REAL FIRE, or STRANGE FIRE?

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murjahel

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One symbol or type may represent more than one thing. For instance, the lion is a metaphor of Jesus and of the devil.

Jesus is the ‘Lion’.
Revelation 5:4-5 (KJV)
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.


The devil is also seen as a ‘lion’.
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:


There are lessons that the lion can teach us that illustrate the greatness of God. Yet, there are also lessons in the lion that illustrate the prowling, vicious nature of a hungry lion. The lion can illustrate many truths, applicable to a number of situations.

There is much talk about ‘fire’ in these days, and I believe it is the Lord bringing the subject up in several quarters. Soon, a book about ‘strange fire’ will come out from one minister. The author did not invent the term, it is a Biblical term that is discussed in the Word of God. The Lord wanted worship in the tabernacle to be ignited by the ‘real’ fire of God, not by some ‘strange fire’ of human origin.


Fire is a symbol, that can illustrate many truths.

Fire enlightens, it warms, it destroys, it purifies, it judges. Therefore, fire can teach multiple truths from its natures. God chooses to teach us much by typology.

God, Who in His foreknowledge, has always known the plan and revelation of the new covenant with all its details. So, in the Old Testament, He shows in picture form, in types and figures, what would soon come to pass in reality.

Just as a picture of an absent loved one, is treasured and often viewed, while awaiting that one’s return, so a type in the Old Testament, showed the image of what was to someday come in reality. The reality is valuable and revealing of many truths, as a lamb on the altar of burnt offering showed in type the sacrificial nature of Jesus.

When Jesus came, the lamb, though a beautiful picture, is not preferred to the reality of Jesus. Yet, the picture of the lamb, is a beautiful way to teach the reality of Jesus’ nature and work for us. We can view in clearness, His way and manner of approaching the sacrifice He gave for us. Typology should not replace the reality, but should make the reality more clear, more understood.

The symbol of fire therefore can teach us much. God offers ‘fire’ to many in the Bible.

God’s Priesthood are to offer worship to God. This ‘worship’ is often illustrated by fire. Our job now, as the priesthood of believers, should make us concerned that we not offer ‘strange fire’, but offer ‘the real fire of God’.

I Peter 1:9
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness unto His marvelous light."

The Jews never fully accepted the calling to be this "priesthood" to the world. Most of them missed that calling.

Most Christians have missed the true nature of their calling also. The study of what God’s priesthood are to be to the world is one of the most neglected, and ignored, subjects in Christianity.

The Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament was only a shadow of the substance of the priesthood that God intended to make of all believers. A "shadow" is only an indication of the proximity of the substance, and not the substance itself.


Therefore, the priesthood of believers completes and supersedes the Levitical priesthood, just as Jesus completed and superseded Aaron as the High Priest. The altar of burnt offering foreshadowed the cross, and in the same way, the priesthood of the Old Testament was a shadow and type of what God was going to make of the real priesthood.


All believers, of all ages since Adam, are a part of the priesthood of believers.

Exodus 19:6
"And ye shall be unto Me, a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation."

I Peter 2:5-9
"Ye also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."

Revelation 20:6
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God, and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years."

This priesthood in the Old Testament were to take fire only from the burnt altar.

That fire was started by God, and consumed the lambs that were offered there representing the sacrifice of Jesus as our Lamb, taking our punishment, providing our redemption.

This fire of the Lord, originated by Him in that original sacrifice time, was to be the only fire used in the sacraments of worship in the tabernacle.

THE WARNING AGAINST STRANGE FIRE WORSHIP


Leviticus 10:1-2 (KJV)
1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He commanded them not.
2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

 
Numbers 3:4 (KJV)
4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.

The priesthood, starting with Aaron, was to lead the worship of the people of God in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, we are the priesthood, and are also to lead the worship of God, seek others to receive Jesus, and worship then with us.

Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, failed by offering strange fire in their worship in the tabernacle.

The result was the ‘fire of God’ fell, and killed both of them, as they did this.

There was no honor given them by the people, there was not even a funeral service provided. When Nadab and Abihu died at the door of the tabernacle with strange fire in their censers, there was no weeping. There was an awesome, reverent horror when the curse of God fell.

Nadab and Abihu had offered strange fire before the Lord; and their destruction is an eternal warning to all who would imitate that unwise idea of worship.

Worship is to be sacred. It is not to be generated by simple emotion, not to be manipulated to appeal to the unsaved, not to be polluted by sin, but to be real, in spirit, in truth, based from a loving, appreciative, righteous soul of one saved by the Lamb Who died for us.

The fire from the brazen altar where lambs were offered, and the fire of God had fallen to accept that offering, was to be the only motivator to real worship. All other worship is ‘strange fire.’

 

murjahel

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In the Old Testament we see the symbolical, the illustrative lesson describing the kind of worship that God desires, and demands. Strange fire was judged then, is unacceptable today, and soon will be judged again.


From the illustrative lesson of this early priesthood, the sacred and pure worship is to be learned and given by the worshippers of today.


We, as the priesthood was then, must be clean—personally. Our garments cannot be our righteousness, for they are filthy. Our righteousness needs to be received from the Lord, our hearts need washed in His blood, our hands and feet need washed in the laver of the Word of God. In that clean state, we take fire from the burnt altar, approach the presence of God, and worship Him. Worship generated by any other fire is not acceptable to God.


When this ‘strange fire’ was first used, it was shortly after Aaron and his sons had just been solemnly consecrated to the priesthood office. The offering of incense, was to be consumed by fire in view of the whole camp of people.

The only acceptable, real, holy, fire that was to be employed, was the fire that had fallen from heaven, and had burnt the ‘lamb’ that was on the burnt altar.


The burning of incense was representative of the prayers of thanks, praise, and worship of the people for God accepting the substitution of the death of the lamb, for the death that their sins had deserved. Nadab and Abihu, the two eldest sons of Aaron, attempted to offer "strange fire before Jehovah, which He commanded them not."


Leviticus 10:1-2 (KJV)
1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.


Nadab and Abihu did not accomplish their purpose of worship in this way. God rejected it, suddenly, with the same fire, that had moments before consumed the accepted lamb sacrifice. "...They died before Jehovah" in front of God’s dwelling-place, just as they were to enter the Holy Place.


The sins of Nadab and Abihu were that they did what was not commanded in ministry. They added a part to worship, that was not directed by the Lord. They offered "strange fire", i.e. fire they had made themselves, not the fire of the altar, that had been set ablaze by God Himself.

 
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murjahel

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Destruction by fire is far too common in the Word of God. Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:24) were destroyed by fire. The plague on Egypt (Ex. 9:23-24) involved fire. A plague in Israel (Num. 11:1-3) involved fire of judgment. The 250 of Israel (Num. 16:35; 26:10) were judged by fire.


There will be future destructions by fire. The first trumpet judgment (Rev. 8:7), the fire from two witnesses (Rev. 11:5), the destruction of Babylon (Rev. 18:8), the fire consuming rebels (Rev. 20:9) all show that God’s fire of judgment comes upon those who reject being worshipful children of God.




The sin of Nadab and Abihu was in acting in the things of God without seeking the mind of God. It was worship as planned, ignited, and sponsored by the human understanding. There was carnal means to kindle the fire of devotion and praise. As priests of God today, we are to generate worship, gather and encourage true worship, and must be careful not to offer strange fire that will offend a holy God. Pleasing mankind, offering worship ignited by anything else than appreciation of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, i.e. Jesus Christ, is strange fire.


We are priests to God, and as we preach and teach the Word of God to others, we will see a people who will want to worship this God we have introduced them to. As we worship with them, we are priests honoring the One Who died for us all. As we testify of Jesus, and represent God, we are His priests worshipping God with our testimonies. As we intercede for the unsaved, we are priests leading worship. When we lead others to the salvation in the Lord, we are priests igniting their fire of worship with the real fire from the altar of sacrifice of our Lord.


This fire of our worship will continually be the fire to ignite our worship, throughout all eternity.


The simplicity of the true fire to ignite Christian worship is not out-dated, it is not obsolete, it is not done away with the new covenant, it is still the plan and demand of God, to worship Him, to worship the Trinity, with the original fire that fell on that first sacrifice, that represented the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross on Calvary.


I have watched many worship services.

In some, the worship was generated by the percussion, the emotional leaders dancing and jumping, emotional tirades and emotion raising stories.

The crowd, some saved, some not, were caught up in the music, motivated by things other than the appreciation and love for a Savior.

Some were not saved before the worship, not saved during the worship, not saved leaving the time of worship.

That was ‘strange fire’ worship.

There are no expensive ceremonies, no musical apparatus designed to impress the senses and to produce emotions in the carnal sense, that will please God today.

The heart of worship must be ‘in spirit and in truth’, kindled only by the Spirit of GOD alone, as the Agent that distributes the heavenly fire, the true fire.

God searches the heart, observes what is the object of its adoration, and knows the source of the worship. God has bestowed grace that pardons, sanctifies, and renders peace to those redeemed by the Lamb of God. No strange fire can be offered.


Thus God will only be worshipped in His chosen way. Every time of worship, every religious act, must be acceptable to Him.

When we were redeemed, justified, forgiven, it was by that One Mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ. We received Him as the gift of God's; redeemed by His blood; and now are to worship Him generated and inflamed with that blessed salvation from the Lamb.

The fire of that joy translates into worship, and the living of a holy and useful life.

Our actions of living, our words of worship show forth the virtues of this Lamb, i.e. Jesus Christ, Who has called us from darkness into His marvellous light.

Do we worship with ‘real fire’ or ‘strange fire’?

The world probably can tell many the answer to that, better than many know themselves. We can enjoy the beat, the words of emotion and joy, the toe tapping, smile generating, music of some services, and not realize we are generating that fire we call ‘worship’ with ‘strange fire’.

Much emotion, great vocal expression, wonderful musical accompaniment can be there with real fire... but those things alone, without the heartfelt appreciation for the Lamb's Gift, i.e. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for us, is strange fire.


The real fire will generate praise on a far higher plane than any strange fire can do.

The real fire may bring tears, but tears of joy.

The real fire will inflame us to shout praises, but not simply for the sake of being noticed by those around us.

The real fire will bring us to our knees in love and reverence for our Lamb, Who died for us.

The ‘strange fire’ worship is certainly out there today, in our age. It was back in the times of Aaron and of Moses.

Aaron watched as his sons died in the sin of ‘strange fire’ worship. He had to hold his peace, be speechless before the Lord, for the awesome realization of the need to worship as we are commanded was evident.

High school gymnasiums are filled with praises of the football team.
The crowds cheer the movie star as they exit their limousine and walk down the red carpet to their movie premier.
The political party of the winner cheers and brags on their elected member.
These are the human ideas of worship.

Those same kind of praises amidst Christians for God, are ‘strange fire.’

God deserves and demands a worship far above those.
 
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murjahel

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THE STRANGE FIRE OF SIMON MAGUS



Philip was one of the 70 disciples. His ministry is shown to us in describing two of his converts. One, led to Jesus by Philip was Simon Magus. Another of his converts was the Ethiopian Eunuch. There are vital lessons to learn about each of these. The stories told in the Bible about such conversions, were included for reasons, vital reasons. The early church understood, but many today have missed seeing why these stories were so important to be included in the Book of Acts.


One convert (Simon Magus) started a terrible heresy. One that persists today in various forms. And this heresy, has been the main thorn in the side of the church for many centuries. This Simon magus was an apostate. He was saved for a short time, reverted back to old ways. His apostasy led to him pretending a ‘Christian’ witness, but became so perverted from Christ’s teachings, that it is a wonder that anyone could call it Christianity. Remnants of the teachings of Simon magus are still claimed by a great number of apostates today. The fact that there are ‘Simon Magus’ types in the church of today is lost to many, but needs to be recognized and those truly saved need to be forewarned.

 
Philip traveled to Samaria, and proclaimed the good news there. Miracles occurred, the sick were healed, and demons were cast out. One convert was Simon Magus.


Acts 8:13 says that he ‘believed", and we have no reason to doubt the truth of that, but his conversion did not continue, for he backslid. Judas had his name written in heaven, and he sinned and went to hell. This convert, Simon Magus, also left a faith that he had found for a short time.

In the present time, the church has paid little attention to
Simon Magus. In the early church, this name was very familiar, and the purpose of this portion about him in Acts is of vital importance. During the following 300 years, the name of Simon Magus was spoken of very often.


"Simon" is the Greek form of a the Hebrew word,
"Shimon" meaning "hearing with acceptance..." The word "magus" does not occur in relation to Simon, but in verse 9, "mageuon" is used, meaning "to use sorcery". The word "magias" is used in verse 11, meaning "sorceries". Therefore, this man was a magician, using the powers of deception, and powers of demonic forces to amaze, astonish, and overwhelm the people.


{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.


Simon Magus had made the people to think that he was "the Great Power of God..." The Greek words for
"Great Power" are: "megas dunamis" meaning the "exceeding great and mighty miraculous power".


Today, some with similar traits to Simon Magus deceive and amaze congregations. They are thought to be ‘great powers’ of the church, and are thought to be in tune with God. They inspire a worship, but the worship is ‘strange fire’.


This man, Simon Magus, was well-known, accepted, and thought to be a god by these Samaritan people. There were many such "magicians" in those days. Tiberius had a host of magicians in constant attendance with him. People, then as today, are attracted by miraculous signs and wonders.


Philip had gone down to Samaria (vs. 5), and there were many miracles, sick people were cured of their diseases, and demons were cast out. Simon Magus watched these events, and saw that these miracles astounded the people. Revival, salvation of souls, and acceptance by the people, that even Simon Magus could not duplicate. Simon Magus was awestruck by these signs and wonders.


Simon Magus became a Christian, and was even baptized by Philip.
{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.


There is no reason to think the Bible lies, or prevaricates, in this passage, and the salvation was real, and to be baptized in those days, the same statements of faith found in the Apostles' Creed had to be claimed by the one being baptized. A miraculous change came to Simon Magus.
 

Peter and John were dispatched to Samaria to see what was happening. When they arrived, they began to "lay hands" on the converts, and they began to receive the Holy Spirit. The sight of these people speaking in tongues, prophesying, and beginning to exhibit the other gifts of the Spirit, astounded Simon Magus. Simon began to see this new found religion, as another means to make a living, become powerful and accepted.


Peter and John were showing forth the miraculous power of God, that was even a step beyond the signs seen in Philip. Simon Magus offered money to Peter and John to be shown how to give forth the miraculous power shown in the ministry of Peter and John. Today, we still call the idea that trying to buy or to sell spiritual gifts to be "simony".



Even today, we find many in Christianity, that try to offer spiritual gifts, blessings, prosperity, and answers to prayer to be received by MONEY. It is a common false doctrine of today, started long ago by Simon Magus. and deserves rebuke today, as it did then.

{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."


Simon Magus repented of the sinful desires of his heart. He was newly saved, weak, and still needing "milk", unable to understand the "meat" of the Word. Slowly, perhaps quickly, Simon brought the evil former life, and tried to mix it with the new found Christianity.
 

Simon reverted to using his former powers of deception and demonic miracles to astound people. The works of supernatural powers appeal to the outward senses. The bewilderment they had at watching his sorceries, and deception of Simon Magus attracted some in the church. The signs seen by many, then done by Simon Magus, and now done by many Christian charlatans, apostates, make people open to receive spiritual doctrine.


Simon Magus preached a doctrine that was heresy, false, and damning to the souls of his victims. The true divine works and miracles done by true men and women of God are greater than anything Simon Magus then, and false prophets today, can imitate. Yet, the false and evil wonders done by charlatans of the church do lead many into false doctrines and heresy.


The devils then, and still today, use similar methods. The Christian first apostatizes, and then the demon obsession begins to get strong. Then the ruling powers begin to empower the apostates, and they get power to become a false prophet of some renown. The devil could not stop the church by the evil Pharisees, Sadducees, and ungodly Romans. Therefore, the devil began to infiltrate the church, leading some who were saved, to through the deception of devils, to take on doctrines of those demons, false doctrines, nto their Christian beliefs.


We see many
illustrations today of such demonic attempts to pervert Christian doctrine. Some charlatans today call out illnesses and diseases unknown to the person, and then tell them that they were healed. The person often believes that they truly must have had such disease, and believes that this was truly a healing. Thereby, they make themselves susceptible to the false heretical doctrines promoted by the simonian-like apostate, charlatans.


The praises and worship in such meetings becomes ‘strange fire’, for it was not generated by truth, but by deceit, deceptions of various kinds. The doctrines espoused are tainted and corrupted, and the praise for such untruths are ‘strange fire’.


Some apostates and charlatans of today, as did Simon Magus in that time, deceive people by pretending to announce a healing of someone in "t.v. land" or in "radio land". While the ones who have come personally to the meeting needing and wanting healings go home unhealed. The simonian apostates have many believing there were astounding miracles done to someone, somewhere, but not there.

To praise God for imitation miracles, for lying deceptions is strange fire.


Jesus healed those who came to Him, and did not just sit there and tell the sick of Jerusalem, that someone in Nazareth has just been healed.

The gullible, easily led away by every wind of doctrine, swallow the lies of the impostors. They are swindled by such deceptive lies. With the greed of Simon Magus as an example, many today want money to guarantee a miracle, prosperity, and blessings. Jesus never asked for offerings to give forth His blessings. In fact, we are to continue the works of Christ, and His miracles were mercy, undeserved favor. Some today, ask for $2000 to get God to procure the victims of the charlatans out of debt. Now they are so greedy that they even want the 'tithe' of the amount needed to get them out of debt, first. This prosperity doctrine is evil, and perpetrated by the "quacks" of Christianity.


What of the further history of Simon Magus??? Justin Martyr (also a Samaritan) tells us:
Simon Magus was from a village called Gitton. In the time of Claudius, Simon became to be worshipped as a god in Rome because of his magical powers. There was a statue erected to Simon Magus on an island in the river Tiber. On the statue was engraved "SIMON DEO SANCTO", meaning "to Simon the sacred god".

Jerome claims to quote from writings of Simon Magus:
"I am the Word of God, I am the Comforter, I am the Almighty, I am all there is of God."


Origen said of Simon Magus:
"It escapes the notice of Celsus that the Simonians do not in any way acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, but they call Simon, 'The Power of God'".


Simon Magus and Peter debated at least three times
. Simon Magus tried to preach that there were two gods. Simon Magus denied the deity of Christ Jesus, and said that Jesus was only a Jewish prophet. Simon Magus preached that people could live as immoral as they wished, and as long as they had an acceptance of him, they were saved from eternal destruction. He claimed that the God of the Old Testament was imperfect.

Peter followed Simon Magus and countered his sorceries and false teachings with the truth and the miracles of God.


The first confrontation was at Antioch, another at Laodicea, and the final one at Rome. Simon died in Rome, after challenging the people to accept his teachings as superior to those of Peter. Simon claimed he would ascend to heaven before them, and through demonic powers began to rise in the air. He flew about Rome for some time, but as Peter prayed to Jesus,


Simon Magus suddenly fell to the ground and died.

Simon Magus had told his followers that if he ever died, he was to be buried, and in three days, he would arise from the grave. They waited fruitlessly, for he did not arise!


The false heretical teachings had taken seed in the early church, and much of their worship was given in praise to this charlatan, this gnostic heretic, this man lying in his sermons. The worship in those services was ‘strange fire’, and displeased our Lord greatly.
 
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Hebrews 10:11-12 NLT
Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. [12] But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand.
 
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jiminpa

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This book, is it written by a reformed theology charlatan, who called the Holy Spirit of the NAR, "not God"? If so it is the author of the book who is offering unclean fire to God, and hoping to make more money and gain more fame by denouncing God's people, and no Christian has any business going near it.
 
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murjahel

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These posts were written by me, not anyone else, and the person of whom you speak has not had his book come out yet, so I have not read it, nor has any of you... IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT HIS BOOK, START YOUR OWN THREAD, PLEASE.

I am a Spirit filled, ordained, Pentecostal minister of many years, and believe in the gifts of the Spirit, have the gifts of the Spirit, and that means that 'strange fire' is abhorrent to me, as it is to God...

this thread is discussing what the Bible says about it...
 
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murjahel

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John wrote I and II John to confront and counteract the strange fire heresy started by this Simon Magus.


I John 4:1-6
{4:1} Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
{2} By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
{3} and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
{4} You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
{5} They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
{6} We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
 

The thing that most concerned John about the heresy and the strange fire worship it engendered, was its view of Jesus Christ. If anyone does not have the correct view of Jesus, that person has the spirit of the "antichrist". John is very adamant about this. Today, as then, there are people who do not deny the historicity of Jesus, but want Him only to have been a prophet, a great man, a righteous leader. Jesus was the "Sent One of God" (Messiah, Christ), He was the Son of God, and He is the Only Savior of the world.
 

John proclaims that these strange fire burners are of the world, and of the world's paganism, even though they may claim to be of the Christian faith. There are many beliefs in Christian circles of today that are so false, so heretical, so damning in their belief that we must learn how to know the "spirit of truth and the spirit of error" to ascertain the fact that those doctrines are given of the devil and his cohorts, not of God. We need to avoid being in their congregations while the ‘worship’ is strange fire.


1 John 4:12-16 (NKJV)
{12} No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
{13} By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
{14} And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
{15} Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
{16} And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.


John also lets the saints know that Simon Magus was not "God", and that "no one has seen God at any time." The true God abides within us, and we know His presence by the love within us. Jesus was sent of God to become the Only Savior of the world. It is confession of Jesus, not Simon Magus, that saves us.


It is worship of Jesus, not some imitation of a Simon magus, as we see in many so called congregations. John strongly confronts the strange fire burners of that day, and so must we. We must glorify God as the True God, and Jesus as the only Way of salvation. We may tolerate other religions, but we must still re-iterate, Jesus is the Only Way to heaven. We must worship Jesus, for what He has done for us, for our relationship with Him. We are not here to praise man, to see some lift themselves up higher than Jesus. We are to worship Jesus for Who He is, for what He has done.

{5:1} Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who love Him Who begot also loves Him Who is begotten of Him.
{2} By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
{3} For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
{4} For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith.
{5} Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?


That is real fire worship described here by John. The ‘strange fire’ centers preach heretical things as that there isno moral law, no standard of ethics for us to live.

Many want morality to be a personally chosen thing, but God has established a morality ethic that He demands to be kept. Sinners do not answer to us, but to God. We try to show mankind the route to the mercy of God, for all of mankind is on the road to hell for their breaking of His law. When sinners find the salvation and grace, mercy, in Jesus, they will worship with real fire, not strange fire.



We may hate the doctrine of the strange fire pretenders, and hate the damning effect it has on mankind, but we still love the sinner, if we are truly Christian. We try to point mankind to the Savior.



Those who trust the "Simon Magus" of this day, who believe they can choose whether something is "right or wrong", and who believe that there is any other way to heaven will be sadly shocked to someday awaken in hell-fire. Their worship may sound emotional, may seem genuine and real, but that is ‘strange fire’ that kindled that emotion, not the real fire.



We have a short time to convince the world of its need of a Savior, and to get the world worshipping with real fire.


1 John 5:10-21 (NKJV)
{10} He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
{11} And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
{12} He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
{13} These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
{17} All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
{18} We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
{19} We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
{20} And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
{21} Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.


In II John, John again cautions and warns the church of the "deceivers" that leave the whole truth of God, and who bring a "doctrine" that is contrary to that proclaimed by John. The worship in their services is strange fire, not real fire. The flames from the Lamb’s sacrifice are not what kindled that emotion they display in worship. Their worship is strange fire.

If anyone even "greets" such a one with a "blessing" of God, that one shares in the "evil deeds" of the heretic. That is strong talk, but it is proclaimed in the Word of God.


2 John 7-11 (NKJV)
{7} For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
{8} Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
{9} Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
{10} If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;
{11} for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.


The false doctrines started by Simon Magus, are still found in the church of today. The strange fire worship that many did in his meetings was a sham, hated by our Lord. Nadab and Abihu had offered incense burning with strange fire, and to think that none are still doing that in our world today, takes a mountain of naivety.



Hypocrites of today base many of their beliefs on the same doctrines as Simon Magus. Judgment will come on the church of our day, due to many of the same beliefs and practices started by Simon Magus.


The early church which faced the heresy of Simon Magus and his followers, needed to know how this one came to be in the church. Hence, in Acts, Luke records where his conversion occurred, and what began his backsliding into these heretical beliefs.



"Simony" is one of the chief sins of the prosperity movement of today. Offering to sell the blessings of God for money, seeking to use Christianity for personal gain and riches, began with Simon Magus.



Some in the church of today, use deception and charlatan tricks to imitate miracles, in order to deceive congregations. They do it to have a big offering, power, and recognition. This was the same desire of Simon Magus.


Many today preach that Jesus did not truly rise from the dead. These ‘modernists’, as we have called them, are actually believing a heresy started by Simon Magus.



Some today believe that the commandments of God can be broken, and if they have have somewhere accepted the Christian faith, they can, with impunity, abort babies, practice sexual promiscuity or perversions, and still be headed for heaven. This heresy started with Simon Magus.



To worship in their congregations, to be inspired to ‘worship’ by untruthful doctrines, heretical dogmas, is strange fire worship. God is still angered by ‘strange fire’ worship. He wants our praise to be generated, ignited by the fire from the ‘burnt altar’. That fire came from God, and it accepted the sacrifice of the Lamb upon the altar. All our worship needs to be generated with that appreciation for the mercy of God in saving us by that grace.



Many today want to be considered Christian, despite their heretical beliefs, and Simon tried to continue to call himself a ‘Christian’ despite his heresies. The worship in his congregation was strange fire. Many, many, of the heresies of the church, started with this Simon Magus. We need to rebuke the followers of such, as Peter did Simon Magus. To worship with them, to say ‘amen’ to their doctrines, is ‘strange fire’.


{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."

more to come​
 
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jiminpa

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these posts were written by me, not anyone else, and the person of whom you speak has not had his book come out yet, so I have not read it, nor has any of you... IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT HIS BOOK, START YOUR OWN THREAD, PLEASE.

I am a Spirit filled, ordained, Pentecostal minister of many years, and believe in the gifts of the Spirit, have the gifts of the Spirit, and that means that 'strange fire' is abhorrent to me, as it is to God...

this thread is discussing what the Bible says about it...
Thanks for declaring your credentials. I've read some of your posts. I'll just leave it at that.
 
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murjahel

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Simon magus did many so called miracles. Some of his miracles were demonically aided. He claimed he would ascend to heaven, as did Jesus, and one day, evil spirit aided, he began to ascend up into the clouds. Peter was nearby, and he began to pray, and after a bit, the power of evil spirits was broken, and Simon magus fell to his death. Some of his naive congregation waited for three days about the body, believing Simon magus would be resurrected as was Jesus.


There are some real, some imitation miracles today in centers of ‘strange fire’. The pretenders of faith there may astound the congregation. The worship therein, generated by evil and demonic teachings and false miracles are strange fire.


Surely, there is ‘real fire’. There are real miracles. Peter’s shadow would fall upon the sick, and the power of Jesus raised them up. Blind were made to see, dead were raised, sick were healed, deaf were made to hear... and them miracles of that day that were from God still continue in our day.

I am not a cessationist, but the fact that the church of today has tolerated and allowed the charlatans like Simon magus to continue, allows for critics to attack real miracles too.

We need to take a stand against ‘strange fire’.

We need to preach Jesus, and real signs and wonders will follow. They still occur, I have seen them, been recipient of them, and still preach them. The fire of worship though needs to be ignited by the love and mercy of our faithful Lord. Any other ‘fire’ in worship is still ‘STRANGE FIRE.’
 
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jiminpa

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Simon magus did many so called miracles. Some of his miracles were demonically aided. He claimed he would ascend to heaven, as did Jesus, and one day, evil spirit aided, he began to ascend up into the clouds. Peter was nearby, and he began to pray, and after a bit, the power of evil spirits was broken, and Simon magus fell to his death. Some of his naive congregation waited for three days about the body, believing Simon magus would be resurrected as was Jesus.


There are some real, some imitation miracles today in centers of ‘strange fire’. The pretenders of faith there may astound the congregation. The worship therein, generated by evil and demonic teachings and false miracles are strange fire.


Surely, there is ‘real fire’. There are real miracles. Peter’s shadow would fall upon the sick, and the power of Jesus raised them up. Blind were made to see, dead were raised, sick were healed, deaf were made to hear... and them miracles of that day that were from God still continue in our day.

I am not a cessationist, but the fact that the church of today has tolerated and allowed the charlatans like Simon magus to continue, allows for critics to attack real miracles too.

We need to take a stand against ‘strange fire’.

We need to preach Jesus, and real signs and wonders will follow. They still occur, I have seen them, been recipient of them, and still preach them. The fire of worship though needs to be ignited by the love and mercy of our faithful Lord. Any other ‘fire’ in worship is still ‘STRANGE FIRE.’
I agree that we do need to take a stand against strange fire, and siding with the cessationists against God's Spirit is offering strange fire.

Sure there are sorcerers in Charismatic churches, and non-Charismatic churches. There are blasphemers of the Holy Spirit in pulpits and authoring Christian books, and they are even being promoted in this forum.
 
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murjahel

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'STRANGE FIRE' is a term found in the Bible, the subject is discussed there... the book to which you refer is going to discuss what he thinks the Bible says about it... none of us, not even you know what he has to say yet... so, I am not going to discuss his words, only the Bible's words on the subject...

the author of which you speak probably will differ from my discussion of the Bible's words in that he is a cessationist, I am not... he may have seen some 'strange fire' and think all Spirit filled, Pentecostal believers are the way the Simon magus' of today are... I know that most in the Pentecostal churches are not magicians, demon inspired tricksters... but there are 'strange fire' imitations of Simon magus out there... We need to be the ones to identify what 'strange fire' truly is, not a cessationist who may misunderstand what true Pentecostals believe, due to a few 'simon magus' of today...


So, this is not going to be a place to discuss John MacArthur... wait till his book comes out, then discuss whatever he has to say in a thread designed to talk about his teachings... I want to discuss what the Bible says about 'strange fire', and not get into personalities...

The persons I am discussing are Simon magus, Ananias and Sapphira, etc.. all people in the Bible...

Ignoring the real strange fire subject only aids its spread... but we need to know what the Bible has to say about it... The Bible is our source for the 'truth'... let's see what is in it...
 
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murjahel

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THE STRANGE FIRE
of
ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA

 
 
Acts 5:1-11 (KJV)
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
 
 
Sapphira was not present when Ananias first arrived to offer his offering. It was three hours later, when she arrived. We do not know how she remained ignorant for so long, and uninformed of the fate of Ananias, but perhaps the service had gone into prayer, and had not broken to go and inform her.


Ananias had died suddenly, in a way that had stirred everyone. He had not yet been buried. Perhaps Sapphira came wondering what had kept her husband so long.


Upon learning of his demise, she continued in the lie that led to his judgment. It is a wonder today, that even when scam and deceit are exposed by God, some will defend and continue in trying to keep the plan of the deceit going.


Sapphira arrived willing to deceive and scam the congregation, just as her husband has done shortly before. When Peter questioned her, she lied. Peter questions how she could so tempt the Holy Spirit by being deceitful and dishonest. Today, some act like the Holy Spirit is a weak dumby, and needs help to have miracles, needs help to have good services, and needs someone to lie to make it seem better than it is. If the Holy Spirit wants a lame man to walk, He can heal the lameness. He does not need a scam artist who is not lame to pretend lameness, and then throw down his crutches, and run off. The tempting of the Holy Spirit by that or any other form of deceit in a Pentecostal service is totally vexing to the Holy Spirit.


With the reaction of the Holy Spirit here to Ananias and Sapphira, to their chosen lie, we should be forewarned not to vex or grieve the Spirit with deceit.


By the time Sapphira had arrived, Peter knew what was about to take place, and spoke it. He did not do it, and probably hated to see it done, but he knew how the Holy Spirit had reacted to the scam of Ananias, and Peter knew that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so he knew that God would give the same fate to Sapphira.


If she would have repented, seeing her dead husband still laying on the floor, she could have been spared. It is a shame that some can see deceit and God’s judgment of it, and remain sinful in their heart so much that they validate the scammers, defend the deceivers, and hope to get a different result that the afore-judged persons. God is still the same today, and hates ‘strange fire’ worship just as much today as then.


We see that "great fear came upon all the Church, and upon all who had heard these things." Fear comes on true believers when they hear of God’s judgment. The many in this service did not want ‘strange fire’, and so this fear was excited, not just by the fate of the guilty two, but also by the fearful nature true gifts of the Holy Spirit being shown in the apostles. Peter had a word of knowledge, knew the hearts of the scammers, exposed them under the direction of the Holy Spirit.


"And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all, with one accord, in Solomon's Portico, and of the rest no man dare join himself to them, but all people magnified them."


Many true signs and wonders follow the exposing of ‘strange fire’. The coddling of these ‘strange fire’ Simon magus’ and strange fire Ananias and Sapphira’s only perpetrates more fakeness.


"They were all, with one accord," shows that those who joined the church were proponents of ‘true fire’, and any who wanted to have fake miracles, lying proclamations, were feeling totally scared of mixing with those who were truly Spirit filled.
 
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I have watched many worship services.

I have led many worship services. In my experience, the folks that feel qualified to judge the worship of others are the ones that would most benefit from a lesson in worshiping in spirit and in truth.

:cool:
 
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jiminpa

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It's like my pastor always says, you really don't have to worry about strange fire, because there are enough wet blankets that will suffocate ANY fire that breaks out. ;)

:cool:
Exactly, better to expect too much from God, than not enough. I am way too guilty of the latter without reading thread after thread on a supposed Spirit-filled forum dedicated to it. Unless any of you accusers of the brethren can find somewhere in the scripture that condemns too much faith in God.
 
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murjahel

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I am speaking now regarding the book that Moses wrote about Nadab and Abihu who offered strange fire to the Lord and were then destroyed by fire of judgment.


I have not read a book not yet released by another, and have no quotes to give as to what that author may say, so this thread is not about his book, not a discussion of what he says, for I have gifts of the Spirit, but a word of knowledge on his words yet to be released, is not a revelation the Lord has shared with me...


What I am doing, is preparing for reading that book, knowing I will not agree with some, for it is written by a cessationist, and I am certainly not one... but I want to know what the Bible says about 'strange fire' before I read it, so my judgment of the book can be an informed judgment, Scriptural, based on the Lord's revelation of the subject.


What the Bible reveals is that worship that is generated by anything but the love and appreciation of the sacrifice of Jesus as our Lamb, is 'strange fire'.


We are to worship the Lord 'in spirit and in truth', and worship as was Nadab's and Abihu's, which was not obedient to the commands of God, was 'fire' that brought judgment...



John 4:24
"God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him,
must worship Him in spirit and truth."

People understand electricity, and photosynthesis better than they understand worship. What has been called worship is so far from the reality of what it truly is, that most do not even know the need of changing anything in their services of 3 songs performed by several people who tap their feet and smile while they sing, an offering, and a short sermonette that is politically correct. Those to most equate ‘worship’, when in reality, they are far from true worship.

The true vocation of the congregations that truly serve the Lord, includes WORSHIP.

I Peter 2:5,9
"...to offer up spiritual sacrifices... that ye should shew forth the praises of Him."

Praise alone does not equate to worship. For in some praise, there is not the spirit of the person, and there is not ‘truth’ in the words of praise. In worship there is praise, but not all praise is worship.

When our mouths, our hearts, and our lives ‘shew forth the praises of Him’, then there is worship. Then the praises are ‘in truth’, and ‘in spirit’.

Psalms 100:4
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name."


It is not the ‘thanksgiving’ and the ‘praise’ that is worship. It is when those are done as we ‘enter into His gates’, and truly, in spirit, come into His very presence, that it is worship.


Praise alone is not worship. Praise is admitting the greatness and wonder of God. Praise is when we praise the Lord ‘with our whole heart’, while ‘upright’. It is done ‘in truth’ and with our whole ‘spirit’ being involved.

Psalms 109:1
"Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation."

What if everyone of the congregation, entered into the local church, with words of praise to God?

What if we actually were silly enough to try what God says He wants???!!!

What if we obeyed that command to ‘enter His gates with thanksgiving, praise, blessings, thankful???

What if it were more than a ‘show’, what if it were more than obedience to a worship leader, but was sincere, true, the response of our inner spirit that is in awesome reverence of a holy God???

What kind of service do you think we would have?

Some enter the congregations we call churches, with complaints, discouragement, anger, frustration, weariness, and it takes a great song service, a rousing sermon, to get them smile at the end to say ‘amen’. Shameful. Our God deserves more than that. God wants ‘worship’ not just emotionally aroused, now smiling, hypocrites.

The congregation that fails to worship, has failed at its real vocation. God meant for us to learn to worship, then learn to work. Martha was distracted by much serving. Mary chose the "better", and sat at the feet of Jesus. Had Martha also sat at the feet of Jesus, I am sure the meal still would have been prepared, as both could have periodically gone to the kitchen for a time, and then returned and still had time to learn and enjoy the presence of Jesus. The church needs to learn to get its work done, but put true worship ahead of the "nitty-gritty" duties of the church.

Samuel was busy in the temple service, and yet in I Samuel 3:7 it says: "Samuel did not yet know the Lord." It is possible to be busy in church work, and not truly know, or enjoy the Lord Jesus.

The Greek word commonly used for "worship" is "proskuneo," which means "to kiss the hand toward." This suggests an outward action which shows an inward realization of the greatness of another. The idea of "worth-ship" is recognized in real worship. In true worship is the recognition of Who the Lord truly is. True worship is in ‘truth’ and is in ‘spirit’.

True fire, not strange fire worship, is what the Lord desires... It must be based on the revealed message of God, true to the Word, in spirit and in truth... and then that worship is blessed, not judged, by God...

On the isle of Patmos, John was shown the future rapture day. In his vision, he saw the saints singing:
Revelation 4:8-11
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power."


True worship will occur on that rapture day. We can make it happen on earth now, but it must be ‘in spirit, and in truth’.


This worship delights in the sheer glory of God. Worship revels in His Person, His Nature, and His being. Worship recognizes what He has done.

Our actions and behavior should make others rejoice and worship in the Lord. When unbelievers see:
our good works,
our attitudes in crisis,
our love in the midst of hatred,
our patience in the midst of trial,
and our honesty in the midst of dishonesty...
they will glorify God Who has given us the grace to so behave.

They will then be motivated to get to personally, in spirit and in truth, get to know this God we worship.

I Peter 2:12
"Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

Strange fire will bring ridicule from the world. If the ridicule is justified, due to dishonest, con artist trickery, worship that is only emotion, not based on love for a holy Lord, the fact then the ones criticized are 'evildoers' ruins our testimony.

Therefore, we must see our 'good works' not our 'evildoer' works, and they they will 'glorify God' as Peter says in the above verse.

In this way, our behavior is an act of worship. We can glorify God, not only with our mouths, but with our lives, our attitudes, and with our actions. We should therefore be glorifying God most every moment. We must not offer 'strange fire', but the 'real fire' of worship. Our lives need to pattern after Jesus' life.

I Corinthians 10:31
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Everything we do must glorify God... no strange fire is acceptable to God...
 
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murjahel

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John 4:24
"God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him,
must worship Him in spirit and truth."



Worship can be expressed in physical ways, words, and actions. It will be centered in the Holy Spirit, and will be from the depth or our being. Any worship that comes simply from the mind, or is hollow, outward show with no inward life, is not true worship.

Often in congregations, there are hymns sung, wherein the words are sung - but not felt. These songs are only echoes of a shallow or dead faith. The Lord is not fooled by the harmonious beauty of the song. The heart is seen by God, and He recognizes true worship.

God hates insincere worship. God hates 'strange fire' worship. God would rather we shut the doors of the church than to come and worship insincerely. The devil would rather we worship insincerely, than to shut the church congregation out of the building.

Malachi 1:10-14
"...but ye have profaned it (the name of the Lord), in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. Ye said, also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought an offering; should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord. But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing; for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and My name is dreadful among the heathen."

Why can some attack Spirit filled worship so easily, and attack the Spirit that fills us with gifts and power?????????????? Why to the 'heathen' is God's name 'dreadful'? It is because in some circles there is 'strange fire' and it brings a bad and contemptible reaction from sinners.

Sinners should see 'real gifts of the Spirit' not the sham miracles of a Simon magus, or the lies of an Ananias and Sapphira. Those kind of people in the Pentecostal churches make God feel the heathen to think Him to be 'dreadful'. He is not... we are not to make Him look that way... We need to know what is 'strange fire' and avoid it...

It is dreadful to God, a hurtful and an offensive thing to have beings who owe their all to the Lord and have them insincerely, hesitantly, unwillingly, deceitfully, give praise. Yet, the churches are filled with those who do not really mean their praise, do not want to give any praise, and who say things in their praise that they do not feel.

The 'money changers' of our day, still make the Lord want to take up a whip and chase them out of the churches, for the churches are to be places of praise, worship, prayer... not to be used for 'money changer' sins.

What has happened to the sincere people who come to church expecting a blessing? or to seek God? or to commune with God? God hates insincere worship. God wants 'real fire', not 'strange fire'.

The song service is a time of worship. Some sing things that they do not mean, as "I'll go where you want me to go", or "keep me near the cross." You are not singing to your neighbor, nor to the preacher, but to God. God hates insincere, misdirected, un-meaning worship.


Ecclesiastes 5:1-6
"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for
God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few. ... a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay."

Two or three times, Jesus came to the temple and cast out the money changers. He was angered at their abuse of the house of God. It was not that they had sold doves and lambs for the sacrifices, it was their cheating, stealing, and deception to the people. Jesus called it a "den of thieves" and told them that His Father's house should be a "house of prayer."

It is time we re-teach that lesson. We are the Temple of God, and this temple should be a "house of prayer" and worship.

Sinful and insincere 'strange fire' should be expelled from our lives.

It is like the fancy wrapped boxes a lady left in her car. Knowing they would likely be stolen, if she left her car unlocked, she had wrapped her garbage in the fancy wrappings.

Many people in congregations have wrapped their shallow faith in beautiful songs, and exuberant praise and worship.

The enthusiasm does not fool the Lord. If the inside of a person is the filth of sin, the outward worship, no matter how enthusiastic or harmonious, is rejected by our God.


In the real and true worship there is no set pattern. Yet, it never becomes disorderly or confused. Since the Spirit is in control, the Spirit directs us to worship in manifold ways.

Nothing is more disastrous than to try to create an atmosphere of worship. While we may try to create exuberance and rejoicing, the Spirit may be seeking to get us to weep and cry our love for Jesus. When we seek the weeping worship, the Spirit may want to direct us toward praise and shouting.

What we must do in revival is -- to create an atmosphere that allows the Spirit to create -- a worship. When people try to recreate what they saw God do in another service, it will fall flat. Spiritual worship, since it must be Spirit directed, cannot be produced by even the best of worship leaders.

It can only be -- prepared for, -- by the worship leaders... and the worshippers. We must prepare our hearts and minds with the knowledge of the "worth-ship" of the Lord, and the thankfulness for His mercy and grace. We can offer 'true fire' and see the power of God work, see the gifts of the Spirit be used powerfully to glorify God, and sinners will flock to such churches. 'Strange fire' does not work that way.

Some thought 'Azusa st.' revival was 'strange fire' and one newspaper sent a reporter to observe it and write a story for the people to read exposing the revival as sham... The reporter ended up proving it was not sham, was saved, and filled with the Spirit...

We need to let the real fire burn so that any who condemn the Spirit filled revival will be drawn to God, not have proof of 'strange fire'...

Simon magus was proven to be 'strange fire'... Ananias and Sapphira was proven to be strange fire.... Strange fire needs to be exposed, condemned, and then have the 'real fire' show itself to be of God...
 
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jiminpa

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So do you have examples of any contemporary preachers walking into the temple in Jerusalem and offering their own incense? Or are we taking an act that happened millennia ago, and trying to symbolize it to condemn anyone who doesn't act exactly the way we want, as if we are muslims killing all the infidels who are not of our own sect?
 
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