Confronting/Contending

 By Josh Parker

      There is nothing more confusing than someone who claims to know the Lord, but fails to stand firm against ungodliness.  As many of the readers witness what is going on with Ken Silva, they should take note of what kind of response comes from those who claim to know the Lord.  There are those who will lash out at you for contending for what is right, and then there are those who will help you bear a burden, especially when the heat of battle rages on.  The ones who come to our aid to defend against the wolves are truly God's disciples.  The ones who flee are not ..... or they simply have no root in them.  Without any root, a tree will perish. 

"Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.  This is what was sown along the path.  As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for awhile, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away."  Matthew 13:18-21  (ESV)

Persecution can only be endured by those who contend.  It is disheartening to have interaction with 'pastors' or preachers who reproach the sheep for contending.  Whenever I speak with a man who claims to be a spiritual leader or shepherd, and yet sees it futile to contend for the gospel, I wonder, "Is this man really a shepherd or is he a hireling? Or is he just another brother in the Lord who is confused by, "Easy-Believism?"

                                                                 Hirelings Do Not Contend

"I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd.  I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."  John 10:11-15 (ESV)

     Easy-Believism plagues the visible church.  The idea that we can pray a 2 minute prayer, sit back in a spiritual recliner, and expect the world to love us is not the gospel.  The Bible promises the opposite of Easy-Believism.  Jesus promises that standing firm will bring persecution, hardship, and opposition;  which can only be overcome by contending.  Contending is not an easy thing, nor is it a popular act which the crowd will want to take part in.  Even the men in the pulpit shy away from it nowadays.  Or should I say, "Flee from it?"  It must be because Easy-Believism is a crowd pleaser which generates large numbers, and then results in larger salaries.  It must be that.

Why aren't the men in the pulpit preaching the gospel that is costly( the one that we will have to contend for)?  The one that is not based on wealth and social position.  Why do they run from the battle when things get hot?  My guess is that the ones who do not contend may actually be hirelings.

                                                   Bearing Each Other's Burdens

     When we look back on the earthly ministry of Jesus, we most often focus on the agonizing death which Jesus suffered at the cross.  This is obviously the most important event for Jesus and those who belong to him.  But what about the other things he suffered even before then?

     Jesus witnessed spiritual oppression coming from the scribes and Pharisees.  They often had an outwardly form of godliness which seemed to please the crowd, but they lacked a lot of the most important essentials to genuine holiness.  The scribes and Pharisees were crowd pleasers, who took advantage of people because of their high status and social position.  They were willing to bend over backwards to make themselves look righteous and holy, but they did not have the capacity to genuinely care for the flock.  This grieved Jesus and it made him quite angry.  Notice that Jesus did not shrink back in fear, but instead he spoke boldly against their complacency.  Their idleness did not bode well with him. 

"Then Jesus said to the crowds and the disciples, "The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you- but not what they do.  For they preach but do not practice.  They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.  They do all their deeds to be seen by others.  For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.  But you are not to be called rabbi, for you all have one teacher and you are all brothers."  Matthew 23:1-8  (ESV)

      One of the worst mistakes that we see in today's visible church is the idea that the 'pastor' is not to be held accountable to scripture.  Anybody who values the word, and wishes to obey it, is commanded to be sober and vigilant.  Vigilance requires the Christian to 'test all things,' and reprove them if need be.  This includes an act of reproving the 'pastor' even if it seems extremely unpopular or taboo.  With all of this confusion going on in the church, men need to stand up and contend for what is right according to scripture, instead of believing every little thing the 'pastor' says or believes.  If whatever the pastor is saying lines up with scripture, then be quiet and rejoice.  If not, then don't just sit there and go to sleep.  Do something.  Get grounded in the word and snatch him out of the fire.  Point out his error so that he will not mislead others.  In doing so, you may save his life. Perhaps there will be others who will witness what is going on , and as a result, they may be saved in the process as well. 

"....save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh."    Jude 1:23  (ESV)

If you have a pastor who contradicts the Bible, be critical of his ministry.  Examine him thoroughly for your sake as well as his.  Don't be afraid to do this my brothers and sisters, because the Bible commends this kind of thinking.  It is not hypocritical to judge right from wrong, nor is it fundamentally incorrect.  We have all been taught to assume that the title of 'pastor' or 'reverend' gives him infallibility or perfection.  It certainly doesn't.  The Bible never endorses this idea.  Contrary to public opinion, the Bible says not to believe everything we hear without testing it.  Critical thinking is essential for discernment.  It is necessary for the obedience and the boldness of contenders. 

"The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thoughts to his steps. One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless."  Proverb 14:15-16 (ESV)

Also, if you know someone who claims to be a pastor or a brother in the Lord but is too ashamed of the Lord to contend for him, then have nothing to do with him.  This is not my own idea or recommendation. The apostle Paul said this. 

"Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us."  2  Thessalonians 3:6 (ESV)

A person walking in idleness will follow a gospel which has no power.  They want to get all the material things that they think they can get out of God (kind of like a genie in a bottle).  Obedience is foolishness to them.  Humility, long-suffering, and brokenness are strange words to even mention around those who are idle. But because they are deceived, they do not have the ability to live the crucified life.  They are complacent (idle), unconcerned, and given over to pleasure instead of righteousness.  An idle shepherd (hireling) will market a gospel which makes a lot of money instead of preaching the true gospel which tells men to repent.  The prophet Micah saw the same problem going on in his days.  The assemblies wanted all the material things that they thought they could get from God.  This was a form of Hedonism.  The preachers would say whatever they thought the crowds would like.  This is evidence that compromise plagued Israel's assembly even back then.  The masses rejected any thoughts of judgment, obedience, or repentance.  It was strange to them to speak of such things, much like it is today. 

"Do not preach" - thus they preach- "one should not preach of such things;  disgrace will not overtake us."  Micah 2:6 (ESV)

And then later in the same chapter, Micah shows that the "Hedonistic" kind of mindset is, and was wrong, but was extremely popular and welcomed by rebellious Israel.

"Arise and go, for this is no place of rest, because of uncleanness that destroys with a grievous destruction.  If a man should go about and utter wind and lies, saying, "I will preach to you of wine and strong drink, "he would be a preacher for this people!"  Micah 2:10-11  (ESV)

                                                       Contending Glorifies Christ

     Contending does a lot for the Body of Christ.  Fiery trials often bring out the best or the worst in all of us.  If we have a character flaw, God will use the heat of the trial to reveal it to us.  Dross is considered impure matter in silver.  It rises to the top when the silver gets hot.  Just as the dross becomes visible, our imperfections become visible as we mature in the midst of hardship.  Others who are watching will learn from the trial, especially if they are helping a brother carry a burden.  Standing up against a wolf can be costly for those who stand up for what is right.  If the world hated Jesus, they will surely hate us. 

"Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law, strive against them.  Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord, understand it completely." Proverb 28:4-5  (ESV) 

 By Josh Parker  

"Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him."  Eccelsiastes 7:13-14  (ESV)

     The Lord purposes calamities and adversity for two reasons.  It may be for a judgment upon the wicked. Or it may be for the refinement of his people.  In order to accept both answers, we must first understand that God is unchangeable, immutable, all-knowing, and sovereign.  The Lord knows everything that is going on at all times, and nothing is beyond his reach.  Contrary to popular opinion, he really is in control of what goes on in the earth as well as in heaven.  Nothing sneaks past him.  Nothing happens without his permission. And of course, nobody can outsmart him. Not even his cunning adversary, the wicked prince of this world, Satan. 

                                                      Job Cannot Take God to Court

    The story from the book of Job gives good insight about God's sovereignty.  Job is a man whom God declared as righteous. 

"There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil."   Job 1:1  (ESV)

It was (and is) the custom of the righteous to 'shun evil' while they present themselves before the Lord.   It was back then, and it is even today. 

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  Romans 12:1-2  (ESV)

And then the Old Testament confirmation from the book of Job. 

"And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning to offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all.  For Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts."  Thus did Job continually."   Job 1:5  (ESV)

Job's heart was certainly set on doing what was right.  He was obedient, he feared God, and he despised sin.  He did everything by the book.  What could possibly go wrong with a man like this you wonder?  Was God angry with him for something?  Let's see what happens to Job when God questions Satan. 

"And the Lord said to Satan," Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?"  Job 1:8 (ESV)

You can see that even God says that Job is righteous. But why would God tell Satan to consider Job? Wouldn't it be best that God tells Satan to leave Job alone, back off, or to keep his distance? No, instead God tells Satan to consider Job.  Is God initiating something here?  What is God doing, you may wonder? God is the one who initiates Job's trials.  It wasn't Satan.  If God does things that we don't agree with, are we going to contend with him and assume that we can take him to court?

"If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.  He is wise in heart and mighty in strength- who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?- he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger, who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars; who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;  who made the Bear and the Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;  who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.  Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on but I do not perceive him.  Behold, he snatches away, who can turn him back?  Who will say to him, "What are you doing?"  Job 9:3-12 (ESV)

                                                          The Lord Curses Nebuchadnezzar

       And jumping forward all the way to the book of Daniel, the prophet Daniel writes about a similiar comment coming from the King of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar.  King Nebuchadnezzar experienced some severe chastening.  Contrary to Job's chastening, King Nebuchadnezzar was being disciplined for being wicked.  The Lord uses a curse to chastise Nebuchadnezzar.  Because Nebuchadnezzar is wicked and prideful, the curse falls upon Nebuchadnezzar immediately.   

"All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.  At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?"  While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field.  And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."  Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws."  Daniel 4:28-33 (ESV)

He later praises God for using a curse to correct him.  Nebuchadnezzar repeats a phrase similiar to what Job says. Both Job and Nebuchadnezzar experienced an unpleasant demonstration of God's unchallengeable sovereignty.  In the end, both were better off. 

"At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures for generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the hosts of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"  Daniel 4:34-35 (ESV)

The lesson to be learned in both cases, is that God does whatever he wants however and whenever, and with whomever to accomplish his will.  Who can say to him, "What are you doing?" 

 By Josh Parker

     In the next part of the article, I would like to focus on God's judgment.  I know that God's judgment is not a pleasant subject, but we must take a closer look at it so that we may understand his sovereignty.  Along with his sovereignty, we need to take a close look at his severity. 

Severe/-Severity-  1.) marked by strictness or sternness: AUSTERE 2.) strict in discipline 3.)  causing distress and esp. physical discomfort or pain (- weather) (a wound) 4.) hard to endure (trials) 5.) serious, stern, ascetic, or astringent.  (Merriam-Webster)

Sovereign/ -Sovereignty- 1.) EXCELLENT, FINE 2.)  supreme in power or authority  3.) CHIEF, HIGHEST  4.)  having independent authority syn dominant, predominant, paramount, preponderant.  (Merriam-Webster)

"See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive;  I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.  For I lift up my hand to heaven and swear, As I live forever, if I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand takes hold on judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and will repay those who hate me.  I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh- with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the long-haired heads of the enemy.' "  Deuteronomy 32:39-42 (ESV)

God certainly has anger.  He abhors wickedness.  He is just because he judges sin.  Because he is just, he deals with all nations (the wicked and the righteous) as he wills.  If we look at how he deals with man's rebellion, we will see that he can use the wicked to bring calamity upon the wicked, just as much as he can use the just. 

                                               God Raises Up the Destroyer as a Judgment

"I form the light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord who does all these things."  Isaiah 45:7 (ESV)

This verse also applies to part 2 of this article.  In the 54th chapter of Isaiah, the prophet shows that the Lord can raise up the destroyer as a judgment.  The English Standard Version uses the word, "ravager." 

"Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose.  I have also created the ravager to destroy,..."  Isaiah 54:16  (ESV) 

     In Deuteronomy 28, the curses for disobedience are written specifically for the nation of Israel.  God gives them a detailed warning telling them precisely what calamities, curses, and afflictions they would suffer in Deuteronomy 28.  The Lord says that he himself will be the one who sends their treacherous enemies against them to overtake them and punish them, if they don't listen to him.  

 "Because you did not serve the Lord your God, with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of all the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything.  And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.  The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like an eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand, a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young.  It shall eat the offspring of your cattle and the fruit of your ground, until you are destroyed; it also shall not leave you grain, wine, or oil, the increase of your herds or the young of your flock, until they have caused you to perish."  Isaiah 28:47-51 (ESV)

Unfortunately, Judah did not listen to the Lord and they rebelled.  Because of wickedness in the land, lawlessness corrupted the nation.  The Lord speaks through the prophet Habukkuk and promises to punish them by giving them over to their enemies, the Babylonians.  The Babylonians were violent, cruel, dreadful, and they showed no mercy to their enemies.  The Lord is the one who raises up the Babylonians as instruments of his judgment.  He is the one who gives them their military victory over Judah, and the other surrounding Gentile nations.  The prophet Jeremiah describes the defeat of the Edomites. 

"Edom shall become a horror.  Everyone who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss because of all  its disasters.  As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities were overthrown, says the Lord, no man shall dwell there, no man shall sojourn in her.  Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make him run away from her.  And I will appoint over her whomever I choose.  For who is like me?  Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me?  Therefore hear the plan that the Lord has made against Edom and the purposes that he had formed against the inhabitants of Teman: Even the little ones of the flock shall be dragged away. Surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate.  At the sound of their fall the earth shall tremble; the sound of their cry shall be heard at the Red Sea.  Behold, one shall mount up and fly swiftly like an eagle and spread his wings against Bozrah, and the heart of the warriors of Edom shall be in that day like the heart of a woman in her birth pains."  Jeremiah 49: 17-22 (ESV)

Judah's wickedness did not go unpunished either, just as God said it wouldn't back in Deuteronomy 28.  The prophet Habukkuk writes about the coming punishment on Judah, which did eventually come to pass.    

"Look among the nations, and see;  wonder and be astounded.  For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.  For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans (Babylonians), that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings that are not their own.  They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves.  Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour.  They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like the sand.  At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh.  They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it. Then they sweep like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!"  Habukkuk 1:5-11 (ESV)

I don't know about you, but that is pretty severe.  Could you imagine thousands of these violent warriors coming at you wave after wave?  It would be horrific.  It would be extremely dreadful to be under God's judgment.  

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."  Hebrews 10:31 (ESV)

The Babylonians were so cruel to their enemies that they would put yokes around the necks of their prisoners.  Ancient drawings show Babylonian soldiers pulling their prisoners around by metal hooks which they poked through the lips of the people they conquered.  The drawings show miniature metal spears that were used to gouge out men's eyes before being led back to Babylon.  The Babylonian soldiers were not likely to show mercy to those they set out to conquer.  They were men of war who were bent on violence.  As you can see, God demonstrates his severity through the cruel Babylonians when he raises them up to judge Judah for their rebellion.   As a result of God's judgment, the city of Jerusalem is captured by the Babylonians.  Again, God demonstrates that he himself has purposed the judgment in the book of Lamentations. 

"The Lord determined to lay in ruins the wall of the daughter of Zion;  he stretched out the measuring line; he did not restrain his hand from destroying; he caused rampart and wall to lament; they languished together."  Lamentations 2:8 (ESV)

God certainly has anger and wrath.  He is still a terror to those he hates. There are still consequences for sin.  That has not changed.

"God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.  If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword;  he has bent and readied his bow; he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts."  Psalm 7: 11-13 (ESV)

 By Josh Parker

"The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests the hearts."  Proverb 17:3 (ESV) 

     Nobody likes hardship.  Nobody likes persecution either.  As Christians, we want to do what is right, live in peace, and enjoy prosperity.   This is all fine and dandy, but prosperity does not always come handed to us on a silver platter.  We all want to be rewarded and enjoy some blessings.  Contrary to what the prosperity teachers are preaching on TV, prosperity does not always come easy and the Christian is by no means exempt from hardship or tribulation.  I don't know why the prosperity teachers always tell you what you want to hear, but what I do know is that what they are teaching contradicts the narrow way.  One of my favorites quotes comes from a man named, A.W. Tozer.  

"If God sets you out to be an unusual Christian, he is not likely to be as gentle as he usually is pictured by the popular teachers.  A sculptor does not use a manicure set to reduce the rude, unshapely marble thing to a thing of beauty.  The saw, the hammer,  and the chisel are cruel tools, but without them, the rough stone must remain forever harmless and unbeautiful."  A.W. Tozer

A.W. Tozer saw the popular preachers rejecting the molding process even in his day.  They were dead set on preaching whatever would tickle the ears and generate more revenue.  The ministry was turning into a marketplace, where preachers esteemed fame and fortune instead of humility and brokenness.  We can see that as time progressed, this heretical trend did not slow down.  If we examine what the popular preachers are telling the masses today, we will see the same trends are coming from the pulpits on TV.  Their goal is not to convict men of their sins, so they alter God's word to fit their own formulas.  This alteration of the gospel is man-centered and a lie. The man-centered formulas are driven by social status instead of obedience.  They don't want to scare off the unrepentant sinner, so they avoid any unpleasant talk about long-suffering.  This continuing trend/error is known as the prosperity gospel.  The prosperity gospel treats God like a slot machine who promises to land on jackpot every time.  If we listen to their sermons long enough, we start believing that God is like a waiter who exists at our beck and call.  And anyone who is enduring some tribulation or does not have the world falling at their feet is outside of the will of God.  This is heretical and destructive since it implies that God is a sorcerer instead of a worker.  They forgot that the world hates the narrow way since it is contrary to our nature.  The world will not always welcome the narrow way with open arms. 

                                            Fiery Trials Should Not Surprise God's People 

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."   1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV)

     The perfecting of the saints is a process.  As Christians, we will partake in sufferings as a means of purifying our hearts.  The gospel demonstrates that God is the great refiner of men's hearts while his people are silver.  He is the great silversmith who will expose us to heat in order to remove our impurities.  The Bible calls our impurities 'dross,' just like the impure material which should be removed from silver by the addition of heat.

"The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.  Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the refiner."  Proverbs 25:3-4 (ESV)

Dross-  1.)  Waste or impure matter.  2.)  The scum that forms on the surface of molten metal as a result of oxidation.  3.)  Worthless, commonplace, or trivial matter.  (American Heritage Dictionary)

The true gospel shows how God is more concerned with our character than our stuff.  Lusting after more stuff shows that we are not content with what God has already given us. Contentment is godliness, while covetousness leads to greed and vain-glory. 

"Now there is great gain with godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these  we will be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare,  into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction."  1 Timothy 6:6-9  (ESV)

I don't know what kind of gospel you have been exposed to, but if what you are being taught implies that God's ownership means that you will have your best life now, then please reconsider what you are being taught.  God's people will experience sorrows, troubles, and afflictions.  That is just part of life, even if we do everything by the book.  The Lord doesn't promise an easy journey, but he does promise us that he will get us through it.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."  Psalm 34:18-19 (ESV)

Hardship, affliction, tribulation, and persecution are included in our walk with the Lord. 

"But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.  But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas and Derbe.  When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.  And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed."   Acts 14:19-23 (ESV)

In our day and time, we cannot fathom what it is like for someone to be stoned for preaching the gospel.  They will certainly arrest or behead Christians in Islamic countries.  We do hear some about that.  However, the most that you will see in this country is somebody being fired from their job or experiencing some persecution from family and co-workers.  Either way you look at it, if we abide in Christ, our love for the gospel will drive us to be obedient regardless of the cost.  Along with the desire to be obedient, we will strive to do what pleases God instead of man.  Pleasing God will demand that we make decisions that the ungodly will not like.  This brings grief and sorrow.  We will certainly experience grief and sorrow when God opens our eyes to see the sinfulness that is in the world around us.  At one time, we did not understand these things when we walked according to the natural.  But fortunately by the grace of God, when we repent, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will make us abhor our old sinful ways.  Although there are things which are bound to come which may cause us to sin, the regenerate will not want to make a habit of unrighteousness. The regenerate listens to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  Unfortunately, the unregenerate (unrepentant sinner) will continue on and not care. 

 "The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence."  Psalm 11:5  (ESV) 

As we experience chastening, God will expose us to things which are unpleasant in order to break us, purify us, and refine us.  We are guaranteed to face opposition from the world, if we abide in Him.  Jesus said that it would cost us to follow him.  He didn't promise heaven on earth. The narrow way is not wide and easy.  There really are few who find it.

"For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  And  "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"  Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good."  1 Peter 4:17-19  (ESV)

 By Josh Parker

"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.  What is your life?  For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."  As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.  So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."  James 4:13-17 (ESV)

    As I thought about what to write today, I thought about how certain unfortunate events can quickly and drastically change our plans.  We have no control over the weather, no control over other peoples actions, and no control over death.  We are all prone to some kind of misfortune, whether it is minor or very significant. Our cars may break down when we least expect it.  We may slip on the kitchen floor and stump our toe.  We may miss a nail with a hammer and hit our thumb by accident.  Or some careless driver gives you a fender bender because they failed to hit the brakes when they dropped their Coca-Cola in the front seat, thus causing you to miss an important business meeting.    Freak accidents can happen to all of us.  None of us are perfect. None of us are exempt from troubles no matter how careful, athletic, healthy, or agile that we think we are. 

"Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happens to all of them all.  For man does not know his time.  Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls on them."  Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 (ESV)

Even though we may do everything by the book, severe calamities may strike us unexpectedly.  Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, or winter storms happen with little or no warning at all.  Just look at Hurricane Katrina.  Thousands of people living in New Orleans were devastated and lost their homes, their lives, and their family members because of something that was beyond their control.  Many of the victims of Hurricane Katrina lost everything that they had worked for. 

     Many wonder if God did this to New Orleans because he was judging them.  I don't know what God had purposed for New Orleans during the hurricane.  Only he knows.  It was an awful event no doubt. But whatever the purpose for the hurricane, God purposed it for some reason that suited him.  He is sovereign, immutable, and just.  His judgments go forth in the earth for the purpose of refinement, justice, or repentance.  Whether God decides to pronounce judgment on the wicked or put his people through the fires of tribulation, calamities can strike anybody at anytime.  In the book of Job, God permits Satan to afflict him with a series of calamities.  Just look at what happened to Job, even though he was a righteous man.  Job lost his family members, his livestock, and his servants in one instant.  Nobody expected what was going to happen.  

"Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and there came a messenger to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."  While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."  While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, " The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."  While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

    Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.  And he said, " Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return.  The Lord gave , and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." 

     In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrong."   Job 1:13-22  (ESV)

                                                           God Does Not Put His Trust in Man

      According to the New Age version of self-empowerment, men have the power to control their own destiny because after all, according to them, things are up to man.  New Age gurus say that God believes in us and that we have it in us to do his will, if we only knew how to access or tap into that thing that we haven't been able to tap into.  According to the New Age apologists, people just need awareness on how to be good. Some Christian apologists call this kind of New Age philosophy, "Positive Confession."  It is a confusing mix of human secularism or pantheism. Some New Age philosophies believe that there is a God while others do not.  Various New Age teachers believe that God is already in the unregenerate, and that man just has to find God within himself.  New Age teachers offer man-made formulas which they claim will help people find God. This is not the Jesus of the Bible. The New Age Jesus is more like a cosmic side kick who is in hiding somewhere inside of everybody.  We just have to figure out how we are going to find him.  According to New Agers, Jesus is merely a formula.  Doesn't that sound crazy?

"I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.  Correct me, O Lord, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing."  Jeremiah 10:23-24 (ESV)

    On the contrary, according to the Bible, God is in control and man can do nothing without him.  By nature we are children of wrath who are incapable of doing his will.  Since God created man to completely rely on him, then man was never designed to rely on self.  We were created to have a relationship with God, but the Adamic nature is enmity with God since it does not submit to the law of God.  We are totally depraved, thus making the indwelling of the Holy Spirit a necessity instead of an option. It is only after regeneration that men have the ability to do God's will. Along with having the ability to submit to the law of God, we will be able to put on the new nature, and to set human wisdom aside.  So to rely on self becomes a contradiction to God's plan of man's redemption.

"I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.   If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples."  John 15:5-8 (ESV)

Sinners who repent die to sin and self.  Self-empowerment is the exact opposite. Human wisdom can make things foggy when it comes to the plans and purposes of God. 

"There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."  Proverb 16:25 (ESV)

The following article comes from Let Us Reason Ministries           http://www.letusreason.org/

Your confession is your possession 

Does God approve of such a thing?

Fred Price says,  “When I first got saved they didn't tell me I could do anything. What they told me to do was that whenever I prayed I should always say, 'The will of the Lord be done.,' Now, doesn't that sound humble? It does. Sounds like humility, it's really stupidity. I mean, you know, really, we insult God. 1 mean, we really do insult our Heavenly Father. We do; we really insult Him without even realizing it. If you have to say, 'If it be thy will or' Thy will be done'-if you have to say that, then you're calling God a fool because he's the one that told us to ask.... If God's gonna give me what He wants me to have, then it doesn't matter what I ask. I'm only gonna get what God wants me to have. So that's an insult to God's intelligence.”  (Ever Increasing Faith” program on TBN November 16 ,1990)

Benny Hinn has said “Never, ever, ever go the Lord and say, 'If it be thy will....' Don't allow such faith-destroying words to be spoken from your mouth” (Rise and Be Healed! 1991, p.47-48).

If its not God's will then whose is it? Yours!

This practice has commonly been practiced in occult groups and various Eastern pagan religions such as the Buddhist sect Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism.

The Church Universal and Triumphant a New Age group also teaches “the scientific use of the mantra or the dynamic decree of the Word,” otherwise known as “the exercise of God's power according to the spoken Word” (Mark and Elizabeth Clare Prophet, The Lost Teachings of Jesus 2: Mysteries of the Higher Self [Livingston, MT: Summit University Press, 1988], 144, 207; cf. 103.)You can often hear them chanting I Am, or call on the healing power through the violet consuming flame.

 Benny Hinn actually claims that the Holy Spirit told him, “...that if witches and occultists can speak death by the supernatural power of words, then Christian can speak life and prosperity by the same power.” (B. Hinn,  December 1, 1990, Orlando Christian Centre, WACX-TV Channel 55. Quoted in The Facts on the Faith Movement, J. Ankerberg & J. Weldon, Harvest House, 1993, p.23)

Benny Hinn said, “confession activates heaven”, and that “confession releases the spirit world.” (November 6, 1990 sermon telecast on TBN)

K.Copeland says “He am healin', He am deliverance, He am financial prosperity, mental prosperity, physical prosperity, family prosperity. It's terrible grammar, but you understand what I'm sayin'. I'm sayin' it to effect my mind.” (Believer's Voice of Victory Broadcast, 7/9/1987)

But it is not our mind that will give the answer but God . Otherwise it is not prayer but occult affirmations, metaphysical science.

“Jesus said He had the God-kind of faith; He encouraged His disciples to exercise that kind of faith; and He said that .whosoever' could do it.... That is why Jesus said, 'whosoever shall say ... and shall not doubt IN HIS HEART. ” (Having Faith in Your Faith Kenneth Hagin Ministries, 1988, 3.)

“In the first place-and this will help you don't pray about money anymore; that is, the way you've been praying. Claim whatever you need.” (Metaphysical Elements In The Faith Movement, Compiled by Leon D. Stump, p.55, from the word of faith magazine, “How God Taught Me About Prosperity, “ Kenneth Hagin).

Copeland is not shy in his boasting of what he can claim by faith “Well, now, you need balance in this. get out there in that hyper faith. that name-it-and-claim-it- that blab-it-and-grab-it.” YEAH! We named it and claimed it and got it. (crowd cheers)-Blabbed it and grabbed it and still got it ! Hallelujah! And our bills are paid. (Aug 18,1999)

Creflo Dollar says, “I know what I'm talking about, I'm qualified to preach what I'm preachin tonight. I am qualified to say what I'm sayin' tonight. Somebody says how are you qualified? You are sitting in a building. That manifested because of so great faith.”(10/4 /99)

So Creflo got his building not because of God but attributes it to the power of his own belief.  Creflo tells us he has control over the weather and circumstances “I bind you, satan.  I bind tragedy, I bind car wrecks, I bind cancer, sickness and disease.  I release miracle healings.”( first service Our Equality with God Through Righteousness Creflo Dollar 1/21/2001)  “The shingles fell off my roof one time, I said that ain’t happening no more. Newsman talking about this storm getting ready to come and it was black and nasty outside, the wind was blowing and the tree, I had a tree that needed to be cut. That thing wasn’t going to fall. Not on my stuff. I went outside and said in the name of Jesus, I command this storm to turn and it will not hurt my property. My neighbors out saying “that fools standing on the porch again”. I’m going to tell you what, trees fell but they knew the boundary of my house. Today, you can go in the back and trees fell but they stopped at an inch of my fence. Wouldn’t come across my property. Praying in the Holy Ghost until you tap the wisdom of God and spend time calling those things that are not as though they were.” (2nd service Our Equality with God Through Righteousness Creflo Dollar 1/21/2001)

“It is unscriptural to pray, 'If it is the will of God.' When you put an 'if' in your prayer, you are praying in doubt.( K.Hagin Exeedingly growing faith 2^nd ed. P.10 )

 ”I will”, not God's will, has become the spiritual cliche' of our time. It is the same trap of the “I wills” of Lucifer that made him fall. Isa. 14:12-14 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'

Ps.12:2-4: “Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things,”  Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?” “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.”

James says in 4:13 about boasting what one will do to be successful and rebukes them because they have no control over tomorrow and their life is short, “Instead you ought to say “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this and that.” He then tells them they are arrogant and this type of speaking is EVIL. In chpt. 5 he rebukes them for being rich letting them know this will be their downfall 5:5 “you have fattened your hearts as in the day of slaughter.” 1 John 5:14 clearly says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (also Matthew 6:10; 26:39; ).

Was God a negative confessor when he said to Adam the day you eat of this fruit you will die!  Numerous warnings are in Scripture that would seem to not be positive in its statement, but certainly in effect.

Biblically you can't have strength until you admit your weak, this is an attitude of true humility; without it, God cannot fill one up with His power until what is hindering is taken out of the way. It is self that is our biggest block, and it is self that is being proclaimed in the faith movement  disguised as the power of God. The faith in the word faith movement is disguised self esteem. It is centeerd on man having the power to declare and attract

At a healing crusade when people believe they are healed before they are,  is this Biblical faith by not looking at the symptoms and just claiming your healing. No! K. Hagin says if your sick ignore the symptoms and watch the word.” E.W. Kenyon said the same thing “confession always goes ahead of healing…symptoms are not the disease.” To deny the symptoms is to lie to yourself and God, he never said, say it as a methodology. If this is true then someone who goes to a doctor for medicine because of their sickness or they go into surgery to have a tumor removed would not be cured because its not real, its only their symptom. Not only that, it would not be faith to go to a doctor, since one is not standing on the word for their healing but trusting in medical science for a cure. The Bible teaches that God can use other means besides supernatural healing to heal.

Hagin says if your sick the solution is easy “Often you create your own negative situations yourself with wrong thinking, wrong believing, and wrong speaking. So start believing according to God's Word. Then begin making positive confessions of faith and victory over your life. ... You will never receive anything from God beyond the words you speak. ... If you don't like what you have in life, then begin to change the way you are thinking, believing, and speaking. Instead of speaking according to natural circumstances out of your head, learn to speak God's Word from your spirit. Begin to confess God's promises of life and health and victory into your situation. Then you can begin to enjoy God's abundant life as you have what you say!” ( The Word of Faith, “You Can Have What You Say”)

“As a born-again believer, you are equipped with the Word. You have the power of God at your disposal. By getting the Word deep into your spirit and speaking it boldly out your mouth, you release spiritual power to change things in the natural circumstances.” (Kenneth Copeland, The Power of the Tongue, 15.)

“What you are saying is exactly what you are getting now. If you are living in poverty and lack and want, change what you are saying.... The powerful force of the spiritual world that creates the circumstances around us is controlled by the words of the mouth.” (The Laws of Prosperity, Kenneth Copeland, Ft. Worth: Kenneth Copeland Publications, 1974).

“Words are the most sacred things....This is a word planet...governed by words...created by words....Words cause it to function...cause life...cause death....Words go on forever....Words are holy.” (The Abrahamic Covenant, side 1.)

Gods word is eternal and holy, not mans. Jesus said we would be accountable for the words we speak, which means we do not speak correctly, truthfully nor Godly all the time.

Words are so powerful that we have the same ability that God does “You have the same creative faith and ability on the inside of you that God used when he created the heavens and the earth.” (Kenneth Copeland, Inner Image of the Covenant, side 2.)

In this World of using Scripture to gain access the wealth and health it only makes a difference in how ye thinketh.

“It makes a great deal of difference what one thinks. I believe that is why many people are sick, even though they are prayed for by everyone in the country. They get in every healing line and still never receive healing. The reason they are not getting healed is that they are thinking wrong.” (Kenneth Hagin, Right and Wrong Thinking , 1978 pg 19.)

Say it like you mean it, believe until it rises up out of your heart and your convinced that you are healed. Don’t listen to anyone saying otherwise, just keep on believing. I’ve been to these services where people say they are healed of a limp as they limp out of there. Actually there are just as many faith teachers who are sick and have died than us mere Christians who do not know how to use “the laws of faith.” So its not working for them either, but they just won't tell you this!

E.W. Kenyon in his book the Hidden man on pg. 99 “I know that I am healed because I said that I am healed and it makes no difference what the symptoms may be in my body.” If they are coughing and you say you have a cold they say no I don’t, haven’t had a cold in years. That’s called denial at best and lying at worst. To say I’m healed even though their can be in tremendous pain. when your not telling the truth isn’t that called lying.

K. Hagin in his book “In the name of Jesus says In teaching on divine healing and health , I have so often said, I haven’t had a headache in so many years (45 to be exact) I guess the devil got tired of hearing me say it. Just a few months ago, as I left the office building and started home, suddenly my head started hurting, someone might say, “well, you had a headache. No, I didn’t have one! I don’t have headaches. I haven’t had a headache since August 1934. 45 years have come and gone .and I haven’t had a headache…but if I had a headache, I wouldn’t tell anybody. And if somebody asked me how I was feeling, I would say, I’m fine, thank you.” (In the name of Jesus, p.44) Notice he says he wouldn't tell you how he really feels because words override the pain. Is this honest ? What do call this when someone acts in this way. If I went into a restaurant and ordered an expensive meal with only a dollar in my pocket and I didn't tell the waiter that I couldn't pay, what would you call this? ...That's exactly what you should call what Hagin is saying.

Faith teachers get sick also they have a headaches and stomach aches, they  stub their toes and bang their hand just like anyone else. They deny it despite what is certainly there. What they are saying is what you confess you will possess but you didn’t confess a headache to get it in the first place, it just came. So they need to put blame on someone and it usually is the devil. This is why they command Satan to leave their body. What one needs to ask is how did he get in there in the first place? Doesn’t this mean they were not walking in faith for him to invade them like this.

Would you go around saying that your the president of the company that you are just an employee of because you desire that position. If you were caught doing that they would say your lying . Try cashing a check as that president when your not and see what happens. What of scriptures such as God saying let there be light can someone of the faith movement ever say these same words and change the darkness of night to day, have you seen anyone move any mountains lately if not they do not have the faith of God.

What if this concept of healing were being brought to its logical conclusion. If you get a flat tire. Are you going to confess the tire is fixed and round again. Speak it back to restoration. No of course not. So why would you not do the same for anything else. If it doesn’t work for the inorganic. it won’t work for the organic either.

If one takes the Scripture by faith confessing God s word, why stop with healing? Why not go all the way and confess not dying as in John 11:26:”And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Then one will never die. While all the promises of God are yea and amen. They are not for all people all the time. Many were given to specific people for a specific purpose.

The Force of faith

“Faith activates the force of God fear is a force that activates the Devil. Copeland says, God did not create the world out of nothing, He used the Force of His Faith.' (Spirit, Soul and Body, #01-0601, Tape #1)

New Ager Benjamin Creme says, for example, “One doesn't pray to oneself, one prays to the God within. The thing is to learn to invoke that energy which is the energy of God. Prayer and worship as we know it today will gradually die out and men will be trained to invoke the (inner) power of deity.” (The Reappearance of Christ and the Masters of Wisdom, pp. 135-136)

The New Age has the exact same methodology for success. This is not ignored by the word/faith promoters since they believe anyone can use this power, saint or sinner. In like manner this power is used to influence themselves, others, ( achieving their own self-interests), their environment  or what they deem as reality .

Techniques used are visualization which they internally create the form and project its image into the outer world. The word spoken as it is first incubated in thought it will become reality when continually spoken.

Copeland agrees and states, “You can have what you say! In fact, what you are saying is exactly what you are getting now. If you are living in poverty and lack and want, change what you are saying. It will change what you have.... Discipline your vocabulary. Discipline everything you do, everything you say, and everything you think to agree with what God does, what God says, and what God thinks. God will be obligated to meet your needs because of His Word.... If you stand firmly on this, your needs will be met.” ( D.L. McConnell p.173)

A.W.Tozer wrote... “imagination projects unreal images out of the mind and seeks to attach reality to them. Faith creates nothing; it simply reckons upon that which is already there.”

God has  some interesting things addressed to this type of nonsense. Lam 3:37-50 “Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, when the Lord has not commanded it?   Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that woe and well-being proceed?   Why should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?   Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD;   Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven.   We have transgressed and rebelled; you have not pardoned.   You have covered Yourself with anger and pursued us; you have slain and not pitied.  You have covered Yourself with a cloud, that prayer should not pass through.  You have made us an offscouring and refuse in the midst of the peoples.  All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. Fear and a snare have come upon us, desolation and destruction. My eyes overflow with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.  My eyes flow and do not cease, without interruption, Till the LORD from heaven looks down and sees.” Like in Jeremiahs day this is the state of our present day church.

Creative faith for miracles

“Words are spiritual containers,” (Kenneth Copeland, Forces of the Recreated Human Spirit, 15; cf. 14.)

“Faith was the raw material substance that the Spirit of God used to form the universe.” (Kenneth Copeland, Authority of the Believer II (Fort Worth: Kenneth Copeland Ministries, 1987, audiotape #01-0302), side 1.) He doesn't say this a few times but is a consistent teaching in his theological bent.

“Faith is God's source of power.” (Freedom From Fear, 1983. p12.)

Not only does God use this faith but we can as well “You have the same creative faith and ability on the inside of you that God used when he created the heavens and the earth.” (Kenneth Copeland, Inner Image of the Covenant, side 2.) Copeland explains to Hinn how this all works “The law of faith, faith work by certain elements and when those elements from the word of God are put in, in release and in power than it always brings the same results , and I don't care who it is I don't care where you are or where you from  I don't care what culture you come from, I don't care what color your skin is I don't care whether your rich man poor man beggar man or thief. When you put those elements into operation they will come connect to the anointing and the results will come Benny Hinn “MY GOD!” (so its not by God's will but by ours). Copeland and B. Hinn this is your day  Aug.10,1999)

So this law that is suppose to be universal like gravity works even if you're an unbeliever and a thief. how can one who is not right with God use faith? Because its not the same as biblical faith it is a natural law as Copeland explains. So it really has nothing to do with God, because he is not obligated to give a sinner any request lest he repents.

“When we use the spiritual laws that God has set up, God must obey what we request.” (Praise the Lord, TBN 2/5/86)

“Words create pictures, and pictures in your mind create words. And then the words come back out your mouth....And when that spiritual force comes out it is going to give substance to the image that's on the inside of you. Aw, that's that visualization stuff! Aw, that's that New Age! No, New Age is trying to do this; and they'd get somewhat results out of it because this is spiritual law, brother.” (Believer's Voice of Victory (television program), TBN, 28 March 1991.)

“God used words when He created the heaven and the earth....Each time God spoke, He released His faith -- the creative power to bring His words to pass.” (The Power of the Tongue (Fort Worth: KCP Publications, 1980), 4.)

Isn't it funny that not once will you find the word faith in the OT especially in the creation narrative of Genesis attributed to God. Nowhere does it say God used faith. Why? Because it is man who needs faith not God!

Recently on John Hagee's program Copeland said, “The very faith that God used when He created, and what we read there in the first 2 chapters of Genesis, is the faith that’s burning in your spirit. But now if you’ve made Jesus the Lord of your life, it’s the same faith. Well, He created all those planets, how come you can’t create something? You don’t know as much about it as He does. He has a greater working knowledge of that faith than you do. But we’re learning. Our time is coming. And in some ways its already here.” (Aug 18,1999 )

Notice he says its coming because they don't have the knowledge yet. But he's been saying this as a fact for years! The only difference between God’s ability and ours is that He has a greater knowledge.

Kenneth Hagin: “Jesus used the fig tree to demonstrate that He had that God-kind of faith, then He said to the disciples-and to us-'You have that kind of faith.'. . . Jesus said He had the God-kind of faith; He encouraged His disciples to exercise that kind of faith; and He said that .whosoever' could do it.... That is why Jesus said, 'whosoever shall say ... and shall not doubt IN HIS HEART. ' “ (Having Faith in Your Faith, Kenneth Hagin Ministries, 1988 1, 3)

Mk.11:22 “Have the faith of God (in) This unclear passage is determined by other clear passages. The word ‘in’ is missing so it reads have faith God. This is a Hebraism: to have strong faith, or the strongest faith. When things look impossible. There is no such thing as a God kind faith. It means a faith that is wholly reliant on God.

Jesus had already stated, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”   (Matt 19:26)

But the faith movement states with ones words in faith we can change anything. Which means this faith is with man and not God. They believe that a failure to get what they ask for is a failure in faith.

This unclear passage is determined by other clear passages. However, this verse must not be isolated from other verses on prayer, and it is always important to make certain that we incorporate everything the Bible teaches on any one point before drawing our conclusions.

By Mike Ratliff