- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Readers of this blog are aware that I enjoyed the good biblical preaching at the recent Strange Fire conference. That was a conference that sought to refute the claims of the Charismatic movement, to rebuke the leaders of it, and to urge the brethren to pray for discernment so they will be able to detect falsity if it creeps in to their church (or heart).
The Charismatic movement is a movement which is based on the unbiblical notion that personally delivered prophecies, babbling tongues, and healing by men laying hands on the sick (sign gifts) are still going strong as they were at Pentecost and during the Apostolic era.
These sign gifts have ceased, and the preaching at the conference showed this. One of the speakers was Pastor Conrad Mbewe. Pastor Mbewe is pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Zambia, Africa. He spoke at John MacArthur's Strange Fire conference in Sun Valley, Calif., on Oct. 18, 2013. His first sermon was titled, The African Import of Charismatic Chaos. He has been observing the growth of the Charismatic movement in his nation and beyond, for over thirty years. He has personally been impacted by it, as he said, not just from books but in every day life.
His second message was titled "Are We Preachers or Witch Doctors?" In this sermon, Pastor Mbewe related how the African mindset of the lost person, having been drenched in witch doctor superstition, will readily accept the unbiblical precepts inherent in the Charismatic movement because the two are extremely similar.
The lost person is desperate. It is the default condition of the lost person. They are wandering, empty, their lives are void of meaning. They also have life issues that may be very difficult to deal with and because they don't have Christ, they do not have a lasting coping mechanism.
The sick, particularly, look for cures from any quarter: medicines, homeopathic, psychology, or spiritual remedies. The sick are often all too vulnerable and willing to grasp any person who claims to have a way, a cure, a method.
This is where Lucy Nduta comes in.
This woman is from Kenya. She calls herself Prophetess Lucy Nduta, and she preaches. In 2007, Worldwide Religious News printed the following, originally printed in the East African Standard
Churches Sow Miracles
"Nairobi, Kenya - The sprouting of countless charismatic churches in the country has heralded a new breed of church leaders and worshippers with strong faith in the power of miracles. An increasing number of Kenyans are turning to 'sowing the seed' (giving huge sums of money for offering and tithe) at the prompting of church ministers who promise them to expect prosperity. However, it appears there are 'men and women of God' who are out to take advantage of the unwavering faith and ignorance of worshippers. These are people who hide self-interest under the cloak of religion. They quote biblical verses to suit their intentions and convince the congregation of the need to give more in order to receive more."
What Lucy Nduta did was, in the name of Jesus, take sick people's money, supposedly pray for them, and lie to them they were healed. But it gets worse, because it gets more diabolical.
Nduta preyed on people with HIV/AIDS, a scourge that particularly affects the people of the African continent. Nduta would claim that she had the power to heal people suffering from HIV/AIDS through her miracle working prayers, and then herd them to a clinic/lab she had built near her church. The sick people would get tested there, and because Nduta owned the lab, she would have the workers give clean bills of health to these unfortunately trusting people, lab reports that were totally bogus. The people really thought they were cured, and sought no further treatment. And of course in gratitude they tithed heavily to Nduta. Then, they died.
The Africa Report stated, "The police later found out that the clinics were her own creation to lure people. She was consequently sentenced to two years in prison. Despite these revelations, thousands still fill churches each Sunday waiting for miracles to happen in their lives."
Nduta was sentenced in 2008 and got out of prison in 2010.
False pastors who shred the sheep are a scourge. When the verse says-
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."(Matthew 7:15)
Ravenous means, 'Extremely hungry; voracious, Rapacious; predatory, Greedy for gratification'. Ravenous predators never stop. They eat and kill and eat and kill. That is what they do.
Nduta and now her son, are at it again. This report is from last week, Nov 4, 2013-
"Self-styled prophetess Lucy Nduta Mwangi has called in to defend her activities and that of her son, another self-declared prophet Victor Kanyari. Nduta says there is nothing wrong with what she and her son have been doing adding that they will continue asking for what is called seed money.
The report above ends with the announcer stating that the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya will convene to discus and strategize how to deal with the sudden rise of fake preachers in Kenya.
Ravenous is what wolves are. So if you believe that opening yourself just a tiny bit to doctrines which false prophets bring, you are very, very wrong.
An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes? (Jeremiah 5:30-31)
The Charismatic movement is a movement which is based on the unbiblical notion that personally delivered prophecies, babbling tongues, and healing by men laying hands on the sick (sign gifts) are still going strong as they were at Pentecost and during the Apostolic era.
These sign gifts have ceased, and the preaching at the conference showed this. One of the speakers was Pastor Conrad Mbewe. Pastor Mbewe is pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Zambia, Africa. He spoke at John MacArthur's Strange Fire conference in Sun Valley, Calif., on Oct. 18, 2013. His first sermon was titled, The African Import of Charismatic Chaos. He has been observing the growth of the Charismatic movement in his nation and beyond, for over thirty years. He has personally been impacted by it, as he said, not just from books but in every day life.
His second message was titled "Are We Preachers or Witch Doctors?" In this sermon, Pastor Mbewe related how the African mindset of the lost person, having been drenched in witch doctor superstition, will readily accept the unbiblical precepts inherent in the Charismatic movement because the two are extremely similar.
The lost person is desperate. It is the default condition of the lost person. They are wandering, empty, their lives are void of meaning. They also have life issues that may be very difficult to deal with and because they don't have Christ, they do not have a lasting coping mechanism.
The sick, particularly, look for cures from any quarter: medicines, homeopathic, psychology, or spiritual remedies. The sick are often all too vulnerable and willing to grasp any person who claims to have a way, a cure, a method.
This is where Lucy Nduta comes in.
This woman is from Kenya. She calls herself Prophetess Lucy Nduta, and she preaches. In 2007, Worldwide Religious News printed the following, originally printed in the East African Standard
Churches Sow Miracles
"Nairobi, Kenya - The sprouting of countless charismatic churches in the country has heralded a new breed of church leaders and worshippers with strong faith in the power of miracles. An increasing number of Kenyans are turning to 'sowing the seed' (giving huge sums of money for offering and tithe) at the prompting of church ministers who promise them to expect prosperity. However, it appears there are 'men and women of God' who are out to take advantage of the unwavering faith and ignorance of worshippers. These are people who hide self-interest under the cloak of religion. They quote biblical verses to suit their intentions and convince the congregation of the need to give more in order to receive more."
What Lucy Nduta did was, in the name of Jesus, take sick people's money, supposedly pray for them, and lie to them they were healed. But it gets worse, because it gets more diabolical.
Nduta preyed on people with HIV/AIDS, a scourge that particularly affects the people of the African continent. Nduta would claim that she had the power to heal people suffering from HIV/AIDS through her miracle working prayers, and then herd them to a clinic/lab she had built near her church. The sick people would get tested there, and because Nduta owned the lab, she would have the workers give clean bills of health to these unfortunately trusting people, lab reports that were totally bogus. The people really thought they were cured, and sought no further treatment. And of course in gratitude they tithed heavily to Nduta. Then, they died.
The Africa Report stated, "The police later found out that the clinics were her own creation to lure people. She was consequently sentenced to two years in prison. Despite these revelations, thousands still fill churches each Sunday waiting for miracles to happen in their lives."
Nduta was sentenced in 2008 and got out of prison in 2010.
False pastors who shred the sheep are a scourge. When the verse says-
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."(Matthew 7:15)
Ravenous means, 'Extremely hungry; voracious, Rapacious; predatory, Greedy for gratification'. Ravenous predators never stop. They eat and kill and eat and kill. That is what they do.
Nduta and now her son, are at it again. This report is from last week, Nov 4, 2013-
The report above ends with the announcer stating that the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya will convene to discus and strategize how to deal with the sudden rise of fake preachers in Kenya.
Ravenous is what wolves are. So if you believe that opening yourself just a tiny bit to doctrines which false prophets bring, you are very, very wrong.
An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes? (Jeremiah 5:30-31)
You are yourself a FALSE TEACHER! Denial of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit is Blasphemy and is the Unpardonable Sin! Read scripture below for yourself:
ReplyDeleteMatthew 12:31 The Unpardonable Sin 31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 1 Corinthians 12 Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity 12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that[a] you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same[b] Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Unity and Diversity in One Body
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best[d] gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
THIS IS WHAT JESUS HIMSELF SAID:
John 14: The Answered Prayer 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask[c] anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus Promises Another Helper
15 “If you love Me, keep[d] My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Indwelling of the Father and the Son
19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT JESUS SAID WE WOULD DO GREATER WORKS? HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT PAUL SAID WE WOULD HAVE SPIRITUAL GIFTS OF HEALING AND SPEAKING IN TONGUES? WAS THE BIBLE ONLY FOR THE FIRST CENTURY OR WAS IT MEANT FOR ALL CENTURIES? SO GOD IS NOT A SUPERNATURAL GOD AND DOES NOT DO ANY MORE MIRACLES. NOT ONLY ARE YOU BLASPHEMING THE GOD YOU PROFESS TO LOVE BUT YOU ARE PUTTING HIM AND HIS UNLIMITED POWER INTO A BOX THAT YOU WANT TO CONTROL.
I’M CALLING YOU OUT AS AN EXAMPLE OF A FALSE TEACHER. YOU HAVE SOME TRUTH BUT YOU ARE AS GUILTY AS THOSE YOU ARE ACCUSING. SHAME ON YOU!
Anonymous, before I get to the meat of your comment I’d like to address the tone. I ask you please to ratchet back the screaming screed, the lengthy rant, and especially the ALL CAPS shouting. We do not shout. We are discussing the Lord’s word, and that should be done calmly and politely.
DeleteThat said, I do take issue with your false statements and flimsy generalities. I’ll address a few.
1. I am not “denying the gifts”. No cessationist denies the gifts. It is a fact the Spirit gave them. We all know it and now you know we know it.
2. You shouted the following question: “WAS THE BIBLE ONLY FOR THE FIRST CENTURY OR WAS IT MEANT FOR ALL CENTURIES?”
No one is denying “the bible.” This is what I mean by generalities. If as you say, “the bible” is meant for all centuries, then when was the last time you refused to eat shellfish? Sacrificed a turtledove? Wore prescribed clothing? Owned a slave?
No, rather, cessationists deny that the *sign* gifts were meant for all centuries. They were for a sign, to lay the foundation of the church. The gifts that have expired are healing by men, speaking and interpreting in known languages that you have not studied, and new prophecy. They expired, and were even expiring as the first generation of Apostles were fading away. Paul did many miracles at the beginning of his ministry but by the end prescribed a little wine for Timothy, he didn’t heal him miraculously. Neither did Paul heal several others, who were either issued a get well card, or left behind to recover. Once the bible was completed, there was no need for prophecy. These faded out. Tongues were for a sign for unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:22)as a judgment of Israel, Isaiah 28:11
3. You said, “SO GOD IS NOT A SUPERNATURAL GOD AND DOES NOT DO ANY MORE MIRACLES.” No one is saying that. A typical false allegation people like you make is that cessationists claim God isn’t going miracles anymore. He is. He just does not give that power to men any longer.
4. God IS in a box. He put Himself there. He revealed only what He wanted us to know and put all of that in the pages of the bible. Of course there is much more to God. The bible is all that we can rely on in learning about Him, so in effect, God is in a box. The scripture says, “1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” We only know what God chose to reveal. Ergo, box.
I can offer some good, biblical sermons that explain the scriptures, even explain the one you pasted, since you don’t understand it.Of the sermons on this page http://www.gty.org/resources/sermon-series/325
I recommend particularly Tom Pennington’s A Case for Cessationism (Tom Pennington)
And Strange Fire by John MacArthur
6. What did you think of the actual essay? None of your comments are on topic.
Hosea 4:6 says that people perish for lack of knowledge and in Ezekiel 13:22 says these false teachers have made the righteous to be sad. Truly, I'm really saddened by what I see my brothers and friends in Christ in our country being led astray by these fake charismatic pastors and whenever I try to tell them that they are believing another Gospel they usually dont want to hear me and I'm usually left to apply 1 Corinthians 14:38 which says that if any man be ignorant let him be ignorant. My prayer is that The Lord Who opens the eyes of His people will surely open those of His and save them from these wolves.
ReplyDeleteFollow this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeyBaXQPe1E and see how these two have been exposed by a secular TV last month.
Thank you for your comment, John, and also thank you for the link. I thought his expose was well-written. I'm especially sad for you, who is so heartbroken by your countrymates who fall under the spell of these wolves. It is so hard to watch, isn't it? I pray the Lord come soon, and we will remain in His blessed presence forever, and remember these terrible things no more.
Delete