Word of Faith movement

Word of Faith movement

What is the Word of Faith movement, and is it biblical ?

Word of Faith teaching is decidedly unbiblical. It is not a denomination and does not have a formal organization or hierarchy. Instead, it is a movement that is heavily influenced by a number of high-profile pastors and teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Paul and Jan Crouch, and Fred Price.

The Word of Faith movement grew out of the Pentecostal movement in the late 20th century. Its founder was E. W. Kenyon, who studied the metaphysical New Thought teachings of Phineas Quimby. Mind science (where "name it and claim it" originated) was combined with Pentecostalism, resulting in a peculiar mix of orthodox Christianity and mysticism. Kenneth Hagin, in turn, studied under E. W. Kenyon and made the Word of Faith movement what it is today. Although individual teachings range from completely heretical to completely ridiculous, what follows is the basic theology most Word of Faith teachers align themselves with.

At the heart of the Word of Faith movement is the belief in the "force of faith." It is believed words can be used to manipulate the faith-force, and thus actually create what they believe Scripture promises (health and wealth). Laws supposedly governing the faith-force are said to operate independently of God's sovereign will and that God Himself is subject to these laws. This is nothing short of idolatry, turning our faith—and by extension ourselves—into god.

From here, its theology just strays further and further from Scripture: it claims that God created human beings in His literal, physical image as little gods. Before the fall, humans had the potential to call things into existence by using the faith-force. After the fall, humans took on Satan's nature and lost the ability to call things into existence. In order to correct this situation, Jesus Christ gave up His divinity and became a man, died spiritually, took Satan's nature upon Himself, went to hell, was born again, and rose from the dead with God's nature. After this, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to replicate the Incarnation in believers so they could become little gods as God had originally intended.

Following the natural progression of these teachings, as little gods we again have the ability to manipulate the faith-force and become prosperous in all areas of life. Illness, sin, and failure are the result of a lack of faith, and are remedied by confession—claiming God's promises for oneself into existence. Simply put, the Word of Faith movement exalts man to god-status and reduces God to man-status. Needless to say, this is a false representation of what Christianity is all about. Obviously, Word of Faith teaching does not take into account what is found in Scripture. Personal revelation, not Scripture, is highly relied upon in order to come up with such absurd beliefs, which is just one more proof of its heretical nature.

Countering Word of Faith teaching is a simple matter of reading the Bible. God alone is the Sovereign Creator of the Universe (Genesis 1:3; 1 Timothy 6:15) and does not need faith—He is the object of faith (Mark 11:22; Hebrews 11:3). God is spirit and does not have a physical body (John 4:24). Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26, 27; 9:6), but this does not make him a little god or divine. Only God has a divine nature (Galatians 4:8; Isaiah 1:6-11, 43:10, 44:6; Ezekiel 28:2; Psalm 8:6-8). Christ is Eternal, the Only Begotten Son, and the only incarnation of God (John 1:1, 2, 14, 15, 18; 3:16; 1 John 4:1). In Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). By becoming a man, Jesus gave up the glory of heaven but not His divinity (Philippians 2:6-7), though He did choose to withhold His power while walking the earth as man.

The Word of Faith movement is deceiving countless people, causing them to grasp after a way of life and faith that is not biblical. At its core is the same lie Satan has been telling since the Garden: “You shall be as God” (Genesis 3:5). Sadly, those who buy into the Word of Faith movement are still listening to him. Our hope is in the Lord, not in our own words, not even in our own faith (Psalm 33:20-22). Our faith comes from God in the first place (Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 12:2) and is not something we create for ourselves. So, be wary of the Word of Faith movement and any church that aligns itself with Word of Faith teachings.
Source: www.gotquestions.org

2 Peter 2:1-3

 ¹ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

² And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
³ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

They will CLEVERLY TEACH DESTRUCTIVE HERESIES and even DENY THE MASTER (JESUS) who bought them. IN THEIR GREED THEY WILL MAKE UP CLEVER LIES TO GET A HOLD OF YOUR MONEY. But God condemned them long ago, and their Destruction will not be delayed.” 

Matthew 7:15-20

Matt 7:15-20   Jesus says, ¹⁵ Beware of FALSE PROPHETS, which come to you in SHEEP’S CLOTHING, but INWARDLY they ARE RAVENING WOLVES.
¹⁶ Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
¹⁷ Even so every GOOD TREE bringeth forth GOOD fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
¹⁸ A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
¹⁹ Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
²⁰ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
 You can identify them by the way they ACT. A GOOD TREE produces GOOD FRUIT, and a BAD TREE produces BAD FRUIT.  Just as you can identify a TREE by its FRUIT, so you can IDENTIFY PEOPLE BY THEIR ACTIONS.

Matt 24:4-5
⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
⁵ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Jesus warns us. 
Matt 7:21-23
²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Jesus warns,  Only those who actually "do the WILL OF MY FATHER in Heaven," will enter. Further, he says to get away from him, those who BREAK GOD’S LAWS.
Matt 24:11
 ¹¹ And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Matthew 24:23-26 Jesus says “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. For FALSE MESSIAHS and FALSE PROPHETS will rise up and perform GREAT SIGNS AND WONDERS SO AS TO DECEIVE, IF POSSIBLE EVEN GOD’S CHOSEN ONES. See, I have warned you about this ahead of time. “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it!” …
Mark 13:22 Jesus warns, “FALSE CHRISTS & FALSE PROPHETS shall rise, and shall show SIGNS & WONDERS, IN ORDER TO LEAD ASTRAY, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, EVEN THE ELECT. But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.”
Rev 2:2-3 Jesus says, “I know all the things you DO. I have seen your Hard Work and your Patient Endurance. I know you DON’T TOLERATE EVIL PEOPLE. You have EXAMINED CLAIMS of those who SAY they are APOSTLES but are NOT. You have DISCOVERED they are LIARS. You have Patiently Suffered for Me without Quitting…(6) You HATE THE EVIL DEEDS of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.”
Matt 16:4 Jesus says, “ONLY an EVIL, ADULTEROUS generation would demand a Miraculous Sign…”
Acts 20:29-32 “I know that FALSE TEACHERS, like VICIOUS WOLVES, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the Flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and DISTORT THE TRUTH in order to draw a following. Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you. “And now I entrust you to God and the Message of his Grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.”
Rom 16:17-18 “WATCH OUT (MARK THEM) for people who cause Divisions and Upset People’s Faith by TEACHING THINGS CONTRARY to (TO THE DOCTRINE) what you have been taught. STAY AWAY from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own Personal Interests. By SMOOTH TALK and GLOWING WORDS THEY DECEIVE INNOCENT PEOPLE.”
2 Peter 2:1-3 “But there were also FALSE PROPHETS in Israel, just as there will be FALSE TEACHERS among you. They will CLEVERLY TEACH DESTRUCTIVE HERESIES and even DENY THE MASTER (JESUS) who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their Evil Teaching and Shameful Immorality. And because of these Teachers, the way of Truth will be slandered. IN THEIR GREED THEY WILL MAKE UP CLEVER LIES TO GET A HOLD OF YOUR MONEY. But God condemned them long ago, and their Destruction will not be delayed.”
1 Tim 4:1 “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the LAST TIMES some will turn away from the TRUE FAITH; they will follow DECEPTIVE SPIRITS AND TEACHINGS that come from DEMONS.”
2 Tim 4:3-4 “For the time will come (END TIMES) when they will NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE; but wanting to have their EARS TICKLED, they will accumulate for themselves TEACHERS IN ACCORDANCE TO THEIR OWN DESIRES, and will TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH and will TURN ASIDE TO MYTHS.”
Titus 1:10-11 “For there are many REBELLIOUS PEOPLE WHO ENGAGE IN USELESS TALK AND DECEIVE OTHERS. This is especially true of those who insist on Circumcision for Salvation. THEY MUST BE SILENCED, because they are turning WHOLE FAMILIES AWAY FROM THE TRUTH by their FALSE TEACHERS. And they DO IT ONLY FOR MONEY.”
Gal 1:6-12 “I am shocked that you are TURNING AWAY SO SOON FROM GOD, who called you to himself through the loving Mercy of Christ. You are following a DIFFERENT WAY that PRETENDS TO BE THE GOOD NEWS but is NOT the Good News at all. You are being FOOLED by those who deliberately TWIST THE TRUTH CONCERNING CHRIST. LET GOD’S CURSE FALL ON ANYONE, INCLUDING US OR EVEN AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN, WHO PREACHES A DIFFERENT KIND OF GOOD NEWS THAN THE ONE WE PREACHED TO YOU. I say again what we have said before: IF ANYONE PREACHES ANY OTHER GOOD NEWS THAN THE ONE YOU WELCOMED, LET THAT PERSON BE CURSED. Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the GOSPEL MESSAGE I Preach is NOT based on mere HUMAN REASONING. I received my message from No Human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by DIRECT REVELATION FROM JESUS CHRIST.”
2 Cor 11:13-15 “These people are FALSE APOSTLES. They are DECEITFUL WORKERS who DISGUISE THEMSELVES AS APOSTLES OF CHRIST. But I am not surprised! SATAN DISGUISES HIMSELF AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. So it is no wonder that his Servants also DISGUISE THEMSELVES AS SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. In the end they will get the Punishment their Wicked Deeds deserve.”
Phil 3:18-19 “For I have told you often before, and I say it again with Tears in my eyes, that there are MANY whose CONDUCT SHOWS they are really Enemies of the Cross of Christ. They are headed for DESTRUCTION. Their god is their Appetite, they Brag about shameful things, and they THINK ONLY ABOUT THIS LIFE HERE ON EARTH.”
Col 2:8 “BEWARE lest any man spoil you through PHILOSOPHY and VAIN DECEIT, after the TRADITION OF MEN, after the RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD, and NOT after CHRIST.”
Col 2:18 “Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on PIOUS SELF-DENIAL or the WORSHIP OF ANGELS, saying they have had VISIONS ABOUT THESE THINGS. Their sinful minds have made them proud..”
2 John 1:10-11 “If anyone comes to your meeting and does NOT TEACH THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRIST, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. Anyone who encourages such people becomes a PARTNER IN THEIR EVIL WORK.”
2 Pet 2:18 “They Brag about themselves with Empty, Foolish Boasting. With an Appeal to twisted Sexual Desires, they lure back into Sin those who have barely escaped from a Lifestyle of DECEPTION.”
Amos 8:11 “Behold, the Days are coming,” says the Lord God, “That I will send a Famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of HEARING THE WORDS OF THE LORD.”
1 Tim 6:8-10 “So if we have ENOUGH FOOD and CLOTHING, LET US BE CONTENT. But people who long to be RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION and are TRAPPED BY MANY FOOLISH and HARMFUL DESIRES that plunge them into RUIN AND DESTRUCTION. For the LOVE OF MONEY is the ROOT of ALL KINDS OF EVIL. And some people, CRAVING MONEY, have WANDERED from the TRUE FAITH and pierced themselves with MANY SORROWS.”
Jude 1:1-17 “I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the Salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to DEFEND THE FAITH that God has entrusted once for all time to his Holy People. I say this because some UNGODLY PEOPLE have WORMED THEIR WAY INTO YOUR CHURCHES (CREPT IN UNNOTICED; or SLIPPED IN AMONG YOU) saying that God’s marvelous Grace allows us to live IMMORAL LIVES. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ…. (10) But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, THEY DECEIVE PEOPLE FOR MONEY. And like Korah, they PERISH IN THEIR REBELLION. When these people eat with you in your Fellowship Meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like DANGEROUS REEFS THAT CAN SHIPWRECK YOU. They are like SHAMELESS SHEPHERDS WHO CARE ONLY FOR THEMSELVES. They are like CLOUDS BLOWING OVER THE LAND WITHOUT GIVING ANY RAIN. They are like TREES IN AUTUMN THAT ARE DOUBLY DEAD, FOR THEY BEAR NO FRUIT AND HAVE BEEN PULLED UP BY THE ROOTS. They are like WILD WAVES OF THE SEA, CHURNING UP THE FOAM OF THEIR SHAMEFUL DEEDS. They are like WANDERING STARS, DOOMED FOREVER TO BLACKEST DARKNESS. Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, Prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless Thousands of his Holy Ones to execute Judgment on the people of the World. He will Convict every person of all the Ungodly Things they have done and for all the insults that Ungodly Sinners have spoken against him.” These people are GRUMBLERS AND COMPLAINERS, lIVING ONLY TO SATISFY THEIR DESIRES. They BRAG LOUDLY ABOUT THEMSELVES, and they FLATTER OTHERS TO GET WHAT THEY WANT. But you, my dear friends, must remember what the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. They told you that in the LAST TIMES there would be SCOFFERS WHO PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO SATISFY THEIR UNGODLY DESIRES. These people are the ones who are CREATING DIVISIONS AMONG YOU. They FOLLOW THEIR NATURAL INSTINCTS BECAUSE THEY DO NO HAVE GOD’S SPIRIT IN THEM.”
Source: http://www.christianresearchservice.com/Wolves_Pictorial.htm

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2 Peter 2:3
KJV
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Amplified Bible
And in their covetousness (lust, greed) they will exploit you with false (cunning) arguments. From of old the sentence [of condemnation] for them has not been idle; their destruction (eternal misery) has not been asleep.

If these indictments of false prophets and their abominable exploitation of people are true, why are people so frightfully gullible to listen to them, believe them and support them? Once again, we should be astonished at the awesome accuracy of Bible prophecy because here again it provides us with the answer.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
KJV
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Amplified Bible
For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.
New American Standard Bible
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

The next question we need to ask is: What are people craving for? What are the things they so desperately want? What tickles their ears? The answer is quite simple: HEALTH, WEALTH AND PROSPERITY.  Remember what God said to Paul of Tarsus when He saved his eternal soul from damnation. He said:
Acts 9:15-16
¹⁵ But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
¹⁶ For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

1 Corinthians 4:10-16
¹⁰ We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
¹¹ Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
¹² And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
¹³ Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
¹⁴ I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
¹⁵ For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
¹⁶ Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

 And every one who would be faithful in Christ Jesus, must be prepared for poverty and contempt. Whatever the disciples of Christ suffer from men, they must follow the example, and fulfil the will and precepts of their Lord. They must be content, with him and for him, to be despised and abused. It is much better to be rejected, despised, and ill used, as St. Paul was, than to have the good opinion and favour of the world. Though cast off by the world as vile, yet we may be precious to God, gathered up with his own hand, and placed upon his throne.

In reproving for sin, we should distinguish between sinners and their sins. Reproofs that kindly and affectionately warn, are likely to reform. Though the apostle spoke with authority as a parent, he would rather beseech them in love. And as ministers are to set an example, others must follow them, as far as they follow Christ in faith and practice. Christians may mistake and differ in their views, but Christ and Christian truth are the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. 

Benny Hinn estate

Creflo Dollar parcel

Paul and Jan Crouch mansion

The Copelands' showplace

Paula White's palace

Joyce Meyer Kingdom












These photos contain only one of the many homes each of these super apostles possess. GOD TV is a very lucrative business – very prosperous and lucrative indeed

If persecution is a mountain God needs to remove when you give sacrificially to the cause of GODTV (which is to take your money under false pretenses), then God is a dismal failure because He never took away the mountain of persecution form the lives of millions of Christians who had been persecuted, martyred, burned at the stake, murdered, mutilated, beheaded, torn apart,, dishonoured, vilified, and humiliated throughout the ages. And if we look today, we can see how the persecution of Christians has escalated to astronomical proportions and it will continue to increase. Persecution, as we’ve seen in Paul’s and the other disciples’ lives, is a blessing and not a mountain to be removed. Indeed, the disciples were filled with joy when they were counted worthy to suffer shame and persecution in behalf of Jesus Christ.

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. (Acts 5:41)

The only conclusion to be reached is that GOD TV is not, I repeat NOT, a Christian TV network. It is the gathering place of many of the most deceived and deceiving false prophets in the world and they are leading you up the garden path right into hell. How dare I say it? Well, the Bible distinctly says:

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22-23)

GOD TV Is Undoubtedly The Fulfillment of Biblical Prophecy.
source: www.discerningtheworld.com

James 5

¹Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. ² Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
³ Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
⁴ Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
⁵ Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.