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Seriousness, Sincerity, and Sanctification
June 29, 2019
By Dan Li
Deep Sanctification of the Saints Precedes Genuine Revival
Before ever revival that has existed historically, there is first a return of the hearts of people and groups towards God, mostly seen in holiness groups, puritan groups, reformation groups, etc. For example, before the Holy Spirit’s outpouring in the early 1900’s (of which is our roots as Classic Pentecostals), there was a holiness movement within the Methodist churches which broke-off and became Holiness churches, this holiness doctrine was also preached in Baptist churches and Presbyterian churches, and though rejected by the Baptists of the time, many came out of the Baptists and some of the Presbyterian churches became more ‘holiness’ styled, in that they had a great desire to be right and holy with God.
The Holiness movement was a move in great seriousness and reverence towards God in their lives- more repentance, more focus on sanctification than their parent denominations. This was not some man-made desire to be more godly, but rather a genuine work of sanctification by the Holy Spirit in their lives. Sadly, some of the mainstream denominations of the day did not share in this desire for sanctification, which is a requirement to be in close relationship to God.
Shortly after this, there was the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in America in the early 1900’s, which would become the beginning of the many Pentecostal denominations that exist today and with many turning to Christ as their Savior subsequently. None of the Pentecostals wanted, initially, to be denominations of their own and mostly they resisted even having creeds of beliefs, wanting to only hold Scripture as their sole source and point of agreement for their people worshipping together.
The Heresies Follow Next After the Genuine Move of God
However, very shortly after the outpouring, there quickly grew within their groups a heresy known mostly as “oneness”, or “Jesus only”. All the Pentecostal groups realized they had to deal with this heresy and began to write statements of beliefs whereby all who ministered in their churches would have to agree on, so they could have unity and rid themselves of the oneness heresy. Now, they each have a codified statement of belief that shields against many heresies from developing unnoticed. This was good.
Denominations Stagnate Because They Part from Christ and the Bible, Not Because of Inflexibility of the Organization
Sadly, today- now over 100 years later, these denominations have become more organized, more man-centered, rely less on the Holy Spirit and now depend on human logic for their decision-making. These have not dealt with the worst of the heresies to ever develop, ‘humanistic “christianity”’, of which word-faith is the most prominent. Humanistic “christianity”, is present in nearly all false doctrines and religions today, but in the church, goes by other names: hyper-grace, cheap-grace, prosperity gospel, name-it-claim-it, hyper-arminianism, soft gospels, seeker-friendly, and limited-theism. All are man-focused.
Lately, newer versions of ‘humanistic “christianity”’ are developing that have roots in mysticism/occult/spiritualism and are now being promoted in many Pentecostal churches: Contemplative prayer, New-age, and Contemplative Spirituality, Spiritual Formation, Emerging Church, Jesus-Is-Calling devotional book, International House of Prayer (IHOP), etc. Before all these heresies were inserted, there was an infiltration of the Ecumenical-movement, whereby a softening was made in the denominations towards the Catholic heresies, and they began to call Catholicism a denomination, which it IS NOT.
Heresies Not Just Unnoticed- but Pushed
These are not only unnoticed, but are now being incorporated into these denomination’s systems at the highest levels of leadership, being pushed from the top, down to the pastors and ministers under them, pushed and promoted as things that are good for their church’s growth. Undiscerning pastors swallow this, hook-line-and-sinker, because it comes from the highest points of leadership in their respective denominations, then these pastors, in-turn, push it to their flock as something good from God, when it really is straight from the Devil- doctrines of demons.
These denominations have also failed to distance themselves from heretical teacher/preachers/false-prophets, and have even invited many of these to speak to their denomination’s conferences.
Why Is All This Happening?
One must ask one’s self, why? – what makes these ministers all so gullible? – impossible you say, for all those high-up in the organization, all the way to the top, to be taken in by the false. These at the top are intelligent, highly educated in seminaries, and have served in the ministry for decades. And also, for the pastors under them to be taken-in by this too?- impossible. Impossible? Nope- it is actually happening. You might also ask, ‘Doesn’t God protect his people and His ministers from false doctrines?’ Yes, He does. So, perhaps a better question is whose side are these ministers on- God’s or the world’s/the Devil’s? When we continue in a direction away from God.. when we lean on our own selves and our own devised man-systems… when we won’t part with a particular sin in our lives… when we care more about what people in the church think than what God thinks, and we become seeker-friendly, non-full counsel of God churches… well, we’ve parted from the God of the Bible, and we now serve an image of God, calling that image ‘God’ that we have systematically created.
Many Denominations are Drunk at the Wheel
No longer do most of our denominations serve as a check-and-balance for the doctrines that are ravaging our churches and people. They are not dealing with the huge huge amounts of false doctrine entering their churches.. the watchmen are not sounding the alarm, there is no response from those sleeping within. These denominational organizations were placed there to take the time to stay in prayer and in the Word of their Bibles, so that they could see the enemy, so as to prevent these from infiltrating the churches unnoticed. Today, these are now the very ones introducing these heresies to the churches under them- a travesty and a tragedy that will sift those who are not real Christians in the Church of God (not the denomination, but the actual Church of the Living God!).
The Great Falling Away
I believe we are experiencing what is called ‘The Falling Away’ that was foretold in 2 Thess. 2, that will proceed the coming of The Anti-christ and usher in the start of the Tribulation. We will see the false-peace treaty signed with Israel as well.
We need to get honest with God and ourselves- not sparing ourselves, and get serious about being right with God while there is still time, and while there is still some light left- because the darkness that is coming upon the world soon will be so great, that Jesus said “that if it were possible, even the elect would be deceived”. If it will be like that, what will come of those who are not right with God when that darkness comes upon the earth?? I shudder to think about that.
While people are drunk on sins of various sorts, genuine Christians (the elect) will not go along with this, but will separate themselves from it, and press even deeper into Christ, while the non-elect ones will slip further away from Christ, and even become the enemies of the genuine Christians. What fellowship hath light with darkness? These will separate further and further, and then the betrayals will begin when the persecution starts to get intense. We are on the cusp of this right now.
Get honest with God and yourself right now. Humble yourself and beg God repeatedly for His mercy to spare your very soul from yourself, your sin, your rebellion, your pride, and ultimately, from this coming darkness which will make the dark ages look bright. God is the only place of safety- nothing man-made will do nor stand. Go to God with all your heart, in repentance and true honesty now, while there is but a little bit of time left. Seriousness, Sincerity, and Sanctification.
