Pt 2 Bevere’s message In Hawaii

This is some highlights of a message John Bevere gave here in Hawaii (2014) at Inspire Church. Keep in mind the former quotes, as we further identify his authoritarian vein throughout his message. It’s not just what Bevere says, but how he says it; and what he means by it that brings concern.

Pastor Kai introduces Bevere as his older spiritual brother, one of the greatest influences on his church, his mentor. “He has been sittin’ in the front row 6 days or in the hotel waiting for his turn;”here it is, its his turn, he’s ready he’s going to bring a powerful word … this is one of the greatest influences (of his church) of God bring John and Lisa Bevere into our lives 6-7 years ago.”

Kai asks the church to give him an awesome arise welcome to John Bevere (church breaks then out in celebration.)

Bevere responds saying this is his home church in Hawaii and loves them. Bevere begins speaking,

“I just want to say the presence of God, there’s something special on this conference, just as there is something very special on this church. I sense the hand of God on this church so strong… and tells them not to miss next year’s conference. He tells them their leaders are a gift of God to them.

What I heard throughout his message; Bevere engages in flattery, hype and enthusiasm. He is smothering the pastor and people with a flood of flatteries. Calls the pastor Papa Mike and his wife moma lisa, and uncle John is in the house (himself). Tells the church to “I want to tell you something, never take for granted what God has given you in this church, never” (the gift god has given them, referring to the pastor as being extra special), insisting God is continually working.

Bevere then shows pictures of his family and speaks of his wife as “smoking hot and gorgeous,” and said “if you were single I would be so on to your trail.”

I have never heard a pastor or teacher say this about their wife from the pulpit, it certainly is unbecoming and shows something awry to begin this way. Let this be an example for others who do this kind of talk over the pulpit.

After showing his family tree his message finally begins with him saying “How many of you want your lives changed forever today?” Can you say amen, well the Bible says you’re not gonna to have because your not gonna ask. “And I did not fly all the way over to here just to give a message. I want to see God bring change to this church to your life and to your family ... and to your world of influence.

He then prays to the Father that he raised up his servants to lead such an army in this state.

“I’m asking today again Holy Spirit invade this sanctuary.” I can do or say nothing apart from you.” “But I’m asking you that Lord you would anoint me with your powerful presence to bring forth your word. Let it be with your heart as well, as if Jesus was hear speaking it today. For I decree your kingdom has come within us, your will shall be done this place on earth as it is in heaven…” Everyone agrees, shouts are heard.

“Sit down so we can get into this alright. Bevere tells the church “they are amazing.” “I really feel I’m around Christians when I’m here.”

What we have seen is basically the flattery and hype before the message, and it continues in it.

He begins by saying this message began in his heart last year, it’s on the Holy Spirit. Talks about an extended fast he went on, which is what he does when he is going to write a book. The Lord directed him to read the book of Acts – where scriptures started jumping out everywhere!” all the scriptures dealt with the exact same thing, … how much the early believers looked to, interacted with, depended on and spoke about the Holy Spirit. I mean he was preeminent in everything they did.

What became apparently clear to me is that what is common among them seems to be more uncommon today in the American church’s (bur not according to all the Pentecostal revivalists he associates with.)

He then says “Let me just make this statement”… You basically have no Christianity without the Holy Spirit” (true). You remove the Holy Spirit and we become a social club or a religious institution (I agree).

He says The Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood Person in the Church (Not so much with all).

The problem that rises when you speak of the Him (Holy Spirit)… is that people immediately think of his manifestation, his gifts, his power instead of thinking of Him as a person (basically agree). We have to settle this, is the Holy Spirit a person, the third person of the Godhead or is he a powerful influence that emanates from the Father and the Son…”

He then tells the church if you see him as a person then you will not make statements such as I want more of the Holy Spirit. “if I had one dollar for everytime for every time I heard somebody in the church refer to the Holy Spirit as an it, I would be really wealthy. “But if you carefully look at the scripture you would realize he’s not an it, he’s a person. Because he has a mind… a will of his own… he has emotions, he comforts. In fact he speaks … he can be grieved, insulted… he can be resisted, he can be lied to.” (For the most part, this is all agreeable)

He then continues on the attributes and characteristics of the Holy Spirit. Stating about some speaking of him in Sunday school when they were kids, that he is a dove or you get a little flame on some guys head.

“The Bible says in all 4 gospels, he descended on Jesus like a dove, that doesn’t mean he is a dove”  (redundant comment).

With some truth also comes error…

He then presents what Paul says. 2 Cor. 13:14 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ now what is he doing? He’s highlighting the role of each of the three persons of the Godhead in our lives. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When you think about Jesus the first word that comes to you is what his grace has done for you…

And he goes to say and the love of God, when you think of the Father there is nothing more that stands out than the love of the father…then he goes on to the Holy Spirit and he says the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” …

“Now notice he is not saying the fellowship of Jesus be with you, why doesn’t he say that? “Because Jesus is a few billion miles away, he is at the right hand of the Father, at the physical throne of God. Okay. ”So he left in the clouds and the angels said to the disciples he’s not coming back until the way he left, in the clouds, ok so he hasn’t come back yet. (underline mine)

It was Benny Hinn who made this point of the Holy Spirit. This also reminds me of Jesse Duplantis who asked an angel when he supposedly was in heaven, “Where's the Holy Spirit?” (because he didn’t see him there.) The angel tells him he’s on earth (But he can’t see him on earth either.)

Bevere’s statement makes the same point as the booklet on the Holy Spirit from Alpha Course by Nicky Gumbel does. Not only has the Holy Spirit been ignored he’s also been misunderstood -Gumbel.

“As he said in 1 Cor.3:9 the only person he could be talking about is the Holy Spirit. Because he’s the one that’s here on earth, are you with me?”

After making some correlations of Abraham and Moses speaking to God and having him change his mind, he says Jesus is going to continually be with you and in you,” which does contradict what he said of him being a billion miles away.

Bevere seems to imply Jesus left it all to the Holy Spirit, that it is only “He” we have fellowship with.

Communion is the same word as fellowship, koinonia. It is also used of the Father and the Son. Bevere needs to spend more time in his study time (after all he is sent, speaking for God).

For Bevere to say He is not saying the fellowship of Jesus be with you (the communion of Jesus), is wrong.

I Jn. 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

1 Cor. 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Koinonia means partnership Gr. koinonos from 2839; a sharer, i.e. associate: 842 koinonia from 2844; partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction: KJV-- (to) communicate (-ation), communion, (contri-) distribution, fellowship. This we have with the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit, our helper.

Pastor Mike Kai does not see the error in this, which is his theme?

Bevere: He tells us God the Father came down on the Mt in Exodus. They misunderstood him.

I want to pause here. First, he making some straw man argument to knock it down easily because he is going somewhere with all this. He is taking people on a journey to a conclusion.

As far as the Father on earth: In Exod.3:2 And the Angel (messenger) of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush telling him is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Exod 20:2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt” (the messenger of the Lord led them out). Heb.8:5 and elsewhere does confirm this is the pre-incarnate Jesus, the Son of God, not the Father. There is no justification to say this is the Father when he has always had a mediator with man. No, The Father did not come to earth, and appear on the mountain with Moses. Furthermore, not all the leaders in Israel rejected Jesus. He needs to qualify his statements better. Because He is making a correlation of Israel not knowing their Messiah to the church not knowing the Holy Spirit. And that too is wrong.

The Holy Spirit is called our helper, John 14:16-17 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

We know him! We can all know him better, but for Bevere to say this in this manner is wrong.

Bevere: “so he says may the fellowship of the Holy spirit be with you,… koinonia means partnership. Listen to what Paul is saying, may the partnership of the Holy Spirit be with you.”

Uses a story of neighbor travelling in the car with you and you don’t say good morning to him, you don’t ask him how his nights sleep was, you don’t ask how his family is… you don’t say nothing to him.” You don’t acknowledge his presence in your car, that’s rude. Yet how many times do we get into the car and we don’t say one word to the Holy Spirit! Why? Because we don’t realize he’s a person… you are not alone in the car.”

Bevere’s message: I think he is the most ignored person in the church.” “If you look at the apostles they literally interacted with him. If you look at Paul in Acts 20 and mow I am going to Jerusalem drawn there irresistible by the Holy Spirit. No it doesn’t say Jesus is drawing me there.”

We are to follow Jesus by the Spirit, not the Spirit Himself. The Holy Spirit points to, and lifts up Jesus Jn.14 “The Spirit will not speak of himself but what He hears He will speak.” The spirit always lifts up and points to Jesus, not himself. Yes the Spirit speaks and his voice is found in the word, and if what you hear does not coincide with the word then it is not Him speaking.

Bevere: Can I just say something, “People say I got Jesus in my heart, “yes and no” physically he’s a few billion miles away, the Spirit of Jesus Christ is in your heart, that’s what he is called in the New Testament.

He implies Jesus’ Spirit is the Holy Spirit. Then we do not have a triune God. What this means is the Holy Spirit is the one who represents Jesus, and conforms us into his likeness? Also, Jesus says Matt.18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (meaning spiritually not physically). The Holy Spirit represents Christ and conveys His nature and qualities to the believer. He is not independent just as Jesus was not independent from the Father. “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, (the Spirit) cry’s out, ‘Abba, Father’ (Gal 4.6). He is a advocate to our relationship to God by prayer.

Bevere describes his book writing, “I remember the first time the Lord told me to write a book it took a whole year” Why? Cause I was so awkward it wasn’t that great of a book but it came out. Now he says write a book and it comes flying out of me in a couple of months and they sell a lot better now. Why? Because they are better books.” Because I’ve learned to flow with my partner.”

The implication is that Bevere is so intimate with the Holy Spirit now that he is being directed to write books. According to him they are really good. The Holy Spirit is not like water so I do not get the idea of flowing. He, the Holy Spirit speaks as a person to people and He leads us.

Not that everything Bevere says is wrong, but for as many things that he may say right, those thiongs said that are wrong have consequences. John Bevere talks about waves of God's presence would come. In his book A Heart Ablaze, “children couldn't cry, scream, or shake any longer, another wave of God's presence would come and raise the intensity to another level. At times I could only drop my head on the podium because of the heaviness of God's presence.

“I watched one young girl, no more than seven years old, wring her hands profusely as though they were on fire. Her uplifted face was bathed in tears as she cried out. You could sense God on these children so strongly that the ushers did not touch them after initially helping them. They just stood, watched, and cried” (p.6 A Heart Ablaze, John Bevere)

Some people have great things to say about his books, and there may be some helpful things said but this exemplifies the neo Pentecostalism that is contrary to the new covenant teaching of the Holy Spirit in us. It has everything to do with revivals that originate from Benny Hinn, Rodney Browne, Toronto, Pensacola; the new paradigm in Pentecostalism. So I want people to be aware of this as we listen to this example of his teaching.

He then mentions meeting Dr. Cho, and says he is told he is not to speak to the Doctor in the car.

Bevere says, “I remember the first time I got in a car with Dr, Cho. Dr. Cho has a million people in his church… so we got a ways to catch up,” “They said, hey, Don’t talk to Yonggi Cho from the hotel to the conference center”, (did Jesus or the apostles say not to talk with them?) “Dr. Cho gets in my car and GOD GETS IN MY CAR!” I’m telling you tears started streaming down my face. “I Didn’t care what they said to me I say, Dr. Cho, God is in the car!” He said “I know” that’s all he said. (That must be a very special car).

Now he may not be aware of this but he is contradicting his previous story of not speaking to the Holy Spirit when you are in the car.

Bevere goes on, “I started thinking the man spends 2 hours a day with the Holy Spirit, sometimes 4, he talks about the Holy Spirit all the time.”

Cho now says 'Suffering' Taught Him Individuals 'Shouldn't Possess Anything'. Wonder what Bevere thinks of that now? A complete reversal of his prosperity teaching.

Bevere shifts to Kathryn Kuhlmann, “she walked through and everyone person that didn’t even know who she was on the floor, under the power of the Holy Spirit by the time she walked through the kitchen where they were preparing the meals ok.”

Just like Jesus right, oops. Never happened. (So Bevere is approving of the false Pentecostal tradition of slain in the Spirit carried on and popularized by Benny Hinn).

Bevere turns to Acts 15:24-29: Lets read this in context. “Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, 'You must be circumcised and keep the law'-- to whom we gave no such commandment-- it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

Bevere: “It seemed good. They did not say so do you understand it seems good. They were so intimate God allowed them to represent him without him speaking.”

If this is what was meant than why did God speak so many other times to convey what they were to teach? Why did Paul say not to go beyond what is written. This concept can easily be abused and is abused by many that say God told me to tell you. Here we have Bevere is emphasizing something that is incorrect. It seemed good to them. It is important to know what the apostles made this statement about.

First -Acts 15:25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you (Something that Jesus had already commanded them to do.)

Acts 15:28-29 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

To say their decision of such importance was made for the whole church was separate from the Holy Spirit’s guidance is completely inaccurate. Notice the Holy Spirit is first and then they are to implement it for the church to follow.

Could Bevere’s conclusion be reflective on his philosophy of ministry? This is not what is meant from the scripture. They were so trusted they made a decision, a command for the church to follow the first time they had a meeting together? This is like Roman Catholicism that makes traditions.

This had to do with the Gentiles interacting in the newly formed body of Christ which were mostly Hebrews. When you do not understand the background you can come to a wrong conclusion.

Bevere’s interpretation is hardly what most who study Greek see in this passage.

Acts 15:28[For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us] The whole council had met under his direction; had consulted under his influence; and gave forth their decree from his special inspiration. (Adam Clarke's Commentary)

[For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost] This is a strong and undoubted claim to inspiration. It was with special reference to the organization of the church that the Holy Spirit had been promised to them by the Lord Jesus, Matt 18:18-20; John 14:26.(from Barnes' Notes)

[For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us]-the One inwardly guiding the other; as if it had been said (as Olshausen expresses it), `It seemed good to the Holy Spirit in' or `by us.' They acted throughout this whole business under the consciousness of divine guidance, the glorified Lord of the Church directing them by His Spirit, (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary)

From this topic Bevere goes into showing the Holy Spirit has feminine qualities (the only one, excluding the Father and Son). However, he makes sure they understand that he is not saying the Holy Spirit is a female.

Here is where Bevere turns the Scripture upside down. It’s referring to us being made in a moral spiritual likeness, having reflective qualities of God.

To fortify this we read Gen. 5:3 Adam …begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.” This means Seth had the flawed morality passed on.

From this topic Bevere expands his point and goes even further off.

“You got the Father, that’s obvious. You got the Son that’s obvious too. Whose left? I said whose left!

He cites Eph.4:30 do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Notice it does not say do not grieve Jesus or the Father, it does say not to grieve the Holy Spirit specifically. Anyone who speaks a word against the son of man that will be forgiven him but whoever speaks against the Holy spirit it will not be forgiven him in this age or the age to come. The Father and the Son put a protective clause on the Holy Spirit, not on Jesus not on the Father but the Holy Spirit. Why? Because of how tender and sensitive he is (feminine qualities).

You can say what you want to the Father and the Son but, do not grieve the Holy Spirit”

Apparently the Holy Spirit is more sensitive than Jesus, at least in Bevere’s theological presentation. The actual biblical point of this passage, it says this because he is a witness of Jesus which has a direct correlation to the Old Testament and Israel’s stubbornness (which if explained now would deter us from the topic.)

Only the Holy Spirit has feminine qualities is not true. Rom. 8:29 “He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” (which means according to Bevere no comfort qualities)

Speaking of Jesus Heb. 1:3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person,” (the Fathers.)

The fact is Jesus spoke of himself as a mother hen Matt 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”

On this alone Bevere’s presentation becomes an antinomy at best, a fallacy at worst. Yet in this same sermon Bevere said earlier “Jesus said he is going to be just like me, as he was when he was physically here.” So he is contradicting himself about the Holy Spirit having a different quality that is not found in Jesus (or the Father).

Does the Holy Spirit have feminine qualities the Father and Jesus do not? Like comfort?

To say that one person of God (who is triune) has basic qualities the other two do not is not accurate in the least. He will be another comforter like Jesus John 14:16. Comfort is attributed to all three persons of the one God.

God is called the God of all comfort not just the Holy Spirit.

2 Cor. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, (also II Thess. 2:16-17) The Holy Spirit our helper is ANOTHER Comforter (Jn.14).

He ended the sermon by asking the audience if it was good. Yea, of course it was – what else are they going to say!

Jesus waited for God’s timing, not to be filled with the Spirit.

“You can’t have a relationship with the Holy Spirit…unless you are first a child of God… please listen, you were born a slave so was I, every person on earth was born a slave because of what Adam did (agreed.)

It does not say anywhere Jesus waited to be filled with the fulness of the Spirit. The only place that mentions being filled is in Luke 4:1 and it states He is filled (not being filled) with the Spirit before his temptation. Bevere’s point is moot on this. I do not know what is meant by being fathered by the Holy Spirit, it does not imply this anywhere. Jesus spoke the Father in heaven, who is not the Holy Spirit.

Lordship: Actually giving Lordship (ownership) without other certain core factors is useless. Apparently Bevere is insinuating a complete surrender to be saved. What about being born again by the Spirit for a start. In reality this Lordship can’t be fully made at that time of the new birth because you do not have enough knowledge of what it entails.

Instead of this man’s opinion, we should go see what does the Bible says about ownership.

 1 Cor. 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

This happens after one is translated from darkness into God’s kingdom, by FAITH; faith in the gospel. Something that I did not hear in the conclusion of the message.

We are not saved by ownership, our redemption is by the blood of Jesus. Eph. 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Col 1:20 He “made peace through the blood of His cross.”

 It is Jesus’ work for us that we accept by faith (believing it), so Bevere’s presentation has missing elements. Eph. 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise”

Having believed, not by giving him ownership (which is part of the discipleship process)

1 Cor. 15:1-4 Paul says this is “the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you-- unless you believed in vain   For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures”

It is by faith, trust in Christs work. Adding man’s work of giving him ownership is a nice sentiment but it does not save us by itself, nor is it a requirement for salvation. The gospel proclamation is centered on believing on Jesus’ death and resurrection, Paul does not speak of ownership as related to the gospel to be saved.

I really do not know what his other message are like. There were enough things off in this one message that certainly became a concern, and that is why this article was done. (taken from audio message at Inspire church)