A Warning to Many in this Hour

A long post, so grab a coffee first 😃….

I think most people agree that we are about to be plunged, no other word for it, plunged into revival!

The Church will then find itself in a bit of a quandary. If they aren’t serious about The Kingdom first, then they’ll welcome three major things

• bums on seats (growth),
• tithes and offerings (income) and,
• greater social coverage.

If they are serious about The Kingdom, then they’ll have a bit of a problem — a welcome problem — but a problem nonetheless!

Look at The Great Commission.

Matthew puts it this way –

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of The Father and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19.

Mark puts it in an amplified way –

“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:17-18.

Let’s just have a peep at what is implied by this Great Commission.

“They will cast out demons…”

The main trouble is today, that the vast majority of Churches — even Pentecostal — want nothing to do with deliverance ministry! Many don’t even believe in it!

“They will speak with new tongues…”

Baptism in The Holy Spirit is about the only thing ‘commonly’ found in Churches, but even then, taking the whole spectrum of ‘Church’ across all denominations, perhaps it’s not that common.

Remembering that there are denominations who still regard tongues as either demonic, or having passed away with the early Church (cessationists), the numbers of those baptised in The Holy Spirit are still relatively few.

Also, there are many denominations who never think, or teach about, The Gifts of The Holy Spirit, let alone encourage the practice of them. They are reduced to words on a page of The Bible that is somehow avoided and omitted by their ‘theology and statement of faith’!

“They will take up serpents…”

This has been practiced in various places mainly in the USA, but is banned by many now for obvious safety reasons.

The justification was Acts 28:1-6 where Paul suffered a poisonous snake bite while in Malta and survived. However, Matthew 4:7 applies here too in that we are not to test God in anything — other than in tithing, Malachi 3:10.

“If they drink anything deadly, It will by no means hurt them…”

I’m not aware of any Church that deliberately tests God to this degree, in fact Matthew 4:7 explicitly warns against such a test.

“They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover…”

While many Churches speak about healing, most wait for a ‘healing evangelist’, or similar, to conduct specific healing services in their Church.

Very few allow a Healing Ministry in The Church at all, let alone anything more than a ‘Bi-annual Meeting’, and then not usually the Sunday morning focus!

So that, for the most part, is the sad and sorry position of so much of the Christian Church today, but when revival comes around, the Great Commission is going to be greatly needed.

In order for The Church to fulfill The Great Commission in times of Revival, they are going to have to prepare themselves and their people in four specific areas.

Teaching about Healing, introducing protocols and activating the Gift in new believers.

Healing and Deliverance

My wife and I have run day-courses teaching on Healing, and we’ve had to include Deliverance, because someone usually manifests while we’re talking about healing.

“They will lay hands on the sick…”

The laying on of hands in healing can be a very delicate subject. The basic rule of ministry to remember is that men minister hands on healing to men, and women minister hands on healing to women.

Where it is unavoidable to minister to the opposite sex, we need to ensure that others are present to witness, and also, that some of those others are the same sex as the person receiving ministry, so they can lay hands on first, or on behalf of the one ministering.

Teaching about Deliverance

Teaching about Deliverance, introducing protocols and activating the Gift in new believers. A difficult subject, as many Churches still adhere to the belief that as soon as a person is born again, they can never have a demon or even be influenced by a demon.

A friend of ours tells an amusing tale about going to a Church that believed this way. As soon as the subject of demons was raised, half the meeting started to manifest — including Deacons and one of the Leaders.

It was all quickly sorted out. But again there is a basic rule of Deliverance Ministry — never one on one, always a two or three person team, and again, of mixed sexes.

It also helps to have a strong man or two around if certain demons manifest and the one being ministered to either throws themselves around in such a way as to hurt themselves or the ministry team!

Teaching about the Baptism in The Holy Spirit

Teaching about the Baptism in The Holy Spirit, introducing protocols and activating the gift in new believers.

Many Churches talk about The Holy Spirit as a distant relative in the Trinity. Others talk about Him, but totally deny His gifts and Baptism.

Many talk much about the Gifts, especially Tongues, but omit any kind of teaching.

Finally there’s a group who talk nonchalantly about ‘anyone who wants to be baptised and speak in tongues’, again, without any kind of teaching!

Whilst it is always good to have teaching on this in a service, small groups, or one on one is okay too — with the same sex caviat too!

Evangelism

Teaching about Evangelism, introducing protocols and activating the gift in new believers. Now this really can be taught on the go, in the street, but only if The Church practices outreach.

It is probably better to have some training, or at least tips and guidance — even a script — by an experienced Evangelist first.

But that’s not totally essential. I expect a few will disagree with me here, but that’s my experience!

And then we need to add to the list of things not taught, but desperately needed in Church.

Teaching about Prophecy

On teaching about Prophecy, once more there are protocols to be taught, followed by activating the gift in new believers.

This is probably much better done in small groups, or even one on one.

There is a difference between prophesying and walking in The Office of a Prophet. Personally, I sat under an attested prophet and mentor for over 12 years before The LORD allowed me to use the gifting publicly.

All can prophesy, but whilst learning, it is probably best to take the initial steps under the watchful eye of a more seasoned prophet.

Small group training can also be great fun as well as it allows shyer folk to practice without the threat of damaging criticism or worse, mockery.

Tithing

Tithing — Ah, a fascinating study is tithing. Here we see the great gulf in the national characteristics between USA and Britain.

In America, giving is a way of life, while in Britain it’s mostly an obligation to be fulfilled as quickly and as cheaply as possible!

In America, most services that I’ve seen have a specific tithing and giving sermon which can last some twenty minutes, or even longer, during which the congregation is exhorted to ‘give bountifully’.

In Britain, however, ‘the offering’ is a very muted affair — almost an embarrassment! The vast majority of pastors rarely, if ever, preach tithing, because of the flack they get from members.

It’s almost legendary, the paucity of giving in the UK! We really must teach it and preach it much, much more!

These basics, on top of the usual First Steps (what we believe and why we believe it) Training — this is how, in a reasonable Church model, we develop disciples!

There’s probably much more than these, but if we want to produce disciples who make disciples, then we have to consider all these things.

So, when was the last time that Healing, Deliverance, Baptism in The Holy Spirit, or even Prophecy was taught or preached in your Church?

If it’s anything like the real Gospel message, the answer could well be, “Rarely, if ever!”

It really is time to get back to the biblically ordained business of making disciples who, in turn, will make disciples!

“Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. And the natives[a] showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.” Acts 28:1-6.

“Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt The LORD your God.’“ Matthew 4:7.

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says The LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it”” Malachi 3:10.

 

~ Chris G. Bennett

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Chris Bennett came to salvation in 1962 but didn’t begin ministry until 2007 — a late-comer! Now mandated by The LORD to prophesy and open old wells of revival in the U.K., but especially in Wales. He has also operated Healing Rooms, and worked with deliverance teams, all with his wife, Linda. Happily now doing whatever The LORD asks of them! Founder, with wife Linda, of their ministry The Upper Room Encounter.

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