Another star has fallen! Yet another superstar within the New Zealand Charismatic movement has been found out - ... years of practised adultery has been uncovered.

My friend, this star fell a long time ago. But gullible Christians by the thousands submitted their lives to him, and held him in the highest regard. They were in delusion to have done so - certainly not people in step with the Holy Spirit - whatever their claimed 'spiritual experiences' may have been. They yet need to repent.

Has Pentecost left the Pentecostals? Or was it ever there? Maybe not! The important thing is, 'What do we learn from all of this'? For God may teach us more from the obvious sin and failure of so-called great Pentecostal men such as Neville Johnson, Jim Williams and now Ian Bilby - and dozens of other failed 'pastors', 'teachers' and 'prophets' throughout this small nation, than He ever could have through their ministries.

I write here mostly to those hundreds of New Wineskin's readers who have left structured churches and somehow seek to function in God in better ways, and to truly know Him.

There is very little evidence of a true Pentecost in today's Pentecostal movements. Those calling themselves 'Charismatic' have a more honest label. Our dictionary says that 'charismatic' is an adjective describing people, "Who have the power to attract or influence people." (I find that an interesting comment). It also comes from the Greek word charisma meaning 'A gift of grace'. Amongst other things this refers to the gifts of the Spirit.

Although Charismatics claim their title from their belief in the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, it is obvious that increasingly humanistic counselling is more depended upon as the greater "cure-all". And as the gifts of the Spirit can all be counterfeited by both human psyche and evil spirits, these have also noticeably become the powers by which some Christians operate. Particularly in 'prophecy' and 'words of knowledge' I have noticed.

We need to understand that much more than supernatural gifts arrived on the Day of Pentecost. Historically, Pentecost had become part of an important period of the Jewish calendar. And this particular day was the day that God, in response to His acceptance of Christ's redemptive work on the cross, and His being glorified again in heaven, poured out His own Spirit - that He, God, might take up residence in those newly born believers. His people ... His temple ... His dwelling place on earth.

These believers as a consequence found within themselves this great Gift of the nature of God. Far greater than the power to work miracles they became a holy, 'righteous living' - 'agape - filled', compassionate community - such as never witnessed before on earth. Arguably this was a more profound act than the creation of Adam and Eve itself!

If we could better understand the eternal plans and purposes of God for His people, and the divine arrangement between Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we would better understand Pentecost. When the Son of God came born of a virgin, He grew up as a unique human who fully embodied the Godhead. What people saw of Jesus expressed the invisibles of God. The character and nature of the Son was much more pleasing to the Father than the miracles He did. Yes - people responded excitedly to the supernatural things He did, but only those who responded to His Person could ever be His disciples.

In similar vein, when the Spirit of God was poured out upon believers at Jerusalem, what they then expressed in their actions, attitudes and transformed lives came from their embodiment of God's own Almighty Spirit - now present within. This transformation was immediate and total. That was your real Pentecost ... the coming of the fullness of God's Person into His people. A revelation that both Pentecostals and non - Pentecostals of us know very little about. For we of modern day Christendom know this same God so very little.

"... much more than supernatural gifts arrived on the Day of Pentecost."

While many today follow their leaders who have charisma or who seem to work supernaturally, I only feel safe submitting to men who walk in a living righteousness with God. Like Jesus their strength is in their meekness, their transparency, their compassion, their wholeness and integrity, their unity with God.

In the early 1900's an amazing event began in an inconspicuous little building in Azusa St, USA. Believers, in a loosely associated way began to be moved upon by God in an awesome manifestation of His Holy Presence. People blocks away were drawn to this place not knowing why. Some were suddenly struck down with guilt as they walked past. God began to initiate a cleaning up of people's hearts to where holiness and transparency became part of a new level of relationship between He and His people.

However, among them were those - probably 'nice, keen Christian folk' - whose hearts were still corrupted by their flesh and ambition. They as much said, "Look, God is here. Lets build for Him new structures in which to administer His Presence. Let us now be 'Spirit filled' men and become responsible guardians, propagators and administrators of these supernatural gifts and manifestations. Let's programme the Spirit of God into a special church movement dedicated to Him. For unless we administrate these things they could get out of hand!" (see Luke 9:29-3 5)

In so doing these Pentecostals drew back from the real Pentecost. They thought they could keep the Sovereignty of God's Spirit in their pockets, instead of giving all the initiative to God. Not for them to be a people with souls laid bare for all God would be and do amongst them. They tried to steady the ark that no man should touch! They had witnessed the transfiguration and wanted to build a structure! In pulling away to do their own God-thing they really pulled back from God. Through these people a new structured church movement was formed, known as the Assemblies of God. They took with them their bag of goodies - those new found gifts of the Spirit - order to serve God the way they wanted to.

Why is it that down through the centuries, as soon as God manifests Himself His people say - "Wow, what we can do with this!" Why not just rest in Him, wait on Him, enjoy?

Frank Bartleman was one of those who saw through this soulishness. He recorded the events in a book called "What Happened at Azusa Street". As a perceptive believer he was one of those that did not pull back, and speaks with concern of those who did. He watched the birth of yet another structure with great misgivings. And that movement has never changed. Corruption was already within its foundations - founded by men who wished to 'steady the Ark'. (See 2 Samuel 6:6-7)

All church structures, be they Pentecostal or not have this main blasphemy. Man sits in the seat of control (on 'God's behalf) where God's Spirit alone should be the Initiator and Administrator of all things - making Jesus Christ actively Lord in all we say and do.

"In pulling away to do their own God-thing, they really pulled back from God."

Frank Bartleman writes;

"But we had no pope or hierarchy. We were brethren. We had no human programme. The Lord Himself was leading. We had no priest class, nor priest craft. These things have come in later with the apostacising of the movement. We did not even have a platform in the beginning. All were on a level.
The ministers were servants, according to the true meaning of the word. We did not honour men for their advantage in means or education, but rather for their God-given gifts. He set the members in the 'body'. Now "A wonderful and horrible thing is come to pass in the land. The prophets prophesy falsely and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will you do in the end." Jer 5:30,31

No subjects or sermons were announced ahead of time, and no special speakers for such an hour. No one knew what might be coming or what God would do. All was spontaneous, ordered of the Spirit. We wanted to hear from God, through whomever He might speak. We had no 'respect of persons'. The rich and the educated were the same as the poor and the ignorant, and found a much harder death to die. We only recognised God. All were equal. No flesh might glory in His presence. He could not use the self-opinionated. Those were Holy Ghost meetings, led of the Lord. It had to start in poor surroundings, to keep out the selfish, human element. All came down in humility together, at His feet. They looked alike, and had all things in common in that sense at least. The rafters were low, the tall must come down. By the time they got to Azusa they were humbled, ready for the blessing. The fodder was thus placed for the lambs, not for giraffes. All could reach it.

We were delivered right there from ecclesiastical hierarchism and abuse. We wanted God. When we first reached the meeting we avoided as much as possible human contact and greeting. We wanted to meet God first. We got our head under some bench in the corner in prayer, and met men only in the Spirit, knowing them 'after the flesh' no more.

The meetings started themselves, spontaneously, in testimony, praise and worship. The testimonies were never hurried by a call for 'popcorn'. We had no pre-arranged programme to be jammed through on time. Our time was the Lord's. We had real testimonies from fresh heart experiences. Otherwise the shorter the testimonies the better. A dozen might be on their feet at one time, trembling under the mighty power of God. We did not have to get out cue from some leader. And we were free from lawlessness.

We were shut up to God in prayer in the meetings, our minds on Him. All obeyed God, in meekness and humility. In honour we "preferred one another". The Lord was liable to burst through anyone. We prayed for this continually. Someone would finally get up appointed for the messages. All seemed to recognise this and give way. It might be a child, a woman) or a man. It might be from the back seat or from the front. It made no difference. We rejoiced that God was working. No one wished to show himself.

We thought only of obeying God. In fact there was an atmosphere of God there that forbade anyone but a fool attempting to put himself forward without real anointing. And such did not last long ... the meetings were controlled by the Spirit, from the throne. Those were truly wonderful days. I often said I would rather live six months at the time than fifty years of ordinary life. But God is just the same today. Only we have changed.

Someone might be speaking. Suddenly the Spirit would fall on the congregation. God Himself would give the altar call. Men would fall over the house, like the slain in battle, or rush for the altar enmasse, to seek God. The scene cannot be imitated. I never saw an altar call given in those days. God Himself would call them.

And the preacher knew when to quit. When He spoke all obeyed. It seemed a fearful thing to hinder or grieve the Spirit. The whole place was steeped in prayer. God was in His holy temple. It was for man to keep silent...

"... but we drift continually into the old, backslidden, ecclesiastical conceptions, forms and ceremonies. Thus history sadly repeats itself."

Men must come to know their own weakness before they can hope to know God's strength. The natural strength and ability of man is always the greatest hindrance to the work of God, and to God working. This is why we had such a deep dying out, especially for the mission. God was preparing His workers for their mission.

Some nights we were held in the hall until daylight. We could not get away. God was so near no one felt tired or sleepy. I had much real soul travail here. In some meetings suppressed groans were about all one could hear. Very much prayer characterised the services. The Spirit was waited upon for every move, and He took complete control. No two services were alike. In one meeting the very silence of heaven took possession of us for about four hours. Scarcely a sound was uttered. The place became so steeped in prayer and sacred that we closed the door softly, and walked the same, scarcely speaking to one another, and then only in whispers.

Another night we were held in adoration and praise for hours. We seemed to be looking into the very face of God. There was no boisterousness in these meetings, but a subdued spirit throughout."

We feared nothing more in those days than to seek our own glory, or that the Pentecostal experience should become a matter of past history... but we drift continually into the old, backslidden, ecclesiastical conceptions forms and ceremonies. Thus history sadly repeats itself."

The truth must be told. Azusa began to fail the Lord also."

You will notice that Frank Bartleman quotes from Jeremiah 5:30-31, "A wonderful and horrible thing is come to pass in the land The prophets prophesy falsely and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will you do in the end"

I searched earlier in the chapter to understand the context of these words. I came across something that reinforced the burden of my own heart. I quote from Jeremiah 5:22-23. "Should you not fear me? Declares the Lord. Should you not tremble in My presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot cross it. But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away."

The people of Israel had tried to cross boundaries they had no right to cross. "The prophets prophesied falsely." They had said, hear the word of the Lord when He had not spoken. They said, 'These are God's words,' when they weren't. "The priests bear rule by their own means." The priests ran the show the way they thought best. They were not a priesthood moving under the authority of God over them. Both prophets and priests 'played God.' They went where no man of God should ever go. They set themselves up as those moving in God's words and God's ways when they weren't. They took His place in rebellion. Being soulish, they claimed they were spiritual. They were like a rebellious sea usurping itself over the land. The outcome of all this grieves me even as I write it. God says simply, "... and my people love to have it so.

Look no further. I believe this message lifts the lid on churchianity today. It's like a conspiracy. Not only do leadership hold themselves out to be the special anointed of God, counterfeiting His presence upon the people, the people just love it. Nothing has changed. The hearts of God's people in this day are similar to those rebellious periods of His people in the Old Testament times. All this is a corruption, an evil co-dependency, that should be deeply repented of by both the instigators (leadership) and their very willing accomplices (congregations.)

The time spoken of here has already come. "For the time is coming when people will not tolerate sound and wholesome instruction, but having itching ears (for something pleasing and gratifying) they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own itching, and to foster the errors they hold - and will turn aside from hearing truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions." 2 Timothy 4:3-4 Amplified Version.

But what about we who have seen through such things? What is our responsibility? What manner of people ought we to be? Wherever you and I are at right now ... whatever our circumstances ... whatever our excuses ... unless we turn to God with all our hearts ... allow Him to lay all bare before Him ... and God alone to take charge of our daily living ... you and I too must go on sharing some blame for the sham of our modern day Christianity.

The sea must not take over the land. Our soulishness should never play the spiritual. And unless we are willing to pay the price of living within the realm of God's Spirit, I fear that anything spiritual we attempt to do will become soulish in the end. As God asks rebellious Israel,
"... but what will you do in the end?"