all do what the first church did as far as selling all that we own, and giving it to the church, although God will tell some people to do exactly that. God DOES NOT WANT US TO GIVE BASED ON SOME FORMULA OR UPON WHAT SOMEONE ELSE TELLS US OR EXPECTS US TO GIVE. If we wait on Him, God will tell us what He wants us to give and who to give it to. Sometimes, He will ask us to give sacrificially, above what we can even afford to give. Some will be asked to tithe well above 10%, which is the primary reason why God blesses some in the body with great resources. They have been given the gift of giving and must give accordingly to the body and to missions. We all go through different seasons in our giving, and as God blesses us financially, we must also bless God’s people! Some will even go through seasons of leanness where God doesn’t want them to give at all. When God lays it on others to meet our needs, we are to receive with all gratefulness, giving glory to God! The generous, loving kindness of the body is one of the greatest ways that Jesus provides for us and shows us His sacrificial love!

Never, ever give so that you can receive. God will bless us in many different ways if we give as led by the Spirit in obedience to God, but if we are only giving to get, our motivation is not righteous. Sowing into the kingdom, is not some pyramid scheme where God is bound to pay us back 100 fold, although He can. But ONLY when we give as led by His Anointing. Avoid ministries that CONSTANTLY preach about money and giving. They are not trusting God– they are trying to manipulate your money out of your pocket book through guilt and pressure. I have found out that some of these preachers are actually paid a percentage of the offerings. No wonder some promote giving so much. What an obvious ethical lapse on their part.

Anything that we do from our flesh (our own minds, souls, emotions etc.) is not of ANY spiritual benefit or edification of any kind and is not of God and needs to be crucified daily (if necessary). There are SOME preachers and ministers of most every denomination that preach entirely from their flesh (soulish) and not under God’s anointing at all, just as there are also humble, anointed and thus empowered preachers out there who are preaching the whole counsel of God. Every ministry will have it’s faults and foibles but it is how grounded in Christ and in His word, that will determine in what direction they are headed. We all must be humble enough to receive correction. NO ONE is above reproof and rebuke!

America has become a modern day branch of spiritual Babylon and displays most, if not all of the final attributes of decadent, ancient Rome before the fall. Any Christian who truly loves their country and realizes that it was in the process of falling, should cry out to God for mercy and intercede for her, that God would bring her to repentance. The decadence and wild prosperity of this heavily indulgent, class oriented society, has brought about an intensely narcissistic and selfish nation. Our society’s morals, ethics and ideals have infected almost every church or Christian movement to some degree and the “Word/Faith movement,” is no exception. Americans bow at the altar of money, “image,” “popularity” and “success” and much of the church is no different. As Americans, many have been seduced into following and worshiping graven images (how many hours do you sit in front of TV? I’m guilty too!) and idolize all kinds of different people, from sport stars and actors, to televangelists.

Even some born again, bible believing, Holy Spirit baptized Christians, can idolize certain added dogmas and doctrines that weren’t around in the early church, nor even at the turn of this century. The “Word/Faith movement” definitely utilizes allot of biblical truth but some in the movement also twist the word and even mix biblical truth with profane and worldly motivations. This is when these beliefs and doctrines can become a dangerous brew for the soul– that offers up a form of godliness while indulging the flesh and it’s selfish desires.

If we hear our Master’s voice speaking through an anointed saint, and they speak truth, then we must receive it and act on it. If it is merely a thinly veiled attack made up of half-truths, or no truth, we need not receive it and may let the person know it (tactfully and lovingly). God’s voice will never condemn us, but God will speak heart-piercing truth and will call us to repentance.

I am not one of those extremists who condemns ministries in the faith movement, though I am called to exhort and warn the church to adhere to the word and repenting of wrong doctrines and practices (return to God and to biblical orthodoxy). There are some that have ridiculed Faith Movement ministries and have condemned them as ungodly- even accusing them all of practicing witchcraft (although a FEW are at times)! There are many ministries within the faith movement that are being used of God in an extraordinarily powerful way, because at their core they are in love with Jesus and grounded in the word, even though they may take license to add some strange NEW, EXAGERATED or TWISTED biblical texts, or even EXTRABIBLICAL beliefs and practices. Benny Hinn is a prime example, and there are several things that concern me about his ministry.

It is possible to preach the gospel even from wrong motives and still win people to Jesus! (I have seen this firsthand) That’s just how powerful the Gospel is! We MUST examine the fruit that is produced... the fruit of their ministry, which includes their teaching, preaching and living! The Bible instructs us to compare what we hear preached to God’s word and to see if it agrees. This is necessary for every ministry we hear, or we disobey God’s word. There are some ministries that we can ill afford to absorb, let alone listen to. We must discern our Master’s voice. We CANNOT accept every word we hear “carte blanche.”

What we must do is to see past the natural and acknowledge the supernatural fruit in these ministries that is attributable to our Lord Jesus. Many “Christians” in these last days no longer believe in a God of miracles. They completely deny that our God is SUPERNATURAL in every aspect. They are fulfilling the scripture that says: “having a FORM of godliness but DENYING the power thereof... always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:5, 7) How could anyone proclaim himself or herself a Christian and not believe in miracles?

Joyce Meyer is an example of a borderline ministry that associates with the faith movement. Though she teaches mostly biblical principals, she has espoused a few WOF doctrines that are wrong and dangerous (like how "Jesus didn't complete our salvation on the cross," "Jesus had to be born again in hell" HERESEY!). I would tell those that listen to her to make sure that all that she teaches lines up with the word of God.

However, most ministries in the faith movement have taken extreme license with certain biblical truths, and are behaving like arrogant, one-note trumpet players, for the purpose of selfish gain. Most of them have been brainwashed with the false teachings of the two Kennys (Hagin & Copeland). The lack of biblical balance and focus and the perversion of “seed faith,” giving is indicative of leaders whose major agenda is prospering their own pocketbooks and propagating their own empires. There is a biblical doctrine of sowing seed but it pertains MOSTLY to spiritual seed, not to money, as some would lead us to believe. But God is not bound by some human misinterpretation of His precious promises. Yes, God also wants us to sow financially into the right soil but many of these preachers would have you believe that a spiritual law exists that guarantees a “100 fold increase on your investment”...uhhh...perhaps they mean...”sowing.” If you are giving so that you can get more- your motivation is UNGODLY. Does God ever tell His people to give- even sometimes sacrificially? Yes, He does.

Do I believe that God wants us to be prosperous? Yes, but the definition of “prosperous” will differ from disciple to disciple and none of us is above or beyond suffering. There is nothing in the Bible that guarantees us a life void of pain and suffering and abounding in wealth. Shallow, worldly believers will have a much different concept of what “prosperity” means to them than a poor, inner-city servant who has survived from week to week for years, completely on faith in Jesus. Riches can be a curse because the tendency for a rich person will be one of self-sufficiency rather than a dependency on God. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” God ABHORS the self-deserving, haughty spirit that roosts upon SOME that are caught up in the “if you can name it you can claim it / prosperity gospel.” Often times a person does get what they deserve instead of what they need! “But what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” What God really wants, is for us to be increasingly dependent on Him and for Him to be manifested in us. By no means is this meant as a condemnation of wealthy Christians but it is meant as a warning. There are many that don’t think that they’re wealthy no matter how much they have in the bank or how many “toys” they have. That’s called extreme ungratefulness! Do not rob God! Remember what happened in Acts 5, to Ananias and Sapphira! In the early church, the body took care of all of the financial needs of others and gave sacrificially to the poor. A day could soon be upon us when our earthly “wealth” will be nothing but “wood, hay and stubble. We are called to sow into the kingdom NOW! The Christian who leaves behind a fortune has cheated God and lost the blessing of blessing others and may have lost an even more precious eternal reward (not salvation). God wants us to be obedient in every area of our lives but so many believers cordon off certain areas of their lives and maintain full control apart from God. How tragic!

Does God want us to “claim” every single vain imagination that we ever have? God forbid. Does God inspire us to pray boldly– proclaiming in faith for certain things to be, as we are led by the Holy Spirit? Do we have authority in Christ? MOST DEFINITELY! But with authority comes responsibility and obedience. Jesus was ALWAYS submissive to the Father, yet so many of us think that if we selfishly desire something to be so... we can just command it to be done, even if we haven’t asked for and received God’s permission. The extreme (NOT ALL) prosperity gospel followers do base their unbalanced beliefs on actual spirititual truths but then they go way past the mark of biblical practice and pervert the truth (as do other brands of believers) for their own benefit. At the extreme fringe of this type of believer, is indulgence that sometimes approaches “shamanism” or charismatic witchcraft. There is extreme temptation in this type of believer, to create or change reality based upon what they desire and not upon divine inspiration. The key to biblical balance in proclaiming in faith is to know that it is God’s will and if you can’t discern what that is, you mustn’t try to “visualize” it into existence. Praying in faith means that you are trusting God to speak it into existence- not you. Yes, as long as we are praying in accordance with God’s will and leading, we may speak to the mountain but only if we are hearing from God, to insure that it doesn’t just emanate from our flesh! He will give us the desires of our heart, as long as they come from HIM and praise God... for putting His desires in us!

Copeland's “Positive Confession” doctrine is a shamanistic doctrine- it is not Biblical. Copeland would have us believe that every single word we speak either blesses us or curses us. There is SOME truth to that, which is why the Bible instructs us to mind our tongue, but Copeland, believes that our tongues possess god-like powers of creation, which is heresy. God desires that “His praises be Continually on our lips.” If we are professing the powerful word of God in response to whatever we may face in our daily lives and if we are professing His word as the sword and protection that it affords us, and if we are led by the Spirit to proclaim His word over a person or a given circumstance- we are then doing His holy will. I pray that His word and His thoughts be continually on my lips! BUT, if we are “positively confessing” only to manifest our own vain imaginations, or create our own reality, we have crossed over into forbidden territory. If “positive confession” to some means having the ability to create or receive any selfish desire that they can imagine, then it has become a tool of the devil in that person’s hands. They are abusing the word.

There is limited power in the tongue to curse or to bless and so we are warned to keep it under control. There is truth that we will reap what we sow, SO if we are speaking curses and negative sinful thoughts with malice (witchcraft)– we will eventually reap what we sow, if it is WITHOUT REPENTENCE. And of course the devil and his minions are only too eager to carry out the idle or evil orders that we may have uttered. Idle, inappropriate, and unedifying words have no place in godly servant’s behavior (holsum humor is fine but not coarse or perverted jesting), but praise God that He is always there to forgive us and deliver us from our own destructions!

Should we accentuate the positive? Yes, if that means focusing on that which is pure and that which is good and that which is holy! We should always be accentuating and reflecting the goodness and the glory of God. It isn’t that God wants us to stay “positive,” God wants us to be godly. The godly person shouldn’t complain, gossip or curse. We have every reason to be happy and filled with joy. That biblical description of the behavior and joyous pre-occupation of a disciple certainly can also be called “positive.” Negativity, despair and depression all indicate an absence of His presence, although any believer can face and experience these emotions at times. Praising God with all our heart will always invite His Presence. His anointing will always break the yoke of bondage (Is. 10:27) and cover us in His countenance!

Now, those who teach that we are bound to receive everything that we have idly said in days gone by (negative confession), are being silly (that sounds more like “Karma”). There were many days when I wished that I was dead and even said so, but the good Lord DID NOT give the devil permission to take my life. Such a legalistic belief can become dogmatic shamanism if not corrected.

What must be realized is that “to whom much is given, much is expected.” God will reveal great truths and God will give great gifts to edify His church but these wonderful gifts can also be abused. I have heard of great ministries and churches that experienced powerful and miraculous visitations from God but all of a sudden the glory stopped because of self-indulgence, disobedience and even perversion. God is probably reluctant to pour Himself out in such a powerful manifestation because of man’s proclivity to abuse His gifts and take His awesome Presence for granted... even attempting to turn it into a side show. Some attempt to franchise the Holy Ghost experience and sell it to others, as if that were possible! They can try to sell the “experience” but there will be no Holy Ghost in imitations. People may swoon and desire to fall slain to the floor but it will have become a false, religious ritual, instead of the outer manifestation of an explosive inner transformation. We must also resist the temptation to force, ritualize, liturgize or make a religious sacrament out of any of God’s great gifts to us or the side affects. The second that we act as though we can control God, (putting Him in a “box,” telling Him when to “show up”) He will withdraw His glorious, anointed Presence from us. Righteous hearts that emanate praise and adoration invite His anointed Presence.

Faith movement churches are predominantly preaching a counterfeit gospel. This movement is filled with copycats, who pretend to function in authentic spiritual gifts but who are as phony as Simon the magician. Most of them want to have the signs and wonders for the purpose of marketing the anointing and obtaining ill-gotten gain. These idolaters act as though God is handing out franchises and will give a certain “special” persons, any gift that they can dream of or desire. Sounds like Simon the magician to me. Only God decides whom He will give His gifts to, though God does want us to desire the greater gifts. (Good undershepherds (pastors) know full well that they are not the sole embodiment of God’s gifts in the church. Godly pastors seek to groom the sheep in the operation of their gifts as they mature in the Lord) This “spirit of Simon” is the same sort of spirit that got Aaron’s sons killed, who although were anointed priests, attempted to offer up “profane fire” to God (Lev 10). We must offer to God what He requires and we must never covet someone else's giftings. Yes, we are to “earnestly desire the best gifts” (which includes faith, hope and love) but not our brother’s gifts. If we are an eye, we cannot suddenly say to the Head: “today, I demand that you make me a foot. I’m tired of being an eye, after all; the foot gets more attention and is more important!”

In my heart, God tells me that He longs to pour Himself out upon His people but that He requires consistent obedience and holiness before He will reveal Himself in the most powerful way. We must seek His Face and not His hand. So many followers want the “goodies,” but try to bypass His word and holiness that comes only from spending time in His Presence and in His word.

Oh Bride, the awesome glory of His Presence awaits us and is ours for the asking- if we will repent of our abuses (sins) and in our desperation, abandon ourselves at our Master’s feet. Spirittruth.com © 2000-2008