I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you
into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you,
and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man
preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men?
for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:6-10
The church I’ve been going to decided to invite a revival and healing evangelist.
I looked at their website. They had much about their revival efforts and their healing ministry. They had ZERO mention of Jesus. Zero. None. Zilch. Nada.
I mentioned this on the church’s Facebook page under their special ad for this couple. My comment was deleted. I did not bring up any other portion of their website. I simply said that healing was and revival was talked about and Jesus was not.
The dates were set. This Evangelist, as he called himself, was to hold a 4-day revival meeting in the church in the evenings Sunday through Wednesday. I did not know he was going to be there Sunday morning.
There he was. His books and DVDs and study books were all laid out on a table. Not one of them mentioned Jesus. He started his sermon. He talked all about everywhere he has been, over 31 countries and how he had stopped counting. He then told about all the states he had been to to bring his revival and healing message. He told about all the great works he had done and how we all need to have expectation. That is what the self-proclaimed evangelist said brings the revival. The expectation.
Still, no mention of Jesus. Finally, after 37 minutes, he read a few scriptures. All of them had references to the people bringing other people to Jesus so they could be healed. He said, “The Holy Spirit did not bring the people. The people brought the people.”
Here is a sample of a scripture he spoke:
Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto Him; and He laid his hands on every one of them,
and healed them. Luke 4:40
He told everyone to say, The people brought them to be healed.
“Who brought them to be healed? It wasn’t the Holy Spirit.”
I was offended for God. The man boasted of the many healings he had done, but no glorification of Jesus. He did, as a side note, mention Jesus eventually and that He did the healings.
The man left before I could talk to him. I wrote a scripture and put it in his offering box. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. John 15:5
I guess the guy missed the part where Jesus said, Without Me, you can do nothing.
I then talked to the pastor. At that point, I didn’t know he had removed my comment. I told him I was not impressed with the guest speaker.
“I saw your email.”
“I didn’t send an email.”
“I mean your facebook comment.”
“Yes. I noticed the guy didn’t mention Jesus until 37 minutes into the message. And then, he negated the Holy Spirit.”
“Oh, you were counting?”
“Yes, I was curious how long it would take for him to mention Jesus. He then said, The people brought the people, but the Holy Spirit does the work.”
“The people brought the people.”
I said, “The Holy Spirit ultimately brought them.”
He did not agree. “You saw all the people up there who got healed today. Who healed them?”
I did not answer. First of all, we do not know if they are healed. Secondly, there are some false healings and healers out there and those instances where God may still work. Regardless, the person does not own the healing power of God. That power remains God’s work. The Apostles healed in Jesus’ mighty name and never stole the glory from the Lord Jesus.
The pastor mentioned Benny Hinn, whom I stay away from.
I would say, God does heal some people, but no matter the preacher, no human owns healing power. All glory and honor and praise belongs to God who sits on the throne and unto the Lamb.
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power,
and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth,
and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Revelation 5:12-13
The Pastor then said, “I am rebuking you. There are Pharisees who like to accuse. You need to check your heart before God.”
Rebuking me for what? I said to myself, for standing up for Jesus and the Holy Spirit?
I told him we are done and he did not need to say anything else to me.
There was one man I know there who was unsettled about the sermon and the guy who gave the sermon. He did not have a fresh word and he was displeased. He was right. Stale manna breeds worms.
There is a couple at that church who were also concerned about the self-proclaimed evangelist. They have decided to leave the church. They said they saw a video on facebook that they did not agree with. I am not sure which video they saw, but when I tried to see which one it was, I saw the self-proclaimed evangelist dressed up in a cow outfit, like a Halloween costume, and he said several times, “This is what distraction looks like. Don’t get distracted.” Oy vey.
I left the church behind. Jesus is my Lord and my Savior
and I am not interested in following any man or doctrine instead of Him.