Whenever God creates something, the devil tries to counterfeit it for evil means. Indeed, he even twists Scripture, like when tempting Jesus in the wilderness(Matthew 4, Luke 4) The devil was created as an angel, like all the others they had untested creature holiness, meaning they hadn't yet chosen whether to accept or reject God. Then, however, the devil rebelled(Ezek.28:11-19,Isa.14:12-15),taking a third of the angels with Him.(Luke 10:18,Rev.12)
Thankfully, we still haveGod,all-powerful,all-present,all-knowing, manifesting Himself in three ways and 2/3 of the angels of Heaven on our side.
But, how do we stop the devil from drawing people away with a counterfeit, and more specifically, what counterfeit should we be watching out for?
I've shown how the whole armor of God is vital in spiritual warfare. You know the battle is intensifying. However, the battle has several facets, and one is making sure there is no counterfeit revival once the Lord sends it.(In other words, having one's loins gird about with Truth.)
God can send revival anywhere, at any time. However, there is one place in particular I will use as a case study. It will be in Los Angeles in early April, 2016. Please pray for it specifically and as a model for others, in what to do and what to be cautious of - plus, how to combat it if you see it.
After all, we want to see God heal our communities, neighborhoods, cities, and ultimately our country. That means we have to be ready for God to call us at any time, to do anything for him. We can't just put God in a box and say He has to work in this manner. However, we also must make sure that it's the Gospel being put forth, and true repentance, not just flashy things with no sign of changed hearts. Things must still line up with what Scripture says, because God's Word is Truth.(John 17:17) He can't lie, and so won't go agaisnt His Word.
How to Pray: Why Los Angeles as a Case Study?
Los Angeles is filled with an incredible array of communities. People will run into many different situations and need the Spirit's guidance as to what to say and how to present the gospel in a loving way.There will be potential dangers and obstacles. And, the devil will have the opportunity to counterfeit thins without God's hedge of protection around it. So, spiritual warfare will be intense.
In other words, it's like anywhere else, but on an immense scale. Readers in small urban areas, and even small rural areas, face a few things, but they will face bunches.
So, while people should both pray for and attempt to reach their own areas, and spread the word on doing that so others may also do so, I also ask that you please pray for God to use this for His honor and glory, and to bring healing to Los Angeles.
Big Push
Yes, revival is being attempted in Los Angeles in early April. A Christian college is going down, as a whole group, the way we should be praying over our neighborhoods and going out and reaching people with the Gospel.
This push will be of monumental proportions - a whole Christian college! But, the devil won't take this lying down,a nd will fight it tooth and nail to distract, to destroy testimonies, to do many things to thwart God.
Without prayer, the devil will either stop them, divert attention, or counterfeit things. If we let him do so, we'll be distracted from the real spiritual battle and be sunk. We don't know when the Lord will return, after all, so every battle is crucial from here on out in the Age of Grace. Anything from transportation to awful weather to violence to illness to a number of other things could keep people from going and/or being used by God once there. Rees Howells was an incredible prayer warrior and intercessor during World War Two. While a few things early in his biography are wrong doctrinally - an intercessor can't literally "take on" a person's infirmity - only Jesus Christ can do that because only He was sinless - they can merely empathize to an incredible extent. Also; there is talk of penance which is not Scriptural in the book, because Jesus paid the entire prrice for all of our sin. However, this doesn't take away from the fact he was a mighty prayer warrior who spent many hours in prayer with his team of prayer warriors before each major battle of World War Two. His biographer's mistakes were simply cases of not totally understanding the Word of God.
however, such misinterpretation can happen elsewhere, too. This is where our problem is. Because it was basically churches that already believed one had to live holy lives to be saved - rather than salvation being by grace through faith - that brought about the problems.
But, salvation is by grace through faith - it is never by works.(Eph.2:8-9) And, we can't keep ourselves saved - Jesus must do that. And, he is able to keep us from falling.(Jude 24) Nothing can seperate us from Him.(John 10:28-30,Rom.8:36-39,etc.) Each believe is sealed with the Holy Spirit.(Eph. 1:13-14) and so on.
So, since if anyone is in Christ, they are new creatures - old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new(2 Cor.5:17) - that means there is incredible potential for God to change lives.
Big Potential
There is huge potential here. In Matthew 5:16
Jesus says, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your
good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." And, there is
much light to shine in the darkness.
For instance, the racial problems in our country can end
with black and white mingling and worshiping together. This happened in
the 1906 revival.
Gangs are the family many members never knew. But, God's love can unite people into a better family of unconditional love without the violence involved with gangs otherwise.
Gangs are the family many members never knew. But, God's love can unite people into a better family of unconditional love without the violence involved with gangs otherwise.
Violence can stop in many other places, and people can begin to build others up
and help each other, without wanting to see what's in it for them. In
other words, people can put others first consistently, one sign of a
changed heart which is necessary in true repentance revival.
Many more signs of changed hearts can also come. There can
be an end to much of the sin in that area. There was a famous preacher,
Billy Sunday,
who it was joked would shut the saloons down just by his preaching. Of
course, it was really the Holy Spirit at work. People were convicted of
sin and they trusted God to change them and make them new inside and
they turned away from that sin.
As with the prayer at the end of this, here have been mentioned just a fwe of many changes which God has the potential to bring about. However, the big potential means there is also a major problem which could occur if we don't stop the devil and his wiles.
As with the prayer at the end of this, here have been mentioned just a fwe of many changes which God has the potential to bring about. However, the big potential means there is also a major problem which could occur if we don't stop the devil and his wiles.
The devil has counterfeited things of God from the start
when made Eve doubt what God had said. He lied and convinced them they
would be gods. He has tempted people to rule in very corrupt, nasty, and
cruel ways instead of the loving way God leads us. And, many other
things. The parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13 shows he'll
even convince people they can be religious and looked just like
Christians on the outside, when in fact they are not. Only someone who
has trusted Christ as Savior - meaning they have called on Him by faith to forgive them, save them from
their sins, and make them new inside - has salvation.
It is not just false Christians, however, that this is about. It
is instead about false signs and how some distract from what is true
repentance revival.
The Azusa Street Revival was a wonderful work of God begun in April, 1906. And, it is an example of how the devil can take something Godly and turn it to his own selfish advantage. Hence, it's a cautionary tale for those who pray for this revival.
The spreading of the Gospel was a wonderful thing:
1.People of all 'races" mingled together praising God, showing the truth proclaimed many times here, that there is only one race - the human race - and all are equal before God. This occurred at a times when normally such people were very separate.
2. There was repentance, tears were being shed, people were weeping and asking God for forgiveness, something noted repeatedly here as being necessary for revival; Revival isn't just a bunch of people getting saved, it begins with Christians getting their hearts right with God. As noted before, the relationship is always there, but when it is strained He can't work as He wishes.
3. Reportedly, people were speaking in the native languages of immigrants who had recently come to the area, even though those people didn't know the languages before. In the Bible, "tongues" always refers to known human language and is used to communicate the Gospel in the other person's language.
However, those who believed in holiness as being necessary for salvation, or that one could lose one's salvation, saw the devil able to twist their already erring doctrine to make it appear that one *had* to speak in tongues to be saved, when this is clearly false doctrine. Salvation is by grace through faith an taht not of ourselves, it is teh gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast.(Eph.2:8-9)
Remember the difference between the Fruits of the Spirit(Gal.5:22-23) and Spiritual gifts. Think of it this way - every healthy fruit tree bears fruit. Not every fruit tree gets the pleasure of a bird building a nest in it. That's a gift. True, everyone has some spiritual gift, but everyone is given different ones. This is why 1 Corinthians 12 talks about the body - everyone has a different gift just as the eye is not the ear, nor the hand the foot. The big toes seem much less important than the heart, yet they are essential for balance.
So, there is another error that the devil used to influence people in the wrong direction. Not only is it not essential for salvation, it wasn't even a gift given to everyone in the Book of Acts.
Another thing the devil does is that those who believe in tongues, many times, become puffed up with pride over the gift rather than focus on reaching people with the Gospel. The experience is their focus, when in fact experience and feelings should never be placed over Scripture to define one's believe. After all, while in prison John the Baptist, who earlier had said truthfully that Jesus was "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world"(John 1:29), began to doubt.
Speaking of experience, the devil counterfeited it in another way, too. He allowed people to start speaking gibberish instead of what the Bible says is tongues. And, this gibberish isn't the only thing which comes from what some people call tongues - barking, even vomit has been said to come from these things, and it is most disorderly, just like the church at Corinth was corrected for. It's clear from the Bible that vomit is not going to be a work of the Spirit - these false tongues are not part of the Spirit becasue the Bible clearly states, against, that tongues are always referred to as the Greek "glossalalia," meaning human language.
(Side note: Romans 8:26 is sometimes used to describe a "private prayer language." the word used here is not "tongues," it is groans and utterances, but first, even people who use this term generally agree it is a private thing between the believer and God since it "can't be uttered," and second and more important, this is the Greek word "stenagmos," a deep sigh, according to Strong's Concordance. So, it is not tongues and, if anything, should be called prayer.)
The problems of counterfeit tongues doesn't even get into whether tongues actually happen - as the one link showed, it's very rare if it happens. If you know of someone who - as an example few readers likely know - didn't know Danish and they suddenly walked up to someone and said "Thi således elskede Gud Verden, at han gav sin Søn den enbårne, for at hver den, som tror på ham, ikke skal fortabes, men have et evigt Liv."(John 3:16 in Danish) then that is a miracle along the lines of others which have happened. Perhaps we will all speak in tongues in Heaven - it makes sense that we'd be understanding others in our own language. For now, though, I believe tongues have ceased. If they are in existence, it is very, very rare and - as noted - always human languages. And, such miracles do not just happen for little things, but - just as in Acts - always for the spreading of the Gospel.
But, remember that the big potential for repentance revival must be our focus, and not the false doctrines. So, here is a final link to a radio show discussing what was said here on tongues in more detail, and now on to the chance that we have if we persevere, how to pray, and a long but helpful prayer like what we can pray in our own words.
So, that coutnerfeiting of tongues and other miracles is our big concern. Which is why we need you and everyone else to be mighty prayer warriors before, during, and after this revival.
Big Prayer
I've seen a church service where hundreds come forward to pray for repentance, after a bunch of things this church went through and the Spirit healing rifts, etc.. Tears are shed for repentance and crying out to the Lord, and it's real. Peoples' hearts can turn back to God, but we must pray the Lord brings true repentance revival.That is how He will change things, end oppression, and so on.
I'm going to finish by posting a *long* sample prayer. Remember, Jesus warns us never to pray in vain repetitions in Matthew 6.You'll probably say, of course, that this is too long to be repeated :-) ) However, if you choose to read and pray in your own words, you can, or you can just read it and pray as long as you're believing as you pray and not just saying words.
-------------------------
The Azusa Street Revival was a wonderful work of God begun in April, 1906. And, it is an example of how the devil can take something Godly and turn it to his own selfish advantage. Hence, it's a cautionary tale for those who pray for this revival.
The spreading of the Gospel was a wonderful thing:
1.People of all 'races" mingled together praising God, showing the truth proclaimed many times here, that there is only one race - the human race - and all are equal before God. This occurred at a times when normally such people were very separate.
2. There was repentance, tears were being shed, people were weeping and asking God for forgiveness, something noted repeatedly here as being necessary for revival; Revival isn't just a bunch of people getting saved, it begins with Christians getting their hearts right with God. As noted before, the relationship is always there, but when it is strained He can't work as He wishes.
3. Reportedly, people were speaking in the native languages of immigrants who had recently come to the area, even though those people didn't know the languages before. In the Bible, "tongues" always refers to known human language and is used to communicate the Gospel in the other person's language.
However, those who believed in holiness as being necessary for salvation, or that one could lose one's salvation, saw the devil able to twist their already erring doctrine to make it appear that one *had* to speak in tongues to be saved, when this is clearly false doctrine. Salvation is by grace through faith an taht not of ourselves, it is teh gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast.(Eph.2:8-9)
Remember the difference between the Fruits of the Spirit(Gal.5:22-23) and Spiritual gifts. Think of it this way - every healthy fruit tree bears fruit. Not every fruit tree gets the pleasure of a bird building a nest in it. That's a gift. True, everyone has some spiritual gift, but everyone is given different ones. This is why 1 Corinthians 12 talks about the body - everyone has a different gift just as the eye is not the ear, nor the hand the foot. The big toes seem much less important than the heart, yet they are essential for balance.
So, there is another error that the devil used to influence people in the wrong direction. Not only is it not essential for salvation, it wasn't even a gift given to everyone in the Book of Acts.
Another thing the devil does is that those who believe in tongues, many times, become puffed up with pride over the gift rather than focus on reaching people with the Gospel. The experience is their focus, when in fact experience and feelings should never be placed over Scripture to define one's believe. After all, while in prison John the Baptist, who earlier had said truthfully that Jesus was "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world"(John 1:29), began to doubt.
Speaking of experience, the devil counterfeited it in another way, too. He allowed people to start speaking gibberish instead of what the Bible says is tongues. And, this gibberish isn't the only thing which comes from what some people call tongues - barking, even vomit has been said to come from these things, and it is most disorderly, just like the church at Corinth was corrected for. It's clear from the Bible that vomit is not going to be a work of the Spirit - these false tongues are not part of the Spirit becasue the Bible clearly states, against, that tongues are always referred to as the Greek "glossalalia," meaning human language.
(Side note: Romans 8:26 is sometimes used to describe a "private prayer language." the word used here is not "tongues," it is groans and utterances, but first, even people who use this term generally agree it is a private thing between the believer and God since it "can't be uttered," and second and more important, this is the Greek word "stenagmos," a deep sigh, according to Strong's Concordance. So, it is not tongues and, if anything, should be called prayer.)
The problems of counterfeit tongues doesn't even get into whether tongues actually happen - as the one link showed, it's very rare if it happens. If you know of someone who - as an example few readers likely know - didn't know Danish and they suddenly walked up to someone and said "Thi således elskede Gud Verden, at han gav sin Søn den enbårne, for at hver den, som tror på ham, ikke skal fortabes, men have et evigt Liv."(John 3:16 in Danish) then that is a miracle along the lines of others which have happened. Perhaps we will all speak in tongues in Heaven - it makes sense that we'd be understanding others in our own language. For now, though, I believe tongues have ceased. If they are in existence, it is very, very rare and - as noted - always human languages. And, such miracles do not just happen for little things, but - just as in Acts - always for the spreading of the Gospel.
But, remember that the big potential for repentance revival must be our focus, and not the false doctrines. So, here is a final link to a radio show discussing what was said here on tongues in more detail, and now on to the chance that we have if we persevere, how to pray, and a long but helpful prayer like what we can pray in our own words.
So, that coutnerfeiting of tongues and other miracles is our big concern. Which is why we need you and everyone else to be mighty prayer warriors before, during, and after this revival.
Big Prayer
I've seen a church service where hundreds come forward to pray for repentance, after a bunch of things this church went through and the Spirit healing rifts, etc.. Tears are shed for repentance and crying out to the Lord, and it's real. Peoples' hearts can turn back to God, but we must pray the Lord brings true repentance revival.That is how He will change things, end oppression, and so on.
I'm going to finish by posting a *long* sample prayer. Remember, Jesus warns us never to pray in vain repetitions in Matthew 6.You'll probably say, of course, that this is too long to be repeated :-) ) However, if you choose to read and pray in your own words, you can, or you can just read it and pray as long as you're believing as you pray and not just saying words.
-------------------------
"Dear Lord
Jesus, thank you so much for your love for us. Thank you for your free gift of
salvation, that it is instantaneous the moment a person believes and calls on
you to save them from their sin. Thank you that Bethel has such a desire to see
you bring people to you in Los Angeles.
"Now,
Lord, I come to you humbly asking for your hedge of protection around the young
people going to minister there. May they do only what is Godly, and not be
drawn away by temptation. May they be true ambassadors for Christ, sharing the
Good News in a loving way and allowing people to see your awesome grace and how
it blots out so much sin in this nation's past as well as their own and the sin
of those they come in contact with .
"Lord,
please help them, as the Bible says, seek a more excellent gift, that of the
Gospel, because if we have not charity, if we have not your love for others,
then we are not going to do the job effectively that you call us to do.
"Lord,
they will come in contact with people from many backgrounds. Lord, to those who
have been abused, may they.share the wondrous Healing Touch of Your hand upon
their hearts and souls. Because healing it is not just physical, for you use me
with my handicaps to be a great inspiration to others and to do other things I
could not have done fully sighted, but healing is foremost spiritual, and
emotional, and so much is that is needed in our nation.
"Lord, to
those different faiths, please give them the wisdom to know how to explain that
wonderful relationship we can have with you, our Creator, our sustainer, the
one who came to this earth and took the punishment for our sins, the just for
the unjust, dying for me on the cross and rising from the dead. Lord, may they
be able, to express in words those people understand, the love that you have
for them. And the fact that with each religion there's something they're doing
to reach Heaven, but instead you came down to this earth and ask only that they
trust in you to save them instead of doing it their own way, which will
ultimately fail because it is the ways of man. Whereas only youcan save , for
there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved except for
that of Jesus Christ.
"Lord,
some of these people will have wrong impressions of the Bible or of
Christians. Lord, give those in this mission trip wisdom to know how to
answer each in a loving way. How to explain to Muslims that Sonship does not
mean physical relations, but instead it means that you have all the attributes
of God Lord Jesus, for you are God in flesh. They can see an example in how you
call James and John the sons of thunder because of their personalities. Like
the Arabic word ibn, and not walad, because walad means physical relations, but
ibn is that perfect likeness.
"And Lord,
for those who have negative opinions of Christians because of what so-called
Christians have done, may they explain successfully that's just because one
calls themself a Christian doesn't mean one is one, that we must be known by
our fruits. And, there are many who called themselves that over the years but
not been in Christ. For if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature, old things
are passed away, behold all things are become new.(2 Cor.5:17) Just as if I say
I'm the king of Belgium and do all sorts of stuff, that has no impact on what
the real king of Belgium is like.
"And Lord,
may they be able to share your love without any interference from the outside
world or from the devil. Lord, the devil is going to throw so many roadblocks
in their way if they are not protected, things that only serve to divert the
conversation from the gospel. Lord, please protect them from these things, and
may they share your love and free gift of salvation openly and freely. Please,
Lord, quiet the dogs, calm the crying infants, prevent the phone calls and
other things which can distract, and overall may your hedge of protection allow
each person the ability to share the gospel in a way that each person they
encounter will understand.
"And,
Lord, please use this endeavor to bring repentance revival not only to Los
Angeles, but to our nation. Lord, we don't know how much longer we have, so in
this time remaining they would be about your business. May this endeavor be one
that brings millions, literally, into churches shedding tears and crying out in
prayer to you in repentance and calling out to you for your healing touch upon
our nation. As you promise in 2nd Chronicles 7:14, and if that is just for your
people Israel, as you promised in Jeremiah 18:5-10 when you speak of the
nations meaning the heathen. And you prove that promise true in how Jonah spoke
to Nineveh and they repented.
"And,
Lord, do not allow the false tongues or false manifestations to occur, but only
allow your Holy Spirit to reign freely and overwhelm this are and the nation.
Please forbid any of the gibberish and things as disgusting as even vomit from
occurring, for while we know that when we come in contact with you we are but
flesh and we cannot stand without your help, you do give us strength to stand
when we trust in you, so let the people instead be as Isaiah, feeling undone
before a holy God in chapter 6 but not drawn away by distractions that divert
from the Gospel. May the focus be on that and true repentance, healing
spiritually and emotionally, communicating the Gospel however you mean for them
to, with whatever words you intend.
"So,
please, Lord, prevent the devil from putting anything counterfeit into this
revival. May people instead be focused on getting their hearts right with
you and going out and sharing your great salvation, not being jealous of any
particular gift and not feeling puffed up because of certain gifts, but instead
desiring to know Christ and Him crucified. May it be clear to people that you
are at work and not the people, that Jesus Christ is saving souls and healing
this land, through what you say in your Word.
"Because,
Lord, we need not just Revival but a Great Awakening of your love and the truth
of the gospel. Lord, may that Great Awakening come; may people turn back to you
by the millions - not just to be saved but truly let you work in them to make
them more Godly, loving, gentle, good, with self control and peace and
humility. And with all the other fruits of the Spirit of Galatians 5:22-23.
Cause the people to stop worship in all of their false gods and that includes
not just other religions, but the false gods of pride and power and money and
lust and so many other things we as a nation put ahead of you. Make it so that
people burn their pornography like those in Acts burnt their occultic stuff -
and cause them to burn that stuff too if they have it. Lord, cause them to end the vulgarity, the looking at people as objects, and to speak words of love and joy.
"Lord,
bring all people home to You, and May the nation turn back to you in a way that
is truly miraculous, and may the power of the media that supports such ungodly
agendas be broken, and may the powers of darkness that have hold of our
politics be broken, and may many, many people turn to you. Dear Lord, raise up
a Josiah who the people will rally to support in the 2016 election, if Lord
willing we are still here.
"Lord,
turn the hearts of the people toward the children, born and unborn, to support
them and show them Godly love, and where there are no adults who are willing,
may the young people themselves take that spiritual lead and follow you and
guide their siblings, cousins, friends, neighbors, and everyone to follow you
as well.
"Lord, may
the gangs they encounter in Los Angeles disband in the way of being mean,
embittered young people, and turn them away from the violence, infidelity, and
lust, causing them instead to become people who will show love and compassion
to others instead, being part of the family of God.
"Lord, of
course there are so many more, who will need you. I do not even begin to tell
of the addictions that some in Hollywood and elsewhere have. They need you to
cure them all, to free them and change their metabolism and their very brains
Lord, because that's what addictions do is change the brain. But you can heal
people of that, I pray that you will.
"Lord,
there are probably many other things I'm not thinking of, but these things and
all the others I do pray that you will bring this nation true repentance
revival and use this occasion to spread true repentance revival and do not let
the devil have his way in confusing things. May they go in your power, and
prepare hearts beforehand and may pockets of Revival even be breaking out
before then so that when they come things will be all ready for the Gospel to be
spread, and may you not allow anything to hinder it. And we will give you all
the honor and glory for it. In Jesus name I pra, Amen."
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