Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship

by John MacArthur

Publisher:

Thomas Nelson

, 2013

In Strange Fire, bestselling author and pastor John MacArthur chronicles the unsavory history behind the modern Charismatic movement.

What would God say about those who blatantly misrepresent His Holy Spirit; who exchange true worship for chaotic fits of mindless ecstasy; who replace the biblical gospel with vain illusions of health and wealth; who claim to prophesy in His name yet speak errors; and who sell false hope to desperate people for millions of dollars?

The charismatic movement has always been a breeding-ground for scandal, greed, bad doctrine, and all kinds of spiritual chicanery. As a movement, it is clearly headed the wrong direction. And it is growing at an unprecedented rate.

From the Word of Faith to the New Apostolic Reformation, the Charismatic movement is being consumed by the empty promises of the prosperity gospel. Too many charismatic celebrities promote a “Christianity” without Christ, a Holy Spirit without holiness. And their teaching is having a disastrous influence on a grand scale, as large television networks broadcast their heresies to every part of the world.

In Strange Fire, MacArthur lays out a chilling case against the modern Charismatic movement that includes:

• Rejecting its false prophets.
• Speaking out against their errors.
• Showing true reverence to the Holy Spirit.
• Clinging to the Bible as the inerrant, authoritative Word of God and the one true standard by which all truth claims must be tested.

Contents

Top Highlights

“The New Testament articulates at least three necessary criteria: (1) an apostle had to be a physical eyewitness of the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:22; 10:39–41; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:7–8); (2) an apostle had to be personally appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 3:14; Luke 6:13; Acts 1:2, 24; 10:41; Gal. 1:1); and (3) an apostle had to be able to authenticate his apostolic appointment with miraculous signs (Matt. 10:1–2; Acts 1:5–8; 2:43; 4:33; 5:12; 8:14; 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:3–4).” (source)

“Scripture expressly condemns is the ‘strange fire’ they offered. The crux of their sin was approaching God in a careless, self-willed, inappropriate manner, without the reverence He deserved. They did not treat Him as holy or exalt His name before the people.” (source)

“Jesus said, ‘When the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me’ (John 15:26). So when the Holy Spirit becomes the focal point of the church’s message, His true work is undermined.” (source)

“Here’s the point: we can’t make God into any form we would like. We cannot mold Him into our own image, according to our own specifications and imaginations. Yet that is what many Pentecostals and charismatics have done. They have created their own golden-calf version of the Holy Spirit. They have thrown their theology into the fires of human experience and worshipped the false spirit that came out—parading themselves before it with bizarre antics and unrestrained behavior.” (source)

“Apostolic subcategories include: Ecclesiastical, Functional, Apostolic team members; Congregational Apostles; Convening, Ambassadorial, Mobilizing, and Territorial Apostles; Marketplace Apostles; and Calling Apostles.” (source)

Product Details

• Title : Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship
• Author: MacArthur, John F.
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Publication Date: 2013
• ISBN: 9781400205189

About John MacArthur

John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, president of The Master’s College & Seminary, and featured teacher for the Grace to You media ministry. Weekly telecasts and daily radio broadcasts of Grace to You are seen and heard by millions worldwide. John has also written several bestselling books, including The MacArthur Study Bible, The Gospel According to Jesus, The John MacArthur New Testament Commentary series, Twelve Ordinary Men, and The Truth War. He and his wife, Patricia, have four married children and fifteen grandchildren.