How the Word of Faith Prosperity Gospel Twists Scripture Q & A – Questions & Answers
HOW THE WORD OF FAITH PROSPERITY GOSPEL TWISTS SCRIPTURE – Check out some of the MANY ways that the False Teachers & False Prophets of the “Word of Faith Prosperity Gospel” Twist Scriptures… here are some of the many examples of how they do that.
QUOTE BY MARTHA MAC, SO4J-TV: “FAITH is NOT Speaking into Existence what WE want, it’s BELIEVING and OBEYING what HE wants.” (1 John 2:3-6)
Romans 16:17-18 “WATCH OUT for those who cause DIVISIONS and put OBSTACLES in your way that are CONTRARY to the TEACHING you have learned. KEEP AWAY FROM THEM. For such people are NOT SERVING our LORD CHRIST, but their OWN APPETITES. By SMOOTH TALK and FLATTERY they DECEIVE the MINDS of NAIVE PEOPLE.”
★SHOW 6 of 7 “PROBLEM BIBLE VERSES: CONTEXT & INTERPRETATION” – Justin Peters & Costi Hinn (Benny Hinn’s Nephew who LEFT the Prosperity Gospel) on: Are the Word-Faith / New Apostolic Reformation movements in error on secondary issues or do they actually qualify as heretical? In this program Costi Hinn and Justin Peters demonstrate that these movements actually teach a very different Jesus than the Jesus of the Bible. Christology is not a secondary issue. A different Jesus constitutes a different gospel. This program will show why you should be very concerned if you have a friend or family member in this movement. Souls are truly at stake.” ★This TV Show is SHOW 6 OF 7 shows in a series called: Truth & Transformation. Link: https://youtu.be/qg3wsRTigbg
The Prosperity Gospel Preachers get the Matthew 16:19 Scripture wrong (hover mouse over verse) big time. Below is from GotQuestions.org
“What does the Bible mean by BINDING and LOOSING?
Answer: The concept of “binding and loosing” is taught in the Bible in Matthew 16:19 Jesus says, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” In this verse, Jesus is speaking directly to the apostle Peter and indirectly to the other apostles. Jesus’ words meant that Peter would have the right to enter the kingdom himself, that he would have general authority symbolized by the possession of the keys, and that preaching the gospel would be the means of opening the kingdom of heaven to all believers and shutting it against unbelievers. The book of Acts shows us this process at work. By his sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-40), Peter opened the door of the kingdom for the first time. The expressions “bind” and “loose” were common to Jewish legal phraseology meaning to declare something forbidden or to declare it allowed.
Peter and the other disciples were to continue Christ’s work on earth in preaching the gospel and declaring God’s will to men, and they were armed with the same authority as He possessed. In Matthew 18:18, there is also a definite reference to the binding and loosing in the context of church discipline. The apostles do not usurp Christ’s lordship and authority over individual believers and their eternal destiny, but they do exercise the authority to discipline and, if necessary, excommunicate disobedient church members.
Christ in heaven ratifies what is done in His name and in obedience to His Word on earth. In both Matthew 16:19 and Matthew 18:18, the syntax of the Greek text makes the meaning clear. What you bind on earth will have already been bound in heaven. What you loose on earth will have already been loosed in heaven. In other words, Jesus in heaven looses the authority of His Word as it goes forth on earth for the fulfillment of its purpose.
Scripture Twisting of: Matthew 17:19-21, 21:18-22, Mark 11:19-26 What Does it Mean to have “Mountain Moving Faith?” & “Mustard Seed Faith?”
Scriptures
Matthew 17:19-21 “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately & said, “Why could we not cast it out?” And Jesus said to them, “Because of the LITTLENESS of your FAITH; for truly I say to you, if you have FAITH as a MUSTARD SEED, you shall say to this MOUNTAIN, ‘MOVE FROM HERE TO THERE,’ and it SHALL MOVE; and NOTHING shall be IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU. [But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.]”
Matthew 21:18-22 (NKJV) “Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have FAITH and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this MOUNTAIN, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Mark 11:19-26 (NKJV) “When evening had come, He went out of the city. Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this MOUNTAIN, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Short Excerpt from Got Questions Re Matthew 17— …”Another thing to consider in biblical interpretation is the context of the passage. More often than not, when we take a single verse out of its native context, we end up misinterpreting the verse. In this context, Jesus rebukes the disciples for their weak faith and says that even if they had mustard seed sized faith, they could command the mountain to move. Contextually, the mountain must refer to the demon that was afflicting the man’s son. Jesus tells His disciples that if their faith was stronger, they could have commanded the demon to leave the boy, and it would be so. This was clearly the case in Matthew 10 when Jesus sent them out to cure diseases, cast out demons and spread the gospel. Therefore, it is clear from the context that Jesus does not intend to assert that mustard seed sized faith can literally move mountains. Rather, the expression Jesus uses was a common colloquialism of that day; to a Jew of Jesus’ day, a mountain is a metaphor signifying a seemingly impossible task. Faith that can move mountains is not meant to imply a faith that can literally move literal mountains. The point Jesus was making is that even a little bit of faith—faith the size of a tiny mustard seed—can overcome mountainous obstacles in our lives.” [END]
What Does It Mean to Have “Mustard Seed Faith”?
Faith is so vital to the Christian life that Scripture tells us without it, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). And yet faith is such a powerful gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9) that with just a tiny measure of it, the size of a mustard seed, Christ told His disciples they could move mountains. So, what does it mean to have “mustard seed faith”?
We see the reference to “mustard seed faith” twice in Scripture. First, in Matthew 17:14-20, we see Christ’s disciples unable to exorcise a demon from a young boy, even though Jesus had previously given them the authority to do this very thing (Matthew 10:1). When they inquired of Jesus why they were not able to drive the demon out, the Master replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it will move; Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:14-20). Next, in Luke 17:6, Jesus tells His disciples: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” By using the uncommonly small mustard seed as an example, Jesus is speaking figuratively about the incalculable power of God when unleashed in the lives of those with true faith.
We know that this statement about moving mountains and uprooting trees by faith is not to be taken literally. No one can do such things, no matter how great their faith. The key to understanding the passages is the nature of faith, which is a gift from God. The power of faith reflects the omnipotent nature of the God who bestows faith on His own. The mustard seed is one of the tiniest seeds found in the Middle East, so the conclusion is that the amount of faith needed to do great things is very small indeed. Just as in the parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32), Jesus uses rhetorical hyperbole to make the point that little is much when it comes from God. The mustard seed in the parable grows to be a huge tree, representing the tiny beginnings of Christianity when just a few disciples began to preach and teach the gospel. Eventually the kingdom grew to huge proportions, encompassing the entire world and spreading over centuries.
So, too, does the tiniest bit of faith, when it is true faith from God, grow to immense proportions in the lives of believers and spreading out to influence all they come into contact with. One has only to read histories of the great men of the faith, such as Foxe’s Book of Martyrs to know that superhuman feats were performed by those whose faith was, at one time, only the size of a mustard seed. (cont. right below with John MacArthur)
What Does It Mean to Have “Mountain Moving Faith”? (Cont.)
This Q & A below is by: John MacArthur from his New Testament Bible Commentaries—
This Q & A below is by: John MacArthur from his New Testament Bible Commentaries—
Matthew 17:19-21 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately & said, “Why could we not cast it out?” And Jesus said to them, “Because of the LITTLENESS of your FAITH; for truly I say to you, if you have FAITH as a MUSTARD SEED, you shall say to this MOUNTAIN, ‘MOVE FROM HERE TO THERE,’ and it SHALL MOVE; and NOTHING shall be IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU. [But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.]”
THE POWER OF FAITH—
Jesus’ purpose in the Miracle went beyond the healing of the demonized boy, important as that was. The Healing not only brought health to the boy and Great Joy to his father, but Glory to God. But for the disciples the important lesson of that event was yet to be learned.
It is not surprising that they questioned Jesus privately—in a house, Mark tells us (Mark 9:28), perhaps the home of one of the disciples. They were embarrassed at their own Failure and were perplexed as to why they themselves could… not cast it out. Why was He able to accomplish with a word what they had not been able to accomplish with great effort? “You commissioned and empowered us to heal and to cast out demons,” they said, in effect. “And we have been successful before. Why did we fail this time?” They probably went about the act of casting out the demon in the same way they had on earlier occasions. They probably invoked the Lord’s name, commanded the demon to leave, and awaited his departure. But this time nothing happened.
“The reason should be obvious,” Jesus implied. “You failed BECAUSE OF THE LITTLENESS OF YOUR FAITH.” It was not because of total lack of Faith BUT BECAUSE OF… LITTLENESS OF… FAITH that they were powerless. They had saving Faith, which they could not lose. And they had trusting Faith to some degree, or they would not have attempted to heal the boy But they lacked sufficient Faith to employ the power Jesus had given to them.
Having LITTLENESS OF… FAITH was a somewhat typical condition of the disciples. Soon after Jesus called them into His service, they sat among the crowd on the mountainside whom He charged with being anxious because of their little faith in God to provide for their physical needs (Matt 6:25-34). When during the fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee they despaired of their lives, Jesus rebuked them before He rebuked the waves, saying “Why are you timid, you men of little faith?” (Matt 8:26). When Peter started to walk on the water but became afraid and began sinking, “Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'” (Matt 14:31). Shortly before healing the demonized boy, Jesus had again charged the disciples with having little Faith in not expecting Him to be able to feed the multitude near Magadan (Matt 16:8).
Those incidents illustrate that LITTLE FAITH is the kind of faith that believes in God when you have something in your hand, when HIS PROVISION is ALREADY MADE. When things were GOING WELL with the DISCIPLES and EVERYTHING SEEMED UNDER CONTROL, they found it EASY to TRUST their LORD. But as soon as CIRCUMSTANCES became UNCERTAIN or THREATENING, their FAITH WITHERED. Their Faith was like the Faith of most believers in all ages. When they are HEALTHY and have the necessities of Life, their FAITH is GREAT and STRONG, but when they are in NEED, their FAITH is SMALL and gives way to DOUBT.
GREAT FAITH TRUSTS GOD when there is NOTHING in the cupboard to EAT and NO MONEY to buy FOOD. GREAT FAITH TRUSTS IN GOD when Health is GONE, Work is GONE, Reputation is GONE, or Family is GONE. GREAT FAITH TRUSTS GOD while the WINDSTORM is still Howling and PERSECUTION continues.
The Lord was giving the disciples a sample of what their lives would be like once He had returned to heaven, when they could no longer see Him or touch Him or talk with Him in the way they were used to doing. He was also teaching them PERSISTENCE. We do not know how often they tried to cast the demon out of the boy, but at some point they gave up. When Jesus first sent the disciples out, their success at Healing and Casting out Demons was immediate. But Jesus had NOT promised that that would always be the case. The Twelve had to learn that, unlike the Lord’s power, theirs was not inherent in themselves. It came only from HIM, by HIS DIVINE PROVISION and WILL.
It is ENCOURAGING to realize that even the Apostles, with their unique calling and Miraculous Gifts, always had to RELY on Jesus to minister effectively to STRENGTHEN their FAITH and sense of DEPENDENCE, the Lord sometimes made them WAIT—just as He often does with Believers today to help Strengthen our Faith, He may sometimes make us Wait a long time for an answer to Prayer. Just as an Athlete grows stronger by gradually lifting Heavier weights or by running longer distances, so a believer grows stronger in Faith by Facing ever-increasing Challenges that expose his own Weakness and Drive him to the Lord.
Continuing the lesson on Faith, Jesus said, “FOR TRULY I SAY TO YOU, IF YOU HAVE FAITH AS A MUSTARD SEED, YOU SHALL SAY TO THIS MOUNTAIN, ‘MOVE FROM HERE TO THERE,’ AND IT SHALL MOVE; AND NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU.”
Jesus seems to contradict Himself, first rebuking the disciples for having SMALL FAITH and then telling them that even the SMALLEST FAITH can MOVE MOUNTAINS. But as He made clear in the Parable of the MUSTARD SEED, the seed does NOT represent LITTLENESS as such but rather LITTLENESS that GROWS into GREATNESS. “When it is full grown,” He explained, “it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree” (Matt 13:32). Small faith can accomplish great things only if, like a MUSTARD SEED, it GROWS into something GREATER than it was. Only when SMALL FAITH GROWS into GREAT FAITH can it MOVE A MOUNTAIN.
MUSTARD SEED FAITH IS PERSISTENT FAITH—
It continues to GROW and become PRODUCTIVE because it NEVER GIVES UP. It is the sort of Faith exercised by the importunate man who kept knocking on his neighbor’s door late at night until he got a response. “I tell you,” Jesus said, that “even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs” (Luke 11:8).
Jesus also illustrated MUSTARD SEED FAITH in the Parable of the oppressed widow a parable He gave specifically”to show that at all times [the disciples] ought to Pray and NOT to lose Heart” (Luke 18:1). When the widow would not take no for an answer, the godless, indifferent judge finally gave her “legal protection, lest,” he said, “by continually coming she wear me out’ (Luke 18:5). “Hear what the unrighteous judge said,” Jesus went on to explain; “now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily” (Luke 18:6-8).
It must also be clearly understood that Jesus was NOT talking about moving a LITERAL MOUNTAIN. Neither the Apostles nor the Lord Himself ever performed such a feat—nor has anyone else in the nearly 2,000—year History of the Church. That would have been the sort of grand but pointless miracle the scribes and Pharisees expected of the Messiah but which Jesus refused to perform (Matt 12:38-39).
ABLE TO MOVE MOUNTAINS—
The expression “ABLE TO MOVE MOUNTAINS” was a common figure of speech in that day that represented the ability to surmount great obstacles.
As WILLIAM BARCLAY has observed, a great teacher, who could really expound and interpret Scripture and who could explain and resolve difficulties, was regularly known as an UPROOTER or even a PULVERIZER of MOUNTAINS. To tear up, to uproot, to pulverize mountains were all regular phrases for removing difficulties. Jesus never meant this to be taken physically and literally After all, the ordinary man seldom finds any necessity to remove a mountain. What He meant was: “If you have faith enough, all difficulties can be solved, and even the hardest task can be accomplished. Faith in God is the instrument that allows men to remove the hills of difficulty which block their path. (The Gospel of Matthew [Philadelphia: Westminster, 1959], pp. 184-85)
JESUS WAS TALKING FIGURATIVELY ABOUT MOUNTAIN—SIZE DIFFICULTIES, SUCH AS THE NINE DISCIPLES HAD JUST EXPERIENCED IN NOT BEING ABLE TO CURE THE DEMONIZED BOY.
The promise NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU is CONDITIONAL, valid only within THE FRAMEWORK OF GOD’S WILL. MOUNTAIN-MOVING FAITH is NOT Faith in ONESELF, much LESS FAITH IN FAITH, but FAITH in GOD. It is NOT FAITH ITSELF, no matter how great, that moves Mountains, but the GOD in whom the Faith is GROUNDED. Faith has only as much power as its object. When Jesus said to the Samaritan leper and the blind man of Jericho, “your Faith has made you well” (Luke 17:19; 18:42), He did not mean that their Faith in itself healed them. That would mean they healed themselves, which, of course, they did not do.
Jesus’ point was that “NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU when you PRAYERFULLY and PERSISTENTLY TRUST in ME.” The disciples could not heal the demonized boy, even though they had Jesus’ commission and promised power, because they did not persist in dependent prayer.
Throughout the ages believers often have failed to receive God’s promised joy, freedom, forgiveness, guidance, fruitfulness, protection, wisdom, and countless other blessings simply because, like those disciples, they have not persisted in prayer.
“THIS KIND of demon DOES NOT GO OUT EXCEPT BY PRAYER,” Jesus declared. Although that phrase is not found in the best manuscripts of Matthew (indicated by brackets in some versions), it is a genuine saying of Jesus and is found in Mark’s account (Matt 9:29), from which an early scribe probably picked it up and added it to Matthew. However, the last two words of the verse, and FASTING, are not found in the best manuscripts of any gospel.
Jesus’ emphasis was clearly on PRAYER. As James wrote some years later in James 5:16 “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much”. Dedicated, fervent, passionate, persistent prayer gets results, because such prayer is honored by God.
During one point of his ministry, the nineteenth-century Christian leader George Mueller began to pray for five personal friends. It was not until five years later that the first one of them came to Christ. After five more years, two more of them became Christians, and after twenty-five years the fourth man was saved. He prayed for the fifth friend until the time of his death, a few months after which the last friend came to salvation. For that friend George Mueller had prayed more than fifty years!
Scripture Twisting of: Psalm 37:4
What Does It Mean: Delight Yourself in the Lord & He will Give You The Desires of Your Heart?
What Does It Mean to Delight Yourself in the Lord & He will give you the Desires of your Heart? (Psalm 37:4)
The Scripture:
Psalm 37:4 “DELIGHT yourself in the LORD & He will GIVE YOU the DESIRES of your Heart.”
This does not mean that God will give us every fleshly Desire that we want on this Earth. What this Scripture means is that if we’re CONFORMING to GOD’S WILL (i.e.Delighting in Him), HE will place in our Heart DESIRES that REFLECT HIS WILL. What’s Gods Will? Pastor John MacArthur (from our Church: Grace Community Church in CA) says there are for sure 6 Things the Bible says is “God’s Will” for us, and that is to be: Saved, Sanctified, Spirit-Filled, Submissive, Share in Sufferings of Christ, Say Thanks.
God Promises Believers that He will Supply our NEEDS not all our WANTS.
Philippians 4:19 Paul reminds the Philippians, “God will supply all your NEEDS according to His riches in Glory..”
Scripture Twisting of: 3 John 1:2 (KJV)
What Does it mean that we may Prosper in all Things & be in Health?
What Does it mean that we may Prosper in all Things & be in Health? (3 John 1:2)
Another Scripture that gets Twisted is 3 John 2:1 Re: Prospering in All things..and being in Health
3 John 1:2 (KJV) The Apostle John greets Gaius, “Beloved, I Pray that you may Prosper in all things and be in Health, just as your Soul prospers.”
This above Scripture is just a Personal Friendly Greeting to John’s Friend Gaius. This is not a blanket Statement & Promise of Prosperity & that you are going to be RICH in this life. Paul and others experienced MUCHSUFFERING in this life that the LORD sovereignly allowed to take place for His Eternal purposes. (2 Cor 11:23-30,2 Cor 6:4-10). This is NOT A Guarantee of Health & Wealth on this Earth. John was simply concerned for Gaius’s Physical AND Spiritual well-being. He Prayed that Gaius’ Physical Well-being would match how he is doing Spiritually. God wants us to LOVE HIM above all things, and NOT to LOVE of Money & Prosperity (Mark 12:30-31, 1 Tim 6:10, Matt 19:23-24), etc.
Matthew 19:23-24 Then Jesus said to His Disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is HARD for a RICH MAN to enter the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a RICH MAN to enter the KINGDOM OF GOD.”
Scripture Twisting of: John 10:10
What Does It Mean That Jesus Came to Give Us Life, and Life More Abundantly?
What Does it mean that Jesus came to give us Life, and Life More Abundantly? (John 10:10)
Another Scripture that they Twist is John 10:10 regarding how Jesus told us: “He will give us life and life more abundantly”. We will take a look at the FULL SCRIPTURE and CONTEXT too of what Jesus was actually talking about when He said that.
John 10:10 Jesus says, “I came that they may have Life (Eternal Life), and have it more Abundant.”
The FULL SCRIPTURE of what Jesus was talking about in John 10:10 says this:
John 10:7-11 (NASB) So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the DOOR of the SHEEP. 8) All who came before ME are THEIVES and ROBBERS, but the SHEEP did NOT HEAR THEM. 9) I am the DOOR; if anyone enters through ME, he will be SAVED, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10) The THEIF comes only to STEAL and KILL and DESTROY; I came that they may have LIFE (ie Eternal Life), and have it ABUNDANTLY. 11) I am the GOOD SHEPHERD; the GOOD SHEPHERD lays down His life for the SHEEP.”
Many are told that Jesus said that He came to give us “Life and Life more Abundantly” IN OUR FINANCES. Jesus however was actually referring to ETERNAL LIFE when talking about the ABUNDANT LIFE and NOT our finances here. If our life is ABUNDANT right now it is ONLY because of JESUS, and His HOLY SPIRIT living in us, who can give us an ABUNDANT supply of HIS PEACE & JOY no matter what TRIAL OR TEST we go through.
Quote from John MacArthur in the MacArthur Study Bible: “These two verses in John 10:9-10 are a proverbial way of insisting that belief in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God is the ONLY way of being “SAVED” from SIN and HELL and receiving ETERNAL LIFE. Only JESUS CHRIST is the ONE TRUE SOURCE for the knowledge of God and the one basis for spiritual security.”
What Does It Mean That We Will Do Greater Works Than Jesus?
What Does it Mean that we will Do Greater Works than Jesus? (John 14:12)
Another Scripture they Twist is John 14:12 Re: Doing Greater Works than Jesus.
John 14:12 Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater worksthan these he will do, because I go to My Father.
When the Lord spoke of Believers performing Greater Works, He is also referring to the Greater Work of Preaching the Gospel, the Gospel that leads to people to Eternal Life— Salvation! (Rom 1:16) Jesus Never Preached outside of Palestine, yet the Believers after Him would Preach the Gospel throughout the World. Jesus had a limited outreach to the Gentiles, but the Disciples (Peter & Paul, etc) would reach the Gentile World with the Good News. Those being added as Believers would grow in numbers way beyond the Hundreds (Acts 1:15; 1 Cor 15:6) that were numbered during Jesus’ lifetime.
There is nothing more important and more miraculous then the Miracle of Eternal Life!
What Does It Mean to: Call those Things that Be Not as though they already Are?
What Does It Mean to: Call those things that Be Not as though they already Are? (Romans 4:17)
Another Scripture they Twist is Romans 4:17 which says, “…Calling those things that be not as though they already were.”
FULL CONTEXT OF THE SCRIPTURE:
Romans 4:16-17 “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickens the dead, and calling those things which be not as though they were.“
This Scripture above (Romans 4:17) does not speak about US Speaking Positive Confessions to make things happen. This Scripture is instead about the Lord, and how HE sovereignly calls people, and how HE Spoke Creation into Existence. A Scripture similar to Romans 4:17 would be:
Hebrews 11:3 “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that the things which are SEEN were Not made of things which are Visible.”
From the John MacArthur Study Bible Notes – “This is another reference to the forensic nature of justification. God can declare believing sinners to be righteous even though they are not, by imputing his righteousness to them, just as God made or declared Jesus “sin” and punished him, though he was not a sinner. Those whom he justifies, he will conform to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29–30).”
What Does It Mean that the Lord Will Make Us The “Head and Not the Tail?”
What Does It mean that the Lord will make us the the Head and Not the Tail? (Deuteronomy 28:13)
Another Scripture they Twist is Deut 28:13 re: “being the Head and Not the Tail”
Deuteronomy 28:13 “And the LORD shall make thee the Head, and not the Tail; and thou shall be Above only, and thou shall not be Beneath.”
Many Word of Faith Preachers Twist this Scripture to mean that God is going to make us Debt Free, Stress Free, Prosperous, etc. This Scripture has NOTHING to do with with Believers being Debt Free or Stress Free,etc. In this Scripture the Lord was speaking to Israel. Israel was to be the Leader over the other Nations (“the Head”) and not to be in subjection to another Nation (“the Tail”)— that is IF Israel would obey the Lord. That’s all that this Scripture means. It doesn’t mean that God is going to make us Debt Free, Stress Free, Prosperous, etc.
Scripture Twisting of: Hebrews 13:8
What Does It Mean in Hebrews 13:8 that Jesus Christ is the Same Yesterday, Today & Forever?
What Does It mean that Jesus Christ is the same Yesterday, and Today, and Forever? (Hebrews 13:8)
Another Scripture they Twist is Hebrews 13:8 regarding how Jesus Christ is the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever.
We should look at the full context as to what Hebrews was talking about—
Hebrews 13:5-9 (NASB) says: “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for he himself has said, “I will never desert you nor will I ever forsake you,” 6) so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afriad. What will man do to me?” 7) Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. 8) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9) Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.”
IN A NUTSHELL THIS SCRIPTURE IS TALKING ABOUT — The unchangeableness of Jesus Christ as being a reason for not being swept about by winds of strange teaching.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Let’s Start at Hebrews 13:5: “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have.”This is a staggering call for joyful simplicity and radical generosity in the Christian life. Beware of the desire to be rich. It can destroy you. Be content, verse 5 says, with what you have. Then it supports and motivates that with a promise from Christ (beginning in verse 5b) Hebrews 13:5 “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?'” In other words, if we have the joyful, rock-solid confidence that the Lord of the universe, the Savior of our souls, will never leave us and will always be our helper (see also Hebrews 4:16 “. . . find grace to help in time of need”), then the result will be profound contentment without the love of money or the desire to get rich or keep more than we should.
Then in verse 7, the writer encourages us in this radical, countercultural, un-American way of life by calling us to remember and imitate our leaders who lived by this kind of faith in Christ’s promises. Hebrews 13:7 “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”They modeled faith in the promises: “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you. . . . I will be your helper in all your needs.” So imitate their faith in the promises of Christ.
And then he adds this in Hebrews 13:8 which say, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” And the connection backward is clear. If Christ could be trusted once to be the helper of those who refused to love money and were content with what they had, then he can be trusted today and tomorrow also for every generation of Christian under any financial circumstances. His love is the same; his righteousness is the same; his wisdom is the same; his power is the same. And he is not bound by the limitations of finite man so that he could ever be surprised by any of your circumstances. Trust him, and be radically free from the desire to be rich. Here at the end of the 1900s, set your face like flint against the messages of American consumerism, because you confidently say, “The Lord is my helper! He will never leave me. He is enough. And he is always the same. I am content.”
Finally, consider the connection of verse 8 forward to false doctrine. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Verse 9 goes on– Hebrews 13:9 “Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings.” I suspect that there will be at least these two great dangers for the American church in the coming century. One is materialism and consumerism; the other is “varied and strange teachings.” Paul warns in 2 Timothy 4:3, “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.” So be vigilant for yourselves and for your children that your doctrine is true. Care about what you learn and what you teach.
The LOVE OF MONEY and the REJECTION OF SOUND DOCTRINE – these will be two great, deadly forces against the church in the coming years. And what a gift it is that the Bible so clearly warns us – and not just warns us, but helps us. And not just by giving negative threats, but by giving precious and very great promises.
The solution to both GREED and HERESY is this: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. What once was true about Christ always will be true about Christ, so you don’t need or want new doctrine. And what was once satisfying about Christ will always be satisfying about Christ, so you don’t need or want money as the way to lasting happiness. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever – the same Truth and the same treasure. Receive him and be free. [Excerpt from: DesiringGod.org commentary]
Scripture Twisting of: John 10:34 & Psalm 82:6
Are Christians “Little gods”?
Are Christians “little gods”?
Another Scripture they Twist is John 10:34 and Psalm 82:6 regarding how we are so-called “gods”.
Psalm 82:6 says, “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.” …
Then in the New Testament Jesus quotes this same Psalm in John 10:34 which says:
John 10:34 says, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I have said you are gods’?”
WHAT DOES PSALM 82:6 and JOHN 10:34 MEAN ABOUT “LITTLE GODS?”—
Some theological systems, such as Mormonism, teach the heresy that people can become gods in their own right. Roman Catholicism teaches what it calls the divinization of men: “The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods” (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, Section 2, Chapter 2, Article 3, Paragraph I, I:460), although the Catholic meaning is that believers are united with Christ through the Eucharist.
What has been popularly termed the “little god controversy” originated with Word of Faith Pastors and Teachers. The basic idea behind the controversy is that humans are actually divine, created “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27) not only in having a soul, having dominion over the earth, or living in relationship with others, but by being of the same “spiritual class” as God Himself. Biblical theologians decry this concept as misguided at best, and heretical and cultic at worst. The main tenet of Word of Faith is that, when we ask something of God in faith, He is compelled to fill the request. As “little gods,” our words have much power. This error is taught by some television evangelists, and its roots in Pentecostalism have made it more common in Charismatic churches. The Word of Faith movement has a number of popular monikers including “name-it-claim-it,” “prosperity theology,” and “health and wealth gospel.”
The basis for the “little gods” claim is found in two Scripture passages as we mentioned above in Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34.
Both of these passages include explanations in the immediate context that clearly do not indicate human divinity. Psalm 82:6 is followed by a warning that “you will all die like mere men, you will fall like every other ruler” (verse 7). The reference is to mortal men who represent God’s authority in the world—kings, judges, and magistrates. (Please see our article on Psalm 82:6.) Psalm 82 is a warning to unjust leaders who consider themselves “gods” (Psalm 82:1) yet who “know nothing,” who “walk about in darkness” (Psalm 82:5). Jesus used this passage in response to those who accused Him of blasphemy. Essentially, Jesus asked why, when human rulers were called gods, “the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world” (John 10:36) was blaspheming by claiming to be God’s Son. Claiming divinity for Christians is insupportable, especially taking the rest of the Bible into account. God is God alone (Isaiah 37:16). We have never been God, we are not God now, and we never will be God. Jesus was fully God and fully man (a combination called the hypostatic union). If the “little gods” hypothesis is accepted, it imputes to Jesus a lesser divinity of some kind; He became a “little god” like us. John said that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14), but this does not indicate “a lesser divinity.” Jesus took on human flesh and blood in order to die for our sins (Hebrews 2:14), yet He retained His full position in the Godhead. God created us with a spirit, but that spirit does not hold divine qualities.
Then in verse 7, the writer encourages us in this radical, countercultural, un-American way of life by calling us to remember and imitate our leaders who lived by this kind of faith in Christ’s promises. Hebrews 13:7 “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”They modeled faith in the promises: “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you. . . . I will be your helper in all your needs.” So imitate their faith in the promises of Christ. [From: Got Questions]
Scripture Twisting: What Does it Mean to be a Pharisee?
Playing The “Pharisee Card” – Calling People A Pharisee – Are You a Pharisee?
Are You a Pharisee? Two people are having a spiritual or ethical discussion, one is a conservative Christian and the other more liberal. The conservative calls a popular teacher false, or says a culturally accepted behavior is sin, and points to what the Bible says. The liberal responds by playing the Pharisee card. “You’re so unloving and legalistic clinging to the Bible and your Doctrines. You’re a Pharisee!” Bam! The conservative is instantly discredited, and their arguments are invalid. But more than likely it’s the other way around. During the time of Jesus, Jewish communities were governed by the Sanhedrin, made up two factions known as the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Sadducees took a very literal interpretation of Scripture, to the extent that they denied the resurrection of the dead because they didn’t believe it was in the Scriptures. The Pharisees were more liberal with the Scriptures, and gave oral tradition equal authority to the written word of God. So you could say the Pharisees added to God’s Word while the Sadducees subtracted from it.Both were self-righteous and believed their works made them good. If someone calls you a Pharisee for being faithful to Scripture, they do so in ignorance for the Pharisees weren’t faithful to Scripture.Jesus said of them in Matthew 15:8-9 “They honor God with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
Jesus didn’t call people who were faithful to His word Pharisees. He called them disciples. In John 8:31, He said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” when we understand the text. [From WWUTT – When We Understand The Text].
Scripture Twisting: Should Christians “Name It and Claim It”?
Is “Naming It and Claiming It” Biblical?
“Is ‘Name it Claim it’ teaching Biblical?” The “name it and claim it” or “prosperity gospel” is not biblical and is in many ways antithetical to the true gospel message and the clear teaching of Scripture. While there are many different versions of the name it and claim it philosophy preached today, they all have similar characteristics. At its best, this teaching comes from the misinterpretation and misunderstanding of some Scriptures, and, at its worst, it is a completely heretical teaching that has the characteristics of cultic doctrine.
The roots of the Word of Faith movement and the name it and claim it message have more in common with new age metaphysics than with biblical Christianity. However, instead of us creating our reality with our thoughts, as new age proponents advise, name it and claim it teachers tell us that we can use the “power of faith” to create our own reality or get what we want. In essence, faith is redefined from “a trust in a holy and sovereign God despite our circumstances” to “a way of controlling God to give us what we want.” Faith becomes a force whereby we can get what we want rather than an abiding trust in God even during times of trials and suffering.
There are many areas where name it and claim it departs from biblical Christianity. The teaching really exalts man and his “faith” above God. In fact, many of the more extreme Word of Faith teachers teach that man was created on terms of equality with God and that man is the same class of being that He is Himself. This dangerous and heretical teaching denies the very basic tenets of biblical Christianity, which is why the extreme proponents of the name it and claim it teaching must be considered to be cultic and not truly Christian.
Both the metaphysical cults and the name it and claim it teaching distort the truth and embrace the false teaching that our thoughts control reality. Whether it is the power of positive thinking or the prosperity gospel, the premise is the same—what you think or believe will happen is ultimately what controls what will happen. If you think negative thoughts or are lacking in faith, you will suffer or not get what you want. But on the other hand if you think positive thoughts or just have “enough faith,” then you can have health, wealth, and happiness now. This false teaching appeals to one of man’s most basic instincts, which is one reason why it is hugely popular.
While the prosperity gospel and the idea of controlling one’s future with his thoughts or faith is appealing to sinful man, it is insulting to a sovereign God who has revealed Himself in Scripture. Instead of recognizing the absolute sovereign power of God as revealed in the Bible, the name it and claim it adherents embrace a false god who cannot operate apart from their faith. They present a false view of God by teaching that He wants to bless you with health, wealth, and happiness but cannot do so unless YOU have enough faith. Thereby God is no longer in control but man is. Of course, this is completely antithetical to what Scripture teaches. God does not depend upon man’s “faith” to act. Throughout Scripture we see God blessing whom He chooses to bless and healing whom He chooses to heal.
Another problem with the name it and claim it teaching is that it fails to recognize that Jesus Himself is the ultimate treasure worth sacrificing everything for (Matthew 13:44) and instead sees Jesus as little more than a way of getting what we want right now. Jesus’ message is that a Christian is called to “deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24–26). Contrast that to the message of the prosperity gospel. Rather than being a message of self-denial, the prosperity gospel is one of self-satisfaction. Its goal is not becoming more Christlike through sacrifice but having what we want here and now, clearly contradicting the words of our Savior.
The Bible teaches that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12), but the name and claim it message is that any suffering we undergo is simply the result of a lack of faith. The prosperity gospel is completely focused on us getting the things the world has to offer, but 1 John 2:15 tells us we should not “love the world or the things in the world” and, in fact, those with a fondness for the things of the world become enemies of God (James 4:4). The message of the prosperity gospel simply cannot be any more opposite of what the Bible really teaches.
In his book Your Best Life Now, prosperity teacher Joel Osteen says that the key to a more rewarding life, a better home, a stronger marriage, and a better job is found in a “simple yet profound process to change the way you think about your life and help you accomplish what is truly important.” How different that is from the biblical truth that this life now is nothing compared to the life to come. The message of the prosperity gospel is focused around the “treasures” or good things we want and can have now, while Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21).
Jesus did not come to give us health, wealth and happiness now. He came to save us from our sins so that we can have an eternity of bliss with Him. Following Christ is not a ticket to all the material things men desire in this life but a ticket to eternal life. Our desire should not be to have our best life now but to have the attitude of the apostle Paul, who had learned to be content “in whatever state I am” (Philippians 4:11). [From: Got Questions]
Scripture Twisting: Is Positive Confessions Biblical?
Is There Power In Positive Confessions?
Having POSITIVE CONFESSIONS in what WE want is NOT what FAITH is— for example this is what we are talking about.
QUOTE: “FAITH is NOT Speaking into existence what WE want, it’s Believing & Obeying what HE wants.” (1 John 2:3-6) Quote by: Martha Mac, SO4J-TV
QUOTE: “FAITH IN JESUS IS PRODUCED BY: HEARING God’s Word (Romans 10:17) >> which can-Lead-one (by God’s Grace John 6:44;65, Eph 2:8-10) to BELIEVE God’s Word (Heb 11:6) >>which SIMULTANEOUSLY leads one to: REPENT (God grants Repentance: 2 Tim 2:23-26) ALONG-with-Humbly OBEY God’s Word (John 14:15, 1John 2:3-6)”. —Quote by: Martha Mac, SO4J-TV
Is Postive Confessions Biblical? Is There Power in Positive Confessions?
Positive confession is the practice of saying aloud what you want to happen with the expectation that God will make it a reality. It’s popular among prosperity gospel adherents who claim that words have spiritual power and that, if we speak aloud the right words with the right faith, we can gain riches and health, bind Satan, and accomplish anything we want. To confess positively is to speak words that we believe or want to believe, thus making them reality. This is opposed to negative confession, which is to acknowledge hardships, poverty, and illness and thus (supposedly) accept them and refuse the ease, wealth, and health God has planned for us.
There are several things wrong with this philosophy. The most dangerous is the belief that words have a kind of spiritual, magical power that we can use to get what we want. The practice borrows not from biblical truths, but from a new age concept called the “law of attraction.” It teaches that “like attracts like”—a positive statement or thought will draw a positive reaction. Everything is imbued with God’s presence and power—not “God” as the omnipresent Creator, but “god” in a Hindu/pantheistic way. The net result is the idea that our words hold the power to force God to give us what we want—a heretical belief. Additionally, the results attributed to positive confession are powered by the faith of the individual. This leads to the old belief that illness and poverty are a type of punishment for sin (in this case, lack of faith). John 9:1-3 and the entire book of Job refute this soundly.
The second problem is that the prosperity gospel misinterprets the promises of God. “Confession” is agreeing with what God has said; “positive confession” is demanding human desires. People who push positive confession say that the practice is merely restating God’s promises as given in the Bible. But they don’t differentiate between universal promises God made to all His followers (e.g., Philippians 4:19) and personal promises made to individuals at a certain time for a particular purpose (e.g., Jeremiah 29:11). They also misinterpret the promises God does give us, refusing to accept that God’s plan for our lives may not match up with our own (Isaiah 55:9). A carefree, perfect life is the antithesis of what Jesus said the Christian life would look like—and the lives that His followers lived. Jesus didn’t promise prosperity; He promised hardship (Matthew 8:20). He didn’t promise that our every want would be fulfilled; He promised we’d have what we need (Philippians 4:19). He didn’t promise peace in a family; He promised that families would have problems as some chose to follow Him and some didn’t (Matthew 10:34-36). And He didn’t promise health; He promised to fulfill His plan for us and grace in the trials (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
Another issue with positive confession is that, although the “confessions” are understood to refer to things in the future, many of the statements are simply lies. Certainly, verbally affirming one’s faith in God and deliverance by the sacrifice of Jesus is good. But proclaiming, “I always obey God,” or, “I am wealthy,” is deceptive and possibly against the very will of the God we are to cling to. Especially disturbing are the “confessions” about other people. God has given each of us the freedom to serve Him or rebel against Him in our individual ways; claiming otherwise is foolish.
Finally, the Bible is very clear that “negative confession” does not negate God’s blessings. The Psalms are filled with cries to God for deliverance, and Psalm 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:7 exhort us follow that example. Even Jesus went before the Heavenly Father with a clear eye on the situation and a request for aid (Matthew 26:39). The God of the Bible is not a cosmic Santa Claus (James 4:1-3). He is a loving Father who wants to be involved in His children’s lives—the good and the bad. It is when we humble ourselves and ask for help that He gives us either release from the circumstances or strength to get through them.
Does positive confession have any value? In a way. Those who are confident they can solve a problem are generally more relaxed and creative. An optimistic mood has been shown to improve health. And happy people often have enough emotional distance between themselves and others to pick up on subtle clues which could lead to successful personal and business transactions. In addition, consistently voicing one’s goals keeps those goals on the forefront; those who constantly think about getting more money will act accordingly.
The dangers of positive confession far outweigh the benefits. All of the advantages we’ve listed are psychological and somewhat physiological—not spiritual. The only spiritual benefit to be had is the fact that people who expect God to move are more likely to see God’s hand in situations. But words are not magic. Our role with our Heavenly Father is not to demand, but to ask for help and to trust. And to realize that our blessings are not dependent on the strength of our faith, but on His plan and His power. [From: Got Questions]
Scripture Twisting: Proverbs 29:18
Where There is No Vision The People Perish?
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.”
Proverbs 29:18 (NASB) “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.”
Commentary: The familiar KJV “where there is no vision” is misleading. The word “vision” is the revelation (khazon) a prophet receives. Also the KJV translation “the people perish”does NOT refer to unsaved people dying in sin. The verb para means to cast off restraint. So the verse is stating that without God’s Word people abandon themselves to their own sinful ways. On the other hand keeping (obeying) God’s Law (Proverbs 28:4, 7) brings happiness. [From: Bible Knowledge Commentary]
Commentary: This proverb looks both to the lack of the word (i.e., 1 Sam. 3:1) and the lack of hearing the word (Amos 8:11–12), which lead to lawless rebellion (cf. Ex. 32:25; Lev. 13:45; Num. 5:18). The proverb then contrasts the joy and glory of a lawful society (Prov. 28:14; Mal. 4:4). [From The MacArthur Study Bible]
We at SO4J-TV believe that God can heal people today, but are we are not promised by God Health & Wealth 24/7 on this side of eternity. God is Sovereign (He’s in control)— and He allows us to go through hard times on.. but we know God does all things for His Glory and for a true-believers Good (ie Romans 8:28).. and sometimes we might be allowed by God to go through sufferings and trials (i.e. Read: 1 Peter 4:14, 2 Cor 6:4-10, 2 Cor 11:23-30, Heb 11:36-40, etc.)
BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED – Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24 “What does the Bible say about healing?”
Often Isaiah 53:5, which is then quoted in 1 Peter 2:24, is a key verse on healing, but it is often misunderstood and misapplied.
Isaiah 53:5 says: “But He (Jesus) was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”
The word translated “healed” can mean either spiritual or physical healing. However, the contexts of Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2 make it clear that it is speaking of spiritual healing.
1 Peter 2:24 says, “He (Jesus) Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed”.
The verse is talking about sin and righteousness, not sickness and disease. Therefore, being “healed” in both these verses is speaking of being forgiven and saved, not physically healed. The Bible does not specifically link physical healing with spiritual healing. Sometimes people are physically healed when they place their faith in Christ, but this is not always the case. Sometimes it is God’s will to heal, but sometimes it is not. The apostle John gives us the proper perspective:
1 John 5:14-15 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him”.
God still performs miracles. God still heals people. Sickness, disease, pain, and death are still realities in this world. Unless the Lord returns, everyone who is alive today will die, and the vast majority of them (Christians included) will die as the result of a physical problem (disease, sickness, injury). It is not always God’s will to heal us physically. Ultimately, our full physical healing awaits us in heaven. In heaven, there will be no more pain, sickness, disease, suffering, or death (Revelation 21). We all need to be less preoccupied with our physical condition in this world and a lot more concerned with our spiritual condition (Romans 12:1-2). Then we can focus our hearts on heaven where we will no longer have to deal with physical problems.
Revelation 21:4 describes the true healing we should all be longing for: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” [Got Questions]
“BEWARE of those whose FAITH is based on their own: IDEAS, FEELINGS, and what THEY THINK is right– RATHER than on what GOD’S WORD says!” TRUST in JESUS & in GOD’S unfailing WORD!” [Matthew 7:24-27]
