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The Other Side of the River

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The Other Side of the River is the true-life memoir of author Kevin Reeves, detailing how a spiritual movement called "the River" (also known as the Third Wave or the Latter Rain) and its repercussions within his family's church, the New Covenant Fellowship, affected his life and faith, as well as that of his loved ones. The Other Side of the River tells of how warnings of divine retribution were used as threats to keep members in line; how such blatantly false or nonsensical beliefs such as the idea that faithful women never feel pain from childbirth (since pain of childbirth is allegedly the legacy of the Original Sin) were prevalent; questionable worship practices; the author's own search for truth in the words of Jesus Christ and scripture even as he became increasingly disillusioned with the cultlike behavior he saw; and much more. "...the true prophets of old and the original New Testament apostles didn't charge at all for the Gospel, but today's prophets, acting more in the know than even Paul or John, make a hefty living drawing in the crowds. As long as they're able to come up with one more hidden key to spiritual prosperity, as long as they can persuade the average believer that he is lacking in some Christian fundamental, today's gospel merchandisers will continue to draw the misinformed with their promises of more. And make them pay through the nose with it." A sober and reflective testimony on the misuse of religious leadership, trust, and authority, highly recommended.

I left these practices years ago and this book hits the nail right on the head. Excellent reading - won't be able to put this book down. Recommended reading for all Pentecostals and Charasmatics.

This book was very helpful in understanding what the deception is that my own parents have been enamored with. It is a must read for anyone who is battling with loved ones who have fallen away from the truth and become involved in practices that contradict the Bible. My battle has lasted 5 years now, but I continue to pray that God will remove the scales from their eyes. Very definitve on Word of Faith, Charismatic and "spirit-filled" deception.

This book is a "must read" for anyone who has come to their senses within an apostate church and wondered what to do and how to do it. The Bible is clear that we are to mark and avoid false teachers (Rom. 16:17) and separate ourselves from those involved in sin (1 Cor. 6:17) while continuing to pray for them. But the issue of rejecting heresy and false prophesy becomes a matter of personal fortitude and deep emotional hurts when it involves close friends who have been brainwashed by "the river".

My testimony is similar to Kevin's in certain ways, though the Lord saved me from deep involvement in the Third Wave. I lost a number of close personal friends when I found myself in the position of either obeying the Lord and His Word or coming to consensus with men. But the Bible does not give Christians an "option". We are to stand for the truth whenever and wherever it is demanded of us, whether in the world or in the churches. We must stand for unity, but that means we are to put on the unity of the Spirit and strive for unity in the Faith (Eph. 4). When unity of the Faith (unity in the core doctrines as taught by Jesus Christ and the Apostles) is not being upheld and taught, then the individual Christian is duty bound to reject that heresy and seek fellowship elsewhere. The Bible is clear that those who obey the Lord prove they love Him, and conversely those who disobey Him prove they do not love Him (John 14:15, 23, 24). We have many choices each day whether or not to obey the Lord. All of us fall down on this account. But we cannot be reconciled to the Lord without (1) repentance of sin and (2) not allowing ourselves into a situation of habitual, continual sin. Staying in a church that is teaching heresy, participating in false prophecy, and promoting false anointings (which are of another spirit) is putting yourself in a position where you are violating both of the above criteria for staying in the love of Christ. Only Jesus Christ can save because of His perfect substitutional salvation He purchased for us with His blood on the cross. But we must repent of our sins and turn to Him, taking up our cross daily and following Him. You cannot follow the Lord while living in habitual sin, and you will not be saved as long as you remain unrepenant. Remember that many will come saying "Lord, Lord" in the end but they will go to hell. They are those who think they will be justified by their many works of doing miracles, prophesying, casting out demons, etc. Today we have a whole generation of Christians who are enamored with works, and defend those they follow by constantly referring to them. But the Lord says this:

Matt. 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

What is the will of the Father? That we obey Jesus Christ. Jesus says we are to reject heretics by marking and avoiding them. The commands of the Lord are simple, but the reality of obedience is not. But we cannot be blessed by the Lord and gain eternal life without obedience.

II Timothy 2:15 tells us, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Much of modern Christianity has strayed from this important truth to their own hurt. Having been in the Charismatic movement for a number of years myself, I can relate to what Keven Reeves has to say about it's numerous excesses. For having the guts to expose the error in his own charismatic congregation, I admire him.

I John 4:1 tells us, "Beloved, do not believe every spsirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." If this was true in the first century of John's day, how much more so are we seeing an abundance of false teachers or prophets dispensing teaching contrary to Scripture today! No longer are we encouraged to test the spirits, but rather exhorted to unreservedly enter into the latest move of God.

Just as a person can be addicted to drugs, food, alcahol, spending, etc, they can also be addicted to emotional religion. While at first a little satisfies, just as with any other drug, you need ever increasing doses to get the same high (emotional rush).

Having said that I really believe our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Just as he healed when on earth, he still heals today. The important thing to remember is that when our Messiah did miracles in the gospels, people weren't rolling around on the floor, barking like dogs, wirthing like snakes and on and on. In fact the Scriptures tell us that after being set free, a man who had moments before been inhabited by a legion of demons was "clothed and in his right mind." (Luke 8:35) It was beofre Jesus set the man free that the demonic manifestations were taking place. Even if the leadership claims that a wierd manifestation is of God, I contend that if what you see looks and acts like a demonic manifestation it undoubtedly is.

While much of information in Reeves book is excellent, I have two problems with his presentation. First of all, Even though at times he comes across that way, he does not have the last period on Scriptural truth. None of us do.

Also, while much of the Charismatic movement if full with error, we need to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. While there are conterfeit healings, there are also geniune ones. Satan can't create anything. He's the master at counterfeiting God's wonderful works.

A great book by someone who was deceived for many years by the "River Movement", which also is related to the "Word of Faith" and "Dominion/Kingdom Now". These movements are endorsed by people like Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and many other TBN heretics. Other well-known names to watch out for are Jesse Duplantis, John Wimber, and Rodney Howard-Browne. I would honestly like to see the amounts of money being made by any one of these people. It's a shame that Christians do not compare what these people say with the Holy Bible (KJV).

So-called holy laughter, shaking, heat sensations, etc are not holy at all. Thank you Mr. Reeves for having the courage to come forth with your story and enduring the chastisement from others and also the embarrassment that comes with acknowledging your errors after searching the Scriptures.

If you have serious questions about what is God, or False folly that is breaking out in curches everywhere since the Toronto manifestations began, this is a book to read. It is an eyeopening account from a man who was in leadership for many years, and who has now bravely discarded 'the lie'. I suspect most christians will identify fully with the encounters he 'tolerated' despite his growing discomfort, due to the 'false' dilemma of loyalty to leaders versus loyalty to the WORD OF GOD.

This is an eye-opening book because I believe it may describe (though to a more extreme extent than is typical), the experiences of many a young Christian that got sucked into this word-faith / river/ apostolic movement and its wacky beliefs and practices. Most sobering is the psychological and emotional grip that is used to control and delude, and the fact that many of the culprits are very much deluded themselves. A timely warning for each Christian to be a Berean and to be aware of many off-road but powerful doctrines in the air today.

This book was so full of the heresies practiced by the "new move of God" in the church today.I have to admit feeling the same way as the author did while he was involved in the "River" movement. I knew something was not right! He confirms this with biblical backing! I could not put it down, really! I really recommend this book.

I found Mr. Reeves' book after I bought "Why I Left the Prophetic Movement" which was very disappointing! Mr. Reeves shares his struggles with questionable teaching in the charismatic community in a way I found refreshing! He points out how a lot of what is being taught isn't found in the Bible but is based on experience and opinion. Much of what is being taught, especially in groups that adhere to the so called "Toronto Blessing" is actually heresy and Mr. Reeves' backs up what he's teaching with sound Scriptural teaching that sticks to what the Bible actually teaches and not what someone else may want it to say when it actually doesn't.

I also found Kevin Reeves to be a man of godly humility and someone I can trust. He gives us freedom to doubt & question & helps us focus back on the truth of God's Word.