Posted on 02/09/2011 12:27:29 PM PST by Frank Broom
God is creator. How did He create, by his words. And God and his words are one (John 1:1). So, whatever God can do his word can do. That's important because the Bible says his word is his power (Hebrews 1:3 Romans !:16). When God gave you his word He gave you the very thing He used to create. And God said his word would not return to him void, but it shall accomplish that which He pleases (Isaiah 55:11).
In Hebrews 11:3 it says, through faith the worlds were framed by the word of God. So God created by releasing his faith by his words. So things came out of God by his words. His faith was the substance of all that was created (Hebrew 11:1). And you were made in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). And God by his word supplied you with his faith and his power. You take his faith and his power and release them out of your mouth and create your way. Isn't that what God told Joshua, "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8). He was to make his way by releasing God's word from his heart by his words.
So if you are in a situation and don't see a way out, create one. Create your deliverance- "The mouth of the upright will deliver them" (Proverbs 12:6). Isn't that what David did when he went up against Goliath, he said "This day will the Lord deliver you into my hand; and I will smite thee, and take thy head from thee" (1Samuel 17:46). You should never approach your giant with your mouth shut. Whatever you are looking for God to do you should be speaking because God said "I create the fruit of the lips" (Isaiah 57:19).
You see whatever you are looking for from God first has to come from you. Jesus said it this way "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of the heart bringeth forth evil things. How do you bring forth? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34,35). Things come out of you by your words. So when the word is in you it will come out of you. And God said when it comes out it will accomplish. Understand this the word can do just what Jesus did, become physical. After all doesn't God call Jesus the word made flesh(physical) John 1:14. And you do that by faith for faith is the substance of things. So whatever you are trying to get from the Bible faith is the substance of it. But faith in you heart has to be released that's why Jesus said "If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed ye shall say..." (Matthew 17:20). So if you don't like what you see take the word and make your way prosperous. That's what God was showing you all through the first chapter of Genesis, He was showing you yourselves.
Isn’t this a form of heresy in to some churches? Wasn’t this part of the Victory Church’s teachings that we can gain wealth or favor from God by the words we use? And isn’t this also part of an ancient pagan practice? I ask these questions because a friend of mine bought into this idea years ago in the 90s, and he didn’t become wealthy. I could almost say a lot of bad things befell him.
What does the Bible say about the prosperity gospel?
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Question: “What does the Bible say about the prosperity gospel?”
Answer: In the prosperity gospel, also known as the “Word of Faith,” the believer is told to use God, whereas the truth of biblical Christianity is just the opposite—God uses the believer. Word of Faith or prosperity theology sees the Holy Spirit as a power to be put to use for whatever the believer wills. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is a Person who enables the believer to do God’s will. The prosperity gospel movement closely resembles some of the destructive greed sects that infiltrated the early church. Paul and the other apostles were not accommodating to or conciliatory with the false teachers who propagated such heresy. They identified them as dangerous false teachers and urged Christians to avoid them.
Paul warned Timothy about such men in 1 Timothy 6:5, 9-11. These men of “corrupt mind” supposed godliness was a means of gain and their desire for riches was a trap that brought them “into ruin and destruction” (v. 9). The pursuit of wealth is a dangerous path for Christians and one which God warns about: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (v. 10). If riches were a reasonable goal for the godly, Jesus would have pursued it. But He did not, preferring instead to have no place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20) and teaching His disciples to do the same. It should also be remembered that the only disciple concerned with wealth was Judas.
Paul said covetousness is idolatry (Ephesians 5:5) and instructed the Ephesians to avoid anyone who brought a message of immorality or covetousness (Ephesians 5:6-7). Prosperity teaching prohibits God from working on His own, meaning that God is not Lord of all because He cannot work until we release Him to do so. Faith, according to the Word of Faith doctrine, is not submissive trust in God; faith is a formula by which we manipulate the spiritual laws that prosperity teachers believe govern the universe. As the name “Word of Faith” implies, this movement teaches that faith is a matter of what we say more than whom we trust or what truths we embrace and affirm in our hearts.
A favorite term in the Word of Faith movement is “positive confession.” This refers to the teaching that words themselves have creative power. What you say, Word of Faith teachers claim, determines everything that happens to you. Your confessions, especially the favors you demand of God, must all be stated positively and without wavering. Then God is required to answer (as though man could require anything of God!). Thus, God’s ability to bless us supposedly hangs on our faith. James 4:13-16 clearly contradicts this teaching: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Far from speaking things into existence in the future, we do not even know what tomorrow will bring or even whether we will be alive.
Instead of stressing the importance of wealth, the Bible warns against pursuing it. Believers, especially leaders in the church (1 Timothy 3:3), are to be free from the love of money (Hebrews 13:5). The love of money leads to all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Jesus warned, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). In sharp contrast to the Word of Faith emphasis on gaining money and possessions in this life, Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19). The irreconcilable contradictions between prosperity teaching and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is best summed up in the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:24, “You cannot serve both God and money.”
I’d rather stick with God’s reality, thank you.
He helps your needs not your greeds.
The New Testament promises the “blessings of Abraham” (rich guy), but also says that the “old man” is passed away.
Therefore, the “blessings of Abraham” are properly handled if one is “walking in the Spirit”.
In Israel's dispensation (Old Testament), God was providing earthly provisions and treasures to all of Israel IF and ONLY IF they obeyed the 614 commandments of Moses (Lev). But of course, we see that they ultimately failed (Lev 28).
Look at what Jesus Christ said:
Matthew 6:21 for where they treasure is, there will thy heart be also
Observer what Jesus said about earthly treasure:
Matthew 6:19-20 lay NOT UP for yourselves treasures upon the EARTH, where moth and rust consume... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume
Today, God has already said to us believer saints, whom are declared Saints BY GOD: Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with ALL SPIRITUAL blessings in heavenly places IN Christ
Today, our focus is on heavenly things, not earthly things. We already have been blessed with ALL SPIRITUAL blessings in heavenly places.
We cannot now say to God: we don't want spiritual blessings in heaven, we want earthly blessings too.
To Israel God granted all their earthly requests: that is the way those Old Testament verses operate. Those Old Testament verses DO NOT operate today this way for grace believer. We cannot fully please and glorify God by praying and desiring earthly treasures. The only people who want to continue and pray under those Old Testament prayer requests are those who want to place themselves under the Law for earthly things, which is a sign of a weak and beggarly believer. For the flesh cannot please God!
Today, our purpose is NOT to desire earthly things, BUT TO to glorify God in whatever situation we are in: poor or rich.
We were called by God before the foundation of the world to demonstrate to the Angels how we handle earthly problems via this age of the Grace of God. Today, we succeed in this age of grace by believers who utilize intelligent son-ship prayer, not the "give me things" prayers that desires earthly things and things for us to move mountains...
This "power" "physical" "things" prayer approach described by the author is totally out of scope for today's believers: but you can try it, and place yourself [again] under the Law for earthly things, which is a sign of a weak and beggarly believer. But the flesh cannot please God!
Nailed it.
That’s horrible theology and poor understanding of scripture. It isn’t the fact that God SPOKE things into being that should be stressed, but rather that GOD spoke them. He doesn’t give you His Word to speak so that you can create what you want, He gives you His Word to listen and obey. If one takes and reads 10 or so verses on either side of any of the scriptures you posted they will see that your interpretation of their meaning is misguided.
Dear Blind Eye Jones if it is heresy in some churches it shouldn’t be, that’s why I always show you the scripture for you to see for yourself what the word says. As far as your friend goes I can’t speak on that because I don’t know what he was believing, but you can’t judge the Bible based on peoples experiences. For example thousands of people have gotten healed by people laying hands on them as the Bible says, but if they lay hands on someone and he doesn’t receive healing does that mean that laying on of hands don’t work, no. Because there’s different reasons why things happen. Thanks for reading!!
That’s what I’m saying God’s reality which is his word. His word is his reality. And that’s what I am talking about. Thanks!!
Dear bibletruth the Isrealites blessings came as the result of the covenant God made with Abraham that God would bless his seed. And we are now the seed of Abraham through Jesus. Galatian 3:13 Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law so that the blessing of Abraham will come upon the gentiles. And Abraham was blessed by God who made him rich in cattle, silver, and gold Genesis 13:2 those things are physical not just spiritual. And I know we are under grace,but even thou we are under grace you still have to receive it by faith Romans 4:16. Even in getting born again with the heart you believe and with the mouth you speak Romans 10:10. So being under grace entittles me to the blessing of Abraham who is the father of us all. Thanks!
Dear UncleHenry first of all it’s not theology it’s scripture. And if my interpretations are misguided please feel free to show me where they are misguided. Thanks!
What does the Bible say about prosperity gospel let’s see:
It is God that gives you the power to get wealth Deu.8:18
The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich Pro.10:22
The man that serves God will lay up gold as dust Job 22:23,24
Blessed is the man that fear the Lord and delight greatly in his commandments wealth and riches shall be in his house Psalm 112:1-3
So if God is the one that gives you the power to get wealth and He has a covenant of wealth (Deu.8:18) which is a part of the blessing of Abraham that Jesus died for us to have Galatian 3:13 why is it wrong for me to have what God says is mine. And if God’s the one that brought is up first who is any man to say that it is wrong just because they don’t have an understanding of the word. God blessed Abraham so that he could be a blessing to others. There’s a lot of people that need help, but how can you bless someone else when you don’t have anything yourself. So no it’s not about greed it’s about being able to help other as God wants you to. Thanks!
Thank you ROTB for taking the time to read this article and for your comment. Thanks!!
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