"Jesus I know... but who are you?"
Acts 19:15-16
But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
A lot has been going on within "charismatic evangelicalism" until recently with Todd Bentley. Supposedly, there was a revival in Lakeland, FL where the Holy Spirit was attributed for healing people and men were casting out demons in Jesus' name. Now, do I believe the Holy Spirit heals people of disease and illness? Absolutely. God is sovereign and does as he pleases. And can/does the Holy Spirit work through men to cast demons out of others? ... I refuse to limit God's ability to do such a miraculous act. Whether or not it actually happens in 21st century ... that is another story. Still, God can do this sort of stuff if he pleases and wills it. However, I think it is clear that Bentley's violent ministry... involving kicking people in the face... leg-dropping people... kneeing men who have stomach cancer ... and baptizing people in the name of the BAM!... this is NOT of God. The fruit of the spirit include kindness, gentleness, and self-control. That fruit is not there in Bentley's ministry.
So what is going on? And for that matter, what happens at other crusades where this kind of "move of the Spirit" is found, ie: Benny Hinn? Mass hypnosis? Quite possibly. I have heard reports from a former pastor who used to be in deep in this healing crusade trend, and he recognized what he was doing was truly unbiblical. Knocking people over? Hitting them with coats and causing them to "fall out"? This is quite unbiblical.
So while those may also be, largely, mass hypnosis, I am convinced this is a VERY dangerous game that Bentley and his buddies are playing. It is easy to say "I do this in the name of Jesus (or rather JEEESUSSS!)!" But to just carelessly invoke Jesus' name in something of which Jesus is not a part of? Very dangerous and possibly blasphemous. Actually, no. It is blasphemous. And it is not without consequences. I do not know if someone who does this, trying to cast a demon out of someone who ispossessed, will necessarily then become possessed himself. However, it is not unheard of to God remove the common grace on a person and for this to occur. Just read Acts 19:11-20. Some tried to just add Jesus' name to their pagan-style magic to cast out spirits. Instead of performing a miraculous act, the magicians themselves became possessed.
Again, whether or not this WILL happen today is besides the matter. What is the issue is this: God's name is holy and unique. Do not use it casually to seem appealing to others or because you think it has some sort of power for those who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus' name is not a magic charm. It is holy.
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But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
A lot has been going on within "charismatic evangelicalism" until recently with Todd Bentley. Supposedly, there was a revival in Lakeland, FL where the Holy Spirit was attributed for healing people and men were casting out demons in Jesus' name. Now, do I believe the Holy Spirit heals people of disease and illness? Absolutely. God is sovereign and does as he pleases. And can/does the Holy Spirit work through men to cast demons out of others? ... I refuse to limit God's ability to do such a miraculous act. Whether or not it actually happens in 21st century ... that is another story. Still, God can do this sort of stuff if he pleases and wills it. However, I think it is clear that Bentley's violent ministry... involving kicking people in the face... leg-dropping people... kneeing men who have stomach cancer ... and baptizing people in the name of the BAM!... this is NOT of God. The fruit of the spirit include kindness, gentleness, and self-control. That fruit is not there in Bentley's ministry.
So what is going on? And for that matter, what happens at other crusades where this kind of "move of the Spirit" is found, ie: Benny Hinn? Mass hypnosis? Quite possibly. I have heard reports from a former pastor who used to be in deep in this healing crusade trend, and he recognized what he was doing was truly unbiblical. Knocking people over? Hitting them with coats and causing them to "fall out"? This is quite unbiblical.
So while those may also be, largely, mass hypnosis, I am convinced this is a VERY dangerous game that Bentley and his buddies are playing. It is easy to say "I do this in the name of Jesus (or rather JEEESUSSS!)!" But to just carelessly invoke Jesus' name in something of which Jesus is not a part of? Very dangerous and possibly blasphemous. Actually, no. It is blasphemous. And it is not without consequences. I do not know if someone who does this, trying to cast a demon out of someone who ispossessed, will necessarily then become possessed himself. However, it is not unheard of to God remove the common grace on a person and for this to occur. Just read Acts 19:11-20. Some tried to just add Jesus' name to their pagan-style magic to cast out spirits. Instead of performing a miraculous act, the magicians themselves became possessed.
Again, whether or not this WILL happen today is besides the matter. What is the issue is this: God's name is holy and unique. Do not use it casually to seem appealing to others or because you think it has some sort of power for those who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus' name is not a magic charm. It is holy.
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