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ziggaruts, meditation techniques, Masonic degrees, gurus, Christian Scientists, Mormons, New Agers, Yogis and other world religions testify to, that somehow or other "man can ascend up to God's level and be like God." This principle of the ascent of the creature is at the heart of all false religion including the occult, for all time and in every culture. It is the Mystery of Iniquity.
The Mystery of Godliness however, is the opposite of the Mystery of Iniquity. If Iniquity says, "Man can ascend and be like the Most High," Godliness says, "God must descend and become a man" in order to save us who are desperately lost, and unable to save ourselves. This is the spirituality that originates from Heaven and which requires an incarnation, "God was manifest in the Flesh." There can be no compromise, nor mixing of these two religions. The scriptures warn us that the two would exist together, mature and come to their fullest expression in the last days before the bodily return of Jesus Christ. The spirituality of iniquity, whose motto could be "Let us (creatures) ascend" or the spirituality which produces godliness which would have the opposite motto, "He (God) must descend to us."
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. John 3:13
In the light of these two simple definitions of the two mysteries, godliness and iniquity, we can take a closer look at recent spiritual developments within the church. In 1992-1994, as the pastor of a small Pentecostal church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I was made aware of a new interest in spiritual warfare. I could always accept as biblical the concept that as believers we are engaged in a tremendous spiritual warfare. This has been the position of orthodox Christianity all the way back to the apostles. I
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have never had a problem with the ministry of deliverance, the "casting out of devils" for I've seen that this also was taught by the Lord and His apostles. However, in the new superspiritual warfare, we have something different than the teaching of the New Testament. Christians are being told to "rise up into the heavenlies and do battle with the strongmen" over cities and even nations! The title of my first book reflects this new "belief." Making War in the Heavenlies, comes directly from a popular song being sung in worship services which claims that "We are making war in the heavenlies, we are tearing down principalities." Notice the emphasis is what "We" are doing as the church, through Jesus (of course).
Contrast this with the orthodox Christian view of spiritual warfare, which is a battle of cosmic proportions but which is in the realm of ideas, thoughts, belief systems, etc. Christianity has taught that Satan blinds men, through "vain imaginations, high things, that exalt themselves above the knowledge of God," and that Christian warfare is to dismantle these mental "strongholds" through the truth of the Word of God. This takes time, patience, love, dedication, prayer, commitment, and humility. We see Paul, in the Book of Acts, engaging in spiritual warfare.
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures. Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. ... Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Acts 17:2-3, 17
And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. Acts 18:4
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Hagin relates that after waiting for "Jesus" to rebuke the demon and observing no apparent response from "Jesus," Hagin himself rebuked the imp and sent him away. Then this "Jesus" told Hagin, in effect, "If you hadn't done that, I couldn't have!" This new "Jesus" doesn't presently have all power and authority for He has, according to Hagin and others, given it to us, the believers. Therefore it is up to us, not Jesus, to complete the plans of God. Bill Hamon spells out this doctrine in his book, The Eternal Church,
"Jesus is waiting on the church. All that the fall of man and sin has taken away from humanity, Jesus through His church shall restore"
"When the church has put under its feet all enemies of Christ...then Christ can be released from Heaven to return as the manifested head of His physically resurrected and translated church." (Prophets and Personal Prophecy, Bill Hamon)
In the old and true spirituality, we, the church, are waiting for Jesus to come back to "redeem the purchased possession," and to complete our salvation. But, in the Mystery of Iniquity, as always, all is reversed, Jesus has to wait for us, the church, to rise up in our power and glory, and to take dominion over all and when we get to that place of unity and power, ruling and reigning, then He can come back so that we can hand the kingdoms of this world over to Him. John Wimber, at a Docklands, England 1990 conference said,
"There is something higher than being a [Denomination] and that is to be the end time army and involved in this greater prize of bringing everything on earth and above the earth and below the earth to the feet of Jesus."
This dangerous doctrine has serious consequences in that it alters the world view of all who submit to it. Bill Hamon, John
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This is spiritual warfare according to the Bible, teaching, discussing, arguing, and reasoning scripture, taking apart the intellectual and philosophical barriers to faith in Jesus Christ. If Paul had the modern teaching of spiritual warfare, he would have been looking into the history of the cities, trying to identify the spiritual demon which controlled it. He no doubt would have discerned a spirit of adultery in Corinth, witchcraft in Ephesus and a spirit of religion in the city of Jerusalem. Acts 17 tells us that when Paul arrived at Athens, "His spirit was stirred in him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry..." What was his response? Did he scream at Zeus or bind Apollos? Did he gather a citywide meeting of Greeks and apologize to them on behalf of the Romans? Did he march around Athens and plant stakes at the four corners of the town to claim it for God? These are just some of the recent "revelations" that have come forth in our time and which are being practiced in the name of spiritual warfare! But Paul knew from the gospel that there is only one humble method of doing spiritual warfare, "He disputed daily in the synagogue with the Jews and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him." Acts 17:16-17.
The two approaches to spiritual warfare come from two different sources, or spiritual principles. I discern the Mystery of Iniquity in this new spiritual warfare. Remember it's motto, "Let us ascend" up to God's level. "We're making war in the heavenlies, We're bringing down principalities!" Kenneth Hagin, the "Word of Faith" leader, tells a story about a visitation he had with "Jesus." "Jesus" came to him supposedly, to give him some direction and instruction, but a demon imp materialized between Hagin and "Jesus" and began to raise such a racket Hagin couldn't hear what Jesus was saying to Him.
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