“Touch not my anointed” can pastors (like Jerome Fernando) claim this? NO! Here’s why.

Touch Not My Anointed

On November 2^nd 2019,  Jerome Fernando pastor of Kings Revival Church Sri Lanka posted a video on Facebook cautioning “pastors, ministers, church leaders, leaders of organizations and institutions that has a spiritual touch to it”. The warning is this…

“Touch not my anointed” (1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15). That’s the gist of the message. A special message to all pastors leaders ministers from Me – Pj –

The video in the above link has since been removed, so please download a copy here

He starts out by quoting the first part of 1 Tim. 4:16 ‘watch out for yourself’,  and then goes on to give his message of caution. The full content of that verse from the Apostle Paul to Timothy is this;

“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” – 1 Tm. 4:16

If Jerome was faithful to this verse of scripture he would not have a need to put out such video in the first place.

Let’s look briefly at the context of 1 Timothy 4:16. Paul constantly warned Timothy not to wander away from the true teachings of the faith ( 1 Timothy 6:20-21). Paul had warned Timothy of  Hymenaeus and Alexander, who were evidently fellow workers with the Apostle Paul, who denied truth regarding the resurrection ( 1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 2:17) and vigorously opposed Paul’s teaching ( 1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 4:14). Notice here the Apostle Paul is calling out Hymenaeus and Alexander by name.

 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. – 1 Tim. 1:18-20

As a side note the Apostle Paul does the same thing to Peter calling him out by name to his face when he was in the wrong, – because of which Barnabas was carried away too. (Galatians 2:11-21)

When cultists come knocking on the door, they want people to adopt their unbiblical views and to abandon their belief in the truths of orthodox Christianity. Paul’s warning in 1 Timothy chapter 4 is very relevant, much needed, and vital for us to heed as genuine believers.

And yet sadly we have seen time and time again from history that it is those who twist and manipulate scripture for their own gain who use verses like 1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15 to silence their critiques and thus giving them free reign to preach error without opposition.

Benny Hinn has said it more than once and more recently Chris Oyakhilome had this to say on the topic on his FB page “Any man who harms His anointed ones has brought a curse upon not only himself but also his household and many generations after him.”

The problem is God has never promised His children, Prophets or apostles a life free from harm. In fact He said the following to the Pharisees “Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ (Luke 11:49).

So why do people like Benny Hinn, Chris Oyakhilome and Jerome Fernando et al use such scripture passages out of context?

Is this a Fear Tactic?

Yes, that’s all it is, nothing more. Jerome in his video (like Chris Oyakhilome) goes on to caution people by saying “it is very dangerous”, “it is very dangerous to cross these boundaries”, “be very careful because it will shorten your lifespan”. It almost sounds like a threat doesn’t it, and to some degree it is, and the reason Jerome Fernando can say such things without fear is because he wrongly assumes that is what God is saying regarding people like him who believe themselves to be the ‘anointed of God’. He is absolutely Wrong!

Costi Hinn, nephew of Benny Hinn who grew up working as an usher for his uncle’s crusade events says “When people wonder why publicly calling out false teachers is a big deal, simply ask: Would you point out a known sex offender in a neighborhood full of children? Would you warn others if an active shooter were present in a shopping mall? Would you not pick up your infant if a Pitbull entered the nursery? Of course. Then why wouldn’t we be faithful to point out dangers and protect the precious children of God?  Keep standing for the truth and holding fast to sound doctrine. Preach the truth. Refute error. Expose evil deeds. There is a coming King who is building His church (Matthew 16:18). His reward will be great for those who stay faithful.”  7 Threats From a False Teacher – Costi Hinn

What does 1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15 mean?

Here is the context of 1 Chronicles 16:22: David is publicly praising God by giving a condensed review of the miraculous history of Israel. He cites some of the miracles God performed to fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (1 Chronicles 16:15–18, referencing Genesis 50:24 and Exodus 2:24). Through these miracles, God created a nation of Abraham’s descendants that would bless the entire world (see Genesis 12:1–3). No one and nothing could prevent God’s promise from being fulfilled, even against all odds.

So the point of 1 Chronicles 16:22 (and Psalm 105:15) is that nothing and no one can derail God’s will; God had a plan for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He refused to let the kings of Canaan and Egypt injure them: “For their sake he rebuked kings: ‘Do not touch my anointed ones’” (1 Chronicles 16:21–22). The patriarchs were His prophets. They were His “anointed ones”; that is, God chose them to accomplish a specific work in the world.  – Got questions.org Touch-not-Gods-anointed

Justin Peters in his message on the subject said: Well, the context of this, the anointed ones refers to Israel’s patriarchs and their descendants not to today’s modern preachers, or self-acclaimed Apostles, first to Israel’s patriarchs and their descendants.  And the word “touch,” this is the real kicker, the word “touch” actually refers to doing physical harm, not to speaking the truth.  You might remember that when David had an opportunity to kill Saul, but he didn’t do it.  Remember that?  What did he do instead?  He cut off a piece of Saul’s garment and held it up and he said, “I will not touch God’s anointed.” 

So we may be calling out false teachers and their false doctrines, but nobody here is chasing Benny Hinn down the street with a baseball bat.  And, by the way, there are three New Testament passages, at least three, which refer to all Christians as anointed” (1 Jn. 2:27, 2 Cor. 1:21-22, John 14:16). – The Devilish Puppet Master of the Word-Faith Movement (Justin Peters)

Biblical warning regarding False Teaching and Teachers

There are over 56 scripture passages of warning against false teaching and false teachers. But let’s start by looking at what Jesus said first.

Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. (Luke 6:26)

Jesus pronounces a woe. Woe (οὐαὶ  – ouai in Greek) is an interjection of grief or of denunciation. Woes serve as warning. There are about 12 or more woes spoken by our LORD of which seven were toward the religious leaders (Pharisees) of His day (Matt. 23). False prophets often win wide acclaim by their audience (cf. Jeremiah 5:31).

Here’s another warning against false teachers by Jesus:

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” – Matt. 18:6

A millstone was used for grinding grain. It was so heavy it took a donkey to turn it. Jesus is saying  if anyone leads another into sin, directly or indirectly, that person would be better off dead. How’s that for a true warning from Jesus? Here’s a few other scripture passages.

Matthew 24:24 – For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

1 John 4:1 – Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Matthew 7:15 – “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”

Scripture warnings from God against false teachers.

This is an open letter of warning to Jerome Fernando and his followers:

Ezekiel 13:9 – “My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord God.”
Psalm 5:4-6 – For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
2 Peter 2:1-3 – But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

2 Peter 2:1-3 declares very clearly, that the prosperity gospel, the heretical gospel of the Word Of Faith (WOF) name-it-and-claim-it movement is a gospel of covetousness. A gospel of the love of money and not of Christ. A love for material stuff that is preeminent and not Christ our Saviour. Jesus said “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. – Matt. 16:24-27

The prosperity gospel preached by Jerome Fernando, Kirby De Lanerolle and their followers is not found in scripture. It is a perversion of the gospel. They are preaching something Jesus never promised in this life. This life is transient (Ps. 39), temporary (1 Pet. 1:24), fading away (1 Jn. 2:17). The rewards promised in scripture are eternal (Eph. 1:3-14) a far better reward than this world can offer. Do not settle for the lesser things where moth and rust destroy and thieves can break in and steal. God has shown us the path to true blessing IN Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3-17). A path of abundance, a path of obedience, that honors and glorified God.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

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More resources on this subject

“Touch not the Lord’s anointed” doesn’t mean what you think it means. – American Gospel

Costi Hinn exposes the lifestyle behind the his uncle Benny Hinn’s ministry. 

7 False Teachers in the Church Today – Tim Challies

The Gospel Promises True Prosperity – John Piper

The Abundance of Blessing in Christ – R.C. Sproul

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