We Charismatics are more than willing to believe in miracles and angelic visitations and often do not examine carefully their source. We do not "try the apostles," especially if they use our familiar terms or act in accustomed patterns of behavior. We Charismatics often are as wise as doves and therefore are as harmless as serpents.

In addition, we have reacted against the formality of the "dead" churches to the extent that we have become overfamiliar with the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes we speak as though Christ is our servant, believing He is willing to be used by us for our purposes. This is a deception, a lying spirit.

Overfamiliarity with the Glory of God can lead to death.

Our mind goes back to the days when the Ark of the Covenant was abiding in the house of Abinidab in Kirjath-Jearim. The Ark was in Abinidab's house for fifty or more years. The family became familiar with the Ark, and familiarity led to presumption and irreverence.

Abinidab had two sons, Uzzah and Ahio, who were accustomed to seeing the Ark in their home. Were they not close friends with God Almighty? Do not we Christians think we have God in our pocket?

And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. (II Samuel 6:6,7)

We must keep in mind that there always is death, as well as life, in the Presence of God.

We may think God is obligated to bless us because our doctrine is "correct." Instead we should be in fear and trembling, understanding that even the Christians of righteous behavior are being saved with difficulty (I Peter 4:18).

Will we prophesy over people who give us a specified amount of money, as some have done? Will we prophesy immunity to disease to people who give us money? Will we sell prayer cloths and other amulets and fetishes in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Will we state, being filled with presumption, that the Apostle Paul could have avoided his troubles if he had possessed the "faith" we have today? Has man become sovereign in the Kingdom of God? Is not this the False Prophet?

Will we be rich in the world? Will we command and force God to do our bidding? Is Christ our slave? Is God the Father smiling on our sin, our rebellion, our complacency, our presumption?

Will no person among us be reproved in the Day of Christ? Will we all, like the godly Enoch and Elijah, ascend in the clouds in the first resurrection whether or not we have overcome the world through the Spirit of Christ?

Are we more precious to God than all past generations? Or are we not, in fact, terribly deceived and facing the greatest judgment in history?

To be continued.