We are told in Proverbs, Proverbs 12:15 “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” And Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Today we are not talking about Psalm 14:1 “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good,” but the fool who does not guard their steps before God. Ecclesiastes 5:1 “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. Therefore fear God.” Today we are talking about the fool who stands before God without fear and without understanding and saying all is as it should be when it is not.
Jeremiah was sent to the people to warn them to return to the Lord their God as everything was not as it should be. Jeremiah 3:11 “The Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah. 12 Go, proclaim this message toward the north: “‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord, I will frown on you no longer, for I am faithful,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will not be angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your guilt— you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,’” declares the Lord.” But as Jeremiah was told, the people would fight against him because he spoke the word of the Lord. Jeremiah 1:18 “Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.” Ezekiel was told the same. Ezekiel 3:7 “But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate.”
Both men obeyed and spoke the word of the Lord to a rebellious people who had rejected truth in order to serve other gods. Jeremiah 5:1 “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. 2 Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ still they are swearing falsely.” 3 Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent. 4 I thought, “These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God. 5 So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.” But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds. 23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. 24 They do not say to themselves, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’ 25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good. 30 “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” Isaiah said Isaiah 5:13 “Therefore my people will go into exile for lack of understanding; those of high rank will die of hunger and the common people will be parched with thirst.” Isaiah 56:10 “Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. 11 They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, they seek their own gain.” Hosea said Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. 7 The more priests there were, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their glorious God for something disgraceful.” God showed Ezekiel what was going on in the temple. Ezekiel 8:6 “And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable.” 7 Then he brought me to the entrance to the court. I looked, and I saw a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, “Son of man, now dig into the wall.” So I dug into the wall and saw a doorway there. 9 And he said to me, “Go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here.”
When God’s servants spoke to the people, they spoke words of truth. Psalm 119:160 “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.” Psalm 33:4 “For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.” Jeremiah 26:15 “for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.” When Jeremiah spoke these words of truth, the people did respond just as God said they would. When he spoke the word of the Lord, he was threatened with death for speaking those words. Jeremiah 26:7 “The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. 8 But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, “You must die! 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!” Jeremiah then said ““The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard. 13 Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right. 15 Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.” The people preferred words that were false and there were plenty of false prophets to meet their needs. That has changed.
False prophets did not speak truth even though they said this is what God says. Ezekiel 22:28 “Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken.” Jeremiah 23:16 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17 They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’ 21 I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. 36 But you must not mention ‘a message from the Lord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the Lord Almighty, our God.” Peter said 2 Peter 2:1 “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.”
The way of truth is still being brought into disrepute. Disrepute means “a state of being held in low esteem, not trusted or respected.” Today is no different than what we read in the Old Testament. God’s people didn’t listen then and today the church is still not listening to the truth of God’s word but prefers to listen to the songs of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:5 “It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.” Men and women lead the masses and as Jeremiah said, “the people love it this way,” but then asks this question; what will you do in the end? The church does not fear God and still do not ask where God is nor is it worried about the end. Not only is there no fear of God but there is no fear of spending eternity in hell. Jeremiah 2:5 “This is what the Lord says: “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. 6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’ 7 I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable. 8 The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.” Those worthless idols and Baal today are other gospels and different Jesus. A different Jesus is taught today, one who doesn’t seem to mind if you follow other gospels.
Instead of looking for the answer as to why God, nor His power are not present, they basically rewrite the bible to satisfy their own appetites and as Jeremiah said “each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the Lord Almighty, our God.” They make up doctrines and theology to explain away the presence of God and His power but in doing so do not proclaim the truth. 1 Timothy 4:1 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. Again, the people still love it this way. 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
That time started even when the apostle Paul was alive because he was warning people about being deceived by those who distorted the truth. Peter even said 2 Peter 3:4 “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.” Because the church refuses to listen, many have fallen from their secure positions, ever though they were taught that could never happen. Paul said, Acts 20:9 “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” He then showed what distorting the truth would look like. 2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”
Today we have groups who call themselves the church, but all teach something completely different, but at the same time all say they believe Jesus is Lord and Savior, yet there is no power and the church remains in captivity. If Jesus was really Lord and Savior, there would be power present and the church would not be in captivity. John 8:31 “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus also said John 16:12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” This is why you can’t have one group saying something completely different from the other group. The common denominator that ties all the differing groups together is a lack of power, both charismatic and non-charismatic. Following a different Jesus and adhering to other gospels is why there is no power. No power means our enemies, just like in the Old Testament, are allowed to defeat God’s people.
We were warned this would happen when describing the abomination that causes desolation. Daniel said Daniel 9:27 “And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. Daniel 8:10 “It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the Lord; it took away the daily sacrifice from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down. 12 Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.” Today the church has many versions of truth, but that is not possible as there is only one way, truth and life. When talking about the abomination that had decimated the church, Jesus said, Matthew 24:15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—.” This destruction is so severe that Jesus went on to say 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.” In many churches satan doesn’t have to do much other than let people gather week after week with nothing ever happening. In others supernatural manifestations really draw a crowd. As Paul said 2 Thessalonians 2:4 “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” Truth is not being proclaimed but certain ways thought to be the truth and for many, the end will show what they gave their lives to was not truth but lies from satan. Matthew 25:4 “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” Many will teach God would never allow such a thing but do not commit your eternal destination to the words of man. Make sure you commit your life to the word of God.
Today the church lies in desolation just as Israel and Judah did and remains in captivity. Jeremiah 9:12 “Who is wise enough to understand this? Who has been instructed by the Lord and can explain it? Why has the land been ruined and laid waste like a desert that no one can cross? 13 The Lord said, “It is because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or followed my law. 14 Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts; they have followed the Baals, as their ancestors taught them.” 15 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “See, I will make this people eat bitter food and drink poisoned water. 16 I will scatter them among nations that neither they nor their ancestors have known, and I will pursue them with the sword until I have made an end of them.”
The fool says everything is as it should be in the church and teaches others to believe the same lie and both leader and follower refuse to turn away from their wicked ways. Jeremiah 7:23 “I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. 24 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. 25 From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. 26 But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their ancestors.’ 27 “When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer. 28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips. 28 “Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.” Jesus said Mark 1:15 “The time has come, the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
But most do not believe they need to repent for anything. 2 Chronicles 7:13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.” God then said “17 “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, 18 I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.’” But Solomon didn’t listen and rebelled against God. We are then told what would happen when other gods were embraced. “19 “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’” Jeremiah 16:10 “When you tell these people all this and they ask you, ‘Why has the Lord decreed such a great disaster against us? What wrong have we done? What sin have we committed against the Lord our God?’ 11 then say to them, ‘It is because your ancestors forsook me,’ declares the Lord, ‘and followed other gods and served and worshiped them. They forsook me and did not keep my law. 12 But you have behaved more wickedly than your ancestors. See how all of you are following the stubbornness of your evil hearts instead of obeying me. 13 So I will throw you out of this land into a land neither you nor your ancestors have known, and there you will serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no favor.’
Today the church lies desolate and powerless and continues to follow the way they think is right. These ways are other gospels and just as evil and detestable as following the gods Israel Judah followed. Deuteronomy 32:17 “They sacrificed to false gods, which are not God— gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your ancestors did not fear.” Each group that calls themselves the church all follow their own ways and add to and take away from scripture so that the bible lines up better with their own beliefs and continues to say we have done nothing wrong. Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. 20 “This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’” Jeremiah 8:6 “I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle. But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord. 8 “‘How can you say, “We are wise, for we have the law of the Lord,” when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely? 9 The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have?” Many gurus of whom the masses think to be wise have led millions astray.
Today most do not understand that there is power available to the church. One reason is the bible is not their life source, but the words of men and women are. Two, they have been taught other gospels that sound very convincing, but the lack of power shows they are false. In the church today people should be repenting seeking and waiting for God to turn His face back to the church. This power that we should be seeking and waiting for was given to the church at Pentecost and was not a one-time event as we see in Acts but a continual outpouring. 1 Corinthians 12:7 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues (Acts 2), and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” If your church tells you some of those gifts like healing miracles are no longer available, turn and run.
After the first event of Pentecost, we see the power of the Holy Spirit come on them again. Acts 4:29 “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 10:44 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.” Acts 19:4 “Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.” Many in the church today only know about John’s baptism and many have been deceived by what they think is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The good news is the truth can still set you free. Ephesians 1:17 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Jesus said John 7:37 “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” Then Peter said after Pentecost, Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call. 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” It is still possible to receive to true gift of the Spirit but we must turn back to God’s word.
Today we live in a corrupt church and are surrounded by false prophets and rebellious people. Many are being taught by fools who say the power we read about in the Gospels and Acts is no longer available and because we saw the power of the Holy Spirit fall more than once, they then say it was only to confirm the gospel to a new group. As we see in Acts, the power that came on that first day of Pentecost continued to fall on disciples. The power and authority that we saw with Jesus and then His disciples continued after His resurrection. The Gospels was a preview of what the church was to do. Pentecost was the power and authority we saw in the gospels that would now be in the church. Jesus had said John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Most will say this verse only means that sheer numbers will do great things (not miracles or healing) but that is not what it says. There are millions who call themselves Christians but there is no power and Christianity is fading away. For example, down from where I live there are two Pentecostal churches with a mosque in-between them. The churches have people on Sunday morning and then the parking lot sits empty all week. Both say they have the power of the Holy Spirit, yet nothing is really happening, but Islam is the fastest growing religion.
Now if the charismatic church said, we have the power of God because we believe Jesus is the way, truth and life and because He lives and sent the Holy Spirit then there would be no comparison with any religion. But sadly, Christianity as we know it is dying. Don’t be deceived by the mega business churches that look successful because there is no power so someone else other than God has given them success. Luke 4:6 “And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus did not fall for it but many gurus have as well as those who want to emulate them. Yes, there is the appearance of life as some put on a really good show, but even with all their success, there is no power. This is definitely not happening. Wherever Jesus went, people were healed. Matthew 8:14 “When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. 16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” That is not happening, so where is Jesus? This is where the fool says, I have found a different way, a different truth and a different life that is much more satisfactory than what we read in scripture. When I read about those who teach that power is not unavailable today, I can only come to the conclusion that is the voice of satan because that is not what scripture states. When you listen to someone like John MacArthur talk about cessationism, his words are not truth because nowhere in scripture does it say the power of Pentecost ceased. What we do know is that satan knows what happens when the church realizes there is power available to defeat him. The fool agrees with MacArthur and gladly goes through life powerless, defeated and in captivity. MacArthur cannot now go back and undo his false teaching, but many have fallen for the doctrine of demons he promoted so zealously and will continue to do so even though John MacArthur is no longer alive.
There are also those who do believe there is power available, but truthfully they are content without it as they too go through life quite comfortable with the status quo and never seek the available power. They do not stop what they are doing and seek God until He turns His face back to the church, they just keep going. Most just do not want to admit they have believed in other gospels. You also have the charismatic who has been fooled by manifestations. They are supernatural but that is about the only similarity there is. The tongues most speak is just babble and meaningless and not like what we read above with Peter and Cornelius or at Pentecost. I have been in groups were everyone is speaking in tongues but there is nothing happening. Some fell to the floor on the backs and said the power of God was so strong they could not stand but laying on your back in scripture is not how you address God. Scripture tells us they fell on their faces. When all was said and done nothing happened. That is just satan making a mockery of worshipping God. If God was so powerfully present, then why did it not look anything like when Jesus was present. Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.” The answer is it was not God who was present, but satan.
Sadly, people foolishly fall very easily for lies disguised as truth. John 8:44 “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” This happens because the spirits are not tested. 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” For example, week after week people attend non-charismatic churches and week after week people come and go but the spirits are not tested and people are not asking where is the power of God and vice versa. When someone does get the courage to ask, they are talked out of thinking that way or if really interested they leave and go somewhere else where they are deceived again into believing the so-called power that is present is God. Oddly, you can have a Baptist go to Pentecostal church and a Pentecostal go to a Baptist church. It is basically out of frying pan and into the fire either way. How many people actually read what a church believes?
Today there is a conspiracy of truth. What is being sold as truth is not truth but deception and delusion. We know that satan deceives but we are also told that God brings delusion upon people for rebelling against Him. Matthew 24:10 “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.” Signs and wonders are not bad as many fear. You just have to discern where they are coming from. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”
Refusing to believe the truth of God’s word is foolishness. During my journey I have been asked, have you seen the power you are talking about? The answer is no but I believe the word of God to be true and I have seen the counterfeit. As we know, you cannot counterfeit something that doesn’t exist. If you go into the store with your fake $19 bill, you will be laughed at. People do not counterfeit something unless it is real. I read one time that to know what is fake you have to know what is real. The website Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre tells you how to protect yourself from fraud. 1. Always inspect bank notes before accepting them. 2. If a note feels off or appears suspicious, politely refuse it and ask for another note (and check it too). 3. Familiarize yourself with the security features on real Canadian bank notes. Visit Bank notes - Bank of Canada to learn more.” The same can be applied to the church. The other day I said to read the Gospels and Acts and take note of the power. Then compare what you read to the church you attend. Don’t be afraid to say it feels off or suspicious. Most assuredly you will be told it is real and you have nothing to fear. To test the spirits, you for example read James that says James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” Then ask your leader why that is not happening, and I am not talking about once in a blue moon but with regularity. Also ask if the disciples had power and authority, why don’t disciples today have the same power and authority? Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” The answer you should receive is God has turned His face from the church because the church has rebelled and we need to seek Him with everything we have so that the power that started at Pentecost returns to the church.
The reason the Kingdom of God is not coming near is because the church has rebelled. Jeremiah 2:11 “Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols. 12 Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,” declares the Lord. 13 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” Jeremiah 4:18 “My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.” Jeremiah 11:9 “Then the Lord said to me, “There is a conspiracy among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. 10 They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant I made with their ancestors. 11 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. 12 The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not help them at all when disaster strikes. 13 You, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’
There is still hope for the church to have the power and authority we were supposed to have because God gave David a promise that there would always be a remnant. Zechariah 1:3 “Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” King Hezekiah told the people to return to the Lord. 2 Chronicles 29:5 “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. 6 Our parents were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the Lord’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him. 7 They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore, the anger of the Lord has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. 9 This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity.” 2 Chronicles 30:6 “People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your parents and your fellow Israelites, who were unfaithful to the Lord, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see. 8 Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. 9 If you return to the Lord, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”
A few verses on truth; Hebrews 5:12 “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” Romans 1:25 “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 4:23 “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 15:26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.” John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Ephesians 6:14 “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” Psalm 25:5 “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
