Faith Killers
When “someone” questions God they are effectively attacking Him and, this amounts to unbelief. When you have unbelief, you have doubt, you cannot operate in faith. When we blame Him for something, we often say He is not true to His Word, which amounts to calling Him a liar. And who believes a liar?
When a liar is discovered, you cannot trust them. You may come to feel that you cannot believe anything they might say. If the Almighty God were a liar, you could not believe Him and certainly would not place any faith in Him, what He says, or what His teachers (e.g. ordained Pastors and Ministers) say about Him or tell us what He has said or done. Your faith in Him would certainly become depleted to say the least.
Where there is no faith and doubt, any relationship that was formed or attempted to be formed, is usually destroyed. What a wonderful weapon to use against an enemy! Don’t you think that our enemy, Satan, who has proven himself to be our enemy, would know about this fact and would try and get us to accept it as truth? When we question God, we are actually testing our faith in Him. Didn’t Satan try this tactic with Adam and Eve? And look where that got us!
Sadly, there are also some so-called evangelists or self-professed teachers who use their personal situation to decry faith. They even make videos of themselves and post them on social media, such as YouTube. Through these videos and false accusations, they justify their ignorance and lack of godly faith by denying its existence or, at least diluting it by blaming God for its non-manifestation.
Turning to the Bible, if we look at Hebrews 1:11, we see that faith is referred to as a substance. So, would it not be logical to say that if faith can be destroyed, then that substance would also be destroyed? Or, if there is only a little faith, then only a small manifestation of it occurs?
(Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 1:11)
A Short Biography of Reinhard Bonnke – The story of a great faith-minister
Reinhard Bonnke was a German-American Pentecostal evangelist, principally known for his gospel missions throughout Africa. Bonnke had been an evangelist and missionary in Africa since 1967. He held meetings all over the world where thousands of people would attend. The reason for telling this to you is to also inform you that there were thousands of recorded instances where, when this man prayed His prayers they invariably manifested into a desired answer. People were healed or set free, demons were visibly seen to depart from people who had been suffering from their influences.
After college, Bonnke took up a pastorate in Hamburg, Germany. On the journey from the college to Germany, he had a free day and chose to spend it sight-seeing in London. He didn’t have money for a formal tour, so he decided to hop on a bus and see where it took him. Eventually, he landed at the door step of healing evangelist George Jeffreys – one of the most consequential missionaries of the previous generation. The then 21-year-old Bonnke took a chance and knocked on the door. The aged Jeffreys admitted him, laid his hands on him and blessed him.
He was also deeply influenced by a man of great faith whose prayers were answered, an individual of great faith whilst he attended College in Swansea, Wales.
Still, it was sometime before the Evangelist walked in the full realization of that call. In 1967, with two small children, the Bonnke family relocated to the tiny South African kingdom of Lesotho as missionaries. The ministry was nominally successful, and then, God gave Evangelist Bonnke a dream. In it, he saw the entire continent of Africa covered in the blood of Jesus and heard a voice declare, “Africa shall be saved!” That has been Bonnke’s battle cry ever since.
His ministry has grown through numerous iterations. Initially, they were known for gathering thousands under a huge tent. Accordingly, hundreds of millions of people from nearly every nation in Africa have heard Evangelist Bonnke’s clear, fiery presentation of the truth of God’s love displayed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
However, the crowds were drawn to much more than Bonnke’s passionate oratory. From the very beginning, the multi-day events were marked by profound miracles and incredible displays of God’s power. The dead have been raised, blind eyes opened, crippled legs made to stand and walk. Demons have been cast out, depression healed, and families restored. And his ministry has been ruthless in their verification of these claims. The numbers have been so consistent and overwhelming that even to cynics it seems more impossible for them to have been faked than for them to be real.
Just like Jesus prophesied in the book of Mark:
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:17-18)
Naturally, the phenomenal crowd sizes and undeniable flow of supernatural miracles brought a lot of attention to Evangelist Bonnke. He was regularly featured on Christian television, and spoke widely at large churches and conferences and more than 190 million copies of his 40+ books are in circulation. Many world leaders counted him as a trusted voice of counsel. There are many parts of the world where Reinhard Bonnke is a household name. Many of today’s best-known ministers point to him as a role model – both on and off stage.
Why is this being included?
It is simply to establish the credibility of Rhinehart Bonnke. (Check him out on Wikipedia)
Why? Because…………
Rhinehart Bonnke prayed for one of the so-called “truth-exposing-ministers” mentioned above! – Specifically for healing of his suffering with Multiple Sclerosis. After many years, he still has this aweful disease. He has denied the healing for whatever reason but is adament that healing is no longer for today. If this is true, why did he approach Bonnke in the first place? I believe he had, and still carries doubt.
There are over 220 scriptures in the New Testament alone that speak about faith. Many of these are examples of healing and resulting from prayers of faith or the laying on of hands in faith. The actual manifestation of the substance of Faith.
(Hebrews 11:1-3) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Referring back to the Scripture from Mark 16 (above)……
This Scripture includes a very keyword which is repeated throughout the Bible and, more specifically throughout the New Testament, it is the word “believe” or “belief”.
Again, if you do not believe in something or that which has been told to you, you cannot expect any promised manifestation, (the substance,) to materialize. Many people who are in need and who ask in prayer, do not receive the answer to their prayers because they do not believe, but merely hope for an answer. When repeated request of the same prayer only to result in the same results it tends to lead to frustration and often anger. Anger at God. Leading to a lack of faith in Him altogether – Satan’s desired result of separation.
I believe that the so-called minister referred to above did not receive his healing as a result of two things. Firstly, unbelief and therefore lack of faith in both the Word of God and the anointing of His minister (Rhinehart Bonnke). Secondly, the so-called minister may have been expecting a miracle and, when he did not receive his healing instantly, went through the process of disappointment, leading to unbelief and lack of faith, which has virtually metastasized into an entire lack of belief that healing still happens today, and that God has withdrawn His Word and His promises from mankind. This is far from the truth. Beyond this, this particular man preaches against faith in specific ministers who, in their own right have often performed catalogued miracles and where there have been witnesses to innumerable public manifestations of faith-filled prayers and also by the laying on of hands.
The Faith Killers of Unbelief and Ignorance
Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found
nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:18-22)
There are so many faith Scriptures written in the Word and this particular Scripture comes with its own witnesses recorded by the disciples themselves. It is also one of the prelude Scriptures to Jesus’ teachings on Faith. In itself there are a number of points that we will cover in another teaching but, suffice to say that this is an important one to begin your studies on Faith.
Belittling and Misrepresenting The Word of God
Unfortunately, other false teachers sometimes will deny or twist teachings about faith to “explain” why they did not receive their anticipated healing, or answer to prayer where the “fault” actually lies with themselves.
If someone initially has any kind of need and believes that they can turn to God for the answer or provision of that need, it is based on Hope and Belief. Our Lord wants us to go to Him for all our needs, all of our provisions. The Apostle John tells us: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1John 5:14-15 The Apostle Paul also tells us: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phillippians 4:19)
So we are expected to place our hope in Him because of the promises He has given to us, our belief in Him, and the manifestations of those promises which have appeared throughout time. Doubt not, because if you have doubt, you can stop those manifestations. Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:21-22)
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:23-24)
There is a partnership here between us and God and He is saying “If you will do your part, I will do mine!”
Our part is the Faith part! Faith in Him and His Word!
The Effects of False Doctrines, False Teachers, Teachings and Lies about God’s Will.
Unfortunately, there is yet another minister that we can expose as an example and, who is using their situation to teach about God and trying to explain His character, believing that it will help people. Please pay particular attention to the cause of and, to what they, and others are saying about their situation. Learning to discern falsehoods and inferred truths is where you will see the actual truth emerge and how you will not get caught up in the deceit.
This specific so-called teacher/preacher can be tagged as a Charlatan together with some of those other ministers who they are accusing of the same thing.
This type of Charlatan is the person who uses Christianity as a means of personal enrichment. Whether that be for fame and fortune or some other such self-centred/selfish basis.
Firstly let us remind ourselves of the teaching about how bank tellers are trained to recognise forgeries. They are simply trained to recognise the real thing by constantly scrutinising it. By learning to recognise the real notes, they can quickly recognise the forgery. So, by reading and studying the Word, you will get the same result. You get the truth as God has given it, not some false teacher.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.” 2nd Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)
The reason for describing the example of this minister’s teaching is to help you understand that we have no right to blame God for the “bad things happening to good people.” The minister in question is a paraplegic who dove into a shallow pool and broke their spine causing the disability. In itself, this persons’ physical life has been tragic, also having suffered cancer at least twice and, whilst surviving this, has been left with surgeries that have resulted in the further physical loss. The minister has also had double pneumonia and other attacks on them. Indeed a tragic life. But they are a fighter and to date, is still on this planet.
Throughout all of this there remains a love of God within them that we should all be proud of. However, there is a huge shortfall in their teachings that truly dilutes the teachings that are offered.
This so-called “teacher” and “evangelist”, whilst never having blamed God for their initial and ongoing situation, excuses their lack of physical healing by preaching one of those ridiculous statements and describing situations where this lack of manifesting healing is excused by trying to give God a “cop-out” by saying things like “God uses my physical pain, suffering or shortfall to teach others.”
What a load of rubbish!
By drawing attention to themselves these kinds of ministers are taking the glory away from God for themselves and praying on people’s sympathies for their gain. Be that for fame, or emotional gain or, in many cases, financial gain. This person has probably written many “best-selling” books and has collected many other accolades and they set up seminars (where gifting is encouraged) and yet falsify the truth by denying God’s Word and even the sacrifice of Jesus’ life and crucifixion.
In this case, one of the major healing Scriptures is being ignored and even denied:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1st Peter 2:24)
The key word here is “were”. Some of Jesus’ final words before He arose into heaven were “It is done!”
So much of what He did for us is contained within this statement if we choose to study it and understand what He was saying.
The stripes (scourging, scars) were the cost of the gift of our healing. This was part of the sacrifice itself but, if you do not know or believe this is so, you will never receive it. If Satan can hide this from you, he can stop you being a healthy warrior who can fight against him! This gift is given by God’s Grace and Jesus’ sacrifice, but we receive it by Faith!
If you don’t receive it, I question whether or not you can be sure of your own faith.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)
These are powerful words and ones which you must always stand on.
The Sad Thing:
The sad thing about this minister is obviously that they do not have this level of Faith and has been unable/unwilling to stand on their own faith to fulfill God’s promise of healing. And He does not go back or change His word! At worst, complete or full Scripture is not being taught or explained to them or by them. If this were done and the minister were healed, what a testimony that would be! Instead, ministers who are of the same philosophy preach against what they term Faith Ministers and even go to the extent of attacking them in so many ways.
Again, to emphasize……
Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:21-22)
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:23-24)
It is important that we understand some people do not even want to be healed or to exercise their faith. This also, is sad, but, for what ever reason, we should encourage them to exercise their faith and give them testimonial examples how it will work. One of the best ways is by giving our personal testimonies.
Conclusion
We must acknowledge and understand that there is no perfect minister, or ministry, Preacher or Teacher except the Lord God Himself. But, it is also very important that we do not criticise one another, other members of the body of Christ. Where contentions lie or accusations are made we are judging and, it is not our place to do so. Furthermore, assuming all concerned are born again believers, the result is that we are separated from one another and, what this results in is a weakening of the body. It’s not unlike there being contention within an army. It cannot prevail if the focus it’s not unified and the instructions being carried out in different ways.
There are diversities of doctrines, some being just man’s interpretation. We do not have to accept them if there is any doubt in the content. If you are uncertain, then the answer is very simple, you must develop your personal relationship with the Lord. You must allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, counsel you and, carry out the role that He was sent to complete in you. When you rely on him he truly becomes your Comforter. Remember, part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to:
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)
Further Teachings:
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