Someone left a rather odd comment on a post I have examining the strange works of Todd Bentley (Todd Bentley Imparts Anti-Christ Spirit). This person simply posted a verse, 1 John 4:1-21 John 4:1-2
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
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1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
WP-Bible plugin, which is about testing every spirit. Verse 2 says: “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;”
Based on what I saw on this commentator’s site, [UPDATE (7/26/08) I removed the link to the site. I don't promote demonology] he is an advocate of Todd Bentley and his strange works. This Holy Bible passage, he assumes, is supposed to clear Bentley of any wrongdoing (i.e., behaving contrary to the Holy Spirit of GOD) — who we are to assume has never denied Jesus is Christ and King… so that’s supposed to mean he’s a sheep and not a goat…or a charlatan.
First off, I do not know if this brother (assuming the commentator is only misguided / ignorant and not willfully neglecting the voice of GOD) has any evidence of Todd Bentley confessing that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. Not that such evidence would bare much weight by itself considering all the abundance of documentation showing quite clearly and plainly that Todd Bentley is not working in the light of Jesus Christ, but in the darkness of Satan.
That being said, I am not going to scour this commentator’s site to look for any such ‘evidence’. I have seen quite enough documentation proving by which spirit Todd Bentley works — and it is not of the Holy Spirit.
But to tackle this presupposition — that a spirit / person confessing with their mouth that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh proves by this confession that they are ‘of GOD.’
I would like to remind everyone that Satan knows the Holy Scriptures of GOD (Matthew 4, Mark 1, Luke 4), can turn himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11) and was once a resident of heaven (is the LORD GOD not the CREATOR of all and everything?) (Revelation 12). Also, in the Gospels of the New Testament, we read that the demons Jesus Christ cast out of those who were possessed confessed him loudly and plainly as the Son of the Living GOD.
Matthew 8:28-34Matthew 8:28-34
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
WP-Bible plugin (also Mark 5)
28 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.
29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
30 Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding.
31 So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”
32 And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.
33 Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.
34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.
Luke 4:31-37Luke 4:31-37
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. Let...: or, Away
35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.
WP-Bible plugin
31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths.
32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.
33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice,
34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are-the Holy One of God!”
35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.
36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”
37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
38 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her.
39 So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.
40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.
41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.
And here are some other reminders from our LORD and SAVIOR concerning unclean / demonic spirits:
James 2: 19James 2: 19
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
WP-Bible plugin You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble!
Revelation 16:13Revelation 16:13
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
WP-Bible plugin And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
These excerpts are by no means definitive (as I haven’t even mentioned any Old Testament passages). I share these Holy Bible passages because the commentator appears to believe that 1 John 4:1-21 John 4:1-2
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
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1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
WP-Bible plugin is all one needs to know in order to discern the Truth, and since only the LORD speaks Truth:
1. Demons know (recognize) the One True GOD and those who are of GOD, and can declare that Jesus is the Christ, the Holy One of GOD;
2. Demons / evil spirits can perform signs and wonders, as Satan can also turn himself into an angel of light.
Just because someone says Jesus Christ is the Only Son of GOD or does elaborate signs and wonders THAT DOES NOT MEAN that they themselves are of GOD ALMIGHTY or walk with Jesus Christ.
Also remember, that Satan and his demons and disciples attend churches — because that’s where the children of the LORD gather to fellowship. Satan’s only aim is to keep us away from Salvation, Eternal Life, so of course churches are his favorite places. I must also make it very clear that Satan is powerless before the LORD and before HIS children who stand by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Think clearly about among what kind of congregation he makes himself at home.
It is disappointing that out of everything the Holy Spirit has given us for spiritual discernment that someone would choose this Holy Bible passage alone. Especially considering that in this very same book of 1 John, the writer makes mention of other related attributes by which to identify brothers and sisters in Christ.
For example in 1 John, we read:
1 John 1: 51 John 1: 5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
WP-Bible plugin This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 2: 31 John 2: 3
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
WP-Bible plugin Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Brothers and sisters, to those of you whom persist in denying that Todd Bentley and those like him are working through Satan, don’t believe you are wrong just because someone says you are wrong. Rather, believe that you are deceived by Satan through Todd Bentley because the Holy Bible, the Holy Scriptures of the LIVING GOD, explains in full detail what the fruits / works of one through whom the Holy Spirit is working are supposed to be.
To survive this spiritually wicked landscape (and be able to stand when Jesus Christ returns), one must look at the whole picture and ask the Holy Spirit to put everything in full context for us — when it comes to the Father and when it comes to the wicked one, the Devil.
For those of you still insisting that Todd Bentley and his ilk are servants of the LIVING GOD, have you asked the Holy Spirit to show you the truth? If the LORD wills to hear you, HE will answer you. But you can’t decide these things by the flesh — especially when you’re young in the faith (although the indwelling Holy Spirit should always be the head, no matter how young or mature one is in the faith).
You must also be obedient when the Holy Spirit reveals these things to you — you must flee and repent. You can’t make excuses for the ‘uncomfortable’ or ‘unusual’ things about Bentley and the sons of Satan like him.
I remember years ago that a work friend of mine went to a Church that believed that you were saved only if you spoke in tongues !
He wanted me to prove that Jesus was my Lord and saviour by saying that very verse you mentioned at the beginning of this post, but in tongues!
That’s awfully strange. — In tongues…. wow. You know, demons could do that too. I went visited a church once and during the praise and worship segment, the person leading suddenly said at the end of a song, “OK, everybody sing it in tongues.” My mother and I looked at teach other, like, what?!
Some people really don’t know what they’re doing and attempting to live a spiritual life without the ONE who makes it possible, the Holy Spirit.
This makes me think of a passage in the Holy Bible in which Paul writes to the Colossians…
Colossians 2:11-23
11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—
21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”
22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
The flesh speaking in tongues…and telling others to do the same? A spirit of false humility on the part of those intruding into the things they don’t even understand… that’s how I see this, anyway.
What happened with the gentleman who asked you to say Jesus was your LORD and SAVIOR — did you school him?
Vee, you’re not alone and that’s not the only church.
We have churches here that teach that too and it’s disturbing. I came out from one such church when I was in college disillusioned and doubting my salvation. It does A LOT of harm!