I found this... interesting read
A. Pentecostalism traces itself back no further than New Years Eve, 1899. (Topeka, KS). This is when a small group of people supposedly received a "Divine Revelation" for the first time ever recorded.
1. The Lord's church dates back to 33 AD when the 12 disciples received the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:4).
2. This was a result of the fulfillment of the promise Jesus gave to his disciples. (Acts 1:8).
3. The Pentecostal church cannot show authority from God's word for its beginning!!
B. Pentecostalism teaches that the "power of the Holy Spirit" fell first on the 120 gathered in the upper room.
1. The Bible teaches that only the 12 disciples received first the "Holy Spirit". (Acts 1:26-2:1).
C. Pentecostalism believes that this power is received today because of the "New Revelation of God" in 1899.
1. The Bible teaches no such thing. (2 Tim 3:16-17).
2. The scripture holds all that man needs to know for his salvation. There are no new revelations.
D. Pentecostalism teaches that in 1914 another revelation was received, revealing that being baptized in "Jesus Name" became tenets of faith. Thus, they produced a law, a formula!
1. That is not what the Bible says. (Mat 28:19-20).
E. We find that in the early half of this century (1900 - 1944) several Pentecostal groups were established. Two of those are: Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ, Inc., and the Pentecostal Church, Inc. In 1944 these two bodies became known as the UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH. The authority is: Pentecostal Church Manual, pp. 8-10, Foreword.
1. The Bible teaches that the Lord established only one church. (Mat 16:18).
2. This is the only church that Christ and the Apostles ever speak of.
II. What are some of the Pentecostal practices?
A. They claim that through the instrument of the Holy Spirit, miracles and healing incurable diseases occur daily. Silver fillings become Gold, Poor become miraculously rich, Dead are raised, and Sick people instantly healed. I never saw anyone miraculously healed in all the years I was "Pentecostal."
1. I will not limit God. He has the power if he so chooses. Man does not have that power.
2. If he does, where is the proof? They call it: "lack of FAITH."
3. When does the Holy Spirit give to one man this power and not another? That is unscriptural.
a. Only the disciples and those they laid hands on had this power. They are all dead.
B. Pentecostalism teaches that a person may speak in "tongues" while under the influence of the "Holy Spirit" just like Peter and the other Apostles at Pentecost.
1. The only others who were able to do this were Cornelius and his kinfolk (Acts 10:44-46).
2. And those whom the apostles laid their hands on.
3. Don't we all have the continued influence of the Holy Spirit through the word? Can any one of us speak in an "unlearned" language?
C. "Pentecostalism" espouses religion as a "romantic" philosophy, that the heart of man has reasons which his mind knows not of, and that man's feelings are the highest authority.
1. The Bible is truth. (John 17:17). The truth is not subjective. It does not originate with a person's own thinking. Religion is not based on a "feel good" experience.
a. I get excited sometimes because of the truth. That is natural.
2. The Bible must be read, studied and obeyed. (2 Tim 2:15; John 8:31)
3. The Bible is the absolute, inspired and authoritative Word of God. (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21).
4. When a man regards his feelings as the basic authority, he is on the wrong path.
5. To reject the Word of God and do "that which is right in our own eyes" is to reject God. (1 Sam 15:22-26; Mat 7:13-14).
6. I feel good about the truth but my feeling good is not authority!
D. Pentecostalism believes and teaches that women may participate in leading in prayer, teaching, and preaching in public, and doing the work of an evangelist and teacher.
1. The Holy Spirit contrasted the duties of men from that of women in public prayer. (1 Tim 2:8-15).
2. Women are to learn in silence. (1 Cor 14:34). They are not to teach in any capacity over a man.
3. Women may teach younger women. (Titus 2:4). They may teach a man in private. (Acts 18:25).
a. Timothy was taught in private. Apollos was taught in private.
4. Women many not "teach" (deliver discourses). Women are forbidden to preach. (1 Cor. 14:34)
5. There are many things women can and should be doing.
E. "Pentecostalism" teaches that instruments of music are used to "glorify" God in worship.
1. True worship is according to "Spirit and Truth" (John 4:24), the word of God, not Moses, not our feelings, and not what we believe to be right. Jesus will judge us in the Last Day. (John 12:48)
2. Vocal music was repeatedly specified as the kind of worship God wants from Christians. (Col 3:16; Eph 5:19).
3. Christians are to abide in the teachings of Christ, not in man. (2 John 9-10). We are to follow the pattern given by God (Heb 8:5), without adding, subtracting or altering according to our own desires or opinions.
CONCLUSION:
I had read the Bible all my life. I preached that which I had been taught. When I doubted, I was always told of "new revelations" received from God. In the "Pentecostal" church, one is taught that the "Pastor" is the authority within the church, and knowledge is only gained by adherence to "God's man" and in the leading of the "Holy Spirit" directly. Accept that which you doubt with your faith.
Only until I realized that in order to understand the "Gospel" one must study with an open heart prepared to accept the truth of the "Gospel," and with this truth obey the word of God. The Bible really is a simple book to understand, but when man attempts to add to it, his opinion and his feelings, he begins to lose the truth and believe a lie.
Trust this word completely. Obey it! It contains all that man needs to get him into eternity with Jesus Christ.
A. Pentecostalism traces itself back no further than New Years Eve, 1899. (Topeka, KS). This is when a small group of people supposedly received a "Divine Revelation" for the first time ever recorded.
1. The Lord's church dates back to 33 AD when the 12 disciples received the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:4).
2. This was a result of the fulfillment of the promise Jesus gave to his disciples. (Acts 1:8).
3. The Pentecostal church cannot show authority from God's word for its beginning!!
B. Pentecostalism teaches that the "power of the Holy Spirit" fell first on the 120 gathered in the upper room.
1. The Bible teaches that only the 12 disciples received first the "Holy Spirit". (Acts 1:26-2:1).
C. Pentecostalism believes that this power is received today because of the "New Revelation of God" in 1899.
1. The Bible teaches no such thing. (2 Tim 3:16-17).
2. The scripture holds all that man needs to know for his salvation. There are no new revelations.
D. Pentecostalism teaches that in 1914 another revelation was received, revealing that being baptized in "Jesus Name" became tenets of faith. Thus, they produced a law, a formula!
1. That is not what the Bible says. (Mat 28:19-20).
E. We find that in the early half of this century (1900 - 1944) several Pentecostal groups were established. Two of those are: Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ, Inc., and the Pentecostal Church, Inc. In 1944 these two bodies became known as the UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH. The authority is: Pentecostal Church Manual, pp. 8-10, Foreword.
1. The Bible teaches that the Lord established only one church. (Mat 16:18).
2. This is the only church that Christ and the Apostles ever speak of.
II. What are some of the Pentecostal practices?
A. They claim that through the instrument of the Holy Spirit, miracles and healing incurable diseases occur daily. Silver fillings become Gold, Poor become miraculously rich, Dead are raised, and Sick people instantly healed. I never saw anyone miraculously healed in all the years I was "Pentecostal."
1. I will not limit God. He has the power if he so chooses. Man does not have that power.
2. If he does, where is the proof? They call it: "lack of FAITH."
3. When does the Holy Spirit give to one man this power and not another? That is unscriptural.
a. Only the disciples and those they laid hands on had this power. They are all dead.
B. Pentecostalism teaches that a person may speak in "tongues" while under the influence of the "Holy Spirit" just like Peter and the other Apostles at Pentecost.
1. The only others who were able to do this were Cornelius and his kinfolk (Acts 10:44-46).
2. And those whom the apostles laid their hands on.
3. Don't we all have the continued influence of the Holy Spirit through the word? Can any one of us speak in an "unlearned" language?
C. "Pentecostalism" espouses religion as a "romantic" philosophy, that the heart of man has reasons which his mind knows not of, and that man's feelings are the highest authority.
1. The Bible is truth. (John 17:17). The truth is not subjective. It does not originate with a person's own thinking. Religion is not based on a "feel good" experience.
a. I get excited sometimes because of the truth. That is natural.
2. The Bible must be read, studied and obeyed. (2 Tim 2:15; John 8:31)
3. The Bible is the absolute, inspired and authoritative Word of God. (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21).
4. When a man regards his feelings as the basic authority, he is on the wrong path.
5. To reject the Word of God and do "that which is right in our own eyes" is to reject God. (1 Sam 15:22-26; Mat 7:13-14).
6. I feel good about the truth but my feeling good is not authority!
D. Pentecostalism believes and teaches that women may participate in leading in prayer, teaching, and preaching in public, and doing the work of an evangelist and teacher.
1. The Holy Spirit contrasted the duties of men from that of women in public prayer. (1 Tim 2:8-15).
2. Women are to learn in silence. (1 Cor 14:34). They are not to teach in any capacity over a man.
3. Women may teach younger women. (Titus 2:4). They may teach a man in private. (Acts 18:25).
a. Timothy was taught in private. Apollos was taught in private.
4. Women many not "teach" (deliver discourses). Women are forbidden to preach. (1 Cor. 14:34)
5. There are many things women can and should be doing.
E. "Pentecostalism" teaches that instruments of music are used to "glorify" God in worship.
1. True worship is according to "Spirit and Truth" (John 4:24), the word of God, not Moses, not our feelings, and not what we believe to be right. Jesus will judge us in the Last Day. (John 12:48)
2. Vocal music was repeatedly specified as the kind of worship God wants from Christians. (Col 3:16; Eph 5:19).
3. Christians are to abide in the teachings of Christ, not in man. (2 John 9-10). We are to follow the pattern given by God (Heb 8:5), without adding, subtracting or altering according to our own desires or opinions.
CONCLUSION:
I had read the Bible all my life. I preached that which I had been taught. When I doubted, I was always told of "new revelations" received from God. In the "Pentecostal" church, one is taught that the "Pastor" is the authority within the church, and knowledge is only gained by adherence to "God's man" and in the leading of the "Holy Spirit" directly. Accept that which you doubt with your faith.
Only until I realized that in order to understand the "Gospel" one must study with an open heart prepared to accept the truth of the "Gospel," and with this truth obey the word of God. The Bible really is a simple book to understand, but when man attempts to add to it, his opinion and his feelings, he begins to lose the truth and believe a lie.
Trust this word completely. Obey it! It contains all that man needs to get him into eternity with Jesus Christ.