Religious groups imported into our nation by false teachers have diligently promoted their errors. Among these is the belief that the Holy Spirit is a mere force or wind. This is the teaching of the a religious group known as Armstrongism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Likewise, Mormonism has a similar view. This error is intensified by an indigenous false religion that started in Sta. Ana, Manila, the Iglesia ni Cristo which also believes in the same error.
These religious groups affirm such false view – that the Holy Spirit is only either a reflection of God or mere spirit of God. Is the Holy Spirit indeed not a person much more not God as these false groups would like us to believe? Let us consider the above text which was an experience of Apostle Peter and was recorded by Luke the recorder of the book of Acts. All the above groups regard the text as inspired of God. The difference lies in how they see the text meaning. One group sidesteps the clarity of truth presented by Peter concerning the personality or being of the Holy Spirit. Another entirely rejects the truth and present its own understanding imported into the text.
From there we could learn that religious people err in understanding the Holy Scriptures due to their preconceived biases. Others tend to bring into the text their own meaning of the text which is foreign from the text under consideration. What does the text teach about the Holy Spirit?
First, Luke narrated Peter’s rebuke of the couple’s sin against the Holy Spirit ( v.3). The couple did a marvelous sacrifice of donating great funds to the local church in Jerusalem. They sold some properties they owned and gave the proceeds. But they presented the donation as 100% of the selling price of a certain property when the truth was the donation was only a portion of it. So the couple misrepresented the truth. And Peter knowing the truth, probably because God revealed it to him prior to this meeting, swiftly rebuked the couple separately of their sin of lying and not of the act of giving. Thus, Peter saw the Holy Spirit as someone whom we could offend or sin against. If the Holy Spirit is a mere force or wind then he could not be offended. To affirm such truth is irrational. So the Holy Spirit is one who has personality. He is not a force or a wind but a person!
We learn here the importance of accuracy in representing the truth. We must tell the truth regardless of the consequence. We must not lie or beautify a lie by painting it as truth. We can see too that God sees our heart when we speak or think. Nothing is hidden from Him. More so, the Holy Spirit as a person means we can enter into mutual relationship with Him.
Second, Peter viewed the act of lying or misrepresenting the truth against the Holy Spirit as the very same offense against God. Thus, following the line of thought of Peter as given in the text will show that the couple’s sin against the Holy Spirit is the same sin against God. With simple understanding, the evidence shows that this Holy Spirit at least, must be God. We may reduce it into simple equation, i.e., to lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie to God. Every sin against the Holy Spirit is a sin against God.
Every sin we commit against the Holy Spirit is also against our God as the former is also God. Do not be confused by saying that so God is more than one. He is not more than one, only and always ONE in number. Instead the text tells us that the Holy Spirit with whom the couple has lied to is God.
Third, Luke wanted to convey a message to readers through this narrative that sin against the Holy Spirit carries with it a huge consequence. It may come in the form of swift public death. It was a form of divine correction intended for public warning to future offenders. God does not state He will always bring in death or disease, or destruction. But He will require us to pay for every sin against the Holy Spirit. Such a truth is truly trembling to behold.
How sad it is to see today people merely belittle the Holy Spirit. They do not regard Him as a separate deity being. They see Him as a little lower than the Father or the Son. Sometimes even as a sort of assistant of the first two beings. In the local church, there is also a decline in the high view of the Holy Spirit. When He works in our hearts as we hear God’s word we tend to reject Him if not merely pacify Him and dump Him or His workings into the thought of emotionalism. To hear God’s word with conviction is an evidence of His living witness to work in man’s heart.
Sinners tend to delay decision to accept Christ as Savior in spite of the Holy Spirit’s convicting work in their heart. They keep justifying such inaction towards Christ by many alibis. Even saints inside the house of God dare to justify inaction or indecision towards pressing crucial issues in their life and work even if the Spirit leads them to decide. Church members refuse to respond to godly pleadings of the man of God who urges God’s people to repentance, revival, return, and resolute service. Such beloved is the modern day of Ananias and Sapphira’s sinful acts towards the Holy Spirit. We criticize the couple while we unceasingly sins against the Holy Spirit! May we cease, Cornerstone people, from such evil undermining the full power of deity of the Holy Spirit! To protect our heart from such evil, we must heed Stephen’s powerful exhortation in Acts 7:51. Amen.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Nasa Lumang Tipan ba ang Banal na Espiritu?
Mga Gawa 7:51
May mga taong nalilito kung kalian nagsimula ang ministeryo ng Banal na Espiritu. Ang Pentecostes sa aklat ng mga Gawa ay parang nagmumungkahi na noon lamang dumating ang Banal na Espiritu. Kung ito ay tamang pagtatasa, bakit kapansin-pansin Siya sa maraming pangyayari sa Lumang Tipan? Makikita ba natin Siya sa panahon ng paglikha ng Diyos? Kasama ba Siya sa pagpapahayag at inspirasyon ng Banal na Kasulatan? Siya rin ba ay may kinalaman o aktibo sa maraming relasyong pangtao?
Kung tutuusin, ang akda ng apat na manunulat ukol sa ebanghelyo ay kabilang sa Bagong Tipan ngunit ito’y bago ang Pentecostes. Maari kayang dahil sa bulaang aral ng Neo-Pentecostalism ay lumabo na ang dating malinaw na pagtuturo ng Lumang Tipan patungkol sa Banal na Espiritu? Binibigyang diin lamang ng mga Neo-Pentecostals ang mga patunay ukol sa Pentecostes ngunit hindi nila inihahayag ang buong aral ukol sa Banal na Espiritu.
Kung ang Banal na Espiritu ay nasa Lumang Tipan na, anong mga pangyayari natin Siya makikita? Ano ang maari nating matutunan ukol sa Kaniya? Isaalang-alang ang pahayag at pag-aakusa ni Esteban sa kaniyang mga tagapakinig. Sigurado siyang sila’y kabilang sa mga taong dati pang tinatalikuran ang pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu. Ito’y nagpapakita ng kanyang kaalaman sa patuloy na pagtalikod ng bayang Israel sa pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu kaya’t tahasan niya itong iniugnay sa ginagawang kasamaan ng kanyang mga tagapakinig.
Una, ang Banal na Espiritu ay kasama sa paglikha. Ito’y itinala ni Moises sa Genesis 1:2 na nagpapahayag ng aktibong partisipasyon ng Banal na Espiritu sa paglikha. Siya rin ay kasama sa paglikha ng tao ayon sa Job 27:3 at Job 33:4. Siya ay tumulong magbigay ganda sa sansinukob, Job 26:13a at maglikha ng mga hayop, Job 26:13b. Anupa’t Siya’y kabilang sa maraming aspeto ng paglikha.
Pangalawa, kabilang ang Banal na Espiritu sa pagpapahayag ng Salita ng Diyos. Tingnan ang 2 Samuel 23:2. Sa Lumang Tipan, nagsalita ang Diyos sa pamamagitan ng mga propetang Kaniyang pinili upang tumanggap at magtala ng Kaniyang Salita. Ang teksto ay nagsasabi na ibinigay ng Diyos ang Kaniyang Salita kay David na nang kalaunan ay nagpatunay dito sa pamamagitan ng pagtanggap at pagtala nito. Si Micah ay nagpatunay din ng kalakasang kaniyang natanggap mula sa Espiritu upang maipahayag ang Salita ng Diyos sa Israel (Micah 3:8). Kinilala rin ni Apostol Pablo ang pagiging may-akda ng Banal na Espiritu ng Isaias 6:9-10 (Mga Gawa 28:25).
Pangatlo, ang pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu pagkatapos ng Pentekosta ay iba lamang na aspeto sa pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu sa Lumang Tipan. Isaalang-alang ang propesiya ni Jesus patungkol sa gawa ng Banal na Espiritu sa Juan 15:26 (ito’y ukol sa pagpapatotoo kay Kristo). Tingnan din ang Juan 16:7-8, 13 (nagsasaad ng pagkilos Niya sa bawat isa sa atin sa katotohanan). Ganuon din ang itinuturo ng Juan 14:17 na nagsabing ang Espiritu ay nananahan sa bawat isang mananampalataya at mananatili sa bawat isa.
Ang Banal na Espiritu din ang naging patnubay ng mga tao ng Diyos sa Lumang Tipan. Isaalang-alang ang Nehemiah 9:20 na kung saan tinuruan Niya ang mga ito ng tamang gagawin. Inihalintulad ni Nehemiah ang Gawain ng Espiritu sa pagbibigay ng kinakailangang pagkain. Ang kabutihan din ng Diyos ay makikita sa pagbibigay ng Banal na Espiritu sa ilang mga tao sa Isaiah 63:10-11,14. Ngunit walang pamamalagi ng Banal na Espiritu sa mananampalataya sa Lumang Tipan. Tingnan ang 1 Samuel 10:10; 16:14; Mga Hukom 13:25; 16:20.
Kapag isinaalang-alang ang mga ito ukol sa Banal na Espiritu, marami tayong matutuhang gamit sa ating buhay at pananampalataya. Una, ang Espiritu ay kapantay ng dalawa pang persona ng Diyos at Siya ay aktibong naging bahagi sa paglika. Pangalawa, utang din natin sa Banal na Espiritu ang buhay natin kaya’t hindi natin ito dapat lustayin sa walang kapararakang gawain. Anupat’ dapat nating hanapin ang perpektong plano ng Diyos para sa atin. Labis na kamunduhan ng isang mananampalataya ang mamuhay na ikinalulugod ng mga ‘di ligtas ngunit ikinalulungkot naman ng Diyos at ng Kaniyang iglesia. Isipin ang inyong nais, ambisyon at ninanasa. Ang mga ito ba’y nagpapakita ng pasasalamat ng isang taong binigyan ng buhay at iniligtas ng Diyos?
Dahil ang Banal na Espiritu ay kasali sa pagpapahayag ng Salita ng Diyos sa Lumang Tipan, tayo ay nakatitiyak sa ganap na kawastuan at pag-iingat nito. Panatiliin natin sa ating isipan at paniniwala na ang Banal na Espiritu na kabilang sa inspirasyon ng Salita ng Diyos ay kabilang din sa pag-iingat nito. Maaari kayang kinasihan lang ng Diyos ang Kaniyang Salita ngunit iniwanan Niya ito sa atin upang tayo lamang ang mag-ingat nito? O Siya ang gumawa ng lahat ng mga ito? Sa ganang akin, kahit ang Awit 12:6-7 lamang ang matirang bersikulo ukol sa pag-iingat ng Salita ng Diyos (dahil sa marami ng marurunong ang siniraan na ang iba pang mga pahayag), mananatili ako sa aking pananaw ukol sa puro at iningatang Salita ng Diyos. Tama lamang na paniwalaan na ang Banal na Espiritu ay kasali sa pag-iingat ng bawat salitang ipinahayag at kinasihan ng Diyos.
Dapat tayong matuwa sa turo ng Bagong Tipan na ang Banal na Espiritu ay permanenteng nananahan sa mga mananampalataya. Maaari ngang mas pinagpala tayo kaysa sa mga tao ng Diyos sa Lumang Tipan sa ganitong aspeto. Kaya’t mas marami ang inaasahan sa atin patungkol sa ministeryo. Tayo ba ay naglilingkod sa Diyos? Makakaasa tayo ng pagpapanutbay Niya sa ating buhay at gawain sa pamamagitan ng Kaniyang Salita. Siya Nawa!
Kung tutuusin, ang akda ng apat na manunulat ukol sa ebanghelyo ay kabilang sa Bagong Tipan ngunit ito’y bago ang Pentecostes. Maari kayang dahil sa bulaang aral ng Neo-Pentecostalism ay lumabo na ang dating malinaw na pagtuturo ng Lumang Tipan patungkol sa Banal na Espiritu? Binibigyang diin lamang ng mga Neo-Pentecostals ang mga patunay ukol sa Pentecostes ngunit hindi nila inihahayag ang buong aral ukol sa Banal na Espiritu.
Kung ang Banal na Espiritu ay nasa Lumang Tipan na, anong mga pangyayari natin Siya makikita? Ano ang maari nating matutunan ukol sa Kaniya? Isaalang-alang ang pahayag at pag-aakusa ni Esteban sa kaniyang mga tagapakinig. Sigurado siyang sila’y kabilang sa mga taong dati pang tinatalikuran ang pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu. Ito’y nagpapakita ng kanyang kaalaman sa patuloy na pagtalikod ng bayang Israel sa pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu kaya’t tahasan niya itong iniugnay sa ginagawang kasamaan ng kanyang mga tagapakinig.
Una, ang Banal na Espiritu ay kasama sa paglikha. Ito’y itinala ni Moises sa Genesis 1:2 na nagpapahayag ng aktibong partisipasyon ng Banal na Espiritu sa paglikha. Siya rin ay kasama sa paglikha ng tao ayon sa Job 27:3 at Job 33:4. Siya ay tumulong magbigay ganda sa sansinukob, Job 26:13a at maglikha ng mga hayop, Job 26:13b. Anupa’t Siya’y kabilang sa maraming aspeto ng paglikha.
Pangalawa, kabilang ang Banal na Espiritu sa pagpapahayag ng Salita ng Diyos. Tingnan ang 2 Samuel 23:2. Sa Lumang Tipan, nagsalita ang Diyos sa pamamagitan ng mga propetang Kaniyang pinili upang tumanggap at magtala ng Kaniyang Salita. Ang teksto ay nagsasabi na ibinigay ng Diyos ang Kaniyang Salita kay David na nang kalaunan ay nagpatunay dito sa pamamagitan ng pagtanggap at pagtala nito. Si Micah ay nagpatunay din ng kalakasang kaniyang natanggap mula sa Espiritu upang maipahayag ang Salita ng Diyos sa Israel (Micah 3:8). Kinilala rin ni Apostol Pablo ang pagiging may-akda ng Banal na Espiritu ng Isaias 6:9-10 (Mga Gawa 28:25).
Pangatlo, ang pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu pagkatapos ng Pentekosta ay iba lamang na aspeto sa pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu sa Lumang Tipan. Isaalang-alang ang propesiya ni Jesus patungkol sa gawa ng Banal na Espiritu sa Juan 15:26 (ito’y ukol sa pagpapatotoo kay Kristo). Tingnan din ang Juan 16:7-8, 13 (nagsasaad ng pagkilos Niya sa bawat isa sa atin sa katotohanan). Ganuon din ang itinuturo ng Juan 14:17 na nagsabing ang Espiritu ay nananahan sa bawat isang mananampalataya at mananatili sa bawat isa.
Ang Banal na Espiritu din ang naging patnubay ng mga tao ng Diyos sa Lumang Tipan. Isaalang-alang ang Nehemiah 9:20 na kung saan tinuruan Niya ang mga ito ng tamang gagawin. Inihalintulad ni Nehemiah ang Gawain ng Espiritu sa pagbibigay ng kinakailangang pagkain. Ang kabutihan din ng Diyos ay makikita sa pagbibigay ng Banal na Espiritu sa ilang mga tao sa Isaiah 63:10-11,14. Ngunit walang pamamalagi ng Banal na Espiritu sa mananampalataya sa Lumang Tipan. Tingnan ang 1 Samuel 10:10; 16:14; Mga Hukom 13:25; 16:20.
Kapag isinaalang-alang ang mga ito ukol sa Banal na Espiritu, marami tayong matutuhang gamit sa ating buhay at pananampalataya. Una, ang Espiritu ay kapantay ng dalawa pang persona ng Diyos at Siya ay aktibong naging bahagi sa paglika. Pangalawa, utang din natin sa Banal na Espiritu ang buhay natin kaya’t hindi natin ito dapat lustayin sa walang kapararakang gawain. Anupat’ dapat nating hanapin ang perpektong plano ng Diyos para sa atin. Labis na kamunduhan ng isang mananampalataya ang mamuhay na ikinalulugod ng mga ‘di ligtas ngunit ikinalulungkot naman ng Diyos at ng Kaniyang iglesia. Isipin ang inyong nais, ambisyon at ninanasa. Ang mga ito ba’y nagpapakita ng pasasalamat ng isang taong binigyan ng buhay at iniligtas ng Diyos?
Dahil ang Banal na Espiritu ay kasali sa pagpapahayag ng Salita ng Diyos sa Lumang Tipan, tayo ay nakatitiyak sa ganap na kawastuan at pag-iingat nito. Panatiliin natin sa ating isipan at paniniwala na ang Banal na Espiritu na kabilang sa inspirasyon ng Salita ng Diyos ay kabilang din sa pag-iingat nito. Maaari kayang kinasihan lang ng Diyos ang Kaniyang Salita ngunit iniwanan Niya ito sa atin upang tayo lamang ang mag-ingat nito? O Siya ang gumawa ng lahat ng mga ito? Sa ganang akin, kahit ang Awit 12:6-7 lamang ang matirang bersikulo ukol sa pag-iingat ng Salita ng Diyos (dahil sa marami ng marurunong ang siniraan na ang iba pang mga pahayag), mananatili ako sa aking pananaw ukol sa puro at iningatang Salita ng Diyos. Tama lamang na paniwalaan na ang Banal na Espiritu ay kasali sa pag-iingat ng bawat salitang ipinahayag at kinasihan ng Diyos.
Dapat tayong matuwa sa turo ng Bagong Tipan na ang Banal na Espiritu ay permanenteng nananahan sa mga mananampalataya. Maaari ngang mas pinagpala tayo kaysa sa mga tao ng Diyos sa Lumang Tipan sa ganitong aspeto. Kaya’t mas marami ang inaasahan sa atin patungkol sa ministeryo. Tayo ba ay naglilingkod sa Diyos? Makakaasa tayo ng pagpapanutbay Niya sa ating buhay at gawain sa pamamagitan ng Kaniyang Salita. Siya Nawa!
Significant Commands Relevant to Our
Relations with the Holy Spirit
Eph. 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:19
Prior to the carnal emphasis of New Pentecostalism in the 1950s even as they departed from their original foundations, the Holy Spirit was not given much credit except by godly Christians. Some Christians tend to rely upon their biblical knowledge without reliance upon the Holy Spirit so they ended in frustration. Studies in the Holy Spirit began to be widely published in defense of the faith against the errors of Charismatism. We almost neglected the specific commands God gave in the Bible on how we can work productively with the Holy Spirit. The worldly liveliness the Charismatics desired was replaced with the deadness of theological discussion of some conservatives. Today, I want to share with you these very significant commands in the NT through which you will become His great and glorious instrument in the advancing of His church.
First, believers are commanded to stop a habitual action of grieving the Holy Spirit. This is the truth in Eph. 4:30. The believers of Ephesus were continuing in such ungodly habit of various types of sins as enumerated in verse 31. Essentially, believers in one local church must avoid lying to one another and speaking in a foul manner. In stead, they ought to relate in a manner as listed down in verse 32.
If we are still engaged in any of the above sins in verse 31 then we must stop such evil practice. Why are we to do this? The reason is that the Holy Spirit who is in us is much sorrowed by such ungodly behavior. It is never right to deliberately hurt or grieve the Spirit. Not only are the involved parties are affected by such sins but also the entire local church people including those not directly involved. So we must never allow such scenario to happen in the local church.
Second, believers are commanded to allow the Holy Spirit to control their lives. This is taught in Eph. 5:18. The control is possible because the Spirit is already indwelling the believer. He is urged to permit the Spirit to take total control over his life rather than his own sinful nature, the world, and the devil. This command is indeed significant in experiencing real daily victory in Christian life. Daily a believer is to allow the Holy Spirit to control him. This is also the prohibitory contrast of allowing oneself to be filled with wine as it will surely control the person.
A believer is prohibited from drinking liquor of any amount. To allow moderate, occasional, or social drinking is to allow a little sin in your life. A little leaven will leaven the whole bread. (See 1 Cor. 5:6.) The command includes absolute prohibition from any form of wine or liquor as it is unbecoming of a godly Christian. Primarily, the command is on our task to let the Holy Spirit control our lives regularly. So it involves regular surrendering to Him and permitting Him to convict us, to correct us, and to chastise us in any form.
People get discouraged when they do not see professing believers changing from bad to good. They do not fully see that the reason behind is not the powerlessness of the Bible or of God but the rejection of the person to be molded by the Spirit. Regardless of how good I am in molding people to become God’s instruments in the church, if the candidate is unwilling, uncooperative, and insubordinate then there is no way the person could improve. Usually things would get worst.
Third, believers are commanded not to resist the workings of the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul said in 1 Thess. 5:19. To quench means to put off the fire or the momentum or heat being gained. It is like putting cold water on the already burning coals. The Spirit is likened in other references to fire or flame of fire. Fire will normally eat up things around it and will cause them to burn, too. Paul warned them not to quench the task of preaching in verse 20. To quench it means to undermine, despise, belittle its importance and consequence of preaching. So in the local church, we are commanded never to quench the preaching work or the spirit of a preacher.
How do we quench the Holy Spirit? In the context, it is to resist the effect of preaching work. It also includes belittling the result of preaching. So when someone is called to preach, church members are to pray and to encourage such a person lest his fire be put off. As the pastor preaches, we must ask God to bless and widen the fire it creates in our soul as well as in others. We are never to resist neither to oppose nor to discourage the working of the Holy Spirit in any one’s life as well as in ours.
Imagine the great environment the Holy Spirit will create among us as church members when the above three commands are seriously obeyed by every one. What a holy sight to see when church members are growing away from carnality of sins mentioned in Eph. 4:31 and replaced by the virtues in verse 32. The seeming insurmountable tasks that await us Cornerstone people, shall become realities as we labor in every ministry empowered by the Holy Spirit who indwells and controls every church member. Finally, what a glorious sight that every member strengthens and encourages one another to love and to good works fulfilling together the goals of Cornerstone given by the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
First, believers are commanded to stop a habitual action of grieving the Holy Spirit. This is the truth in Eph. 4:30. The believers of Ephesus were continuing in such ungodly habit of various types of sins as enumerated in verse 31. Essentially, believers in one local church must avoid lying to one another and speaking in a foul manner. In stead, they ought to relate in a manner as listed down in verse 32.
If we are still engaged in any of the above sins in verse 31 then we must stop such evil practice. Why are we to do this? The reason is that the Holy Spirit who is in us is much sorrowed by such ungodly behavior. It is never right to deliberately hurt or grieve the Spirit. Not only are the involved parties are affected by such sins but also the entire local church people including those not directly involved. So we must never allow such scenario to happen in the local church.
Second, believers are commanded to allow the Holy Spirit to control their lives. This is taught in Eph. 5:18. The control is possible because the Spirit is already indwelling the believer. He is urged to permit the Spirit to take total control over his life rather than his own sinful nature, the world, and the devil. This command is indeed significant in experiencing real daily victory in Christian life. Daily a believer is to allow the Holy Spirit to control him. This is also the prohibitory contrast of allowing oneself to be filled with wine as it will surely control the person.
A believer is prohibited from drinking liquor of any amount. To allow moderate, occasional, or social drinking is to allow a little sin in your life. A little leaven will leaven the whole bread. (See 1 Cor. 5:6.) The command includes absolute prohibition from any form of wine or liquor as it is unbecoming of a godly Christian. Primarily, the command is on our task to let the Holy Spirit control our lives regularly. So it involves regular surrendering to Him and permitting Him to convict us, to correct us, and to chastise us in any form.
People get discouraged when they do not see professing believers changing from bad to good. They do not fully see that the reason behind is not the powerlessness of the Bible or of God but the rejection of the person to be molded by the Spirit. Regardless of how good I am in molding people to become God’s instruments in the church, if the candidate is unwilling, uncooperative, and insubordinate then there is no way the person could improve. Usually things would get worst.
Third, believers are commanded not to resist the workings of the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul said in 1 Thess. 5:19. To quench means to put off the fire or the momentum or heat being gained. It is like putting cold water on the already burning coals. The Spirit is likened in other references to fire or flame of fire. Fire will normally eat up things around it and will cause them to burn, too. Paul warned them not to quench the task of preaching in verse 20. To quench it means to undermine, despise, belittle its importance and consequence of preaching. So in the local church, we are commanded never to quench the preaching work or the spirit of a preacher.
How do we quench the Holy Spirit? In the context, it is to resist the effect of preaching work. It also includes belittling the result of preaching. So when someone is called to preach, church members are to pray and to encourage such a person lest his fire be put off. As the pastor preaches, we must ask God to bless and widen the fire it creates in our soul as well as in others. We are never to resist neither to oppose nor to discourage the working of the Holy Spirit in any one’s life as well as in ours.
Imagine the great environment the Holy Spirit will create among us as church members when the above three commands are seriously obeyed by every one. What a holy sight to see when church members are growing away from carnality of sins mentioned in Eph. 4:31 and replaced by the virtues in verse 32. The seeming insurmountable tasks that await us Cornerstone people, shall become realities as we labor in every ministry empowered by the Holy Spirit who indwells and controls every church member. Finally, what a glorious sight that every member strengthens and encourages one another to love and to good works fulfilling together the goals of Cornerstone given by the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Errors among Filipino Charismatics
Filipino charismatic Christian groups and fellowships abound in our country. They are represented by some well known personalities such as but not limited to Eddie Villanueva and his Jesus is Lord Church. It also allied with other evangelical groups for socio-political agenda. Then you have the cultic religious groups of Apollo C. Quiboloy in Davao Jesus the Name Above Every Name and Mr. Ferriol’s Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ in Marikina. Other smaller charismatic groups exist here. The already confusing religious environment is aggravated by the entry of Romanist charismatic groups aiming at winning Catholics to remain in the fold through the introduction of Pentecostals charismatism rituals and affairs. This last is represented by Fr. Archie Guiriba of Shalom and Bro. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai. These last two groups both remained within the errors of Romanism while dressing the garb of charismatism- one person with double face or garment. Such is the landscape of religious charismatism in our nation.
Common among charismatic religious groups are the following characteristics that are not necessarily inclusive in every group or at least one or few of them are found in every group. First, they claim speaking in tongues as evidence of Spirit fullness. Second, they claim health and wealth effect of being right with God. Third, they claim numbers of following is a basis of their being in the truth and favored of God. Fourth, all of them claim to be in possession of the true gospel which they define as full gospel (like Eddie Villanueva) or faith plus baptism equals salvation (like Mr. Ferriol and Quiboloy). Fifth, almost all are apolitical in position except Eddie Villanueva who is a vocal critic of the current administration but quite silent in resolving insurgency and walks on the street with leftist ideologues. Sixth, some of them accepted political inclusion into the governmental machinery. Last, they all use worldly music and ways.
With this harlot-like religious environment originally corrupted by the Romanists through political invasion in the past to advance religious territories, what else can be done? How can we spare our countrymen from such demonic destruction perpetrated by the above groups?
We must expose all types of errors. Be it theological, political, social, and religious issues, the local church must actively participate in all forms of godly exposition. Let us unceasingly use the pulpit power. Then we must proceed to pen power. Further, we must intensely promote our godly views so Filipinos would have a godly alternative to reject such errors and embrace truth propagated by true separatist fundamental Baptists. Institutions may be created to ferry those godly views thereby deepening our convictions. Lastly, forget not to prod people especially the young ones to join the fundamental church after truly experiencing genuine conversion in Christ.
The error of speaking in tongues is addressed by 1 Corinthians 12-14 and comparative study of similar event in Acts 2 and 10. Even such evidence was disowned by original Pentecostals prior to 1950s. The inclusion of health and wealth into the gospel thus claiming their full gospel is actually a false gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 clearly defines the true gospel without the additions that they included. Consider the warning of Gal. 1:6-9 on how to handle such groups who bear another gospel. Number of membership is never a test of truth or doctrinal validity and accuracy. It is even a mark of false teachers as mentioned in 2 Pet. 2:2 who hailed from the truth before. The position of Eddie Villanueva is at best untenable in Scripture and at worst contradictory to the Romans 13:1-7 principle of submission and godly attitude towards authority as taught in 1 Tim. 2:1-4. His march with leftists is a mark of true blue politicians without the biblical conviction as the Bible prohibits joining the enemy to defeat another enemy! He must be ignorant of OT prophets’ warning to Israel in search of Egyptian aid to defeat Assyrian or Babylon attacks. For a preacher to accept governmental offer of position is a gross sell out. It is a sign of lapse in sound mind as the greatest and most powerful task on earth of preaching is exchanged with juicy or earthly powerful positions.
Beware of the poison of charismatism that abounds in our field committed to dupe our children and grandchildren into their lies and errors. Let us sever relations, be they Baptist or whatever, from anyone who has been touched by such wicked charismatic influence. Let us get more Filipinos out of the miry clay of charismatism through zealous evangelism and intense discipleship. Help charismatics who have been deceived into the false teachings concerning the Holy Spirit. Take diligently God’s word in 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1! Amen.
Common among charismatic religious groups are the following characteristics that are not necessarily inclusive in every group or at least one or few of them are found in every group. First, they claim speaking in tongues as evidence of Spirit fullness. Second, they claim health and wealth effect of being right with God. Third, they claim numbers of following is a basis of their being in the truth and favored of God. Fourth, all of them claim to be in possession of the true gospel which they define as full gospel (like Eddie Villanueva) or faith plus baptism equals salvation (like Mr. Ferriol and Quiboloy). Fifth, almost all are apolitical in position except Eddie Villanueva who is a vocal critic of the current administration but quite silent in resolving insurgency and walks on the street with leftist ideologues. Sixth, some of them accepted political inclusion into the governmental machinery. Last, they all use worldly music and ways.
With this harlot-like religious environment originally corrupted by the Romanists through political invasion in the past to advance religious territories, what else can be done? How can we spare our countrymen from such demonic destruction perpetrated by the above groups?
We must expose all types of errors. Be it theological, political, social, and religious issues, the local church must actively participate in all forms of godly exposition. Let us unceasingly use the pulpit power. Then we must proceed to pen power. Further, we must intensely promote our godly views so Filipinos would have a godly alternative to reject such errors and embrace truth propagated by true separatist fundamental Baptists. Institutions may be created to ferry those godly views thereby deepening our convictions. Lastly, forget not to prod people especially the young ones to join the fundamental church after truly experiencing genuine conversion in Christ.
The error of speaking in tongues is addressed by 1 Corinthians 12-14 and comparative study of similar event in Acts 2 and 10. Even such evidence was disowned by original Pentecostals prior to 1950s. The inclusion of health and wealth into the gospel thus claiming their full gospel is actually a false gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 clearly defines the true gospel without the additions that they included. Consider the warning of Gal. 1:6-9 on how to handle such groups who bear another gospel. Number of membership is never a test of truth or doctrinal validity and accuracy. It is even a mark of false teachers as mentioned in 2 Pet. 2:2 who hailed from the truth before. The position of Eddie Villanueva is at best untenable in Scripture and at worst contradictory to the Romans 13:1-7 principle of submission and godly attitude towards authority as taught in 1 Tim. 2:1-4. His march with leftists is a mark of true blue politicians without the biblical conviction as the Bible prohibits joining the enemy to defeat another enemy! He must be ignorant of OT prophets’ warning to Israel in search of Egyptian aid to defeat Assyrian or Babylon attacks. For a preacher to accept governmental offer of position is a gross sell out. It is a sign of lapse in sound mind as the greatest and most powerful task on earth of preaching is exchanged with juicy or earthly powerful positions.
Beware of the poison of charismatism that abounds in our field committed to dupe our children and grandchildren into their lies and errors. Let us sever relations, be they Baptist or whatever, from anyone who has been touched by such wicked charismatic influence. Let us get more Filipinos out of the miry clay of charismatism through zealous evangelism and intense discipleship. Help charismatics who have been deceived into the false teachings concerning the Holy Spirit. Take diligently God’s word in 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1! Amen.
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