Will The Real Jesus Stand Up
For some time now I have been reading very disturbing things, by way of magazines, via television programs [so called Christian], also via the internet. Even here in my own country of South Africa, I watched a program recently of one of our more known ministers that operates under the guise of Prophet. [I will expound a bit later concerning this program]
I feel the intensity in my spirit, as I call out to the Lord concerning these disturbing issues, which I will deal with in today’s message. I believe the Lord will have me speak out on this. But lets first pray and ask God through the Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and to help me speak the ‘truth and nothing but the truth.’
“Father I come to you in the name of Jesus. As you have said in your Word that the Spirit will come upon us as Comforter, Helper, Advocate, Teacher and Strengthener. Lord You promise in your Word that the Holy Spirit will give us the boldness to speak against that which is not truth. I pray that you will help me to speak only that which your Word teaches us. Anoint me Lord, as I also ask that those and them who will read these words, will be warned of judgment to come upon them who disobey and pervert the Word of Almighty God, twisting it to soothe the itching ears of those whom they mislead. Father cover me with the Precious Blood of your son Jesus, as I ask this all in His Name.
Kenneth Copeland teaches his followers that ‘the Blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary, did not suffice as an atonement for man’s sin. Mister Copeland is saying that what Jesus did on the Cross was not enough to redeem mankind back to God. The Catholic Church teaches that Mary [the vessel that brought Jesus into the world] is co-Redeemer with Jesus Christ. Let me say this quickly! If Mary is co-Redeemer of mankind; why did Mary find it necessary to cry out as stated in Luke 1v46+47? My soul doth magnify the Lord [v46], my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior [v47]. Mary is here magnifying the Lord of all creation, whilst the Catholic Church erroneously magnifies her.
It is clear that Mary [despite her birthing baby Jesus], admits her need of a Savior, as her spirit cries out to God her Savior to be saved. This confession by Mary totally disproves the theory of ‘Immaculate Conception’ as taught by the Catholic Church. The bottom line of this claim by Mister Copeland is a direct attack on the finished work of Christ on Calvary’s Cross. The Apostle Paul emphatically declares in Romans 3v23, ‘For all have sinned [including Mary] and come short of the Glory of God [even the most righteous among us]. We are justified by His grace [made possible by the cross], through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus [carried out on the Cross]. Can you see that Paul only states, ‘in Christ Jesus.’ If Mary is co-Redeemer why does she not receive any mention in these verses [or in the entire New Testament for that matter]. The point of the matter, is that what is being taught by the Catholic Church is nothing but lies [coming from the pit of hell], to keep their followers in bondage.
Another error that is taught by the likes of Copeland, as well as Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Hagin and others is the false doctrine of ‘Jesus died spiritually.’ They teach their followers that Jesus became sin, unregenerate, and suffered at the hands of Satan and his demons in hell for three days, to complete the salvation process [plan] of Almighty God.
Firstly saints, Jesus did not become sin [or take on the sin nature], when He hung on the cross, but He became a ‘Sin Offering’ on the Cross. In Exodus 29v36 God says to Moses, You shall offer every day a bull [bullock] as a sin offering, for the nation of Israel, for the forgiveness of their sins. The shedding of innocent animals blood was only a temporary measurement, for the atonement of the sins of the Israelites. But Praise God, Jesus became the Sin-Offering, as Paul states so clearly in 2Cor 5v2: ‘For God hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin [Jesus was and is the spotless Lamb of God]; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him [Jesus]. Jesus did not become sin [because he was without sin], but rather became the ‘Sin Offering’ for us.
Hebrews 9v14 [Amplified Bible] says, ‘How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, who by virtue of His eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever Living God. [Hebrews 7v12-17; 26,28 and Ephesians 5v2 is confirmation that Jesus alone is the spotless sacrifice and offering for our sin] John 1v29 says, ‘and John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus Christ became our substitute, and bore the penalty for our sins. The Bible is emphatic, even dogmatic that Jesus was put to death [in the flesh]. Nowhere are we told He died spiritually. It would be blasphemy to even suggest that He did.
Joyce Meyer says this, ‘because it does not say so in the Bible, does not mean it did not happen.’ [speaking of Jesus dying spiritually]. Yet in 1Peter 3v18 [Amplified Bible] we read, ‘for Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once for all [the righteous for the unrighteous; the just for the unjust; the innocent for the guilty], that He might bring us back to God. In His human body [flesh] He was put to death [physical death], but was made alive in the spirit. Can you see folks, that Jesus died a physical and not a spiritual death.
To add a little more strength to my argument against these ridiculous, foolhardy, blasphemous teachings, lets hear from the worlds Redeemer Himself. John 19v28 reads, ‘and Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished [speaking of that which his Father sent him to do], after receiving the sour wine [vinegar] cried out, “It is finished” and gave up the ghost [v30] [His spirit he placed in the care of his Father]. My friend, those word echo out down the ages as a victory shout. Jesus is in effect saying; ‘I have paid the penalty for sin of all mankind, and met the requirements for the atonement of the sins of the world’. You see it states in Hebrews 10v4, ‘the blood of bulls and goats are powerless to take away the sins of men’, therefore it was necessary for Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God to offer Himself as a sweet sacrifice to God on our behalf [Ephesians 5v2].
1Peter 1v18+19 declares that, ‘we were redeemed [set free] not with corruptible things such as silver and gold, but with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Church of the Living God, what more do you need as proof that Jesus Christ paid the penalty of sin for the whole wide world in full, and there is nothing more that can be added to this sacrifice.
I’m sure that most of you watched ‘Larry King Live’ recently when he interviewed Joel Osteen. Larry King asked this so called minister of the gospel, if he [Osteen] called people who commit sin, ‘sinners’, Joel Osteen answered with a terse ‘I don’t’. I’m sure this answer by Joel Osteen, had the devil and his demons laughing their devilish heads off. Folks, can you see the hand of ‘Mystery Babylon’, as these so called preachers pervert the Word of Almighty God by changing or taking away or adding scripture to soothe those itching ears. The Apostle Paul states emphatically in Romans 3v23, ‘for all have sinned [presents all of mankind as sinners], and come short of the Glory of God [infers that even the most righteous among us continue to come short of God’s Glory]. Let me quote Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart here; ‘the power of sin is so great, that no individual [believer and unbeliever] on earth can overcome this monster called sin within his or her own strength and ability. It simply cannot be done. In fact sin is so bad [powerful], that Jesus the Son of God had to go to the Cross to answer this dilemma’.
God Almighty deals extensively in the Old and New Testament, concerning this issue of mans sin [Especially the Book of Romans].
If God calls a man and woman a sinner, who is Joel Osteen to say ‘I don’t; other than that he is an enemy of the Cross of Jesus Christ.
Benny Hinn told a damnable lie when he proclaimed at Pope John Paul’s funeral when he said over world wide television, that the Pope had led millions to Christ. Which Christ is Benny Hinn talking of? Definitely not the Christ of Calvary, who shed His Precious Blood for all mankind; by whom and through whom only we will receive forgiveness and entrance into God’s Heaven.
The Word of God teaches us in 2Thess 2v3 [Amplified], ‘Let no man deceive you or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness [sin] is revealed [speaking of the Antichrist], who is the son of doom [of perdition], ‘who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and above all that is called God or that is worshiped [v4]; 1Timothy 4v1 says, ‘but the Holy Spirit, distinctly and expressly declares that in the latter times [ speaking of before the Rapture of the Church], some will turn away from the faith [Paul is speaking about Christians who will no longer accept the cross as their only means of salvation], giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits [religious spirits [evil spirits] making something seem like what it is not. And doctrines that demons teach.[these so called ministers are influenced by these demons].
These seducing spirits will entice Believers from the true Faith; causing them to believe lies that sound like they are right. In other words these ‘ministers of the apostasy’ will have the ability [that is demonic] to seduce and deceive and mislead if possible the elect [God’s chosen ones]. Beloved of our Father listen to me today!! If God is warning us in His Word about these false teachers and preachers, shouldn't we be warning the church world [Church of Jesus Christ], to be anchored in that ‘Solid Rock’. If your church is not preaching and teaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified, buried, and resurrected on the third day from the dead [grave], and Him as the only means [by way of the cross] of entering into God’s Heaven, then run from that church as fast as you can, and find a church that does all the above. AMEN!!!
Elvis Presley belts out that famous song of his Glory…Glory…Hallelujah…on the big screen in the auditorium before the evening service begins. While Elvis is singing the audience sits or stands; some with their hands lifted toward heaven in prayerful worship. The evening service begins, and the musicians [who looks like a rock band], start playing and the audience start’s singing and worshiping. The atmosphere is electric with anticipation, most likely for the main part of the service [the healing part]. Eventually the Pastor ministers the Word of God, then it is time for ‘praying for the sick’. Although several healings take place, with people who came in with crutches and walking sticks, and some in wheel-chairs. A lot of the crutches and walking sticks are taken away and hung up against the wall with several hundred others, as evidence of healings that have occurred in the past. One man is laying on the floor with several others; the ‘stench of death’ hanging over him [according to the Pastor], cotton-wool stuck up his nostrils to soak up the fluids running out of his body. The Pastor lays hands on this man and prays God’s healing touch over him.
They show another video-clip of several days later, with the man testifying that he has been healed. Because I saw this on film, I cannot but give God the praise for that…Hallelujah!!
But sadly, a young lady was prayed for whose one leg was shorter than the other due to a broken hip. On camera you could see the leg grow. But the young lady was interviewed several days later, and this is what she said. ‘After the service I went home and when I got into bed I was in excruciating pain, and still am until today.
Even sadder was a young man in a wheel chair, paralyzed from the waist down, due to a car accident. When prayed for nothing happened as far as healing was concerned. The young man was interviewed several days later, and had this to say.
‘A lot of people’s sicknesses are in their heads [minds], and believe in their minds that if this pastor prays for them they will be healed. Unfortunately my sickness is not in my head, but in the lower part of my body.
The question one can ask here [respectfully and with reverence]. Does God heal only certain people and not other’s? [On this same program] during the meeting the offering was taken, and with a lot of high-swept emotions, people came and threw their money on the floor in front of the alter, where thousands of rands [South African currency] was raked up by the ushers.
In one of our countries leading magazines there is an article coupled to this program. The ministry spoken of here is called Spirit Word Ministries. This organization is situated in a small mining town called Stilfontein.
Several months ago six thousand-five hundred people lost their jobs, because the mines were shut down. Spirit Word Ministries is flourishing, despite so many people having lost their jobs. The Pastor say’s in a recent service they took an offering, the equivalent of one hundred thousand dollars.
It costs the ministry the equivalent of sixty five thousand dollars per month to keep it operating on television via satellite. Yet the Pastor says he does not believe food or money is the answer to this town’s problems. His opinion is, ‘Give them food and by next year they will all go to hell; give them Jesus, and they will all have life.
Yet the Pastor drives a new Mercedes Benz 500, wears a thick solid gold chain with a cross on it around his neck. He wears a gold armband on his wrist, and lives in a luxury home. This same Pastor proclaims that people have the wrong perception about Christians. He believes that God blesses His children spiritually, physically and financially.
Folk’s, while I certainly believe that the Lord blesses His servants on all the above; I want to say the following. To the folks that flock to these miracle-services, and throw their money into the coffers of these organizations: Have you noticed that it is the Pastor who drives the big flashy cars and not you; have you noticed it is the Pastor who wears the gold chains and not you; have you noticed it is the Pastor wearing the expensive suits and not you; have you noticed it is the Pastor who lives in the luxury home and not you; have you noticed it is the Pastor who goes on overseas holidays and not you.
In closing the message with this cry in my soul, ‘Will the real Jesus please stand?
Beloved of the Lord, please be careful, of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves [Matthew 7v15].
God bless you in your search for truth. Let me encourage you to click onto http//:www.fmh-child.org/TheWord.html.
William Cook
