Are You Seeking Signs and Wonders?

John Crowder is the guy dressed like a monk in the video. He is known for his Sloshfest that occurs annually. Even though there is no alcohol or actual cigarettes (or joints), at the event, people clearly appear to be intoxicated. Crowder is also known for his “tokin’ the ghost” where he will take an imaginary joint from his pocket and pretend to take tokes of it. He readily states he is smoking the Holy Spirit or “Jehovahjuana.” How is this avoiding the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22)? How is it not blasphemy?

Crowder teaches a number of heretical  views, stating that Christians are now perfect, that we no longer have a sin nature, and that if a person is truly saved, they won’t sin any longer, certainly implying that whatever he does is never sinful. His church services are filled with “signs and wonders” where anything can and often does happen.

The trouble really begins when Christians start seeking signs and wonders in the first place. Christians should not be seeking signs (Matthew 12:39; 16:4). Jesus condemned the thinking of those who constantly wanted Him to “perform” for them.Yet, there is this large element within Charismatic circles (NAR especially) and Christendom in general, where God is always asked to “perform” for us. “Give us something more! Send us miracles! Let us hear your voice! Speak to us!” But are we willing to simply obey Him first and foremost?

Let me reiterate that I spent a number of years deeply involved in the Charismatic Movement. I spoke in “tongues,” witnessed “healings,” and even heard what I assumed to be God’s voice within myself on several occasions. To this day, if my life depended on knowing whether or not that voice was God’s or the devil’s, I would not be able to swear on it either way. Something clearly spoke and at the time it seemed as though it had been God, but there is absolutely no way to know for certain. It would not surprise me to learn when I stand before Him that it was Satan pretending to be God so that I would get used to his voice. Eventually, I would be led into full-blown error and away from God. Apostasy often happens incrementally.

I find it interesting that within Charismatic circles, it is routinely claimed that God is always doing “something new.” His new work is just around the corner. Have faith. Believe it. Receive it.

Why does He always have to be doing something new? It’s not God who needs to do anything new as He did something totally new and unexpected at the cross. It’s people who apparently get bored and want something new to happen.

Peter preached – simply preached – and 3,000 were saved (Acts 2)! Yes, there were “unknown” languages spoken by the 120 but it is interesting that while the languages were unknown to the speakers, people listening understood them praising God in their language (Acts 2). Today, that has morphed into “tongues” for our private prayers. Even so, Paul gives very specifics for using the gift of tongues in a public setting, which guidelines are often ignored today.

A church we used to attend is now trying to determine if there is enough interest from girls and women attendees to be involved in interpretive dance during worship services. Do we really need women dancing during worship services? How is that scriptural? King David was one case and he was king at the time. Could dancing end up being provocative? Could it cater to the flesh?

What is it going to take for people to wake up from this demonic assault on Christ’s Bride, the Church? Just as Eve and Adam invited sin into God’s Creation, Christians are inviting demonic spirits into worship services.

As long as people seek after God by wanting to experience Him, there is always room for Satan and his minions to counterfeit a movement of God. This is not to say that Christians are to resolve to be devoid of feeling (1 Corinthians 13). However, Christians spend way too much time chasing after experience simply assuming all experiences encountered are of God simply because Christians are seeking it.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15 KJV)

Verse 14 tells us Satan is extremely capable of appearing as an angel of light. Why an angel of light? Because God is Light and in Him there is no darkness (1 John 1:5).

Satan has always endeavored to be like God (Isaiah 14). For the Christian, Paul says Satan attempts to actually don the disguise of light to appear as God. If he can pull that off, then he has done most of the work needed to deceive. It stands to reason if Satan can do that, he is going to give the power of those who minister on his behalf (demons and people), the ability to do the same thing.

No one – and I mean no one! – is above being deceived, myself included. This is why we are told to remain “vigilant” and to be “sober-minded” because our adversary the devil roams around for the sole purpose of seeing who he can devour (1 Peter 5:8). Peter was very concerned about how false prophets/teachers work. We protect ourselves by immersing ourselves in God’s Word and through prayer.

1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. (2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV)

The New Testament is filled with warnings to believers that as the end of this age approaches, there will be a proliferation of false prophets and teachers. We’re seeing that and they all have one thing in common (aside from their aberrant theology). They cater to how people feel by providing experiences that make people feel wonderful. They want us to experience God, but they take no responsibility for the fact that they may be unleashing and releasing in the church everything to do with Satan! And they do it solely for financial gain.

Notice in verse 3, Peter tells us clearly that the people he is speaking about are greedy, willing to do whatever it takes to exploit you and me. I love the way it reads in the King James Version –

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you…

Wow! To them, we are simply wallets that walk and talk. They use us to enrich themselves. You don’t think so? At one recent conference, a speaker spent 30 minutes talking about the need to raise $5,000,000 (yes, five million dollars), to carry on the “cause” of Christ. He meant, be able to put the conferences on the road show.

Tune into any Word of Faith preacher and it won’t be long before they start talking about money and hitting people up for it. These people live so high off the hog that most of us cannot relate to that lifestyle at all. This is their normal. Huge homes, expensive jets and cars, tons of clothing, travel and the rest and it’s all tax-deductible and their salaries are normally not taxed either. They are merchandising people.

The only way you can avoid being merchandised is to stop seeking signs and wonders. Seek to be obedient to God and you will avoid succumbing to the flesh. He will fill you with His love as He sees fit and He will also conform you to the image of His beloved Son, Jesus. There may be times of grief and sorrows as well, but that is also part of God’s heart.

Immerse yourself in God’s Word. Start today.