Matthew 7:15, 17
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
2 Corinthians 4:15-17
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Jeremiah 17:9-10
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Reflection
Please take note of the scriptures I shared here as you read through this post. I've been planning to watch this video for a while and so yesterday I actually put some time aside and did it. From what I've seen, to me Mike Winger seems like a sound teacher, and a humble all round nice guy. He speaks out extensively against the catholic church, but does so respectfully and in a non-judgemental way, which I appreciate and respect. He makes valid points, some I agree with and others I don't, but at the end of it all, we want the same things and I will keep up with him, because I see more love than judgement coming from him, which reminds me more of Jesus than these doomsday Christians who promise hellfire and wrath to everyone who disagrees with them. Another topic that needs broader discussion is the subject of Divine Healing. This idea that "we get whatever we want if we ask for it in faith and believe". Mike does a fine job of unpacking that in this video.
He also did a fine job of dissecting Benny Hinn's ministry and in doing so shed some much needed light on a brand of Christianity that has been around for decades. The prosperity gospel, which is still extensively preached today, especially in this "anti church" season we are going through. This is one of the problems of leaving church in a traditional sense. People leave their churches that have centuries of history, and join these charismatic preachers who promise "Holy Spirit filled" experiences and once they've been reeled in, it's all about "prophecies over your life" that then leads to "tithing all your money", and before people know it, they've exchanged Jesus for a charismatic human being with the gift of the gab, who acts as a "mouthpiece of God" . But is nothing more than a charlatan, a wolf in sheep's clothing, preying on the vulnerabilities of people who want Jesus, because they realize how much they need Him.
Mike Winger threw in a few other big names and I'm glad he did because unfortunately, Benny Hinn isn't the only misguided preacher who continues to mislead people. Please don't get me wrong. I'm not a cessationist, I really do believe there are prophets in this day and age, and I do believe in revival and the presence of the Holy Spirit who works just as mightily now as He did during the Pentecost of biblical times. I also believe these miracles and wonders can happen outside of a church. I've witnessed some incredible things that I cannot explain because I know it was the work of Jesus's Hands through the gift of the Holy Spirit that He left for us, outside of my own church. But Jesus warned us about false prophets, and we as His followers need to be very wise about who we choose to follow and walk with in these deceptive times. Jesus also teaches us to look at a person's fruits, this means, look at their lives and how they treat others more than listen to every word they say. Pay attention to the language these people use: "sow a seed to reap a harvest", "The Lord told me", "don't come up against people God is using", "I'm giving you divine revelation "... I'm not saying all the time, but most of the time, people who say these things are trying to manipulate their audience and prey on their vulnerabilities. Hear their words, but watch their fruits.
Now, about healing. I went from sighing to laughing to swearing in absolute disbelief throughout the footage of Benny Hinn's supposed "healings" in this video. I'm speaking from personal experience here. I prayed for my late father to be healed, numerous times. Alone and with some very kind friends who took time out of their busy lives to join me. But my father was not healed in a physical sense. He died of the disease that had ravaged his body for nearly 18 years. Was it because I had "no faith", "didn't tithe", or "didn't pray properly"? Of course not! That's absurd! He was not healed because it wasn't God's Will to physically heal my father. I have no doubt that he was healed emotionally and spiritually though and that healing took place because by our faithful prayers, we made Jesus present to my father and Jesus's Presence healed my father in ways that would prepare him for heaven. You see, we can pray for whatever we want, but we must be humble enough to accept God's Will, which is always far better than our own. I don't like this "declare healing and it will be yours" mantra that many charismatics use. We can declare whatever we like when we pray, but must be humble enough to end our declarations with "If it is your will", and no that's not a lack of faith, just a sign of reverence and respect because we acknowledge that we cannot take God's place and determine what must happen when we pray for something. Paul clarifies this beautifully in his letter to the Corinthians. As our bodies waste away...we are renewed inwardly day by day. This shows us that we won't always be healed when we pray for healing. We don't always get what we want when we want it. But with God, we always get what we need, and must learn to accept and appreciate it. God isn't at our beck and call, we are at His.
My friends, if you're a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ, you're just as much a son or daughter of heaven as the preacher up on that pulpit, don't think because they prophesy or have remarkable "spiritual manifestations", they are more special than you. We're all equally loved and cherished by Our Father in heaven. If you want a distinct sign to know whether someone is truly operating in their calling from The Lord or are operating from the ego of their own hearts and flesh, then check how humble they are, and are they pointing to Jesus? If someone comes up against them, how do they react? Do they retaliate with wrath and cursing, or do they simply walk away and go about their duty, irrespective of who agrees with them or not?
You see, we're all human beings and make mistakes. Even Moses who was an anointed and appointed man, fell at Meribah because of a fleeting moment of pride. Beware of false prophets in sheep's clothing, and to those who believe they are prophets, learn from the prophet's of old... You've been called to serve not be served. Humble yourselves, decrease so that Jesus may increase. Don't mouth off prophecies just because you feel "strong convictions" in your hearts. The bible tells us our hearts can deceive us, so don't be deceived by your own heart and go on to deceive others by labelling your convictions as God's words. Be gentle as doves but wise as serpents because we're living in deceptive times, and true prophets are hidden amongst a plethora of false ones in sheep's clothing. Take care not to put people on a pedestal that belongs to Jesus alone.
Be safe in Christ, take care of yourselves and each other.
🩵
Marcio.
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