And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. - Luke 9: 23-24 (ESV)
The real Jesus said we will have tribulation in this life. He said we will be persecuted for the sake of His name. He said we must deny ourselves, lose our life, and pick up our cross. Do you want to know the secret of spotting a false statement? Try applying it across the globe. The Word of God is not just for Americans. It is the same for those in the underground church in China. It is the same for those languishing in prison for their beliefs in many Muslim countries. It is for those living in the despair of abject poverty in many third world countries. Try telling Christians in Cambodia, who live on dirty water and little else, that God never intends misery. Preach to the families of the 2123 martyred Christians in 2013 that God never intends for them to die prematurely. Prophesy to the families of Christians who died from cancer last year that we are to never suffer from a crippling illness. Prince can try to be cute here because of the way he coached his words. No one really dies prematurely, God is always in control and takes us when He wants to. No one should ever live a life of "misery" because the joy of the Lord is our strength. Illness entered the world through sin, not the design of God. These larger theological points are of course not what Joseph Prince is inferring. We know this by listening to the bulk of his preaching. It is all made up of this sugar-laced, feel good blather that represents a different Jesus than the one presented in the Word of God. We put up with it readily enough. In fact, we do more than put up with it. We seek it out. We lap it up.
Secondly, Paul says that if a different spirit is received it is also put up with readily enough. We see this rampant throughout the charismatic churches today. Instead of seeking a biblical Christianity we see many pursuing an experiential Christianity. Chasing the next big thing. Following false prophets and charlatan healers instead of being found in His Word. What people think is prophecy these days is nothing more than witchcraft and clairvoyance. Dabbling in spirits other than the Holy Spirit. Spirits other than the Spirit that God gave. That is what Paul is speaking to hear. A relatively unknown Facebook "Prophetess" recently posted this:
I just HEARD the SOUND of ANGELS tonight being DISPATCHED on "YOUR BEHALF"!! & even DESCENDING with YOUR (much needed) ANSWER!! & I gotta SAY, "IT'S ON IT'S WAY!! So REST in the LORD TONIGHT
What's the big deal? First of all, despite the relative anonymity she still has over 41,000 followers. Every post she makes is nearly the same and is always for everyone willing to type "amen." I present her as a microcosm of what Paul was speaking about. This nonsense is the same that people seek from the New Apostolic Reformation, Bill Johnson, Jesus Culture, Mike Bickle, IHOP, Cindy Jacobs, Todd Bentley or any other number of false prophets who ply their trade deceiving church folk. God has warned about this in these end times:
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. - 2Thessalonians 2: 9-12 (ESV)
The existence of signs and wonders does not indicate divine authority. On the last day people who performed many miracles will be told by Jesus that He never knew them. There are lying signs and wonders. They are not elements of fringe Christianity anymore. They are moving through the mainstream like leaven through a batch of dough. Absurd silliness like gemstones, gold dust, angel feathers, and glory clouds are now being more accepted by an increasingly immature Body of Christ. One of the other manifestations of demonic spirits influencing the modern church can be found in the heretical bridal paradigm, where Jesus is sexualized through the misuse and misunderstanding of intimacy. It is reinforced through lyrics which may as well come with a parental warning:
Kiss me with the kisses of Your mouth
How handsome, my Lover, You are
Oh, how charming, my Lover, You are
While the King was at His table
My perfume left its fragrance
My Lover is to me a flask of myrrh
No wonder the maidens love You
