by Jimmy Robbins
I thank God for all the positive letters and E-mail that I have received concerning the article I wrote (Revival or Satanic Counterfeit). While the vast majority of the responses were expressing gratitude, some had genuine and honest questions which I feel need to be answered. With the Lord’s help I will attempt to come to grips with several related issues that I trust will shed light on this very important subject.
The Great “Spiritual Void”
Today as never before there exists a great “spiritual void” in most of humanity. (Is. 60:2). This void must and will be filled by either God or the devil. Time is short and there is a sense of urgency and great activity in the spiritual realm. Every child of God should know that we are now engaged in a formidable spiritual battle, and this battle will increase with intensity until Jesus comes again. Satan knows that his time is short, so he and his “demonic host” are putting on a “Full Court Press” as it were, to deceive and capture the minds of his victims and to make war with the remnant of the saints. (Rev. 12:15-17).
Praise be to God … “we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” and “greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.” (Rom. 8:37, I John 4:4). Although Christ has bruised the head of the serpent, we are instructed by the Apostle Paul to … “take the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ep. 6:13).
No one would argue that Satan is filling the “spiritual void” with drugs, alcohol, violence, and illicit sex; however, his greatest deception comes through “counterfeit and false religion” tailor made for every religious taste and appetite known to man.
Religious … but Lost
Beloved, I believe with all my heart that this present generation more so than all previous generations are up to their eyeballs in sin and “religious quagmire.” Just as Adam and Eve sinned in the garden and covered their nakedness with fig leaves, so do multiplied millions of lost people today cover their nakedness of sin with “false religion” that is peddled on every corner by deceived lifeless preachers, some of which need to be saved themselves. (Rev. 3:13-22). Dear saints of God, I don’t believe we realize how late the hour is. Surely the judgment of God on this wicked generation is closer than we dare believe. (Mt. 24:44).
Some purport that we are in a worldwide revival and that millions are being saved. Could this be true? Listen to the words of Jesus … “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Mt. 7:13-14). After saying this, Jesus issues a strong warning … “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Mt. 7:15) I choose to agree with Jesus. It is my firm belief that the “vast majority” of people on planet earth (almost six billion) are lost and totally void of spiritual understanding. Only a “very small remnant” are truly saved. (Is. 1:9, Lu. 13:23-24).
Strong Delusion
… “Our Lord is longsuffering to usward, and not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (II Pet. 3:9). God has a limit and his spirit will not always strive with man. (Gen. 6:3). Man wants God on his terms, and tries to enter in some other way than through Christ. Jesus said, that … “the same is a thief and a robber.” (Jn. 10:1)
How and why are so many religious people lost and deluded today? Please let the stern and solemn words of the Apostle Paul sink deep into your heart and mind as he answers this question. “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (II Th. 2:10-12). This explains why so many “false prophets” and “sign seekers” are running to and fro claiming to be doing the “wonderful works of God.” Remember what Jesus said … “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Mt. 7:23).
It is possible for a genuine child of God to be temporarily confused and tossed about due to the lack of proper teaching; however, God is always faithful to shed the “light of truth” so that his children will be delivered from danger and error. (Ep. 4:11-16, Jn. 8:31-32).
Strong delusion takes different forms. The word says that the Jews look for a “sign” and the Greeks seek after “wisdom” (I Co. 1:22). These two extremes are worse now than then. Satan has a tailor made message for the Greek that will just suit his “intellectual itching ears.” (II Ti. 4:3-4). This form of strong delusion is alive and well throughout the earth today.
Satan and his host (demon spirits) are working overtime to meet the “Insatiable Desire” and quest for “Religious Sign Seekers” who want to be …
1. Slain In The Spirit
2. Given The Laughter Gift
3. Given The Jerking & Shaking Gift
4. Filled With “The Power”
When you have a “Ripe and Ready” religious sign-seeking candidate that opens himself up and willingly yields his mind and spirit to an administrator (inspired and controlled by a master spirit) then all the conditions have been met for a “Supernatural Manifestation” to take place. The candidate’s “Empty Void” will be filled with an evil spirit that will masquerade through that person pretending to be the “Holy Spirit.” Make no mistake about it … this event and experience is “Powerful and Real.” These people are not play acting. This “evil game” of Satan is REAL and he plays for KEEPS.
Ministers of Satan have a very potent “False Anointing” and its deadly power is truly transferred and administered to the unwitting victim. This explains why people fall to the floor and lay there for hours seemingly unconscious. This is called … “Being Slain In The Spirit.” I humbly ask you to read what the Apostle Paul says about such false apostles who transform themselves into apostles of Christ and into an angel of light. (II Cor. 11:13-15).
Beloved, there is no Bible example where Jesus or any of his apostles “Slayed anyone in the Spirit.” The Christ I serve doesn’t knock people down, but rather lifts them up and sets their feet upon a “Solid Rock.” (Ps. 40:1-2).
Revival … or … Famine?
Some say that revival is breaking out all over the world. Many dissatisfied preachers and disenchanted church members from many religious backgrounds are running to and fro to partake of what they call “revival.” Their purpose is to get a “bucket full of the Power” and take it back to their churches and hopefully reproduce the same phenomena. Some may ask this question … “Isn’t this a commendable and wonderful thing to do?” The answer is “NO,” it is not. First of all, many of these people are “Sign Seekers.” They are like the people who were following Jesus in John 6:2 … “And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.” Later on Jesus spoke these words to them … “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” (Jn. 6:53) This crowd didn’t receive Jesus nor his word … so they turned and walked no more with him. The religious “Sign Seeking” crowd today doesn’t want Christ either. They have the same spirit as Simon the sorcerer. Remember what Simon said to the Apostle Peter? … “And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money. Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.” Peter rebuked him sharply because of his wicked heart and told him he had no part nor lot in the matter. (Ac. 8:18-24). Jesus describes these deceivers this way … “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Mt. 24:24). Thank God the elect won’t be deceived by all this “demonic religious deception” in the world today.
The prophet Amos spoke of the time that God would send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread or water, but a famine of “hearing the word of the Lord.” He also spoke of people who would travel from sea to sea seeking the word of the Lord, and would not be able to find it. (Am. 8:11-12). Surely we are living in those days that the prophet was speaking about.
Not too long ago Brother Thomas made this statement … “As this age draws to a close, the devil’s activity will increase, and God’s activity and overture to mankind will decrease.” (Gen. 6:3, Mt. 23:37-39) I agree with Brother Thomas. I believe the clock is beginning to strike “Midnight.” The “Midnight Cry” has been and is being made. “Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” (Mt. 25:6) Soon the bridegroom will come and take the wise virgins to the marriage and the door will be shut. Remember those foolish virgins who had no oil in their lamps? When they returned they said … “Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” (Mt. 26:11-12)
A Very Serious Dilemma
I received the following E-mail letter only three days ago. I don’t believe this dear brother has a bad spirit, but has a genuine desire to do God’s will. I have had similar inquiries on numerous other occasions and I don’t take them lightly. My heart goes out to these dear brothers and sisters and I believe we should seek the Lord on their behalf. This letter will serve to help others who also find themselves in this same dilemma. The letter is as follows:
I read your account on Pensacola. The Pastors of Brownsville AOG came to a church in Irving, Texas a couple of weeks ago. My Pastor at my church had just come back from Pensacola and urged all of us to visit the Church in Irving while the Revival people were there. I went for many of the same reasons you did except I was alone. I did not see anyone slain but did see some people shaking. Now people in my church are starting to be slain. I am very concerned, and I also feel that it has a demonic nature. I am not sure what to do about this, our church is very small and all the people in it feel that this is of God. I on the other hand do not and I think I am the only one. I also checked on one of their claims about kids falling out “In The Spirit” in the local Pensacola High School. I spoke with the Vice Principal, and he told me that he knew about the Brownsville AOG, but has not seen any instances of what they claimed, nor does he know of it in any school in the area. This was a blatant lie. Do you have any suggestions on how I should handle this? I have been praying for guidance and feel the Lord wants me to approach my pastor with what I know. Thank you for your account of your experience at the Pensacola outpouring. It has raised my confidence, until now I thought that I was basically alone in my position. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you and God Bless.
Beloved, can’t you feel the concern and sincerity of this dear brother? I thank God for his desire to be led of the Lord in this very important matter.
My Answer
Dear Brother, my word to you and to all the others who find themselves in this same situation is this: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5). I truly believe that the Lord will give you a specific conviction of what to do based on “sound biblical truth.” Certainly, the scriptures teach us to go to our brother and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” (Mt. 18:15-17). It would be wonderful if your pastor and the other members could be delivered from this “strange phenomena” that you speak about; however, they may insist that you are the one that is deceived and that you need to be delivered. I can’t give you a … “Thus saith the Lord” because I believe it would be God’s best for you to seek the Lord and be fully persuaded in your own mind as to what to do. Then, you could move in faith and feel good about what you were doing.
The Apostle Paul gave this advice to young Timothy … “Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” (I Ti. 4:1). Could this be what is happening at your church? I don’t know. You seek the Lord for his discernment about what is going on there. Also Paul had this to say about a brother who had forsaken sound doctrine and teaching. “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” (II Th. 3:6).
In closing, I would encourage all of God’s people to seek the Lord with all your heart. Don’t seek signs, wonders, laughing spirits, jumping and jerking spirits, or to be slain in the spirit. Jesus is all we need … plus nothing minus nothing. “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (I Co. 1:30- 31).