A Message to Pentecostals
Godliness
One modern Pentecostal slogan today says, "Expect a miracle every minute." Of course, that statement really references a materialistic miracle. One has only to search the pages of the bible and it becomes readily apparent that God does not intend for Christians to live with this "miracle-every-minute" attitude and especially NOT when it comes to material goods.
This gospel of health and wealth and the 'word-faith' (false) gospel has fostered an environment of greed and covetousness across today's modern Christian churches that it has turned the hearts of men away from complete trust in God and has created the illusion of security in the minds of those who embrace this teaching. Sufficiency in Christ alone is being destroyed with this materialistic perversion of scripture.
Pentecostals (and others) who embrace these doctrines almost always come to these two (false) conclusions: (1) that sickness and poverty are signs of God's disfavor and displeasure, and (2) health and wealth are signs of God's seal and favor upon their life
. The two conclusions above are simply not true and the Word of God is painstakingly clear about it. Even good, godly people are poor and many are sick. Even those who teach the 'health and wealth'" gospel become ill. The only true sign of God's favor is the saving grace of Jesus Christ, regardless of one's circumstances or physical condition! Paul even warned about this in 1 Timothy 6:5-8 “... destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” .
Gain is not godliness, but godliness with contentment is most certainly: gain.
I have seen several things happening along this line of teaching. The church today is confusing some valid, Godly terms with those of Charismatics and New Agers: Faith is being confused with positive thinking; zeal with enthusiasm; tact with diplomacy; and wisdom with psychology.
The Spirit of God promises Faith, Tact, and Wisdom.
Positive thinking, zeal and enthusiasm are not biblical, spiritual traits. They are works of the flesh. It is the FLESH that seeks and manifests positive thinking, enthusiasm, diplomacy and psychology.
There is only one way to discern and know the differences: You must be Biblically sound in your doctrine and you must learn to rightly divide the Word of Truth!.
Praise and Worship
I have a very serious issue with the music that has crept into today’s Pentecostal Churches.
As a child, I remember the old time genuine camp meetings, where everybody, regardless of social status came together to worship, to praise and to hear truly anointed preaching. There was a great reverence, repentance, and restitution that showed itself in the testimonies of the people, and in the singing.
The Gospel songs of yesteryear were written following the Word of God and the ideology of the bible. Holy living, bible reading, family altars, family bible time and soul-winning marked Christian's lives as a result of such genuine heart moving worship and praise songs.
I understand that songs alone are not the basis for our Christian worship and praise, however, it is more and more obvious every day that Christian music is becoming somewhat less than the praise, worship and glory to God that it should be. The music itself is growing so close to the hard rock of the '60's and ‘70’s that unless the church wakes up and turns away from the uncertain sound of that trumpet, there is going to come a time when Pentecostals are going to have to deal with Pure Demonic power that will dominate the music of the church and the lives of its congregations.
I could give you no fewer than 6 examples of situations where young girls have filled their minds with the rock beat of today’s "so called" Contemporary Christian Music and ended up hissing like snakes and wiggling like worms across the floor. Christian musicians have no place and no business sounding like or trying to imitate the world’s rock. You say it's done because it draws the kids? You say it's what keeps them? You say it's what they need?
No wonder many churches are in shambles. No wonder few are being saved. No wonder, church teens are becoming pregnant, contracting sexually transmitted diseases, diving headlong into a culture of piercing, cutting, tattooing, and are being stricken with the depression that follows.
No wonder parents are now constantly facing overwhelming rebellion from their teens. No wonder teens are leaving home and leaving the church when they come of age, many never to return.
After all, if they hear the same music, wear the same clothes, do the same things in the church as the world is doing, what is the difference?
Biblical separation must be applied to our choirs, to our singers, and to all of our musicians. We have sacrificed deep Biblical teaching in favor of our Saturday Night “singings” and unless the church wakes up NOW and separates themselves from the music of the world, the church WILL become even more “worldly”.
Since our churches strayed from the old hymns, got away from the spiritual songs and the songs that actually contain a gospel message, I have seen an almost uncontrollable demonic power that has gripped today’s thin-skinned Christians and has plunged them into a “FORM” of Godliness, but there is no power to live a godly life.
It is not my intention in this particular study to get into the descriptions of the gifts and their operation, I've covered this in several different areas of teaching on The Elijah Project.
It is, however, my intention to call a church to repentance over the deception that is being allowed to flourish, both in ministry and in song.
More About Music
We need a TRUE revival that will open eyes, prick our hearts and draw us back to the roots of the faith. It is my firm belief that when true revival comes, it will show not only in our lives but in our music as well. It will no longer be sound track induced, or music limited to a handful of choir members or to a couple of song leaders but congregational singing will be prevalent in a mighty way. I believe the music will be ingrained in the hearts of the Saints in a true revived church and they will sing because of the glory that is in them.
Ezekiel 26:13 refers to backslidden Israel as does Amos 5:23. Do you know what those verses say?
They call the music of backslidden Israel “noise” Just plain ol' noise. That description certainly fits much of today’s contemporary (so called) Christian music...Noise.
Have you ever read Ezekiel 28: 12-13? Do you realize the "tabrets" and the "pipes" created in Satan are musical instruments? Would you think if Satan knew what kind of music pleased God, that he also might know what kind of music would displease God? Do you think he could infiltrate the musical culture of today to do so? I'll let you answer that one for yourself.
I have read of at least 2 recent “Contemporary Gospel” songwriting contests which state some of the “rules” for the composition of the hymns. . There are 4 categories listed for these contests: contemporary-traditional, contemporary, folk and rock-jazz.
The rules state that words like “righteous and righteousness”, “cleansing”, and phrases referring to “washing in the blood” or "offensive terms" such as those that (I quote) "demean classes of people as in homosexuals"; should not be used. . In other words, you can't mention that homosexuality is wrong and you can't use the words sodomy, sodomite or Sodom.
You also can't mention that Jesus was the sacrificial lamb who takes away the sin of the world and you certainly can't mention that his red blood washes away your black sin and makes you whiter than snow!
I ask you: What kind if "Christian" songs are being promoted here? Are they even Christian at all?
All I can say about this is that these guidelines are entirely unscriptural and they wreak of something more sinister: Demonic Influence.
Preaching, Teaching and Bible Study
Did you know every apostasy recorded in church history was a result of previous leaders who deviated from true holiness, who quit preaching and began “tolerating” and who began by rejecting the “old paths” of God as “outdated” or archaic? Do your own research. You will come to the same conclusion.
Where are the real Bible Study Conferences in which a congregation would sit down WITH THEIR BIBLES IN HAND and search out what they believe attempting to validate their beliefs with the bible. Today, people try to verify the bible with their beliefs, twisting scriptures and omitting others thus attempting to make the bible say what they believe rather than making their beliefs line up with the Word of God!
The only Bible conferences you see now, even in Pentecostal ranks are those that want to argue over which new, damnable (per)version of the bible to use.
The preaching of repentance and holy living is no longer heard from many of our pulpits.
The fundamental principles of the Bible are being left in favor of blind loyalty to a pastor, teacher, elder in spite of his departure from the Word of God. Say one word today about a preacher’s (mis)conduct and you are the one who is questioned.
No longer are the ones in our pulpits living an exemplary life above reproach or are requiring it from their members, but they are instead, indulging in their own sinful pleasures and trying to justify it because they happen to be a “minister”.
Folks, this is wrong, dead wrong.
It's time that GODLY men and women stand up and cry out against sin and cry out against a departure from the true Word.
It's time we demand complete and total honesty from those in the pulpits and hold them to standards of unwavering godly conduct!
Let's conclude this matter.