That's what troubles me,the above is something that totally contradicts what I learned from him on who it is we follow.Stranger things have happened I suppose but I sure wouldn't have picked him as a heretic.I still don't as it happens,certainly not on the basis of five minutes worth of Googling and I'd hope no one else here would rush to trash any brother or sister in Christ either.
Certainly I could be wrong,but over a decade of listening to someone and getting to know them from what they've said (and the way they have said it) is not going down the drain with half a dozen quotes on google and since I'm no follower of his or anyone elses for that matter,I'm not sure I'm overly inclined to follow up much.
I suppose that if we all did what 2 Peter 1:10 says then there wouldn't be anywhere near the amount of deception going on.
I encourage you to trust your discernment and 10+ years of listening and the edification therefrom.
The only explanation I might have for the “Mark of The Beast” thing is the sort of thing that happened a few times in a very anointed house church ministry I knew in San Diego.
The couple leading it—an MD and his wife—experienced an interesting phenomena several times-I think one or two of the other leaders did as well.
As well as I can describe it—sometimes the enemy caused one of the partners to hear something that was not said. The partner really heard audibly words that were twisted by the enemy and from the enemy to be heard as though the other partner said them.
Other times, it was as though one partner actually said things that the speaker insisted they had NOT said. In those cases, it was soooo out of character for the speaker that the others knew the enemy must have been involved.
I believe I can discern Kenneth’s heart and spirit as well. There’s no way he’s sold out to anything or anyone but Jesus the Christ of Nazareth who came in the flesh . . . died on the Cross . . . rose again . . . etc.
There’s no way Kenneth advocates for anyone that they take the Mark of The Beast.
The closest I can imagine to that is the Scripture about let him who’s righteous be righteous still; him that’s evil, be evil still.
Thanks for your commentary. It’s congruent with my long ago limited listening to a number of Copeland’s tapes.
I say again . . . which folks glibly ignore . . . virtually ANYONE who had 100% of their statements—much more so their thoughts—broadcast routinely for decades—would have more than enough fodder for other Christians to consign them to hell or the funny farm.
That’s true for virtually any preacher and any Christian.
People have no idea, seemingly, about the hideousness of the critical spirit. Judging in the flesh is not pretty and it does not have pretty consequences.
Please pray about this in terms of your discomfort with ‘tongues.’
—it’s not per se natural in the sense of being familiar, comfortable from familiarity etc. Of course it’s going to feel somewhat uncomfortable initially—IF ONE FOCUSES on the sensations vs on Jesus.
—Satan has a strong investment in tweaking up our natural discomforts with anything which would facilitate communication with or closeness with Jesus.
—we are, as mortals, usually, far too addicted to ‘fear of man’ and approval of others. How does one imagine approval for doing something there’s NO SCRIPT FOR—NO WAY TO “GET IT RIGHT” FOR YOU BECAUSE IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE UNIQUE FOR YOU BETWEEN YOU AND GOD.
—I think that’s ACTUALLY ONE of the strategies, objectives and benefits of tongues—it FORCES—in a sense—us to ‘get over our-selves’ and abandon to God. NOT in a possessed sense—HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT LIKE DEMONIC SPIRITS ON SUCH SCORES. He only comes and influences as in a dance where He’s invited.
—And, the enemy is always looking for a chance—often for months or longer afterwards—even with folks who are energetically praying routinely in tongues—the enemy is looking for a chance to get them to focus on the sensations etc. and to start doubting and feeling so uncomfortable that they abandon the whole thing because he knows how powerful it is in their relationship with God and against satan’s kingdom.
—And, as The Lord made clear to me one time when I no longer experienced the ‘electric Holy Spirit goose bumps’ types of sensations when praying in tongues—WAS I DOING IT IN FAITH OR NOT? DID I RECEIVE SALVATION BY FAITH OR NOT? WAS I GOING TO TRUST HOLY SPIRIT TO CONVEY HIS PERFECT MEANING TO WHATEVER SHOUDS I UTTERED, OR NOT.
—That settled it for me. Sometimes the electric Holy Spirit goose bumps are there and usually not. As one of the best pastors of my life said . . . we walk by faith, not by feelings. But praise God when the feelings come.
—Most often, the supernatural sensations are there when I’m ministering to someone and the anointing comes over me—as can happen when I’m praying in English or in tongues. When the experience occurs when I’m praying in tongues as with a stuck client situation or when functioning on the altar prayer team—the interpretation follows and I give that.
Perhaps you could consider going back to God and noting that you are eager to receive and practice all the Biblical Gifts of His Spirit that he has for you. That you’d at least like to be able to pray in tongues. Then step out in faith obediently with sound sequences not from a lanugage you have learned and see how God affirms such efforts with fruit in your life.
Thanks for sharing your testimony. I think you are quite accurate about Kenneth. Most of the greats of the Bible had flaws ‘worthy buckets of rocks.’
If someone is sold out to Jesus and overwhelmingly talks like it and more walks like it—that’s good enough for me.
Some would not consider Copeland a "brother" in Christ as you might believe he is , rather one who abuses the things of God, His Sheep , and trashes His written word...which does not reflect the Christ of Christianity. Copeland is one of the fathers of the Toronto/Brownsville "counterfeit" revival movement...which is more than revealing.
The very 'same deception' running rampant throughout the world of NON-Christian cults is now running rampant throughout the Word-Faith/Charismatic movement..... And innocent, impressionable people many of whom are Christians, are falling prey to the savage wolves that Paul warned against in Acts chapter 20...
......"I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in 'among you' and will not spare the flock.... Even 'from your own number' men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them..... So be on your guard!.... Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears".
listening to someone and getting to know them from what they've said (and the way they have said it)
and again....".Many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with 'feigned words' make merchandise of you:.... whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." 2 Peter 2:2-3
... Paul warns us that at the end of the age inside the church there will be teachings of demons. That it will be extremely dangerous to believers who do not know the word correctly and do not watch what they are being taught:...........“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons”..1 Timothy 4:1
The true gospel says,... if you have two coats and see your brother in Christ without one you must give the extra to him...... The prosperity gospel Copeland and other false teachers says,..... "Look at all the coats that God has given me, why has he not given you one?"
I'm not sure I'm overly inclined to follow up much.
Perhaps this will be helpful:
.. "The Lines have been Drawn in the Sand.....On one side of the line there are those who refuse to recognize the Bible as their final authority by falling head-over-heels for new improved gimmicks,... spiritual techniques,... extra-Biblical "revelation knowledge"... and the very words uttered by their "anointed" leaders..... They will defend their leaders...by using the same scripture-twisting tactics as the cults...regardless of what their leaders say or do.
On the other side of the line are the well grounded Christians,... who love the Lord with all their heart;... who stand ready to defend the faith, with Bibles in their hands, against the masters of deception;... the savage wolves who proclaim Jesus Christ in one breath, but deny Him in another"..... (Jude 3; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Corinthians 11:3-4).
http://letusreason.org/Wf37.htm (Let Us Reason.org)