I rose from the dead and other stories

Two ladies I happen to mentor called me on the phone to inquire about the authenticity of two messages they recently listened to on tape. It was about   some individuals who claim they had died and had had divine encounters of heaven and hell and Jesus delivering special messages to them for the church.

Well, I am not a stranger to such accounts as I have read a few books on similar claims and have even listened live and first hand to at least three that brought powerful revival to my spiritual life. But there was something strange about these two.

Both claim that Christ had told them among other things, to inform Christian ladies that all wearing of jewellery and trousers would lead them to hell. Also they spent good time mentioning the names of God’s servants who were on their way to hell or where already in hell. One of my mentees had already runoff with the whole thing by getting rid of all her jewellery and had loosened her well-made hair to the annoyance of her hubby. The other one was on the verge of doing the same. After a whole lot of talking, preaching and teaching I finally got their eyes open to the truth.

My eyes also opened to the truth that I had a lot more work to do on them than I previously thought.

So for some time I wondered, when did God start breaking his own principles and the Bible suddenly become so obsolete that Christians would run off with a message as extreme and as impeaching as these two without making effort to find out what the scripture says concerning their dogma. Then I suddenly remembered the words

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2Ti 4:3- 4  

 The penalty for ignorance and running after the arcane in these last days is imprisonment by the spirit of deception, God through the scriptures declares in Isa 5:13 - 14 that,

‘… my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

 The problem however is, the deceived has no idea he is being deceived but goes about deceiving others’ 2 Tim 3: 13

I wish to make a few humble submissions to remind us again, in case we have forgotten that the word of God is the supreme guide for the believer and its truth all we need to practise to make the rapture or heaven as the case may be.

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned

and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures,

which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through

 faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 timothy 3: 13-17

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

  For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2Pe 1:16 -21

Point 1: TO WEAR OR NOT TO WEAR

If what we wear or don’t wear is of such great importance to our eternal destiny why didn’t the Lord mention it even once in the four gospels? Shouldn’t it be a basic doctrine of the body of Christ the same way say holiness is demanded from every believer?

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Heb 6:1 -2

The issue of jewellery and dress code is only mentioned perfunctorily in 1 Tim 2: 9-10 and 1 Peter 3:3-4 with Paul and Peter requesting that we pay more attention in developing the beauty of the inward man and advocating modesty and sobriety for the Christian women in their use of  jewellery and clothes.

And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. 1Cor 7:31 

Also when did outward works become a major for us who are in the New Testament isn’t that why God abolished the old ordinances.

When I asked my mentee who threw away her gold why she didn’t sell it and give the money to the church or at least use to bless the poor, she said that the speaker in one of the tapes said doing this will still constitute a sin. I wondered about that too. Wasn’t the Ark of the Covenant and other items used in the temple created out of the gold, silver, precious stones and brass jewellery they collected from the Egyptians. Please read the book of Exodus. This is just one of their exhibitions of gross misunderstanding of the scriptures.

God is not confused and he is not the author of confusion, but these two individuals who claim God spoke directly to them are trying to create the impression that He is by the discrepancies between their utterances and the scriptures.

They are trying to negate the very essence of the relationship we have with God which is based on love. A love that is so great that it will keep those who submit to it from eternal damnation

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 1Th_5:9 

POINT 2: SOLE CUSTODIANS OF THE TRUTH?

Another element of these two messages was the gross disrespect shown to Men of God, both living and dead. Why are they bent on discrediting entire ministries and men whom God have obviously been using to further the cause of His kingdom? Even if indeed God did give them a message for these men, how come they were not courteous enough to deliver this message personally to them? Is this the way the system works? Didn’t Christ give us a formal way to settle our issues in the kingdom?

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Mat 18:15 -17

Where did Jesus advise us to air our dirty linen in public? And then oddly, they inform us in the same breathe that they alone or their affiliate ministries are preaching and doing the word of God. Something smells fishy here and believe me, it’s not the smell of a tilapia. O! How the world, our potential harvest, must distrust us if even our best cannot be spoken for.

POINT 3: THE TRAP IN THIS LINE OF THINKING.

The person who really is in danger of hell is the one who believes that concentrating on the outward man is what justifies us before God.

Another danger is that the person who runs off with these beliefs is bound to fall into the sin of rebellion against the authority of the church because they believe all who don’t agree with them are in error.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 1Sam15:23 

For want of time and space, I can’t delve into all the issues raised. I trust with these few  points you will have a re-think. The devil aint as dumb as we think he is. For every original God brings be aware that the devil will start minting his counterfeits.

TIPS ON HOW NOT TO FALL INTO ERROR.

1.      Never exalt any revelation, vision, or prophecy above the word of God

Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:7-8 

2.       Have a helicopter view or better, a satellite view of the scripture. Meaning, have a complete and balanced view of the word. This can only be achieved through careful studying of the entire scriptures and also making yourself available for trainings . Don’t use scripture out of context and watch out and stay away from people who do so.

3.       Watch out for half-truths. They are more dangerous than a complete lie.

4.       One sign of the spirit of error is anyone who exalts his ministry or church above the entire body of Christ. This is the first sign in recognising a cult.

5.       What spirit does a message come with? Does it build only fear and distrust for God.

Does it make you fall into the error of complacency in thinking you have it all figured out?

6.       Does it completely destroy your assurance of salvation and make you feel you’re always standing on hot coals in your relationship with God.

7.       Is the message breaking major truths and principles in order to establish minor ones? Be wary of people who build their Christianity on a minute tenet in the scripture while flagrantly breaking the very important ones.

8.       Always ask yourself, how does this benefit the body of Christ or advance the Kingdom? Let’s move up to higher things and stop running around stuff that can only distract us. While we are busy arguing over things that are of no consequence the enemy is advancing.

9.       Stay under covering in your family umbrella. Your pastor is your covering and for a good reason -he knows better. So make no major decisions without consulting him.

 ©Victoria Ijeoma Agomuo