The Signs and Wonders Movement Hit The Nazarene Denomination
Posted by nazarenepsalm113 on August 3, 2011
I had started out with this as a review of Dan Bohi’s preaching but I want to get more into the signs and wonders movement (which in my opinion Dan is part of) and what the scriptures teach us about signs and wonders and how God speaks to us today.
D Martin Lloyd-Jones states
“Let us imagine I follow the mystic way. I begin to have experiences; I think God is speaking to me; how do I know it is God who is speaking to me? How can I know I am not speaking to man; how can I be sure that I am not the victim of hallucinations, since this has happened to many mystics? If I believe in mysticism as such without the Bible how do I know I am not being deluded by satan as an angel of light in order to keep me from the living and true God? I have no standard..The bible believers doctrine tells me not to look into myself ,but to to look into the Word of God; not to examine myself, but to look at the revelation that has been given to me. It tells me that God can only be known in His own way, the way the way which has been revealed in the scriptures himself.
But Dan says in the M11 conference around 10:31″I believe its not going to come with better preaching.” Then he goes on to say “How many sermons do we have to hear?
Dan speaking about the anointing coming back (I didnt know it had left and Im sure it hasnt with good godly preachers who rightly divide the Word of God).
Dan goes on to say at around 11:31 “I dont think the preachers have to preach that good. ” “I dont think they have to plan so hard.” “I think they just need to flow in the spirit”
Dan then talks about releasing the prophetic at around 12 he states “Theres a power in His Word” “And I’m not talking about quoting verse’s and chapter.” Im not talking about having a good sermon”.
I want everyone though to listen to Dans speech themselves just google Dan Bohi and M11.
I found two statements (among others) very disturbing.
At around 21:30 Dan talking about Jesus in the desert “The third time He didn’t say its written He states “It says”. “I think when the word and the spirit come together it no longer remains logos it becomes rehema,it becomes revelation. And see without revelation we perish.
In my opinion Dan does not do a good job in rightly dividing the Word of God here. Yes Jesus did say “It is said” but my Lord was referring to Deut 6:16 where it was written. Dan goes the route many other Word Faith teachers go and try to compare this to rehema which means something different to the Word Faith folk even though logos and rehema are used interchangeably in the New Testament. Word Faith folk tend to turn this into a power struggle stating you can’t have power without the rehema.
Just one example here about what Im talking about. In 1 Peter 1:23-25, Peter describes how we are born again by the word of God. In verse 23, when he saying that the Word of God (by which we are born again) is incorruptible, Peter uses the Greek word “logos” for the “word” of God. In verse 25, after contrasting the Word’s incorruptibleness with the corruption of the world, Peter restates that the Word (by which the gospel is preached to us) endures forever. This phrase “endures forever” is simply a rephrasing of the description “incorruptible,” only in this verse, Peter uses the phrase, “the word of the Lord” to refer to the “word of God” in verse 23. But, this time Peter switches and uses the Greek word “rhema” for the “word” of the Lord. This is yet another occurrence where we see “rhema” and “logos” being so indistinguishable that they are used interchangeably.
The fact that “rhema” and “logos” are used interchangeably by New Testament authors is yet another demonstration that there is not enough distinction in the Bible between the two words to substantiate the Word Faith doctrine in which “rhema” words and “logos” words are two different categories.
Again its all about power with these folks. And I tend to see it with this camp as mans power not God’s. Gods Written Word does have power the Word Faith movement has tried to blur the lines here and turn it into something its not.
Then in 25:10-25:41 Dan compares what he was doing to what Benny Hinn does. Go listen for yourselves. Now I want to say that Dan does not mention Benny by his last name. But I dont know any other Benny who does what Dan was speaking about.
Again in my opinion I believe this is textbook Ken Hagin/Benny Hinn/Word Faith false teaching. But you need to go listen to Dan and decide for yourselves.
Now does God really speak to us like that? At specific times in the day (people love to quote exact times I believe because it empowers them as spiritually superior).
From Gary Gilleys book “Is That You Lord”?
“How does one know that he is hearing the voice of the Lord in the first place? Is it possible that the voice many believe they are hearing is the voice of their own thoughts,imaginations,desires, or something more insidous?”
“Many Christians now rely on far more inward promptings than on their Bible knowledge to decide what to do in a situation.”
“The final court of appeals determining the identity of the voice of God, if it is such, must be the direct instructions or at least the examples found in Scripture. The Scriptures claim to be the Word of God (2 Tim 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:20,21) . They are inspired once for all, by the Holy Spirit, enabling prophets and apostles, using their own personalities to write Gods Word as He intended (Heb 1:1,2; 2:3,4; Acts 5:12, 2 Cor 12:12:. I believe with the closure of scripture , direct, infallible,authoritative revelation from God has ceased for this age. (ReV 22:18,19;Eph 2:20;3:5;Jude 3,4,;2 Peter 3:2).
It is instructive to note that paul wrote his last epistle tp pastor/friend Timothy about leading the church of God, he did not encourage Timothy to focus on new revelations, impressions, feelings or hunches. Rather he continually turned him to the Word of God and the doctrines contained therin (2 Timothy 2:2-14,15; 3:15-17; 4:2-4)
Donald S Whitney states
“The evangelistic method of Jesus and the apostles was not to urge people to seek direct experiences with God; instead they went about preaching and teaching the Scriptures (see Mark 1:14-15)
The bigger problem I see with Dan as well as the Nazarene denomination is that this is just more experience based Christianity wrapped up in a different package than what the Emergent Church is selling. Its no wonder the emergent Nazarenes don’t seem to have a big problem with Dan.
Again its the same old stuff I saw in the Word faith churches I was in as a young Christian.
And about faith healers well what does scripture show and teach? There are those who make healings the focus of their ministry.
Thirty-seven accounts of healing are detailed in the Gospels and Acts. Only ten occurred with a crowd present. Twelve occurred in small groups and fifteen in private settings. Rarely today do we hear Christ’s reproof to the healed, “Don’t tell anyone!” Instead, we have weekly television programs featuring healing services, and monthly mailings with a plague of pictures of the healer. Jesus said in John 10:38, “Even though you don’t believe me, believe the miracles, that you may learn and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” The Apostle John wrote that the purpose of miracles is “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so that through believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31. If being healed draws attention to God and folks share the gospel whic results in people getting saved, you could be healed. But if like the Apostle Paul, God can be glorified through emotional and spiritual, but not bodily healing, He may choose not to heal physically. Regardless of all this, it is His Gospel of Salvation that must always be the focus.
Does the Scriptures teach that there is a big end time revival with Joels or Elijahs army leading the way with great signs and wonders doing greater things than Jesus did?
NO
The scripture teaches that there will be a great falling away (2 Thess 2:3)
Lying signs and wonders”For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matt. 24:24
2 Thessalonians 2:9-15
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”
Hardly what is being preached from many pupits today.The thing that really flagged me on all this was not just the “touch not mine anointed” and warning that the wrath of God would come on me if we touched Dan Bohi. What I call this type of warning is “voodoo you better not do-do”. Get behind me satan would probably be appropriate at this point.
The people who try to intimidate or threaten (some who are friends other who are just Nazarene politician’s) seemed to forget this verse
New King James Version (NKJV)
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
No problem examing what Paul said.
Why not the same standard with Dan Bohi or any one else for that matter?
Do you think maybe God told them so?
Well I would encourage you to not just take my word for it. But go listen to the sermons and see for yourselves. Then come to your own conclusions.
More on the signs and wonders movement to come!
Psalm 11:3 
debbee52 said
Good Tim, very good!!! Acts 17:11 states, the instructions for those who call themselves Christians, but unfortunately most rarely pick up God’s Word and search for themselves. Was there myself and praying I do not return to that laziness as a person who calls herself a Christian. Thanks for taking this on Tim! Many in my family who are still very involved in the Naz church are already of the emergent bent and do not even realize they are. They have been so slowly poisioned and because they do not check and read the Word for themselves they are duped and follow the crowd. Had another similar discussion with my dad again today….his eyes are blind. ;-(
Lynne Ross said
I am just praying that this man will hit his knees, and praying that the influence he has made on the Central Ohio District will be repaired.
grace said
On the Sunday evening of 5/6/12, I went to the Dallas church near downtown to listen to Dan Bohi’s sermon. I did not feel comfortable after I heard some of the statements he made in his preaching. This raised some red flags in my mind about him.
To make sure that I am not overly dogmatic, I also took several hours to listen to Dan’s online sermon on YouTube “take another drink” (9 parts). After I listened to the sermon, I confirmed that I am not making something out of nothing.
What concerned me the most is his definition of the term “sanctification”. Dan Bohi rejected the traditional interpretation of the term “sanctification” as God’s complete work of salvation in believers, making them to conformed to the image of Christ in Godliness and righteous living, to live a godly life in doing God’s will as Jesus did. Instead, according to Dan, the term “sanctification” means to be “commissioned, set apart, sanctified by God to replicate the ministry of Jesus” in the sense to work miracles in charismatic power as Jesus did. Here is the quote of the first 2 and a half minutes from his sermon “Take Another Drink 1/9″ on the YouTube: ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVirTXTfAQA&feature=relmfu Minutes 0-2:30)
He (Dan) said:
The problem with Protestantism is that we keep trying to prove a theory or a doctrine instead of living Jesus. …
A big point when dealing with Protestant, the term “sanctification” can be shown, not to be “needs to be shown”, not just “being good”, which in Protestants equals “holiness and sanctification”, but it originally meant “ordained for priesthood”. A priest was someone who ideally inquired of God, to give God’s immediate prophetic word to the people who come consulted with him. They also involved in healing. So if you are sanctified and made holy in the biblical sense, not in the Protestants’ sense, you will be commissioned, set apart, sanctified by God to replicate the ministry of Jesus—to introduce the kingdom, the spirit of God in charismatic power, in the gift of Sprint power. So the real gospel is the miracle power, the dutumas (Greek word), and the salvation, healing, deliverance, not just being good enough to go to heaven, but be empowered enough to bring heaven to earth.
But what is “living Jesus?” In the end of this sermon “Take Another Drink 7/9”, Dan Bohi gave the definition of “Living Jesus”. First Dan cited several manifestations of the “spirit” during his previous services; (one of them is this: 22 people who were depressed came to the alter, then, before Dan even lay hand on them, they just start to laughing and Dan also start laughing, then all 22 people get healed;) later, in the context of those testimonies of signs and wonders, Dan defined “Living Jesus” as follows:
We need word and the Spirit;
We need purity and Power;
We need the fruit and the gift;
We need doctrine on display;
We don’t need it on the shelf; we need to “live Jesus”.
(“Take Another Drink 7/9″ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDPyxD8m9RY , minutes 6:23)
From all the context of the above words in the sermon, I do believe that Dan was defining “living Jesus” as the outward manifestation of signs and wonders such as miracle healing, etc. Preaching about miracle healings by itself is not wrong. After all, the Holy Spirit has more miraculous power than all false spirits. What was wrong is this: he was defining these outward manifestations of signs and wonder as “Living Jesus” and “Sanctification”. That became seriously wrong and unbiblical. That certainly violated the fundamental belief of Nazarene church. And he explicitly rejected the fundamental interpretation of the term “sanctification” by protestant tradition, which includes protestant denomination such as Nazarene. I believe the protestant’s especially the Church of Nazarene’s interpretation of the term “sanctification” is sound and correct. Sanctification IS the work of God that prepares us “to be good enough to go to heaven “, for apart from holiness, no one can see God. “10For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness…. 14Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:10,:14). But in Dan’s view sanctification is not about making us good enough go to heaven, but about making us empowered enough to bring heaven to earth (see the above quotes of his definition on “sanctification”). This is pretty heretical. If this was true, why then the Apostle Peter had urged Christians NOT to put their hope on earth but put their hope in heaven? 2 Peter 3 clearly taught us that our chief end is not about this present life, but about the life to come. For this current earth will be destroyed in fire, therefore we ought to look for the new heaven and the new earth where righteousness dwells, and be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless (,which in Dan’s phrase “to be good enough” to enter the eternal kingdom of heaven).
2 Peter 3:10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
Apostle Paul in Colossians also affirmed this view:
Colossians 3:1If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
It seems that in Dan’s view, the Spirit is not in the Word, the Power is not in the purity, the display has to be some kind of outward manifestation of physicals. What kind of power was he promoting? I had to ask. I totally agree that we need to have godly power to live as Jesus lived, and that a mere head-knowledge of doctrines is not enough to ensure us to go to heaven, but to seek charismatic experience pertaining to this life is not the way to go!
Another thing that concerns me is his downplaying and discouraging the preaching of the Word and ridiculing of doctrinal discernment and critical thinking. He made statement like these: “the kingdom of God is not a matter of word, but a matter of power …. it’s not preach preach preach preach…” , “I don’t think they killed Jesus because he is the good preacher, I think they killed Jesus because he did what they couldn’t do.” I consider this last statement as totally false. I believe that had Jesus only worked miracles, the Jews would not have crucified him; the Jews crucified Jesus because Jesus condemned them for their sins and preach the gospel of repentance and judgment (Luke 4:14-30). They crucified Jesus because Jesus preached the message of the cross and refused to give them a temporal kingdom pertaining to this world, but proclaimed that he is the King of the eternal kingdom of the new world to come (John 2:23-25, John 6, 8)!
Another bizarre thing is that he talked about preaching to animals. Whether he meant it or he was simply making some coarse jokes, I don’t know, but he sure spent a long time talking about these kind of nonsense, which at minimum was distractive. I feel those speeches were very unsanctified idle talks.
Over all, Dan Bohi alert me a lot. He remind me of the false Christianity of the Word Faith Movement, the Kansas City Prophets, and of Todd Bentley. Todd Bentley was the notorious preacher who led the Florida false revival in 2008. Todd Bentley also claimed that he has the anointing and the charismatic power to heal people. But after he laid hands on people, many of them just laugh hysterically and behave like being demon possessed. Todd Bentley himself ended up with having an affair with one of his staff during or shortly after the false revival and eventually he divorced his wife and married the co-worker.
Here are some footage of Todd Bentley’s manifestation of “power”, and “the signs and wonders”. You can see for yourself whether they were manifestations of the Holy Spirit or the unholy spirits.
Anyway, discernment is an individual responsibility. I will keep my eyes open and my mind and heart carefully guarded, and I hope everyone in the church will do the same. For “Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden” (1 Tim 5:24-25).
grace said
Here is the Youtube video of Todd Bentley I left out in the above post:
Tim said
If you don’t think some Christians and others are not ripe for the antichrist to deceive watch that above tape again. Christians need to get back into the scriptures and flee from this sort of heretical nonsense