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This paper is included in our listing of Subjects under the general Licence/Permissions explicit in their terms of use; given by the original authors, ‘Seek God of Canada’, on their Website.
We consider that the content conforms to many of our own views, especially the links/similarities to so much aberrant teaching and wrong understanding of the workings of the enemy Satan in the name of Christianity!
Quaking Like Quakers (Seek God, Canada)
1Corinthians 14:26
“How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying”.
1Corinthians 14:33
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all Churches of the saints”.
Quakerism is marked with trances, shaking (like convulsions), glossolalia, and visions, comparable to mystics of the occult. These manifestations and behaviours sound not unlike what is recorded about Toronto Blessing and Brownsville or Pensacola. It was Maria Woodworth-Etter (1844-1924) who introduced the “Holiness Movement” to being “Slain in the Spirit”. She had been nicknamed the ‘trance evangelist” and adherents would fall backwards often accompanied with a trance-like state, facial and body contortions, trembling or laughter and so on, no different than the results of the ‘faith-healing’ of hypnotist Franz Anton Mesmer and what is seen in Charismatic circles today. We also see the same reference to the “living energy or force” and shaking found with Evan Roberts, the leader of the Welsh Revival, which ran from 1904-1905.
“The early twentieth century was also a time of revival, and some of the same manifestations were visible then as well. For example Evan Roberts, its primary leader, wrote, "after many had prayed, I felt some living energy or force entering my bosom, restraining my breath, my legs trembling terribly; this living energy increased and increased as one after another prayed”. (George Jeffreys, HEALING RAYS [London:Elim, 1935], p. 55)".
Richard Riss writes of the Azusa Street Revival and actually describes the manifestations of the Quakers and the above mentioned as part of today's ‘revivals‘. The euphoria mentioned by Dr. Burke, Boehme and Fox all play an important role in what people have embraced.
“Here were also many signs of trembling, speechlessness, holy laughter, and drunkenness in the Spirit at Azusa Street during the outset of the Pentecostal revival. Continuous meetings were held there every day for a period of three years beginning in mid-April, 1906. The mission on Azusa Street published the well-known newspaper, THE APOSTOLIC FAITH [William Seymours Paper] contains many accounts of these manifestations. For example…In the fourth issue (p. 4), G. W. Batman wrote, "I received the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire and now I feel the presence of the Holy Ghost, not only in my heart but in my lungs, my hands, my arms and all through my body and at times I am shaken like a locomotive steamed up and prepared for a long journey".
James 3:17
"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy".
William J. Seymour, student of Charles Parham and co-founder of the Pentecostal movement, went to Azusa even though he was a hypocrite. He preached that the evidence of having the Holy Ghost was to be shown by speaking in tongues—something that did not happen to him until several months into Azusa. J. Roswell Flower wrote, “Although admonished by the brethren in Houston not to go to Los Angeles until he had received the Pentecostal baptism, Seymour nevertheless felt impelled to accept”.
J. Roswell Flower states Seymour rarely spent time preaching. Rather, Seymour's meetings at Azusa Street were filled with confusion and manifestations.
“The meetings began in the mornings and continued for at least 12 hours. There were no hymnals, no liturgy, no order of services. Most of the time there were no musical instruments. But around the room, men jumped and shouted. Women danced and sang. People sang sometimes together, yet with completely different syllables, rhythms, and melodies”.
William Seymour, “wrote several letters to Parham asking advice in dealing with spiritualists and mediums from occult societies, who were trying to conduct séances in the services”. Relating a letter from Seymour, Sarah Parham verifies the call for help due to the”, spiritualistic manifestations, hypnotic forces and fleshly contortions”.
Other reports elaborate and describe the Azusa meetings to have included the same manifestations as found in Quakerism, Toronto and Brownsville, and the occult, including: falling, trances, slaying in the spirit, tongues, jerking, hysteria, strange noises, and "holy laughter”. Various reports confirm the attendance of hypnotists standing at the altar beside the “real” work of God.
Despite this, William Durham, the founder of the Assemblies of God denomination in 1914, “was also somewhat sceptical of the meetings, having heard conflicting reports, but he reported, "As soon as I entered the place, I saw that God was there". Although the Church at Azusa Street, “publicly admitted that not everyone at the meetings felt the presence of the Spirit”, it did not stop the embracement of its manifestations.
How could any man of God go into a meeting and look for a "blessing" while watching others become bound by Satan and come under demonic possession? What Scripture would allow a man of God watch souls be destroyed while he selfishly looked to his own "edification"? There is no Scripture that could support this.
2Corinthians 6:15 "And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel”?
Jesus said in John 10: 12-14 "But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, andleaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine".
Richard Riss describes William Durham and his jerking and quaking as he was “worked” by the spirit at Azusa Street.
“February-March, 1907), p. 4, where he wrote: On Friday evening, March 1, His mighty power came over me, until I jerked and quaked under it for about three hours. It was strange and wonderful and yet glorious. He worked my whole body, one section at a time, first my arms, then my limbs, then my body, then my head, then my face, then my chin, and finally at 1 a.m. Saturday, Mar. 2, after being under the power for three hours, He finished the work on my vocal organs, and spoke through me in unknown tongues”.
Over one-third of Messianic congregations fall under the AOG denomination. Besides Durham, the future general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Ernest S. Williams, drawn to Azusa Street from Denver, was turned off by the more fanatical elements, but he also sensed vitality: "On the brink of turning away," he said, "a great check came over my spirit. Then I began to seek earnestly".
Reviewing many reports, it is evident that John Wimber's ministry in the Vineyard was typified by methodology, psychology, inner healing techniques, visualization, shamanism, and other occult practices. John Goodman relates the manifestations that Wimber instructed people to look for as a move of the Holy Spirit parallel the very phenomena observed in “witchcraft, voodoo, the occult and Eastern mysticism”.
He describes the meetings as, “People falling, violently shaking and levitating, shouting and screaming, making all manner of animal noises, howling, screeching, and laughing hysterically and uncontrollably", creates an atmosphere of physical chaos confusion, in which demonic activity is commonly mistaken for a “wave of the Spirit”.
“These various physical manifestations within what Wimber calls the ‘cosmic reality” are revealed to him through the early experiences that he had while Lonnie Frisbee was associated with him”.
That cosmic reality is no different than what has been discussed regarding Fox, Boehme and Dr. Burke’s “illumination.” John Wimber, mentioned in Joel’s Global Police Force as also propagating the 'dread army', and whose influence has spanned all denominations, was a Quaker.
According to various biographies and his personal testimony, "Personal Pilgrimage", John accepted Christ (1963) because of the "living witness" he found in one of his Quaker friends. He was part of a Quaker Church for roughly thirteen years before joining Fuller Theological Seminary. He attended Azusa Pacific University (Wesleyan/Arminian) and the Evangelical Friends Alliance which is a Quaker Bible School. "In 1970, he was ordained by the California Society of Friends (Quakers)".
Quoting from Wimber's writings on healing, Mr. Albert Dager observes the inner healings are based on the teaching of Agnes Sanford. Sanford, besides the shamanistic practices, was a pantheist with beliefs similar to Carl Jung.
"Wimber states that", "Some people are natural healers". That is not a biblical observation, but one based on a psychic healing methodology. "Natural healers" are what shamans, witches and mystics claim to be. "These peoples are trained in their practice; they are not gifted by the Holy Spirit. Wimber's belief that men can be trained to do signs and wonders, and his faulty understanding of how God's power works are what have contributed to the error of the Vineyards methodologies".
"Two words characterize Wimber's methodology: experience and experimentation... Wimber encouraged his disciples to experiment through trial and error".
Mr. Dager also expands on the various psychic practices identical to Sanford, including Wimber's methodology of aura healing and so on. He brings to the readers attention that Sanford, "espoused the belief in the cosmic consciousness which is identical to that of psychic healers" and which we previously discussed regarding the practices of George Fox and Jacob Boehme.
If the root of something is evil and goes against the Word of God, it cannot and will not bear good fruit.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:15-20
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves".
"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles"?
"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit".
"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit".
"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire".
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them".
Update:
The Way International began with Victor Paul Wierwille. Wierwille developed many of his theological ideas by plagiarizing from other writers as E. W. Bullinger, George Lamsa, Kenyon and several others. The Way International teachings include: Jesus Christ is not God, denial of the three persons of the Godhead, i.e. no Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Mary was not the mother of God come in the flesh, but the mother of a man, the Old and New Testaments were originally written in Aramaic, pro-abortion, bad seed theology, mass weddings, stockpiling of weapons, American holocaust and invasion, them or us mentality and much more.
Victor Paul Wierwille was eventually part of the Jesus People movement, and is remembered by the Jesus Movement website.
"Believing that much of the Christian was in error, in 1955 Wierwille founded The Way to educate young men and women in the "correct way of biblical education". The Way International raised the ire of other Christian groups, labelled a "cult" because of their antitrinitarian views. One of the largest of all the extremist groups of the Jesus People movement, by the mid-1970s the organization boasted over 20,000 active members".
It is noteworthy that it was Victor Wierwille who went to the House of Acts in 1968 and gave Ted Wise, the Heefners, Doops and Lonnie and Connie Frisbee, and several others their understanding of the Holy Spirit. Wierwille worked miracles, cast out demons--which he did while teaching them about the Holy Spirit, as well as teaching them how to speak tongues, all in one night. The Heefners and Doops joined Wierwille and helped set up his national organization.
Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works"?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
When first challenged by Ted Wise, who was one of the founding 'fathers' of the Jesus people movement, about his belief in Christ and even though he rejected the divinity of Jesus Christ, Wierwille passed with flying colours.
"The first person Wierwille met was Ted Wise, who put him through a test he couldn’t possibly fail. Wise said, "You know, it says in 1John you test the spirits. We usually ask everybody here to confess the Lord Jesus Christ, or they freak out and they can’t. So where do you stand on this"?
"And that pleased Wierwille", said Heefner, "he liked that up-frontness. And he gave his witness. So by the time he was through with two or three minutes of talking, we said, ‘Okay, fella, we believe you".
Lonnie and Connie Frisbee and the Wises began taking Wierwille's PFAL classes and then discontinued. Lonnie then went to join Chuck Smith in Costa Mesa's Calvary Chapel, which caused an explosion on growth. Frisbee eventually joined with John Wimber, who had also been with Chuck Smith. Wimber later split and helped start the Vineyard movement with Frisbee joining him and also others.
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