I want to modify my stand on this issue as expressed in last weeks article as reprinted below.
My stand was based on reaction to various writers asserting that The Toronto Blessing and Brownsville Revival were false and demonic. And that many of the same writers are claiming that the current crop of phenomena are also false and demonic in origin. These include Angel Orbs, gold dust, jewels, oil, feathers and other such items. While these accusers claimed that all such were false, I was determined to claim that they are all true and some are just being misused. Now I am prepared to acknowledge that some are false as well. So I stand corrected.
Nevertheless, many of these are being misused and the central problem remains the mixture present among God’s people and the intentions of those receiving them. So I’m saying that yes, there are some false, but also that many are true.
I recommend studying the following teaching from the late Derek Prince.
Protection From Deception Navigating Through The Minefield Of Signs And Wonders by Derek Prince
http://www.geocities.com/lostorfound_2/Deception.htm
Original Article:
False Manifestations or Abused
October 7, 2007
A lot of this chatter about false prophets and manifestations is really missing an important point.
If people have problems with the "prophetic movement" or various manifestations, does it mean that we are plagued with false Prophets and demonic signs? I don't think so. Am I saying these are True Prophets? Not exactly. We have people with genuine gifts, but perhaps the true Prophets and Apostles are yet to be revealed.
The source of all this, the jewels, the gifts, the anointings, the gold dust, and the Toronto - Pensacola business is from the Lord. It's just that there is 'mixture' in those who are receiving them. These are spiritual gifts, and these gifts get abused.
Merchandising your ministry is abusing a spiritual gift. Using the Holy Laughter refreshing to fleece the sheep is abusing a spiritual gift. Selling words of personal prophecy is abusing a spiritual gift. Prophesying after the flesh, putting your own opinions or pet peeves into a prophecy, is abusing a spiritual gift. If the Prophets are calling for repentance, but the Pastors are taking up an offering, what then?
Gifts vs. Fruit
Spiritual Gifts do not produce the Fruit of the Spirit. But many think that as long as their gifts are working, that they are right with God! King Solomon had great gifts. If we look at his final end where he turned and worshipped other gods, does that mean he was a false prophet and do we need to remove the books he authored from the bible?
So what does produce Fruit of the Spirit? Seeking the Kingdom first, and walking in the Spirit.
I think that these people will get their chance to repent, but some will go from being like Baalam the Prophet to becoming like Baalam the soothsayer.
The Real Test?
Here’s something I found while looking over some of the discussions going around, about false manifestations. This writer claims the following.
The real 'test' of whether or not something is legitimately from the Lord is based on whether or not we are somehow changed as a result. Those who hung around with Jesus generally didn't leave him in the same condition they came to him in. Either they left with some level of inner growth or healing, or with a hardened heart wanting to get even further away from him than before.
Now here is a great example of using man’s wisdom to support your statements. I note that there is no scripture given here to prove their point. In fact what they are saying here is entirely false. But it sounds good!
In my view there are only three things you can use to support an argument in spiritual matters. The Bible, the dictionary and the rules of logic. And all these can be abused. You must still have the witness of the Spirit.
But when you have hearsay, opinions, or citing non-biblical authority, watch out. Phrases like everybody knows, or the bible clearly teaches, lead me to say O Really? Or when some want to quote from ‘the rabbis’ or Jewish tradition, it’s not authoritative, and rarely even documented.
The same goes for Matthew Henry, Watchman Nee or whoever. Here in this case someone makes a statement and just expects you to agree because it sounds reasonable.
Back to the question at hand. Who says that this is the ‘real test’? Where is the proof?
This same writer goes on to say this:
So many of our modern manifestations have little or no lasting effect on the people involved. If you are 'slain in the spirit' on the carpet, get covered in 'gold dust', or bark like a dog or cluck like a chicken, yet afterwards you get up and are just the same person as you were before, then I have to question the authenticity of your so-called 'manifestation'. Just because it's 'real' doesn't mean it's true. God may not give me a stone when I ask for bread, but the devil will certainly try to hand me one and pass it off as bread from the Lord, If I am foolish and inattentive enough to believe that I can't be deceived like others have been.
Now if you note the final sentence here, this person is assuming that people are being deceived. So what conclusion will they naturally reach? Secondly from the tone of the entire paragraph, they are operating in a scornful attitude.
Proverbs 14:6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
When this happens, if some that have manifestations are changed and some are not, what does that mean? Those who are not changed are deceived? Give me a break! Those who are not changed got their manifestations from Satan? Are Jesus and Satan taking turns passing out manifestations?
Then there is the question “How do you know who is or is not changed?” It’s possible for some to be changed by a spiritual impartation and not even realize it!
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
He is the only one who can judge whether someone has come away changed. So how can we evaluate the manifestations on the basis of man's opinions about who has changed?.
And what about those who are changed? Some, make that many, were saved, healed, restored or delivered in the movements that came from Toronto and Brownsville – Pensacola Florida. Yet this was not the ultimate revival, and not everything that happened was perfect. But the problems were not in the source of the manifestations, but the church structures that received them.
It’s the same with what’s happening today. Spiritual gifts are real but flesh gets in the way. It’s not so much the phenomena but what people do with it.
Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.