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one of my relatives recently went to world revival church in kansas city. she said she saw something totally unexpected - people touching the two pastors at the altar and convulsing violently and crying and falling down to the ground.the other people worshiping were also convulsing a bit. everyone in the church were definitely feeling something, but my relative said something just didn't seem right and in fact she felt like she was the only one not experiencing what the others were experiencing.she went there after one of her friends told her about all these divine manifestations and amazing healings that occur everyday in the church, but still, it didn't feel right for her. she even thought that some of the teachings seemed like the pastor was twisting various things written in the bible to mean something else. what is going on in the church? is it really the holy spirit?
one of my relatives recently went to world revival church in kansas city. she said she saw something totally unexpected - people touching the two pastors at the altar and convulsing violently and crying and falling down to the ground.the other people worshiping were also convulsing a bit. everyone in the church were definitely feeling something, but my relative said something just didn't seem right and in fact she felt like she was the only one not experiencing what the others were experiencing.she went there after one of her friends told her about all these divine manifestations and amazing healings that occur everyday in the church, but still, it didn't feel right for her. she even thought that some of the teachings seemed like the pastor was twisting various things written in the bible to mean something else. what is going on in the church? is it really the holy spirit?
Whether it was of God or not really is not important.
We have the word and the command to remain in the word: that is to keep Scripture in our hearts.
We also have the Holy Spirit.
What matters is love. Prophets and prophetesses are sometimes called to do strange things to make points. Now, should they be too challenging? I think normally, 'no'.
Would you be somehow edified by this, judging one way or the other if it means nothing to you? We know we believe Jesus, the Apostles, and Prophets because of what they said. Now, we also know we believe Jesus because of the good miracles His Father gave Him to work: of such miracles as healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, raising the dead, turning water into wine, and so on. Miracles which speak of grace and truth in all Love.
1 John 2
4See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25And this is what he promised us—even eternal life. 26I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
And what did you hear from the beginning but the Good News, or Gospel?
So, that is where the focus should be. To treasure the words of Jesus in your heart and apply them to everyday situations.
If someone were to fly or to cause lightning to come from the sky or just about anything else: what of it? Is it either here or there? What matters is the truth and obedience to the truth which set us free.
I would be wary of judging such "miracles" - they may be, in a sense, but it is still just people convulsing - by asking, "What does this do? Is this somehow edifying? Or is this causing people to doubt?"
Did walking on water cause anyone to doubt, or to believe? Did silencing the storm cause anyone to doubt, or to believe? Water into wine? Healing the sick? Raising the dead?
Is there a reason you should believe because someone convulsed? How does that speak of the message of God? I do not know. And can that not be faked? Is that orderly? What are those pastors teaching? I do not see how that would be edifying nor even how it would be useful.
But, convulsing by itself is not a charge we should be leveling, we must stick to evidence and right charges. What were the teachings they twisted? What do they teach? How do they edify the church? Or how do they wrongly treat Scripture?
As she did not see any healings but only heard of them, that is second hand evidence. So, that does not prove anything or not.
God, however is not 'up there' or 'out there' that we must go and find Him, but God is 'on our lips and in our hearts'. So, there is no reason to chase after special teachers at all.
one of my relatives recently went to world revival church in kansas city. she said she saw something totally unexpected - people touching the two pastors at the altar and convulsing violently and crying and falling down to the ground.the other people worshiping were also convulsing a bit. everyone in the church were definitely feeling something, but my relative said something just didn't seem right and in fact she felt like she was the only one not experiencing what the others were experiencing.she went there after one of her friends told her about all these divine manifestations and amazing healings that occur everyday in the church, but still, it didn't feel right for her. she even thought that some of the teachings seemed like the pastor was twisting various things written in the bible to mean something else. what is going on in the church? is it really the holy spirit?
__________________ The Bible states that those who fornicate will not inherit the Kingdom of God be it between homosexuals or men and woman who are not married. (Gal 5:19-21).
Again, I urge anyone who supports homosexual marriage to repent of their sin.
If you trust the Holy Spirit in your relative, then you recognize the likely answer.
Keep in mind that the Holy Spirit may be saying something that's misinterpreted in some cases, too. If you read through 1 Corinthians, this church has a lot going wrong. Yet it's clearly a church where the Holy Spirit is working.
Some of the things in Corinth:
Denial that Jesus was resurrected.
Putting one Apostle above another.
Chaos at worship.
Overemphasis on speaking in tongues.
Neglect of the poor.
Conflict and divisiveness right there during Communion.
Lack of humility, arrogance among people who had no right to.
Scandalizing new Christians by their corrupt practices and high-handed arrogance.
Neglect of evangelism.
Permitting incest among their members.
It's a pretty chilling list when you get right down to it.
__________________ "... not an unconcerned sitting of God in heaven, from which He merely observes the things that are done in the world; but that all-active and all-concerned seatedness on His throne above, by which He governs the world which He Himself hath made." John Calvin
To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.
one of my relatives recently went to world revival church in kansas city. she said she saw something totally unexpected - people touching the two pastors at the altar and convulsing violently and crying and falling down to the ground.the other people worshiping were also convulsing a bit. everyone in the church were definitely feeling something, but my relative said something just didn't seem right and in fact she felt like she was the only one not experiencing what the others were experiencing.she went there after one of her friends told her about all these divine manifestations and amazing healings that occur everyday in the church, but still, it didn't feel right for her. she even thought that some of the teachings seemed like the pastor was twisting various things written in the bible to mean something else. what is going on in the church? is it really the holy spirit?
NO! It's a spirit, but it ain't holy. Various pagans experience similar- in much the same way- it's all about experiencing the next big feel good moment- chasing after that ever elusive pot at the end of the rainbow- except you're always in a worse state than before every time you come down from that high. The fruit is NEVER there. I have many years of personal experience in said spiritual deception and I learned that the hard way. Run and take as many people as you can with you.
__________________
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Troparion - Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we who are unworthy beseech you, by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you: “Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!”
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for me.
"Why do you increase your bonds? Take hold of your life before your light grows dark and you seek help and do not find it. This life has been given to you for repentance; do not waste it in vain pursuits."~St. Isaac the Syrian
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If you trust the Holy Spirit in your relative, then you recognize the likely answer.
Keep in mind that the Holy Spirit may be saying something that's misinterpreted in some cases, too. If you read through 1 Corinthians, this church has a lot going wrong. Yet it's clearly a church where the Holy Spirit is working.
Some of the things in Corinth:
Denial that Jesus was resurrected.
Putting one Apostle above another.
Chaos at worship.
Overemphasis on speaking in tongues.
Neglect of the poor.
Conflict and divisiveness right there during Communion.
Lack of humility, arrogance among people who had no right to.
Scandalizing new Christians by their corrupt practices and high-handed arrogance.
Neglect of evangelism.
Permitting incest among their members.
It's a pretty chilling list when you get right down to it.
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