Toxic Look-Alikes

May 8, 2013

Wednesday

Toxic look-alikes

Acts 8:5-25

New King James Version (NKJV)

5 Then Philip went down to the[a] city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

The Sorcerer’s Sin

14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

What this is telling me is that not everyone who appears righteous is right before God.  Many have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof.  Many are in churches to serve self and their own appetites, and not God.  Simon tried to buy the power to lay hands on people so that they be filled with the Holy Spirit.  He wanted this power for his own selfish gain, not for God’s glory.  He wanted the people to honor himself and glorify himself.  

The churches today are filled with people who are the same way.  They have been trained to invoke emotions from the congregation.  They know how to use people's emotions to get them to put money into the offering bowls.  They are false teachers and have no substances.  When  a pastor is given over to his fleshly appetites and he lays hands on people and pray in tongues, he is cursing them, not blessing them.  This is so because he is operating from a corrupted heart, not a pure heart.  

Simon sought the power of the gift of the Holy Spirit  as well as the power to impart the gift.  He was rejected because he was wicked and not right in his heart with God.  Only the Holy Spirit can impart these gifts to those who are pure at heart and wants to serve God with right motives.  Simon was a sorcerer and had been using his magic to impress the people.  He wanted the gift of the Holy Spirit for selfish reasons, possibly for monetary gain,  but not for God's glory.

So a person who confesses Jesus Christ and have not gone through the sanctifying process is not fit to do ministry.  The gift of the Holy Spirit will be poured out only to the ones who have been sanctified and purified.  Many so-called Christians today have not received the gift of the Holy Spirit because they do not have a pure heart.  

Many of the Christians come to church to feel good, to find a boyfriend or a girlfriend in the name of Jesus Christ, only to justify themselves and have a license to fornicate.  If they were truly born again and have received Christ as Lord and Savior by grace, they would be exhibiting devotion to Christ and engage in continual prayers, living life separate from sin and the world, staying separated for the gospel of Jesus Christ and being obedient to the Word.  The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was only given to believers who had sincerely turned from their sins, their wicked ways and are now walking and living a life of obedience to Jesus Christ only.  The condition that are precedent to receiving the Holy Spirit is walking and living a life totally led by the Holy Spirit.  Any supernatural experience thought to be the baptism of the Holy Spirit who continues the sinful ways of the flesh is not of Christ.  It is of the devil.  He is the counterfeit.  He is the false light.  It is a counterfeit baptism of the other spirits and are manifested by demonic gifts and powers.  

How can a person who says that he has confessed Jesus Christ manifest the gift of tongues live a life of gluttony?  Is he not the enemy of the cross of Jesus Christ who have made his belly his god?  How do we know if his gift is from the evil one and not construed to discern that this gift is of the evil one?  How can a person call himself a pastor if he is a glutton? Did not Paul weep and warn against those who have made their belly their god and are really the enemy of the cross of Christ?  They bring shame and dishonor to their testimony.  It is by way of the Holy Spirit that brings conviction to sin.  Sin is not to be condone as some pastor may say:  “Hey man, we all sin. Stop being so uptight.”  This is from the pits of hell because it is a lukewarm attitude towards sin.  They have compromised the truth.  The one who claims to love God and doesn’t hate sin is of the evil one.   The teachings of making you feel good to address the sensual realm is not of God.  The person who comes to church should feel convicted and not leave the church the same way he came to church.  The church is to bring healing and deliverance and expose darkness and allow people to confess and turn from their wicked ways.

As Peter preached in Chapter 2 of Acts, they were convicted of the crime against Jesus Christ.  They looked at each other and said “what shall we do?”  then Peter simply said “Repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and then you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  This gift comes from the Holy Spirit and it cannot be bought.  It is afforded to everyone including your children as many as the Lord shall call.  It is up to God and it cannot be purchased.

Acts 2:37-42  (NKJV)

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly[a] received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

So we must go to the word to God to verify and check.  We cannot stay and continue to receive second hand revelation knowledge from the pastor.  We must move from grace and mercy to the place of glory to glory.  We must not be subjected to these toxic look-alikes, false teachers and false prophets.  People use these favorable environments of a prosperous healthy looking church for selfish purpose.  Many so-called Christians have Christian boyfriends and girlfriends.  It is just a cover up to commit fornication, like poison ivy among roses.  It spreads.   In America today,  the prevailing cultural beliefs is women’s independence.  Anything is fine as long as nobody gets hurt.  Social sex is a customary accepted practice.  Too much affluence and prosperity dulls the spirit.  They simply love self more than they love God.  They love the world and its customs.  The word says he who loves God hates sin..  Sin is now the majority force that dominates society today.  

Why is your husband in charge of the marriage?  Are you not in charge of your own life? Marriage is for convenience and accommodation.  The virtue of a married life is totally disoriented and corrupted.  The institution of marriage as God-ordained is now meaningless.  Today, the god of this age says that you need independence.  You need your own sense of identify.  You need to be your own boss.  You need time away from your husband to find yourself.  You need time with your girlfriends.  You cannot be too dependent on your husband.  You cannot lose your identity in marriage.  All these ideas are from the pits of hell.   (Stamps)

What this means is that I must serve God with my whole heart for God, not for any other reason.  I must never serve God for selfish gain.  I must be 100% holy and consecrated in my ministry for Jesus.  It should never be for self glory, for food, for money, for recognition or for any other reason.  It should always be for the glory the Lord Jesus Christ.  

In conclusion, we are to avoid the toxic look-alikes.  They come in the form of the angel of light, always smiling, laughing and making jokes.  They have a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.  The word is warning us that even the elect will be deceived.  We must constantly be on guard and check everything with the Word, and be guided by the Holy Spirit to verify and confirm the truth of the matter.   

Praise be to God for using our Daily Bread ministries and be used to edify, exhort and comfort the Body of Christ at large.  

Poem:

Beware of the toxins that dwell among the roses

They made look good and smell good to the noses

But they are venoms that suck off the life of man

And it is like going to the slaughter, falling into the devil’s hand

Byword:  Check the contents of the book, not just how the cover looks.  

Work Cited

Stamps, Donald C., The Full Life Study Bible King James Version, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992.  

Publisher , The Open Bible Expanded Edition. Nashville: Thomas Nelson publisher,  1985.

Aldwin Naruse

The Body of Christ Jesus Fellowship

Makaha, Hawaii USA