What does the Bible say about Benny Hinn?
May 13, 2008 by Alan Higgins
First of all, watch this video
As a result of my previous post on Todd Bentley on God TV, I received various comments from people defending him. Here are a few of those comments:
- What if this is God and you are the ones that have “missed the boat”?
- Jesus is being glorified, ministries from Scotland, Pensacola, SC and more are giving testimonies
- You shall know them by there fruit, where’s your ministry, where’s your God television, all your doing is slagging other christians off who are trying there best to win people for God
- Wow! did any of you see the Florida outpouring last night it was awesome. People on their faces, more testimonies….
- Are people being healed and delivered? It appears a lot are. Even Todd wants verification. There “ain’t” know way he wants to document this “thing” with the media without verification.
- I am also a researcher, I can be a skeptic also, so my wife and I went to check it out. The ones that go want more of God, not religion. I and they have been touched by God in a tangible way.
- GOD touched me and i found that what my family members were criticising and mocking was actually happening to me a nobody from northern ireland.when i came home i had an even greatar love for JESUS and the WORD OF GOD.Surely this is the fruit in my life.I ask you not to judge yet but see what the fruit of this outpouring is.Surely satan is not going to glorify JESUS and get people truly saved.
- You guys have no idea how much of God you are missing out on. I used to be a dry church pastor. We must look to the Bible to see that Jesus said, ‘by their fruit you will know them.’ Every night hundreds of people are getting saved at the Florida Revival
- What if the doctrine you have learned is wrong! And now you are avoiding the real thing and therefore God?
- I ask you not to judge yet but see what the fruit of this outpouring is.Surely satan is not going to glorify JESUS and get people truly saved
- Guys who are we to judge, all you lot are doing is putting yourself in GODS chair and judging and making up your own minds what is off GOD or not, you need to seek GOD before you make up your minds
Now, looking at the Benny Hinn video, I am sure that many of the people who were there could say exactly what my commenters have been saying. That they ‘experienced God’ at his meetings, that anyone who speaks against him is judging. I mean, look at the people with their hands raised to God. The devil wouldnt want that would he? You can see that people are being ‘touched by God’
So the question is, if all these people are experiencing these things, does it automatically mean it is from God? Lets see what the bible says about Benny Hinn
So now we have a dilema. Is Benny Hinn a prophet of God because of the experiences we see in the first video or does scripture tell us something different?
Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness
So here we see that people will be suprised when Jesus rejects them, even though signs and wonders were performed and no doubt people had ‘experiences’ as a result.
He also says in Matthew 24:25-26
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.
In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 the apostle Paul says the following
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
So you can see here plainly that Satan will transform himself into the ministers of righteousness. He will not make it obvious, hence the reason why Paul calls them ‘deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ’. They will do God stuff. They will mention the name of Jesus. They will even perform miracles. From these scriptures, we can conclude that experiences, signs and wonders does not automatically mean that a person like Benny Hinn or Todd Bentley is from God
Some of the comments basically tell me to ask God for verification or to seek God about it. When scripture tells us plainly, there is no need to seek God about it because he has already given me the answer in his word. That will be like asking God, “Is it OK for me to steal?”
I will always says this. ‘Doctrine determines experience’ and not ‘experience determines doctrine’ which is what I seem to be hearing a lot of by the defenders of these teachers. This is what happens when we have a low view of scripture and elevate our experiences above it or we do not have some basic rules of biblical interpretation. We must be a Berean (Acts 17:11) and examine the Scriptures for ourselves to see if what they teach is true. I will leave you with the words of Jesus
TAKE HEED THAT NO ONE DECEIVES YOU
Related posts:
Revival Shown on God TV…or is it?
How much more evidence do you need? The ministry of assault and battery
The marks of false ‘christian’ teaching and teachers Part 1 - A Form of godliness
The marks of false ‘christian’ teaching and teachers Part 7 - Signs and Wonders
The marks of false ‘christian’ teaching and teachers Part 9 - Giving False Hope
The marks of false ‘christian’ teaching and teachers - The Conclusion
A man of God doesn’t teach there are nine members of the Trinity, then recant, then reassert his position, then recant, then reassert his position, etc. A man of God doesn’t teach the “health and wealth (so-called) gospel.”
Keep the faith, brother!
Clearly Benny Hinn doesn’t know the first thing about anything. To butcher the rather amusing phrase by David Cameron, “Hinn has nothing to sell and it is good at selling it”
Douglas,
Benny Hinn certainly knows how to do two things very well….entertain and make money….and he does both of these things VERY well!!
Yup Phil, him and the rest of the WoF bandwagon
Alright, so just because signs and wonders are attributed to false prophets doesn’t mean all (current)signs and wonders are evil.
Now, I don’t know about Benny Hinn, because I’ve never listened to him or seen any of his stuff, but today people are indeed being healed atleast in other places by Jesus.
Yes, what you say is true about doing all those things for God and not knowing Jesus. I myself have been one of those people,(been saved for a long time and I am in a church where God is continually healing people [of cancer, backpains, Jesus even healed my bad headcold once during Worship when all the sniffing and coughing was distracting me. he had mercy on me! A friend(no one famous or on God TV, mind you!) prayed for it to go away and the cold was completely gone in like 3 seconds and i wasn't sick for another year!] and the pastor preaches the word of God being the absolute truth and always tells us to know Jesus ourself and not rely on ministries to get to the Lord. Now recently i let my heart get distracted but i was still praying for people, and God chastises the ones he loves and he caught me and turned me back toward him in my heart and i am still in the process of getting to know him more and read the bible again. You see, God will let us make mistakes, and when it is his will he stop those who pretend. How he does it is different for every person. For me it was an altar call and my good friends who love the Lord telling me how much i need to read the Bible and if I draw near to him he will draw near to me.
You say doctrine should determine experience, and in a way that is true because you must be discerning and compare everything to the word of God, but doesn’t God use experience to change doctrine? Look at the apostle Paul. God blinded him with light and spoke to him, and it changed his doctrine!
Now I hope I would serve God even if he never spoke to me again and never answered another prayer(I say i hope because nobody knows their own heart or what they will do, but I am determining to never look away from the cross), and most people do, but God is not a silent God nor is he one that ignores pain.
I am not trying to convince you to think that Benny Hinn or Todd Bentley are genuine, and I am just saying that signs and wonders do happen today. God is a sovereign God, and just because some say God doesn’t do that today doesn’t mean he won’t. He could blast us all to the Andromeda galaxy if he wanted to. If he wants to use television to reach people, don’t you think he would? If he wants to heal people, don’t you think he would? Yea, if he didn’t want to, he probably wouldn’t. But apparently he does.
I’d be happy to discuss this more later, but right now I’ve got to go to school.
Liz thanks for your comments. Please dont misunderstand me. I am not saying that all signs and wonders are evil. I believe that God still heals today but we have to be very discerning where it is coming from
You say “but doesn’t God use experience to change doctrine?”
The answer is NO. God’s doctrine remains the same
You also say “Look at the apostle Paul. God blinded him with light and spoke to him, and it changed his doctrine!”
Thats right. It changed HIS doctrine which was not God’s doctrine
I was speaking along these lines with my husband last night, he is not a Christian.
I flicked on Todd Bentley as my husband was interested in who all the hype was about and who my friends and I had been discussing. We ended up watching quite a lot of it, and for his journey anyway, I think it proved to be a positive experience. He is so closed to anything and everything spiritual, good and evil forces etc that I think it opened his eyes a bit. He asked a lot of questions and I had to supress my desire to delve too deep - I think sometimes we can confuse people who have little or no understanding of it all when we jump in at the deep end.
I also tried not to go too far into detail about why I considered Todd a possible threat.. as far as my husband was concerned if he truely was healing people and ‘raising people from the dead’ then how can he be bad? And ‘us Christians’ should have a little more faith and pray for the things Todd’s praying for!! I had to just leave him there after briefly explaining that many different forces can cause apparent healings and miracles - many in charismatic surroundings can be psychosomatic and if they were followed up weeks later would prove to be false. I wouldn’t like to pinpoint what forces other than God could be healing people. But obviously if it’s not from God, it’s nothing worth having!
We flicked the news on at the end to a story that a man had been stabbed to death - my husband said ‘You should pray for God to raise him from the dead like that guy said!’ - I went and made a cup of tea.
PS: I realised I posted something totally different to what I was originally going to:
Along the lines of people coming back from the dead - I haven’t seen anything in the news at all about the 15 people who have been apparently ‘raised from the dead’
But, in a totally unrelated incident I read this last week:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1021818/The-mother-came-dead–minutes-life-support-machine-turned-OFF.html
I watch Bently on God TV and have had some ill feelings about him butI also have asked God to forgive me if I am wrong.If you saw the revival I believe it wasThursday night that there was A woman doing the praise on the revival I had asked God to reveal to me if it was real the girl got into A real frenzey and was doing the wildest dance and at the end she made her into a gun shape and was pointing it at the audienc. My children had come into the room and were shocked by it.
To be honest all these people criticising all the preachers Todd bently, Benny Hinn should be ashamed off themselves.Jesus Christ told his disiples who were questioning why another man was casting out devils in His Name and was not one of the twelve, Jesus said as he was doing it in his Name it is OK.
How many of these internet critics have won a single soul to Christ? it is time you start encouraging the ones that do.
Anyway even Jesus Christ was accused of using the power of Beezebub so you critics didnt begin today!
And what have you go to say about Todd’s doctrine? Should we just ignore that then?
okay, so you say that benny hinn is a fake or false prophet and that ‘even those that say lord, lord’ and do miracles in jesus’ name may not even know the lord while doing it, and they really arent even ‘from god’.
and you go on further saying that it’s all just a trick from the devil - to deceive people.
but i have to say that you’re really not in a position to judge benny hinn’s personal relationship with god. only god knows man’s hearts inside and out.
just because you dont personally ‘like’ what you see with these ‘men of god’ doesnt mean they’re not from god. you say they’re being deceptive — but what is it that they’re leading people into??
that’s the question. if they’re really from satan, how are they leading people AWAY from the lord?
(true, we’re human and we get caught up in ideas of fame, position, money, great adventures…but if the lord is ultimately the goal - the pursuit of our hearts - and we are honestly seeking that - which if the lord has called mr. benny hinn’s heart you have to believe that he’s seeking the lord just as honestly as you are (as hard as it is for you to believe, you must. it’s what being part of a body is about. walking together. contending together.)
if people’s testimonies are to the GLORY of god - then it cannot be to satan’s glory. and if people’s lives are touched and encouraged - then it’s to the devil’s dismay.
incredible miracles may not be your way to show people god’s incredible love for mankind, but if the lord chooses to work that way, why cast doubt on it?
and if these mega-preachers are emphasizing things you dont perceive to be of god, pray for them. everybody gets it wrong now and again. and everybody needs money to keep programs running. just because it’s not how you’d do it, doesnt mean it’s not from god. it just means you dont agree on the method.
and, why have you made it your agenda to CORRECT men that you really dont even know personally. you’ve only ever seen it from the distance any other viewer from their television has. and if you have been to a conference, why is your heart is hard and doubtful. wouldnt it be more productive to pray for your enemies rather than post blogs about how these incredible miracles maybe for satan’s puposes than the lords?? really those things are better discussed on a personal and individual basis…
have you ever received a miracle?
i think that a quite life well lived speaks much louder than one that intends to be heard. so if loud preachers with an agenda bother you, why not just ignore it, forgive it, and go about the works god has called you to rather than self-appointing yourself to be ‘god’s messenger of doubt’? i guess it’s okay to ask questions out loud and get the body of christ thinking about their worldview but not all has to be evil just because it’s mass produced. it just means alot of people are searching. and they always will up until the point that christ returns.
and if i have gotten this all wrong, and you really care about god’s kingdom and obeying and loving others like he tells us to, and ministering as only the church can thru jesus’ power, then you know that bashing other christians (whether you judge them to be or not) really isnt on a ‘good’ christian’s agenda either…. probably praying for the people (you find to be so lost) during the amount of time it takes to blog something like this would be more EFFECTIVE.
You have mentioned quite a few things here so I will try and condense my answer. first of all, Scripture should always be our guideline so it has nothing to do with, if I agree with his style or the way he does things. The question is, does me measure up to the bible. If he says something will happen and it doesnt, then scripture clearly says that he is a false prophet.
In regards to judging, you are doing exactly the same thing because by saying that I am judging, have you not made a judgemnt on me? Anyway, please look at http://realchristianity.wordpress.com/2008/05/07/judge-not/. there is nothing wrong with righteous judgment. We have been given God’s word as a standard to test everything
In regards to praying for them, if you look at my ‘The marks of false teachers/teaching’ series starting at http://realchristianity.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/the-marks-of-false-christian-teaching-and-teachers-part-1/ you will see at the end, I always admonish others to pray for them
Why do I not ‘just ignore it’? Because I have seen the damage it does to people and as long as what I am saying is the trutrh of scripture, then I will defend it and contend for the faith as we are admonished to do.
I am not sure I understand this blog.
I can’t imagine there to be any monetary gain.
I hope pride is not the answer.
I understand many sceptics.
My question is: what is your background religiously?
Additionally, I guess I don’t really find anything in your content that might truly challenge Todd or Benny?
Scripture is referenced here without true merit as far as I can see.
One thing to remember is to never attempt to CONFINE the spirit of God in a box —- Jesus didn’t care much for the manner in which the religious sect (saducees and pharisees) attempted to confine Him.
My only concern here is that I believe many people who profess to know Him, only know about Him. If one is not baptized with His Holy Spirit, how can he identify with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit with Him? How can one hence discern without having received the baptism? My fear is this is ultimately the problem here —- many who have not truly experienced Him, have therefore lack of understanding.
Joe,
Why does your whole arguement seem to stem from ‘feelings’ and ‘experiences’? I remember right back to before I was saved having amazing experiences whilst high on ecstacy! You can’t solely rely on feelings and experiences.
How do you know you have the Holy Spirit in you? I’m not saying you don’t, but if you are only relying on your ‘experience’ with Him - as you repeatedly mention above you need to beware. We are human and fallible and should not always trust what our body tells us.
People who ‘truely know Him’ will be steeped in knowledge of the Word of God. They will have repented of their former lives, accpeted that Jesus Christ died for them and is their only way to heaven, been baptized in water as Jesus commanded and have changed lives. The only way you can have a close relationship with the Lord is by reading the Word and praying all the time. Discernment is a gift that comes from the Holy Spirit through obedience in knowing the scriptures.
We know this:
There will be false prophets in end times.
We are told to be vigilant at all times.
Even some of the ‘elite’ will be fooled.
We are told to be of ’sober mind’ and to be in full control of our bodies.
We are told to TEST men who claim to be of God with the scriptures.
Yes God uses all sorts of people even murderers - once they have repented and have become one of God’s people.
Signs and wonders will FOLLOW the preaching of the Gospel.
I think anyone who is still following the Lakeland movement now, which claims to follow the ‘Toronto Blessing’ has either not read the Bible enough or is deliberately being ignorant to what’s going on. Why on Earth would anyone fly out to Florida without fully researching this man and what he teaches!?!
Todd preaches angel worship, has said ‘we know enough about Jesus, we need to focus on the supernatural’, he got his occult tattoos done AFTER he became a minister - infact all this info and more is widely available on the net and in other places. If you want to know the truth you’ll find it, if you’re happy to roll about in the ‘warm squishy feeling’ carry on by all means. But you have been warned.
Oh and I forgot. in reference to:
My question is: what is your background religiously?
I was brought up in a CofE Christian home but rebelled as a teen, made my way back to God when I was about 18. Was baptised some time later. I currently attend a Pentecostal church who are on the fence about Todd. They think he’s ok but aren’t jumping on the bandwagon or flying out to Florida - since as you said ‘You can’t put God in a box’ - or a building as far as I’m concerned!
I would like to ask you the same question; what is your background religiously?
Hello Laura,
I’m happy to correspond with you.
Although, I thought this article was addressed to Alan.
I don’t know that any person on the earth is without sin.
I believe even ministers attempt to live their best lives for Christ. Todd may have things he’s done that some consider a sin (tattoo etc) just as any other person. Now, I honestly probably have not read every article about Todd —- I do want to know the whole truth about him. The other day I happened to see Todd on the FOX News channel, it’s good that he as well as to his staff are challenged from the world and tested by the church, it still doesn’t mean God won’t move in the midst of those who join in that place to find the moving of God’s spirit as well as to biblical sound doctrine. I don’t get to watch the revival all the time, but I have heard Todd preach the truth when I do. I have many members in my assembly who have listened and watched for confirmation of these happenings.
Yes, I am Pentecostal. As you know, Pentecostals are generally and extensively grounded in the Holy Bible and that’s as it should be.
I wonder if you have the baptism. It’s almost comical in a sense that I ask this question. I don’t condemn any person for not having it, God is our judge, but what is going on in Lakeland is not the only place where a revival has come. It is moving across this nation and around this world and at the same time the earth is being shaken and stirred to hear a word from God. “He that has an ear (spiritual ears) to hear, let him hear what the spirit says to the church.” People are hungry for a transformation that can only come through the word of God and the Holy Ghost. The bible says in John 4:23-24, “But the hour cometh and now is, when the TRUE worshippers will worship the father in SPIRIT and in TRUTH for the father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a spirit and they that worship Him MUST worship Him IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.” The truth without the spirit is not biblical and one is amiss in this hour without both.
Some are trying to run as far away from the supernatural as they can. They don’t want the signs and wonders —- when Jesus came to this earth, many did not believe in Him, nor His miracles, he was called a blasphemer. In fact, you can mark my words that he was considered a whole lot worse then Todd right now in Todd’s position.
Laura, I honestly believe that people need to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. There is a special leading and discernment because of it. It is scriptural. It’s not just a FEELING OR EMOTION. People can be so frightened by the experience. It’s time that we forget about the padded pew, social event, and receive the whole counsel of God’s word, But get the Holy Ghost so you can discern the events in this prophetic season in which we live and allow the word to come alive in you.
Yes, I’ve heard Todd call down the angels.
I’ve never heard Todd say, “I worship you angels!”
Angels have been used and are still used in this hour by God.
Read up on angels, they are powerful as long as they are directed by God.
I am hearing a lot of people say things about Todd that I feel are really bias.
CAN YOU NOTE ANYTHING ABOUT HIM THAT WILL CLEARLY REVEAL TO ME THAT HE IS A FALSE PROPHET? By the way, I almost think too many people are more concerned about Todd then about God in that place. There are other people there that I sense are leading worship and crying out to God, what about them, are they heretics?
REALLY, SHOW ME SOME REAL STUFF RATHER THAN JUST A KICK OR A PUNCH.
I honestly haven’t seen these videos and I don’t think we need to hurt people for them to get miracles. On the other hand, Jesus spit in His hand and placed it on the blind mans eyes. God had a light come out of heaven over Paul (Saul at the time) some theologians say, literally striking him to the ground (miracle sign) to cause him to change his ways while on the road to Damascus. He could not see for three days and then God gave him sight again thereafter.
I don’t know why God does wild or weird things to mess us up or our thinking, but He can and will, even in this hour, if it means changing us for the good.
Blessings!
Sorry Joe, I just realised I didnt answer your question. To see my background, go to ‘About Me’ section at the top of the page
You said ‘People are hungry for a transformation that can only come through the word of God and the Holy Ghost’ and you are correct. A true transformation from God can ONLY come through the word of God aka sound doctrine and Todd does not preach this. You only have to look at http://realchristianity.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/revival-shown-on-god-tv-or-is-it/ and some of the links I have put at the bottom
Hello Alan,
Thanks kindly for your response.
I am thankful for sound doctrine.
I am thankful for the Holy Spirit as well as to it’s infilling, which I am sorry to say that I don’t hear too many people on this blog making reference to their having been baptized (with true evidence) in the Holy Ghost.
Some are going as far as to say that everyone on TBN and even the Brownsville revival was not of God — ALAN, THESE MEN OF GOD TAUGHT IN THE REVIVAL THERE IN BROWNSVILLE AS WELL AS DO ON TBN, Christ and repentance as well as to the infilling of the Holy Ghost — due to this I may seperate myself from your blog in remembrance of one true article of faith Mark 6:7-12 (I hope the crew here takes a glance at it FOR MANY ARE FALLING ASLEEP IN THIS HOUR, Ephesians 5:1-17).
Yes, I hear and understand some of the things Todd has said — some of it very in-tune with Christ (It is the true word and doctrine of the Holy scriptures) and as well some things such as the angels that I do believe can come as ministering spirits and in various forms —- God has not made us the creator of the angel, nor one who might reveal every aspect of its duties.
There are some things that I question of him (and as well that all should, not forgetting the others represented in that place seeking for a true word and fresh outpouring of God and not of man) and will continue to observe carefully, but everyone represented here on this blog needs to VERY VERY VERY CAREFULLY NOTE WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY SAID AND CONTINUE SAYING BEFORE MAN AND GOD — I don’t hear you denounce this with scripture as you do only with Todd, and this speaks things into my spirit about what you represent that is unscriptural, quite honeslty, that is very disheartening as it concerns the soul!!!!
Blessings!
If you look above, you will see scriptures but you will see an absence of scripture when it comes to Todd because some of the things he says are not in scripture. If you want a scripture from me, I subscribe to Acts 17:11 where the bereans checked scripture to see if what Paul was saying was true
You ask me to check the scripture concerning Todd, shouldn’t I begin by confirming the word in you?
You know of scripture?
Do you have the baptism of the Holy Ghost that scripture speaks about?
Yes you should and in fact, I encourage you to do so an check out anything I say and line it up against scripture and if it doesnt line up, reject it.
Yes I know of the teachings of baptism of the Holy Ghost very well as I came from a pentecostal background.
Somehow I felt we’d come back around to my first question.
Somehow I felt it would come back to the surface and reveal itself — we know about it (Him) He is a spirit Alan and scripture says we must have Him (spirit) in us.
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of the Holy Ghost and it is the spirit of God that lives (must) live within you!”
Surely, we must have the spirit of God in us as well as truth (word) if we are to not only know about Him, but also know Him. John 4:23-24
I agree 100% with you. We must have the Spirit in us. It is the Spirit that reveals to us the truth of his word and he never contradicts his word.
Hi again guys, and my apologies Joe, I didn’t realise you had left your message for Alan! I wouldn’t normally make a habit of butting in. Thank you for including me.
I do believe I have the Spirit in me but I don’t believe that he only manifests in the charismatic ways. I have ‘felt the fire’ many times and have spoken in tongues. On the other hand I’ve never been truely ’slain in the Spirit’ although I’ve often felt ministers pushing me!
I wouldn’t label all these ‘revival’ movements as false and say that God was never there, but too many things don’t ring true about Todd as an individual, and as he is leading this ‘third wave’ that brings doubt to me over the whole thing. Jackie Pullinger preached at the Toronto blessing, or so I read. Infact she was the only speaker to preach on repentance and as far as I read, the congregation in attendance weren’t that interested and wanted to get back to ‘recieving the fire’ - I believe Jackie is a true woman of God. There’s nothing about her or what she teaches, which I’ve read to date, that is scripturally unsound. Therefore I can’t say ‘God wasn’t there at the Toronto Blessing!’
What I can say though is that from many, many accounts of that movement that I’ve read and people who were there that I’ve spoken to, a lot of ungodly acts were also taking place in those meetings. People were rolling around on the floor singing nursery rhymes, behaving like animals and making animal noises, it’s even documented that people were urinating in public. All these people claimed to be acting ‘in the Spirit.’ I personally feel that God would be disgusted by this behaviour and I would like to ask these people if they are sure they were being guided by the Spirit of God… or some other spirit? God tells us we must always be of sober mind - not ‘drunk’ in any shape or form, and I don’t believe anyone of sober mind would be rolling on the floor singing nursery rhymes. That sounds to me like a mocking spirit.
As for Todd kicking and punching people, I’ve seen a video where talks mockingly about an old lady worshipping, and then proceeds to say God told him to kick her in the face with his steel toe capped biker boots on! Yes, Jesus wiped spit into someone’s eye, but nowhere do I see violence used to heal Biblically.
I am with you 100% when it comes to ungodly acts — singing nursery rhymes (especially discerning what is coming out of the mouth of the individual and understanding and identification in the spirit of what and why this is coming out of the mouth of said individual).
Additionally, The bahavior and noises unto animals and urination is definately out of order —- I do believe that in some meetings, we may be seeing demon possession manifested, deosn’t necessarily mean God is not doing a work there. Again, I haven’t seen, but have only heard of the “Toronto Blessing!”
You make the statement “God tells us we must always be of sober mind - not ‘drunk’ in any shape or form!” Very scriptural in some form, yet, not in another: CHECK ACTS 2:14-16, especially, entire chapter of Acts 2 — This is God’s HOLY GHOST being poured out in the upper room experience. THIS IS THE BAPTISM!!!!
Additionally, I am somewhat perplexed that I see and hear two things on this blog (I think) as well as to others very much like it:
1) Angels, visions, and dreams, were manifested amoung people —- are not they to be manifested to us in any form? HINT: SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES ON THIS!
2) I understand some don’t agree with PROSPERITY FINANCE PREACHING, But the Holy scriptures have a lot to say about finances, read them all.
I don’t assume hold to the title: “charismatic”
I do agree with scriptures pertaining to being moved by the power of the Holy Spirit….
1 Corinthians 2:3-5
1 Corinthians 2:12-14
And there is a clear distinctive difference between those who profess knowledge of the baptism and those filled with it.
Also, when God moves by His spirit, nothing else needs to hit you. Preachers don’t need to push you on the ground and Todd doesn’t need to kick you in the face (not that God won’t use different means by which to do His work). I certainly don’t condone afflicting someone, but I’ve personally recognized some true gifts of the spirit utilized and crazy off the wall manifestations that were of God (due to the noted miracle or work of God in the life of said person thereafter the person was prayed for and the preachers profession in the faith). Man doesn’t always agree as noted in scriptures above, but God will allow certain things to mess up our thinking because we always try to make Him only what we see Him as.
Sometimes I wonder what the difference is in:
the scientist who doesn’t believe, but only in what is material or physically apparent and those saducees and pharisees of our day —- Joel 2 is just one thought of how God is going to pour out His spirit in this last hour and many are forgetting that with the prophetc signs in the earth as a whole, revival is eminant and present in many forms and will only far exceed our expectations. I believe additionally that some things will manifest in ways the beloved apostle Paul never saw and I mean this with all reverance and respect of this mighty man of God that was part in the demonstration and power of spirit and helped see the transformation of God working and revolutionizing the known world in his era.
Let us be sober minded in seeing to it that we are commissioned to do the work of Christ, in the power of the Holy Ghost. We cannot see God’s kingdom advance with just the scriptures, but also with the power and DEMONSTRATION OF HIS SPIRIT.
By the way, I noticed a video with Todd mentioning this older lady. It did seem in some form that he mocked her, but I don’t know that this means he’s a false prophet and some are taking scriptures and really twisting them. There are some that are taking material from way back when — unless I havn’t seen it all, Todd pretty much denounced the thought of Emma the angel he mentioned about and said he’s mentioned angels, but only worship of Jesus Christ in his ministering recently. Does this mean a man cannot repent and receive forgiveness? Yet, then I ask myself, are we not to see vision and dreams in this last hour and sometimes manifestations because God forbid they are ALL OF THE DEVIL?
Some food for thought!
i understand what you all are trying to do. it is good that you are trying to warn others of false doctrine and unscriptual teachings. but what has ended up here as far as todd is concerned is gossip. which is a breaking of God’s law as well.
I totally hear what you’re saying Joe - I believe in the supernatural, for we are children of the God of the impossible. He can do anything. And His amazing signs and wonders follow the preching of His Word.
Of course if Todd was wrong in his actions and repented he would be forgiven, we are all fallen - none of us perfect.
Not meaning to sound like a broken record here but on the subject of prosperity preaching. I’m not apposed to it all, but when you go to a conference or seminar and every preacher to take the stand begins saying ‘God has told me tonight that anyone who want’s a blessing should sow into my ministry with £777, and he will reap abundantly’ it starts to wear a bit thin. The fundamentalist sector of Christianity is well known for being a cash cow, I’m sure many preachers use the money donated for God’s will. But surely you can’t deny that it’s a huge possibility also that many are in it for their own gain? Some of the most famous, well loved ‘televangelists’ have been outed as thieves and scoundrels. I have no doubt that most go into ministry with a good heart.. but being wealthy is a very dangerous place to be in unless you are extremely strong. On the broken record bit I was once again going to mention Jackie Pullinger, she has reached millions World wide and never asks for donations, she’s not rich but God has always provided her expenses without her having to ask. If you don’t know her story you should google her, God has done some amazing work through her.
Rodney, I sort of agree with the point you made but also what i think we need to bear in mind is the fact that once you’re a big ‘celebrity’ whether you’re a preacher or a movie star - your information becomes part of the public domain. We’re not talking about his looks, his weight, his personality, his private life etc, we’re discussing his theology and preaching, which I think is very important since he’s influencing, and ‘imparting’ to so many people.
Yes, Laura, you are perfectly right.
I am very concerned about ministers preaching exactly as you mention here. I am concerned for those who are discouraged by it and those who are unsaved and cannot remain in our churches due to it.
God will also avenge and remedy in His time, all these matters, and I do pray for these ministers to use wisdom.
I am praying for Todd as well.
I pray God does move(great revival).
I pray for the power, anointing, Holy Spirit, to transform lives.
I am hearing reports of this happening even from other Pentecostal ministers and organizations.
I pray for miracles, healings, as well as to the greater miraculous of God to reveal Himself.
I also pray against anything that is not of God there.
I pray God will reveal, remedy, and chasten even the very elect of these and other meetings should any be out of line with the Holy scriptures and God’s will.
I am very interested in Jackie Pullinger.
I will have to google her.
Blessings!
Amen to that Joe!
Regarding Jackie Pullinger, try to find her book ‘Chasing The Dragon’ - it’s about her early life and time she spent in the now demolished ‘walled city’ (which was basically a small part of the World which was seemingly forgotten and ruled by gang warfare, drugs and prostitution.)
Also, what do you guys think of Brother Yun? His book is ‘Heavenly Man’
Yuns information according to Wikipedia describes him quite extensively. I don’t have the time at the moment to describe him, from all the info they’ve gathered, but he appears to have been a born-again believer and had been long sought after by many because of his faith. He evangelized and apparently won many souls to Christ.
Additionally, it sounds as if God helped him to escape prison —- almost a story like Peters (I believe is who it was in the bible) who by the prayers of the church and the plan of God, helped him to escape from a dungeon of torture and despair.
We’ve been discussing angels on the blog here and I believe it was a literal angel, if I’m not mistaken, who helped him to escape. It was like a great vision for Peter, I don’t think he actually believed it was anymore then a dream he was having.
Very interesting!!!!
Anyone with any discernment AT ALL,and a copy of the Bible,can see how blatently heretical Hinn and Bentley truly are.Its pathetic what passes itself off as Christianity today.I’ve actually seen Bentley kick a woman in the face,knee a cancer patient in the stomach,it’s grotesque.Obviously done to mock God’s people,who are blind enough to fall for this garbage.
Everyone has mentioned these videos, I can’t find them when I google or when checking youtube, etc.. Can anybody send me one so I can personally view Todd doing this. I can’t see the viseos that were mentioned to view above as suggested. Why are you so concerned about Benny Hinn?
Joe, check out http://realchristianity.wordpress.com/2008/06/03/how-much-more-evidence-do-you-need-the-ministry-of-assault-and-battery/ and http://realchristianity.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/the-ministry-of-assault-and-battery-part-2/
Alright, so I observed the videos: We begin by acknowledging they are very old, some dated back nearly 15 or more years — I haven’t seen Benny do some of these things in some time. Now, I don’t go to his crusades, but I do watch episodes, so I may not be privy to all his actions, but, again, I remember these videos and I haven’t seen anything even remotely close to this over the last decade. The question becomes: does what I’m viewing mean there is reason to believe with the actions presented here that he is a false prophet — I certainly appreciate the scriptures and the special word you commit to here, but fellows, come on, you’ll have to do far better than the info you’ve provided.
John the Baptist said, I’ve baptized you in water, the one after me will baptize you in the Holy Ghost and FIRE (terminology used by Benny)!!!! He is not claiming to be God here. Furthermore, the bible says that prior to the promised comforter and Jesus ascension into heaven that He (Jesus) literally, BREATHED on them the Holy Ghost! Was God always so staunch that he wouldn’t do things different then Sadducees/Pharisees in order to reveal his glory?
Now, I’ve not taken the time to write out the scriptures here verbatim, but these are actual events.
In my opinion, this is a deliberate attempt on the character of this person without merit.
And as far as to the scripture found in Deuteronomy and another prediction made by Benny from over years ago, the interpretation of his prophetic word is taken out of context — if you really want me to, I might be able to help you better understand, identify, and discern what interpretation actually came to pass. Again, I come back to John 4:23-24, you have to know the scriptures and have the baptism of the Holy Ghost to identify (as denoted in Revelation: “He that hath (spiritual) ears to hear, let him hear what the spirit says!”) with certain prophetic words and manifestations; otherwise, you’re lost in a whirlwind of deceitful thoughts. Something else that concerns me here: if these videos are this old, it let’s me know some of you have been at this for some time now. Don’t you think it is better to allow the Lord to chasten the wrong in the earth and be working personally to advance God’s kingdom then by submitting things that produce judgment towards people who profess Christ. The bible says, “Judge not lest ye be judged!” And say what you will, but that is what is happening here and I might add this comes by the suggestion of many who feel you are wrong in your approach not only to the scriptures, but to the general air of info submitted.
Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 11 is easily taken out of context — verse 4 clearly identifies what the apostle Paul was referencing to here: “For if he that cometh preacheth ANOTHER Jesus, WHOM WE HAVE NOT PREACHED, or if ye receive ANOTHER spirit, which YE have NOT received, or ANOTHER gospel, which YE have NOT accepted, ye might well bear with him.” If one chooses to examine the text here in any other form, I might agree (as an example: one might say, no, the text references even those coming in like form of any apostle, speaking Jesus.) Again, does this mean these men are false prophets, I suggest we pray for them and let God chasten and judge, if necessary. My personal opinion, no, they are not false prophets, but most certainly men who for the most part don’t need to be fancy preachers as Paul is more so mentioning here — they probably don’t need to kick (Todd) and throw their arms (Benny) in the air towards people, but did God not cause Paul (Saul at the time) to come off the donkey (some suggesting God cast him off the donkey because of his persecution of the saints) blinding him for three days, did God have to do this???? I don’t know, you tell me!!!!!.
Let’s identify with Todd Friel, whom I believe you use to counter Todd Bentley — if I’m not mistaken he is the radio talk show host. He talks about things like Joel 2/Acts 2 as if they were past tense and God doesn’t much work in that manner any more —- these are those “departing from the faith”, “those with itching ears”, again, you know them by their fruit, which is what I’ve felt from the onset of my correspondence here and discernment of the material represented and by whom it is represented by here.
I think we know Jesus used some different methods to heal, we don’t condone all done by Todd or Benny or any others out here, but they are not false prophets because of it.
If somebody makes prophecies about something and it does not come to past, are you trying to tell me that that person is not a false prophet? So how do you spot a false prophet?
In regards to your comments ‘judge not lest you be judged’, you too have taken it out of context and I admonish you to watch this video.
http://realchristianity.wordpress.com/2008/05/07/judge-not/
I will try and address your other points later on
I read a few bits about Benny the other day, one of them was that he preached that there was actually nine beings in the Trinity. That the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were each three in one. He said this whilst ‘under the power of the Spirit.’
Later after critisism he withdrew the statement and then I think at some point later he redressed it once again!?
I would advise anyone unsure of certain preachers to research the ‘Word-Faith’ movement. I’m sure many of you would be highly suprised at some of the documented ideas of the preachers involved. I’m not sure now which one it was exactly, but he said something along the lines of - ‘God cannot work in this World without us allowwing Him to - do you see what that means? If God’s not in control, who is? We are! Whatever we demand of Him, He has to do!’… is that from God? I think not. Another thing they all claim is that whatever you want - money etc, you must visualise is graphically and bring it into being. This is a pagan idea but as one of these famous preachers claimed ‘If it works for them it’ll work for us.’
Do your research guys, google ‘Word-Faith’ or ‘Word of Faith’ and you’ll find all this and more documented in several places. In this day and age there is no excuse for ignorance. Do not be decieved!
seek out the old paths and walk there in, god is the same yesterday today and forever,
alan do you think there will be a great revival in the end time ?
Timothy, personally no. I cannot see this in scripture. What I do see is in the last days there will be a lot of deception, false teachers, false doctrine and people flocking to hear what their itching ears want to hear