Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Andrew Wommack False Teaching or New Revelation?
Andrew Wommack False Teaching or New Revelation?
By Mark Greenwood August 2009
Also watch
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KjV95sNgO4
Introduction
Is Andrew Wommack a false teacher or a teacher of new revelation?
It is not my intention to criticise the person of Andrew Wommack. He comes across as a person who is genuine in the way he promotes his teaching rather than trying to create his own empire as others have done.
My question is, “Is his teaching scriptural”? When I asked this question at a church meeting I was told that “it can still be right and not be in the Bible. Just because it is not in the Bible doesn’t mean it is not right”.
This statement had nothing to do with Andrew Wommack and I hope he would be the first to denounce it.
I was also told the well worn phrase that what you can’t eat, put to one side and enjoy the rest (if you get a stone in the cherry pie, leave the stone not the pie).
In other words, take in what you can and just leave the rest to one side.
This may be okay for a mature discerning Christian, but it is irresponsible in a church gathering where some have no discerning skills and will swallow everything because they trust the leaders.
The elders job is to protect the sheep not feed them possible poison.
The Bereans were commended by God as being more noble than those in Thessalonica because they received the word gladly and searched the scriptures daily to see if what the apostle Paul was teaching lined up with Scripture (Acts 17 v 11). Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to "Prove all things, hold fast the right" (1 Thessalonians 5 v21), and Jude wrote to, "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude v 3).
Andrew does seem to change some of the things he says so hopefully he listens when it is pointed out that scripture contradicts his teaching.
Smith Wigglesworth said the last revival would be an ‘emphasis on the word of God’. Others have said there will be a famine of the word of God in the last days. The Bible says there will be a falling away from the truth of God’s word in the last days. The true church needs to stand up and emphasise the word of God above all teaching. God has put His word above His Name.
Andrew Wommack
When anyone brings any new teaching it is important that we search the scriptures to find out, is this of God or man?
Any heresy will always have a large amount of truth with it so we cannot automatically accept a mans teaching as correct because three quarters of what he says is right, especially if his major teaching is wrong.
Andrew Wommack says a lot of things that are right but his major teaching and the foundation of what he builds his doctrine on is different than conventional teaching so we must check it out with scripture and the Spirit.
Andrew says, and puts much emphasis in this teaching, that God, “spoke man into existence”. We all know, as I imagine Andrew does, that God created man from the dust of the ground and did not speak him “instantly” into being.
Genesis 2 v 7 says that God formed man from the dust of the ground.
1 Corinthians 15 v 47 says, “the first man out of earth, made of dust”.
Psalm 103 v 14, “For He knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are dust”.
So to say that God spoke man instantly into existence is wrong, but I image that there is more behind that statement than meets the eye, otherwise Andrew wouldn’t make it.
Andrew goes on to say that God said, ‘you physical human beings have power and authority, you rule’ (Andrews own paraphrase interpretation). Which means, Andrew says, that before man was created God had absolute control on the earth but now He was no longer in control, He had turned the control over to man. According to Andrew before the first man, Adam, was created, God was in control therefore He spoke man into existence. Now man is in control so God cannot sort out the mess that man has made. God couldn’t speak another man into being because now that man was in control man must speak another Adam into existence to sort out the mess. “God had to get people to speak the things that needed to be said so that Jesus could come into this earth.” “This is major, this is really important".
This is not just an opinion that could be wrong, as far as Andrew goes; this is a major doctrinal truth that is of the utmost importance. It is part of the foundation of all his teaching.
So what is the generally accepted view about man’s rule on the earth?
Well we must first look at the actual statement made by God to man about ruling the earth.
Genesis 1 v 26-30 says, “And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over the whole earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth on the earth. And God created man in His image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them; and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over every animal that moveth on the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb producing seed that is on the whole earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree producing seed: it shall be food for you; and to every animal of the earth, and to every fowl of the heavens, and to everything that creepeth on the earth, in which is a living soul, every green herb for food. And it was so.”
Stephen Renn says in his Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, “In Genesis 1 v 26-28, God’s mandate here gives humankind a privileged position to rule over all of creation and also the solemn responsibility in exercising that control and authority in accordance with God’s explicit instructions. It is not a dominion invested in human authority – it is derived from God alone. Human beings act as God’s vice regents over the created world.”
In Zondervan’s notes to Psalm 8 v 6 we read, “Man’s rule is real – a part of his ‘glory and majesty’ (v5) – and it is his destiny --- . But it is not absolute or independent. It is participation, as a subordinate, in God’s rule; and it is a gift not a right”.
I think these two sum up the generally accepted view that man rules the earth, not with absolute, independent power but as a subordinate under God. Yes man does rule the earth but it has to be in accordance with God’s will.
God could just as easily have caused the earth to function correctly of its own God created ability but He made man of the same substance as the earth in order to rule over it and enjoy its blessings as God’s representatives. Once they become independent of God and act against God’s will, then God steps in to show them He alone is God.
So we can see the difference between what is generally accepted and what Andrew Wommack believes (although this view is not unique to Andrew Wommack). The generally accepted view is that man has been given the earth to rule over, however he must rule in line with God’s commands and must recognise that it is God that puts the kings and leaders in their place and it is God that can replace them if they don’t acknowledge Him. Andrew says that God gave up absolute control to man and it is by man’s power and authority that man reigns. God cannot directly interfere but must get man to speak words of authority that will come to pass. He quotes Psalm 89 v 34 to back up what he is saying; “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Andrew Wommack says that God would have broken His promise if He had taken back His power and authority. The question is did God abnegate His power and authority over the earth or rather delegate responsibility to man? Was man to rule under God or instead of God?
Andrew makes out that God cannot directly interfere or He will be breaking His covenant.
What was God’s covenant with man? God’s first covenant was with Noah. The covenant was that God would preserve Noah and his family and not destroy all flesh by waters of a flood again nor would there be a flood to destroy the earth. God has not broken His covenant. The other covenants were the Abrahamic Covenant, Mosaic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant and finally the Messianic Covenant or New Covenant. So nowhere in these covenants does God promise not to interfere. In fact all these covenants are promises that God will interfere on man’s behalf.
Andrew mistakenly thinks that God’s blessing to Adam to replenish the earth, rule over the animals and subdue the land means that God cannot now interfere on the earth.
The problem with that is that God is continually “interfering” in mans rule. This means that Andrew is misinterpreting God’s original mandate for man.
When has God interfered on the earth?
The answer would be many times, but here are a few.
Genesis 6 v 5-8 says that God saw man’s wickedness and repented that He had made him, so decided to destroy man off the face of the earth, But, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. If we follow AW’s logic then God would have to convince man to deal with man’s wickedness. Instead God acted against man directly of Himself by causing the earth to be flooded, saving only Noah and whoever was in the ark with him.
In Genesis 11 v 1-9 we read that once again God, from His own council, directly interfered in man’s affairs by coming down and confounding man’s language causing them to separate and scatter on the face of the earth.
In Genesis chapter18 God acted independent of man to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, even though Abraham tried to talk Him out of it.
So, is God the King over all the earth with man ruling the animals, birds, fish and plant life according to God’s plan or is God only Lord of heaven with man the Lord of earth, as Andrew Wommack says?
Let us look at what the Bible says:
Matthew 11 v 25 “Jesus answering said, I praise thee, Father, Lord of the heaven and of the earth” (Jesus disagrees with AW).
Exodus 9 v 29 “Moses said to him, When I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord: the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail; that thou mayest know that the earth is the Lords” (Moses disagrees with AW).
Exodus 19 v 5 The Lord told Moses to tell the children of Israel, “And now if you will hearken to my voice and indeed keep my covenant, then shall you be my own possession out of all the peoples – for all the earth is mine -. (God disagrees with AW).
Deuteronomy 10 v 14 “The heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to the Lord, the earth, and all that is therein.
1 Chronicles 29 v 11 “All that is in the heavens and on the earth is thine: Thine Lord is the kingdom and thou art exalted as Head above all”. (King David disagrees with AW).
Psalm 24 v 1 “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein”
Psalm 47 v 2 “For the Lord most high is terrible, a great king over all the earth”
Psalm 47 v 7 “For God is the King of all the earth”.
Psalm 66 v 7 “He (God) ruleth by His power for ever”
Psalm 97 v 1-5 “The Lord reigneth let the earth be glad ------- The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth”
In Daniel 4 v 17 Nebuchadnezzar had a dream where those who watch said to him “This sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the decisions by the word of the holy ones: that the living may know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men”. Yet Andrew says that God no longer rules on earth!
Daniel 4 v 25 says, “- - Till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever He will.”
Daniel 4 v 35 Nebuchadnezzar was inspired to write “All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and He doeth according to His will in the army of the heavens, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say unto Him, what doest thou”.
These scriptures show that God did not abnegate authority but delegated man to rule the animals, fish, and birds, under His authority, and to subdue the ground, it is still the Lord that reigns supreme. If man usurps God’s rule then God deals with him. Man rules under God but if man thinks that everything that he has is by his own might and power then God removes him.
Andrew exalts man above the angels and principalities. He says that man’s authority is superior to angels power and that even though God created Lucifer it was man that made Satan. He says that Satan got his power to oppress the world from man (there is some truth in this statement). He goes on to say that Satan now has human power and authority. He says, “A pig, a worm, a slug has more power than the devil”, “A lost man has more power than the devil”. However the Bible says that Satan had the power of death (Hebrews 2 v 14). Also 1 Peter 5 v 8 says that even now the devil goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, devour means to swallow whole. Andrew Wommack says that Lucifer took man as a hostage so that God was limited in what He could do. God’s hands were tied because if He wiped Satan out He would have to wipe man out as well. Does all this mean that Satan is making God do what he wants Him to do? Does God now have to use plan ‘B’ and what if the devil thwarts that, will God have to use plan ‘C’. No, there is only one plan and God is in control.
If a lost man and even a slug has more power than the devil why do the saints have to put on the whole armour of God? Why did Jesus say to the disciples in Luke 10 v 19, “I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy” if we already had more power than the enemy? The apostle John tells us that we have overcome because greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world (1 John 4 v 4). AW tells us that we have more power than the devil anyway so we can overcome in our own power (that is the original power and authority that God gave us in the garden of Eden).
Another very important aspect of the foundation of Andrew Wommack’s teaching is why it took 4000 years for Jesus to come and sort out the mess created by the fall.
Andrew says that God needed another Adam to sort out the mess, but because He wasn’t in physical control He couldn’t speak him into existence like He did the first Adam. Now God had to get people to speak the things that needed to be said so that Jesus could come into this earth. This is a really important part of his doctrine.
Andrew continues that God gave control over this earth to physical human beings so He could not “boom” create Jesus, what He had to do was speak to the spirit of people and as they would believe and respond to Him, then they would prophetically utter words and speak forth things. It was necessary for many words to be spoken by people for Jesus to be created; there are a lot of them. (Here Andrew is referring to scripture such as Isaiah 53 and Isaiah chapter 9 etc.)
Andrew reminds us once more of his statement that “God spoke Adam into existence” now he builds up on that by saying that now God had to give man these words in order for them to create the second Adam. The reason it took 4000 years, AW says, is because no one man was in communion with God enough to get all the words needed to speak Jesus into being. He says it is God inspired words spoken by man that create the physical body of the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit took these words, dozens, hundreds, spoken by man, and put them into Mary, impregnated her, “The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us”, John 1 v 14. “The word became the seed; that is a powerful truth”.
He then makes a further bold statement, “Why did Jesus have to become a man? Because God is a spirit and only physical human beings have authority on this earth”. “God originally had all authority but He gave it to mankind”
In Luke 1 v 36-37 the Angel Gabriel said to Mary “And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son: and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible”.
Where it says “For with God nothing shall be impossible” Andrew says there is another translation which he then continues to use, “No word from God is without power of fulfilment”.
This, he says is for Mary to bring forth Jesus. It was actually about Elizabeth being barren and now carrying child, but fair enough it was also to encourage Mary to see that God can do anything He says because nothing is impossible for Him.
The translation that Andrew paraphrases should actually read, “Not any word shall be impossible with God”. In other words what the Angel is saying is that what God has said He will do. In Ezekiel 12 v 25 God says “I will speak the word and perform it”.
So to sum up, Andrew says God couldn’t create Jesus but that man spoke the words that God gave him and eventually over 4000 years enough words were spoken to create Jesus. The Holy Spirit took all these words and impregnated Mary with them bringing forth Jesus the word of God.
Well, this sounds good but is it right. There are a lot of bits brought together here that could make it plausible. We will have to look into the word of God to see if there is any light on these things there.
First let me say that words can be very powerful, there is no question in my mind about this. When God utters a word he will perform it. We know that Jesus is the Son of God and has always been with God throughout eternity.
In John’s gospel Jesus is called the Word of God, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God ---- and the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us” John 1 v 1 – 14.
However we have already seen that God is still in charge of this earth no matter what Andrew Wommack says. In which case it does not have to take 4000 years and hundreds of inspired words before Jesus can come but just one word from God and the Holy Spirit to perform it.
Genesis 1 v 3 says, “And God said, let there be light and there was light”. It is as simple and straight forward as that, but with man God said, “let us make man in our image” then, rather than saying “let there be man and there was man” God created him from the dust of the ground and breathed into him the breath (spirit) of life and man became a living soul (Genesis 2 v 7). Now, “the first man was of the earth, a man of dust, the second man is from heaven” (1 Corinthians 15 v 47).
Now did God Himself speak one word to bring Christ into being as a man? Yes, in Genesis 3 v 15 God speaks of the coming of Jesus Christ to bruise Satan’s head. That one word, spoken immediately after the fall of man is enough for God to bring it to pass. 4000 years later the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and she conceived and Jesus was born. One word from God and the Spirit moves to perform it. What about all the other words? Well God said He won’t do anything without He tells His servants the prophets (Amos 3 v 7) and this is what God has planned before the foundation of the world so God wants to tell us all about it. Nothing to do with man, all to do with God.
Why did it take 4000 years, well 4000 years is nothing with God, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. So what is that, 4 days, not long at all. But God also needed to prepare the world to receive Jesus so all the way down from God’s promise of a Saviour, God has been bringing to pass His word, through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and finally Mary. God had to first put the law in place because the law is a teacher to bring us to Christ. Every part of the law had to point to Jesus and Jesus had to fulfil the whole law. God prophesied through the prophets exactly how and when He would come. Everything was prepared perfectly. There could be no doubt when He came that this was the Son of God. Galatians 4 v 4 says that “when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, come of a woman, come under the law, that He might redeem those under law.” God sent His Son. Jesus said this many times “the Father has sent me”, not, “man created me” or, “man spoke me into existence”. Jesus came to do God’s will, He says, “a body thou has prepared for me” (Hebrews 10 v 5). God prepared Mary to carry a body that Jesus could inhabit. It is all of God not of man. But why did God have to become man? Well we have just said it, Galatians 4 v 4 “that he might redeem those under the law”. Redeem means to pay a ransom in order to buy back or set free slaves. However there was a condition, a redeemer had to be a near kinsmen. In other words, a redeemer had to be a physical man to fulfil the law. And of course it had to be the seed of a woman to fulfil the words that God spoke after the fall of man. Everything is working out perfect. There is no plan ‘B’, there doesn’t need to be a plan ‘B’. ‘God is Sovereign’. Whoops, that’s another phrase that Andrew Wommack hates.
Another important doctrine of Andrew Wommack’s is that when man sinned he was taken hostage by Satan. When Jesus came, AW says, He too was taken hostage by Satan. The Word of Faith movement teach that the ransom had to be paid to Satan, so is this what AW is getting at when he says that Satan held Jesus as a hostage? Is it that God might pay the ransom to Satan in order to buy us back. Did Satan have to be satisfied for man to be bought back? This view sees Satan as the terrorist who is holding mankind as hostage and a ransom has to be paid to the terrorist in order to release the captives. Conventional Christianity says that it was God’s law that was broken therefore God’s judgement fell upon man, It was God that sentenced man to death, man must pay the full sentence of God’s law, which means that the ransom must satisfy God not Satan. We only need to read the book of Leviticus to see that the sin offering, and all the other offerings (which could be a bullock, goat or sheep etc), had to be presented to the Lord, Jehovah, not to Satan.
Asking
Andrew doesn’t agree with asking God for healing. Now there is some truth in what he says, but it’s the emphasis he puts on leaving God out of the equation that is the problem.
Andrew says, “The reason people often don’t get healed is because they are asking God to heal them instead of taking their power and authority given by God” (this sometimes is the case unfortunately).
He says, quoting some imaginary persons prayer, “Oh God we’re powerless, would you please, pretty please, if it be your will, please move and touch this person”. “That’s the approach we have, we are beggars we can do nothing”.
With such words he scoffs at the very idea of asking God to heal the sick.
I agree we should minister with authority and rebuke the sickness, but what about the time spent alone with God preparing the ground for ministry?
In Acts 4 v 30, the disciples prayed together asking God to stretch forth His hand to heal and that signs and wonders be done in the Name of Jesus.
Yes, they would minister in the Name of Jesus, they would heal the sick, but only as instruments of God. They knew it wasn’t there own power therefore they first asked God to move before they acted.
In 2 Corinthians 12 v 7-10, Paul says that a messenger of Satan was buffeting him. He asked the Lord three times to remove it but God said His grace was sufficient. Now I don’t think this is talking about sickness however the concept is the same. Andrew believes that in the garden of Eden God gave authority to man so He cannot now interfere. If Paul had the authority to resist the angel he wouldn’t need to ask God to take it away.
If Andrew Wommack’s advice was followed Paul would have rebuked the angel from Satan and not asked God to remove it.
In Luke 22 v 31 Jesus tells Peter that Satan has desired to have him to sift him as wheat. What would our response be? Should we rebuke Satan or pray to God for Peter? Jesus prayed for Peter.
Ephesians 6 v 18 tells us that prayer and supplication to God is part of our armour.
God wants us to ask, not how Andrew says that we ask, i.e., “pretty please, if it be your will” but according to God’s will with thanksgiving, receiving what we ask for by faith.
Mark 11 v 24 says, “Therefore I say unto you whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them”.
Matthew 7 v 7 says, “ask and you shall receive”.
John 14 v 13-14 says, “ And whatsoever you shall ask in my Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask anything in my Name I will do it.”
John 16 v 23 says, “Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my Name He will give it to you”.
James 4 v 2-3 says, “—you have not because you ask not. You ask and receive not because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.”
1 John 3 v 22, “And whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight”.
1 John 5 v 14-15 says, “This is the confidence we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him”.
Philippians 4 v 6 says, “In everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made know unto God”.
So it is quite obvious that God wants us to ask Him for things that He wants to give us but what about praying for the sick? Acts 28 v 8 says that Paul, when confronted with a sick man, first prayed, then laid his hands on him and healed him. This would have been a prayer of faith, and if Paul can do it then so can we.
I don’t believe that when we minister to the sick we need to pray to God to heal them, however we should ask Him how we are to minister to each and every individual who is sick. We can also remind God of His word (and remind ourselves and everyone listening) that by the stripes of Jesus we were healed and ask for the manifestation of what Jesus has already done. We must pray “according to thy word” if we want to receive from God His promises (Nehemiah 1 v 8, Psalm 119 v 49, Psalm 119 v 26 v 28 v 41 v 58 v 107, 1 John 5 v 14-15).
Revival
When talking about revival AW says, “It’s not up to God, it is up to us” “We are approaching God likes it is up to Him to send revival”. “Operating in the authority God has given us is the path to revival”.
Is Andrew right?
It all depends what revival means to you when asking for it. In Acts chapter 4 v 29-30 the disciples prayed, “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” That is the type of revival that AW is talking about when he says we don’t ask God we just do it (They obviously didn’t know that when they asked God). However many of us see revival as more than that. Psalm 85 v 6 says, “Wilt thy not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee”, Isaiah 57 v 15 says that God says, “I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones”. This is the secret of revival. When man sees himself as he really is and loathes and despises his fleshly attitude then he will ask God to “bend him” as Evan Roberts did in the 1904 Welsh revival and as Duncan Campbell prayed. Andrew A. Woolsey in his book, “Channel of Revival, A Biography of Duncan Campbell, page 50 wrote, “His (Duncan Campbell’s) cry for deliverance from the corruption around was eclipsed by the cry of deliverance from the enemy within (self). Like the Psalmist he felt he was sinking in deep mire where there is no standing, that he was come into deep waters where the floods overflowed him, and in his extremity groaned: ‘I am weary of my crying; my throat is dried; mine eyes fail when I wait for my God’ (Psalm 69 v 3). He waited for God and the moment of deliverance came”. This is a prayer for revival, when you know your own self and you cry out to God “oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me”. God brings his chosen vessels to a place of hating the very garments spotted by the flesh (Jude 23), knowing that only God can deliver them and revive them. Many do not seem to know this side of the Christian walk.
I agree that in our ministry we speak to the problem (sickness) and command it to leave in Jesus Name however we also need to wait on the Lord as He deals with our “self” life bringing it to a place of submission to the Spirit then we will cry “quicken thou me Oh Lord according to thy word”. Jesus dealt with each person differently even if they had the same physical problem, this is because He only did what the Father showed Him. We too need to be led by the Spirit in order to deal correctly with each problem.
One thing I notice about Andrew Wommack, he makes statements that contradict previous statements he has made (statements on previous DVD’s). Is this a tactic to keep us confused about what he believes or is he changing his mind after others have confronted him with the truth? He does not retract his original statement but waters it down. If he did this at first we would know where he stands. He makes deliberate outlandish statements then several tapes later he corrects himself. The reason he corrects himself is, he says, because “he is trying to bring some balance into it”. Why didn’t he bring some balance into it when he previously stated the opposite? This it seems is a trait of other Word of Faith leaders like Hagin and Copeland.
The Sovereignty of God
It seems that Andrew Wommack teaches some excellent points but it is his foundational teaching that is heresy. He also makes outlandish statements which are against sound teaching then he develops his teaching with statements that most conventional Christians already believe, so his teaching isn’t as outrageous as his original statement. Yet he is still responsible for his original statement which is heretical.
Take the subject of the Sovereignty of God. AW says that he believes the doctrine of sovereignty of God , “is the worst doctrine in the church today”.
He goes on to say, “The belief that God controls everything that happens to us is one of the devils biggest inroads into our lives”.
The sovereignty of God is something that should not be challenged however what one person means by sovereignty can be different from what someone else believes.
According to Webster’s dictionary, Sovereign means, ‘having undisputed right to make decisions and act accordingly’.
The word ‘Lord’, according to Webster’s dictionary means, ‘Master, ruler, sovereign’.
Lord as a title for God in the Old Testament appears 442 times, it can also be understood as ‘Master’ or ‘My master’ (Mounce).
In the New Testament the word Lord or Master is sometimes a translation of the Greek word, ‘Despotes’ which means, according to Vine, “A master, lord, one who possesses supreme authority”, “One who has absolute ownership and uncontrolled power”
When the disciples prayed together to God in Acts 4, they started their prayer, “Lord, thou art the God who made the heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them”. The Greek word used here for Lord is ‘despot’. J. N. Darby says, “despot, ‘the master’ of a slave; ‘one having sovereign power’”.
Stephen D. Renn in his Expository Dictionary of Bible Words says that “despotes refers to God by the title ‘sovereign Lord’ in the context of prayer offered to Him in (Luke 2 v 29, Acts 4 v 24, Revelation 6 v 10).
J. N. Darby’s rendering of Revelation 6 v 10 is, “How long, O sovereign Ruler holy and true - .”
Most sound Bible teachers recognise God as sovereign.
Because God is sovereign does it automatically follow that we must be robots with no will of our own? Of course not, to even suggest that that is what sovereign means is silly to say the least. God has made us with a will and we make decisions and choices that will either bring us in line with God’s will or our own will. So does this mean that God is not sovereign?
No, because His will is fulfilled by cause and effect. The soul that sinneth shall surely die. If we reject God’s law then we die, God has so ordered it.
The Holy Spirit will strive with a man until such a time that God gives him over to his lusts and to the wrath of God (Romans chapter 1 and 2). Even now however their steps are ordered by God in that they will continually be brought to a place where they have to face up to their need for God.
Proverbs 16 v 9 says “A mans heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps”. Jeremiah 10 v 23 says, “I know, Jehovah, that the way of man is not his own; it is not in a man that walketh to direct his steps”. Psalm 37 v 23 says, “The steps of a man are ordered by the Lord”.
In 2 Chronicles 32 v 31 we read that God left Hezekiah in order to try him and expose all that was in his heart.
God is still sovereign but allows certain things to prove us. It is the same with the lost, He could wipe them out at any second but instead he proves what is in their heart by allowing them to go their own way. He will also use them for His purposes as with Pharaoh, who’s heart He hardened in order to show forth the power of God.
1 Corinthians 10 v 13 say, “No temptation has taken you but such as is according to man’s nature: and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able to bear, but will with the temptation make the issue also, so that you should be able to bear it”.
God deals with us like we might deal with our young children, we allow them enough space to express themselves and chastise them when they are naughty. This is all for their growth and character. Even though we are sovereign over them we allow them room to develop, otherwise we will have crushed offspring who only do what they are told out of fear and no feeling of love. What we are hoping for by allowing them to express themselves, but at the same time keeping them in check, is for responsible offspring who grow up with a righteous character who know how to beware of pitfalls yet will stand for what is right and at the same time show respect for others. Of course we are teaching our children to become independent of us while God wants His children to learn to be dependent on Him.
God is still sovereign even though He allows us to do our own thing and learn by our mistakes. He is sovereign because He is allowing it and can stop it whenever He wants. What He wants is for His children to learn His word and to desire His will. He does not want to force His will on them but wants them to choose His will out of love and respect for Him.
God is sovereign and can do what He wants.
1 Thessalonians 5 v 18 says, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus towards you”.
Ephesians 5 v 20 says, “Giving thanks at all times for all things to Him who is God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Romans 8 v 28 says, “For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to purpose”.
How can we give thanks in and for all things unless we know that God is sovereign?
Here are some other scriptures showing that God is sovereign Lord. They are taken from the web site of Calvary Chapel Aurora USA when dealing with the same subject:
Ecclesiastes 7:14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.
Job 1:21-22 "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 2:1 9-10 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" 10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Lamentations 3:38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?
Daniel 4:35 He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"
Psalm 135:6 The LORD does all that he pleases, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.
Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will
Isaiah 46:10-11 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. 11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.
God allows things into our lives to reveal what is in our hearts such as pride or humility. What type of spirit do we have, a contrite spirit or a boastful spirit? Things happen to us in order to prove us to see if we will respond with faith and act according to His word, or with unbelief and defeatism. So, why say that God is not sovereign? Why not just explain that He is teaching us how to rule in this life according to the word of the Lord (Preparing us to reign in the Millennium with Christ). Things happen to us to bring us to the Lord that we may learn to depend on Him, and to teach us how to express our authority in Him.
Man was given this earth to rule over and everything on the earth is subject to him. Man fell but his destiny is still to rule on the earth. What happened in between?
Well, we know the story how the devil tempted Eve and she was deceived and how Adam listened to Eve and disobeyed God. That which was perfect is now spoiled. The ground was cursed and brings forth thorns and weeds. Man still has to subdue it but now it is by hard work. We do not yet see all things subject to him.
Death came on the scene and the devil became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4 v 4), he is the ruler of the power of the air (Ephesians 2 v 2). He is the ruler of the darkness of this world (Ephesians 6 v 12). He had the power of death therefore keeping everyone in bondage through fear of death (Hebrews 2 v 14-15). Death and its close associates sickness and disease are the works of the devil to keep mankind under bondage to him (Acts 10 v 38, Luke 13 v 16).
The good news is that Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan and bruise his head. Jesus had the keys of death and Hades before He was crucified. In John chapter 11 when Lazarus died Jesus deliberately delayed coming to him until after four days. The Jews believed a mans soul hung around for three days after he died, then went to Hades, and of course a dead mans flesh would soon see corruption in the Middle East. Mary said to Jesus when He told them to remove the stone from the tomb, that Lazarus “stinketh” already being four days in the grave. What did Jesus say to Martha? “I am the resurrection and the life”, not I am going to be but ‘I AM’. When Jesus died on the cross He had no need to die but He did it on our behalf to secure eternal life for as many as believe on Him. So He proved He already had the keys of death and Hades when He brought Lazarus back and by rising from the dead Himself He confirmed it and opened the door for all who believe on Him to be justified and have eternal life.
When Jesus walked this earth He had power to destroy the works of the devil. He showed His power over the earth when He cursed the fig tree, He showed His power over the animals when He rode the ass’s colt that no one had sat on before and when He told Peter to get some money from the fish’s mouth He showed His power over the sea creatures, not to mention walking on water and commanding the winds and waves to be still etc.
Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man. He was and is, Lord.
Jesus is the heir of the world and we are joint heirs with Him. Now are we the sons of God.
One day Jesus shall reign on this earth and we shall reign with Him, but right now we have a job to do, Jesus said “Go and preach the gospel”. We are ambassadors of Christ who said “Greater works than these shall you do”.
He said we are to cast out demons and lay hands on the sick, all in His Name. He said “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you to be my witnesses”.
So our authority lies in preaching the word and the Name of Jesus.
Andrew Wommack says this same thing. He says “it is not binding and loosing but preaching the word”. “The antidote is telling people the truth, not binding and loosing demons”. “The truth sets them free”. He believes in casting demons out not binding and loosing them in the heavenlies.
God does say that the heavens are the heavens of Jehovah but the earth He has given to men (Psalm 115 v 16). This is saying that He deals with heavenly things not man, man must stick to the earth, so no binding the principalities in the heavens. Man rules the earth under God as the next verse shows.
Psalm 89 v 11 says “Thine are the heavens, the earth also is thine; the world and its fullness, thou has founded them.”
I have to say that lot of what AW says is excellent but his foundational teaching is sinking sand.
By Mark Greenwood August 2009
Also watch
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KjV95sNgO4
Introduction
Is Andrew Wommack a false teacher or a teacher of new revelation?
It is not my intention to criticise the person of Andrew Wommack. He comes across as a person who is genuine in the way he promotes his teaching rather than trying to create his own empire as others have done.
My question is, “Is his teaching scriptural”? When I asked this question at a church meeting I was told that “it can still be right and not be in the Bible. Just because it is not in the Bible doesn’t mean it is not right”.
This statement had nothing to do with Andrew Wommack and I hope he would be the first to denounce it.
I was also told the well worn phrase that what you can’t eat, put to one side and enjoy the rest (if you get a stone in the cherry pie, leave the stone not the pie).
In other words, take in what you can and just leave the rest to one side.
This may be okay for a mature discerning Christian, but it is irresponsible in a church gathering where some have no discerning skills and will swallow everything because they trust the leaders.
The elders job is to protect the sheep not feed them possible poison.
The Bereans were commended by God as being more noble than those in Thessalonica because they received the word gladly and searched the scriptures daily to see if what the apostle Paul was teaching lined up with Scripture (Acts 17 v 11). Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to "Prove all things, hold fast the right" (1 Thessalonians 5 v21), and Jude wrote to, "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude v 3).
Andrew does seem to change some of the things he says so hopefully he listens when it is pointed out that scripture contradicts his teaching.
Smith Wigglesworth said the last revival would be an ‘emphasis on the word of God’. Others have said there will be a famine of the word of God in the last days. The Bible says there will be a falling away from the truth of God’s word in the last days. The true church needs to stand up and emphasise the word of God above all teaching. God has put His word above His Name.
Andrew Wommack
When anyone brings any new teaching it is important that we search the scriptures to find out, is this of God or man?
Any heresy will always have a large amount of truth with it so we cannot automatically accept a mans teaching as correct because three quarters of what he says is right, especially if his major teaching is wrong.
Andrew Wommack says a lot of things that are right but his major teaching and the foundation of what he builds his doctrine on is different than conventional teaching so we must check it out with scripture and the Spirit.
Andrew says, and puts much emphasis in this teaching, that God, “spoke man into existence”. We all know, as I imagine Andrew does, that God created man from the dust of the ground and did not speak him “instantly” into being.
Genesis 2 v 7 says that God formed man from the dust of the ground.
1 Corinthians 15 v 47 says, “the first man out of earth, made of dust”.
Psalm 103 v 14, “For He knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are dust”.
So to say that God spoke man instantly into existence is wrong, but I image that there is more behind that statement than meets the eye, otherwise Andrew wouldn’t make it.
Andrew goes on to say that God said, ‘you physical human beings have power and authority, you rule’ (Andrews own paraphrase interpretation). Which means, Andrew says, that before man was created God had absolute control on the earth but now He was no longer in control, He had turned the control over to man. According to Andrew before the first man, Adam, was created, God was in control therefore He spoke man into existence. Now man is in control so God cannot sort out the mess that man has made. God couldn’t speak another man into being because now that man was in control man must speak another Adam into existence to sort out the mess. “God had to get people to speak the things that needed to be said so that Jesus could come into this earth.” “This is major, this is really important".
This is not just an opinion that could be wrong, as far as Andrew goes; this is a major doctrinal truth that is of the utmost importance. It is part of the foundation of all his teaching.
So what is the generally accepted view about man’s rule on the earth?
Well we must first look at the actual statement made by God to man about ruling the earth.
Genesis 1 v 26-30 says, “And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over the whole earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth on the earth. And God created man in His image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them; and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over every animal that moveth on the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb producing seed that is on the whole earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree producing seed: it shall be food for you; and to every animal of the earth, and to every fowl of the heavens, and to everything that creepeth on the earth, in which is a living soul, every green herb for food. And it was so.”
Stephen Renn says in his Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, “In Genesis 1 v 26-28, God’s mandate here gives humankind a privileged position to rule over all of creation and also the solemn responsibility in exercising that control and authority in accordance with God’s explicit instructions. It is not a dominion invested in human authority – it is derived from God alone. Human beings act as God’s vice regents over the created world.”
In Zondervan’s notes to Psalm 8 v 6 we read, “Man’s rule is real – a part of his ‘glory and majesty’ (v5) – and it is his destiny --- . But it is not absolute or independent. It is participation, as a subordinate, in God’s rule; and it is a gift not a right”.
I think these two sum up the generally accepted view that man rules the earth, not with absolute, independent power but as a subordinate under God. Yes man does rule the earth but it has to be in accordance with God’s will.
God could just as easily have caused the earth to function correctly of its own God created ability but He made man of the same substance as the earth in order to rule over it and enjoy its blessings as God’s representatives. Once they become independent of God and act against God’s will, then God steps in to show them He alone is God.
So we can see the difference between what is generally accepted and what Andrew Wommack believes (although this view is not unique to Andrew Wommack). The generally accepted view is that man has been given the earth to rule over, however he must rule in line with God’s commands and must recognise that it is God that puts the kings and leaders in their place and it is God that can replace them if they don’t acknowledge Him. Andrew says that God gave up absolute control to man and it is by man’s power and authority that man reigns. God cannot directly interfere but must get man to speak words of authority that will come to pass. He quotes Psalm 89 v 34 to back up what he is saying; “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Andrew Wommack says that God would have broken His promise if He had taken back His power and authority. The question is did God abnegate His power and authority over the earth or rather delegate responsibility to man? Was man to rule under God or instead of God?
Andrew makes out that God cannot directly interfere or He will be breaking His covenant.
What was God’s covenant with man? God’s first covenant was with Noah. The covenant was that God would preserve Noah and his family and not destroy all flesh by waters of a flood again nor would there be a flood to destroy the earth. God has not broken His covenant. The other covenants were the Abrahamic Covenant, Mosaic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant and finally the Messianic Covenant or New Covenant. So nowhere in these covenants does God promise not to interfere. In fact all these covenants are promises that God will interfere on man’s behalf.
Andrew mistakenly thinks that God’s blessing to Adam to replenish the earth, rule over the animals and subdue the land means that God cannot now interfere on the earth.
The problem with that is that God is continually “interfering” in mans rule. This means that Andrew is misinterpreting God’s original mandate for man.
When has God interfered on the earth?
The answer would be many times, but here are a few.
Genesis 6 v 5-8 says that God saw man’s wickedness and repented that He had made him, so decided to destroy man off the face of the earth, But, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. If we follow AW’s logic then God would have to convince man to deal with man’s wickedness. Instead God acted against man directly of Himself by causing the earth to be flooded, saving only Noah and whoever was in the ark with him.
In Genesis 11 v 1-9 we read that once again God, from His own council, directly interfered in man’s affairs by coming down and confounding man’s language causing them to separate and scatter on the face of the earth.
In Genesis chapter18 God acted independent of man to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, even though Abraham tried to talk Him out of it.
So, is God the King over all the earth with man ruling the animals, birds, fish and plant life according to God’s plan or is God only Lord of heaven with man the Lord of earth, as Andrew Wommack says?
Let us look at what the Bible says:
Matthew 11 v 25 “Jesus answering said, I praise thee, Father, Lord of the heaven and of the earth” (Jesus disagrees with AW).
Exodus 9 v 29 “Moses said to him, When I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord: the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail; that thou mayest know that the earth is the Lords” (Moses disagrees with AW).
Exodus 19 v 5 The Lord told Moses to tell the children of Israel, “And now if you will hearken to my voice and indeed keep my covenant, then shall you be my own possession out of all the peoples – for all the earth is mine -. (God disagrees with AW).
Deuteronomy 10 v 14 “The heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to the Lord, the earth, and all that is therein.
1 Chronicles 29 v 11 “All that is in the heavens and on the earth is thine: Thine Lord is the kingdom and thou art exalted as Head above all”. (King David disagrees with AW).
Psalm 24 v 1 “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein”
Psalm 47 v 2 “For the Lord most high is terrible, a great king over all the earth”
Psalm 47 v 7 “For God is the King of all the earth”.
Psalm 66 v 7 “He (God) ruleth by His power for ever”
Psalm 97 v 1-5 “The Lord reigneth let the earth be glad ------- The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth”
In Daniel 4 v 17 Nebuchadnezzar had a dream where those who watch said to him “This sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the decisions by the word of the holy ones: that the living may know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men”. Yet Andrew says that God no longer rules on earth!
Daniel 4 v 25 says, “- - Till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever He will.”
Daniel 4 v 35 Nebuchadnezzar was inspired to write “All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and He doeth according to His will in the army of the heavens, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say unto Him, what doest thou”.
These scriptures show that God did not abnegate authority but delegated man to rule the animals, fish, and birds, under His authority, and to subdue the ground, it is still the Lord that reigns supreme. If man usurps God’s rule then God deals with him. Man rules under God but if man thinks that everything that he has is by his own might and power then God removes him.
Andrew exalts man above the angels and principalities. He says that man’s authority is superior to angels power and that even though God created Lucifer it was man that made Satan. He says that Satan got his power to oppress the world from man (there is some truth in this statement). He goes on to say that Satan now has human power and authority. He says, “A pig, a worm, a slug has more power than the devil”, “A lost man has more power than the devil”. However the Bible says that Satan had the power of death (Hebrews 2 v 14). Also 1 Peter 5 v 8 says that even now the devil goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, devour means to swallow whole. Andrew Wommack says that Lucifer took man as a hostage so that God was limited in what He could do. God’s hands were tied because if He wiped Satan out He would have to wipe man out as well. Does all this mean that Satan is making God do what he wants Him to do? Does God now have to use plan ‘B’ and what if the devil thwarts that, will God have to use plan ‘C’. No, there is only one plan and God is in control.
If a lost man and even a slug has more power than the devil why do the saints have to put on the whole armour of God? Why did Jesus say to the disciples in Luke 10 v 19, “I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy” if we already had more power than the enemy? The apostle John tells us that we have overcome because greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world (1 John 4 v 4). AW tells us that we have more power than the devil anyway so we can overcome in our own power (that is the original power and authority that God gave us in the garden of Eden).
Another very important aspect of the foundation of Andrew Wommack’s teaching is why it took 4000 years for Jesus to come and sort out the mess created by the fall.
Andrew says that God needed another Adam to sort out the mess, but because He wasn’t in physical control He couldn’t speak him into existence like He did the first Adam. Now God had to get people to speak the things that needed to be said so that Jesus could come into this earth. This is a really important part of his doctrine.
Andrew continues that God gave control over this earth to physical human beings so He could not “boom” create Jesus, what He had to do was speak to the spirit of people and as they would believe and respond to Him, then they would prophetically utter words and speak forth things. It was necessary for many words to be spoken by people for Jesus to be created; there are a lot of them. (Here Andrew is referring to scripture such as Isaiah 53 and Isaiah chapter 9 etc.)
Andrew reminds us once more of his statement that “God spoke Adam into existence” now he builds up on that by saying that now God had to give man these words in order for them to create the second Adam. The reason it took 4000 years, AW says, is because no one man was in communion with God enough to get all the words needed to speak Jesus into being. He says it is God inspired words spoken by man that create the physical body of the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit took these words, dozens, hundreds, spoken by man, and put them into Mary, impregnated her, “The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us”, John 1 v 14. “The word became the seed; that is a powerful truth”.
He then makes a further bold statement, “Why did Jesus have to become a man? Because God is a spirit and only physical human beings have authority on this earth”. “God originally had all authority but He gave it to mankind”
In Luke 1 v 36-37 the Angel Gabriel said to Mary “And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son: and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible”.
Where it says “For with God nothing shall be impossible” Andrew says there is another translation which he then continues to use, “No word from God is without power of fulfilment”.
This, he says is for Mary to bring forth Jesus. It was actually about Elizabeth being barren and now carrying child, but fair enough it was also to encourage Mary to see that God can do anything He says because nothing is impossible for Him.
The translation that Andrew paraphrases should actually read, “Not any word shall be impossible with God”. In other words what the Angel is saying is that what God has said He will do. In Ezekiel 12 v 25 God says “I will speak the word and perform it”.
So to sum up, Andrew says God couldn’t create Jesus but that man spoke the words that God gave him and eventually over 4000 years enough words were spoken to create Jesus. The Holy Spirit took all these words and impregnated Mary with them bringing forth Jesus the word of God.
Well, this sounds good but is it right. There are a lot of bits brought together here that could make it plausible. We will have to look into the word of God to see if there is any light on these things there.
First let me say that words can be very powerful, there is no question in my mind about this. When God utters a word he will perform it. We know that Jesus is the Son of God and has always been with God throughout eternity.
In John’s gospel Jesus is called the Word of God, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God ---- and the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us” John 1 v 1 – 14.
However we have already seen that God is still in charge of this earth no matter what Andrew Wommack says. In which case it does not have to take 4000 years and hundreds of inspired words before Jesus can come but just one word from God and the Holy Spirit to perform it.
Genesis 1 v 3 says, “And God said, let there be light and there was light”. It is as simple and straight forward as that, but with man God said, “let us make man in our image” then, rather than saying “let there be man and there was man” God created him from the dust of the ground and breathed into him the breath (spirit) of life and man became a living soul (Genesis 2 v 7). Now, “the first man was of the earth, a man of dust, the second man is from heaven” (1 Corinthians 15 v 47).
Now did God Himself speak one word to bring Christ into being as a man? Yes, in Genesis 3 v 15 God speaks of the coming of Jesus Christ to bruise Satan’s head. That one word, spoken immediately after the fall of man is enough for God to bring it to pass. 4000 years later the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and she conceived and Jesus was born. One word from God and the Spirit moves to perform it. What about all the other words? Well God said He won’t do anything without He tells His servants the prophets (Amos 3 v 7) and this is what God has planned before the foundation of the world so God wants to tell us all about it. Nothing to do with man, all to do with God.
Why did it take 4000 years, well 4000 years is nothing with God, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. So what is that, 4 days, not long at all. But God also needed to prepare the world to receive Jesus so all the way down from God’s promise of a Saviour, God has been bringing to pass His word, through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and finally Mary. God had to first put the law in place because the law is a teacher to bring us to Christ. Every part of the law had to point to Jesus and Jesus had to fulfil the whole law. God prophesied through the prophets exactly how and when He would come. Everything was prepared perfectly. There could be no doubt when He came that this was the Son of God. Galatians 4 v 4 says that “when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, come of a woman, come under the law, that He might redeem those under law.” God sent His Son. Jesus said this many times “the Father has sent me”, not, “man created me” or, “man spoke me into existence”. Jesus came to do God’s will, He says, “a body thou has prepared for me” (Hebrews 10 v 5). God prepared Mary to carry a body that Jesus could inhabit. It is all of God not of man. But why did God have to become man? Well we have just said it, Galatians 4 v 4 “that he might redeem those under the law”. Redeem means to pay a ransom in order to buy back or set free slaves. However there was a condition, a redeemer had to be a near kinsmen. In other words, a redeemer had to be a physical man to fulfil the law. And of course it had to be the seed of a woman to fulfil the words that God spoke after the fall of man. Everything is working out perfect. There is no plan ‘B’, there doesn’t need to be a plan ‘B’. ‘God is Sovereign’. Whoops, that’s another phrase that Andrew Wommack hates.
Another important doctrine of Andrew Wommack’s is that when man sinned he was taken hostage by Satan. When Jesus came, AW says, He too was taken hostage by Satan. The Word of Faith movement teach that the ransom had to be paid to Satan, so is this what AW is getting at when he says that Satan held Jesus as a hostage? Is it that God might pay the ransom to Satan in order to buy us back. Did Satan have to be satisfied for man to be bought back? This view sees Satan as the terrorist who is holding mankind as hostage and a ransom has to be paid to the terrorist in order to release the captives. Conventional Christianity says that it was God’s law that was broken therefore God’s judgement fell upon man, It was God that sentenced man to death, man must pay the full sentence of God’s law, which means that the ransom must satisfy God not Satan. We only need to read the book of Leviticus to see that the sin offering, and all the other offerings (which could be a bullock, goat or sheep etc), had to be presented to the Lord, Jehovah, not to Satan.
Asking
Andrew doesn’t agree with asking God for healing. Now there is some truth in what he says, but it’s the emphasis he puts on leaving God out of the equation that is the problem.
Andrew says, “The reason people often don’t get healed is because they are asking God to heal them instead of taking their power and authority given by God” (this sometimes is the case unfortunately).
He says, quoting some imaginary persons prayer, “Oh God we’re powerless, would you please, pretty please, if it be your will, please move and touch this person”. “That’s the approach we have, we are beggars we can do nothing”.
With such words he scoffs at the very idea of asking God to heal the sick.
I agree we should minister with authority and rebuke the sickness, but what about the time spent alone with God preparing the ground for ministry?
In Acts 4 v 30, the disciples prayed together asking God to stretch forth His hand to heal and that signs and wonders be done in the Name of Jesus.
Yes, they would minister in the Name of Jesus, they would heal the sick, but only as instruments of God. They knew it wasn’t there own power therefore they first asked God to move before they acted.
In 2 Corinthians 12 v 7-10, Paul says that a messenger of Satan was buffeting him. He asked the Lord three times to remove it but God said His grace was sufficient. Now I don’t think this is talking about sickness however the concept is the same. Andrew believes that in the garden of Eden God gave authority to man so He cannot now interfere. If Paul had the authority to resist the angel he wouldn’t need to ask God to take it away.
If Andrew Wommack’s advice was followed Paul would have rebuked the angel from Satan and not asked God to remove it.
In Luke 22 v 31 Jesus tells Peter that Satan has desired to have him to sift him as wheat. What would our response be? Should we rebuke Satan or pray to God for Peter? Jesus prayed for Peter.
Ephesians 6 v 18 tells us that prayer and supplication to God is part of our armour.
God wants us to ask, not how Andrew says that we ask, i.e., “pretty please, if it be your will” but according to God’s will with thanksgiving, receiving what we ask for by faith.
Mark 11 v 24 says, “Therefore I say unto you whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them”.
Matthew 7 v 7 says, “ask and you shall receive”.
John 14 v 13-14 says, “ And whatsoever you shall ask in my Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask anything in my Name I will do it.”
John 16 v 23 says, “Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my Name He will give it to you”.
James 4 v 2-3 says, “—you have not because you ask not. You ask and receive not because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.”
1 John 3 v 22, “And whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight”.
1 John 5 v 14-15 says, “This is the confidence we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him”.
Philippians 4 v 6 says, “In everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made know unto God”.
So it is quite obvious that God wants us to ask Him for things that He wants to give us but what about praying for the sick? Acts 28 v 8 says that Paul, when confronted with a sick man, first prayed, then laid his hands on him and healed him. This would have been a prayer of faith, and if Paul can do it then so can we.
I don’t believe that when we minister to the sick we need to pray to God to heal them, however we should ask Him how we are to minister to each and every individual who is sick. We can also remind God of His word (and remind ourselves and everyone listening) that by the stripes of Jesus we were healed and ask for the manifestation of what Jesus has already done. We must pray “according to thy word” if we want to receive from God His promises (Nehemiah 1 v 8, Psalm 119 v 49, Psalm 119 v 26 v 28 v 41 v 58 v 107, 1 John 5 v 14-15).
Revival
When talking about revival AW says, “It’s not up to God, it is up to us” “We are approaching God likes it is up to Him to send revival”. “Operating in the authority God has given us is the path to revival”.
Is Andrew right?
It all depends what revival means to you when asking for it. In Acts chapter 4 v 29-30 the disciples prayed, “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” That is the type of revival that AW is talking about when he says we don’t ask God we just do it (They obviously didn’t know that when they asked God). However many of us see revival as more than that. Psalm 85 v 6 says, “Wilt thy not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee”, Isaiah 57 v 15 says that God says, “I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones”. This is the secret of revival. When man sees himself as he really is and loathes and despises his fleshly attitude then he will ask God to “bend him” as Evan Roberts did in the 1904 Welsh revival and as Duncan Campbell prayed. Andrew A. Woolsey in his book, “Channel of Revival, A Biography of Duncan Campbell, page 50 wrote, “His (Duncan Campbell’s) cry for deliverance from the corruption around was eclipsed by the cry of deliverance from the enemy within (self). Like the Psalmist he felt he was sinking in deep mire where there is no standing, that he was come into deep waters where the floods overflowed him, and in his extremity groaned: ‘I am weary of my crying; my throat is dried; mine eyes fail when I wait for my God’ (Psalm 69 v 3). He waited for God and the moment of deliverance came”. This is a prayer for revival, when you know your own self and you cry out to God “oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me”. God brings his chosen vessels to a place of hating the very garments spotted by the flesh (Jude 23), knowing that only God can deliver them and revive them. Many do not seem to know this side of the Christian walk.
I agree that in our ministry we speak to the problem (sickness) and command it to leave in Jesus Name however we also need to wait on the Lord as He deals with our “self” life bringing it to a place of submission to the Spirit then we will cry “quicken thou me Oh Lord according to thy word”. Jesus dealt with each person differently even if they had the same physical problem, this is because He only did what the Father showed Him. We too need to be led by the Spirit in order to deal correctly with each problem.
One thing I notice about Andrew Wommack, he makes statements that contradict previous statements he has made (statements on previous DVD’s). Is this a tactic to keep us confused about what he believes or is he changing his mind after others have confronted him with the truth? He does not retract his original statement but waters it down. If he did this at first we would know where he stands. He makes deliberate outlandish statements then several tapes later he corrects himself. The reason he corrects himself is, he says, because “he is trying to bring some balance into it”. Why didn’t he bring some balance into it when he previously stated the opposite? This it seems is a trait of other Word of Faith leaders like Hagin and Copeland.
The Sovereignty of God
It seems that Andrew Wommack teaches some excellent points but it is his foundational teaching that is heresy. He also makes outlandish statements which are against sound teaching then he develops his teaching with statements that most conventional Christians already believe, so his teaching isn’t as outrageous as his original statement. Yet he is still responsible for his original statement which is heretical.
Take the subject of the Sovereignty of God. AW says that he believes the doctrine of sovereignty of God , “is the worst doctrine in the church today”.
He goes on to say, “The belief that God controls everything that happens to us is one of the devils biggest inroads into our lives”.
The sovereignty of God is something that should not be challenged however what one person means by sovereignty can be different from what someone else believes.
According to Webster’s dictionary, Sovereign means, ‘having undisputed right to make decisions and act accordingly’.
The word ‘Lord’, according to Webster’s dictionary means, ‘Master, ruler, sovereign’.
Lord as a title for God in the Old Testament appears 442 times, it can also be understood as ‘Master’ or ‘My master’ (Mounce).
In the New Testament the word Lord or Master is sometimes a translation of the Greek word, ‘Despotes’ which means, according to Vine, “A master, lord, one who possesses supreme authority”, “One who has absolute ownership and uncontrolled power”
When the disciples prayed together to God in Acts 4, they started their prayer, “Lord, thou art the God who made the heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them”. The Greek word used here for Lord is ‘despot’. J. N. Darby says, “despot, ‘the master’ of a slave; ‘one having sovereign power’”.
Stephen D. Renn in his Expository Dictionary of Bible Words says that “despotes refers to God by the title ‘sovereign Lord’ in the context of prayer offered to Him in (Luke 2 v 29, Acts 4 v 24, Revelation 6 v 10).
J. N. Darby’s rendering of Revelation 6 v 10 is, “How long, O sovereign Ruler holy and true - .”
Most sound Bible teachers recognise God as sovereign.
Because God is sovereign does it automatically follow that we must be robots with no will of our own? Of course not, to even suggest that that is what sovereign means is silly to say the least. God has made us with a will and we make decisions and choices that will either bring us in line with God’s will or our own will. So does this mean that God is not sovereign?
No, because His will is fulfilled by cause and effect. The soul that sinneth shall surely die. If we reject God’s law then we die, God has so ordered it.
The Holy Spirit will strive with a man until such a time that God gives him over to his lusts and to the wrath of God (Romans chapter 1 and 2). Even now however their steps are ordered by God in that they will continually be brought to a place where they have to face up to their need for God.
Proverbs 16 v 9 says “A mans heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps”. Jeremiah 10 v 23 says, “I know, Jehovah, that the way of man is not his own; it is not in a man that walketh to direct his steps”. Psalm 37 v 23 says, “The steps of a man are ordered by the Lord”.
In 2 Chronicles 32 v 31 we read that God left Hezekiah in order to try him and expose all that was in his heart.
God is still sovereign but allows certain things to prove us. It is the same with the lost, He could wipe them out at any second but instead he proves what is in their heart by allowing them to go their own way. He will also use them for His purposes as with Pharaoh, who’s heart He hardened in order to show forth the power of God.
1 Corinthians 10 v 13 say, “No temptation has taken you but such as is according to man’s nature: and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able to bear, but will with the temptation make the issue also, so that you should be able to bear it”.
God deals with us like we might deal with our young children, we allow them enough space to express themselves and chastise them when they are naughty. This is all for their growth and character. Even though we are sovereign over them we allow them room to develop, otherwise we will have crushed offspring who only do what they are told out of fear and no feeling of love. What we are hoping for by allowing them to express themselves, but at the same time keeping them in check, is for responsible offspring who grow up with a righteous character who know how to beware of pitfalls yet will stand for what is right and at the same time show respect for others. Of course we are teaching our children to become independent of us while God wants His children to learn to be dependent on Him.
God is still sovereign even though He allows us to do our own thing and learn by our mistakes. He is sovereign because He is allowing it and can stop it whenever He wants. What He wants is for His children to learn His word and to desire His will. He does not want to force His will on them but wants them to choose His will out of love and respect for Him.
God is sovereign and can do what He wants.
1 Thessalonians 5 v 18 says, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus towards you”.
Ephesians 5 v 20 says, “Giving thanks at all times for all things to Him who is God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Romans 8 v 28 says, “For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to purpose”.
How can we give thanks in and for all things unless we know that God is sovereign?
Here are some other scriptures showing that God is sovereign Lord. They are taken from the web site of Calvary Chapel Aurora USA when dealing with the same subject:
Ecclesiastes 7:14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.
Job 1:21-22 "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 2:1 9-10 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" 10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Lamentations 3:38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?
Daniel 4:35 He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"
Psalm 135:6 The LORD does all that he pleases, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.
Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will
Isaiah 46:10-11 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. 11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.
God allows things into our lives to reveal what is in our hearts such as pride or humility. What type of spirit do we have, a contrite spirit or a boastful spirit? Things happen to us in order to prove us to see if we will respond with faith and act according to His word, or with unbelief and defeatism. So, why say that God is not sovereign? Why not just explain that He is teaching us how to rule in this life according to the word of the Lord (Preparing us to reign in the Millennium with Christ). Things happen to us to bring us to the Lord that we may learn to depend on Him, and to teach us how to express our authority in Him.
Man was given this earth to rule over and everything on the earth is subject to him. Man fell but his destiny is still to rule on the earth. What happened in between?
Well, we know the story how the devil tempted Eve and she was deceived and how Adam listened to Eve and disobeyed God. That which was perfect is now spoiled. The ground was cursed and brings forth thorns and weeds. Man still has to subdue it but now it is by hard work. We do not yet see all things subject to him.
Death came on the scene and the devil became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4 v 4), he is the ruler of the power of the air (Ephesians 2 v 2). He is the ruler of the darkness of this world (Ephesians 6 v 12). He had the power of death therefore keeping everyone in bondage through fear of death (Hebrews 2 v 14-15). Death and its close associates sickness and disease are the works of the devil to keep mankind under bondage to him (Acts 10 v 38, Luke 13 v 16).
The good news is that Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan and bruise his head. Jesus had the keys of death and Hades before He was crucified. In John chapter 11 when Lazarus died Jesus deliberately delayed coming to him until after four days. The Jews believed a mans soul hung around for three days after he died, then went to Hades, and of course a dead mans flesh would soon see corruption in the Middle East. Mary said to Jesus when He told them to remove the stone from the tomb, that Lazarus “stinketh” already being four days in the grave. What did Jesus say to Martha? “I am the resurrection and the life”, not I am going to be but ‘I AM’. When Jesus died on the cross He had no need to die but He did it on our behalf to secure eternal life for as many as believe on Him. So He proved He already had the keys of death and Hades when He brought Lazarus back and by rising from the dead Himself He confirmed it and opened the door for all who believe on Him to be justified and have eternal life.
When Jesus walked this earth He had power to destroy the works of the devil. He showed His power over the earth when He cursed the fig tree, He showed His power over the animals when He rode the ass’s colt that no one had sat on before and when He told Peter to get some money from the fish’s mouth He showed His power over the sea creatures, not to mention walking on water and commanding the winds and waves to be still etc.
Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man. He was and is, Lord.
Jesus is the heir of the world and we are joint heirs with Him. Now are we the sons of God.
One day Jesus shall reign on this earth and we shall reign with Him, but right now we have a job to do, Jesus said “Go and preach the gospel”. We are ambassadors of Christ who said “Greater works than these shall you do”.
He said we are to cast out demons and lay hands on the sick, all in His Name. He said “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you to be my witnesses”.
So our authority lies in preaching the word and the Name of Jesus.
Andrew Wommack says this same thing. He says “it is not binding and loosing but preaching the word”. “The antidote is telling people the truth, not binding and loosing demons”. “The truth sets them free”. He believes in casting demons out not binding and loosing them in the heavenlies.
God does say that the heavens are the heavens of Jehovah but the earth He has given to men (Psalm 115 v 16). This is saying that He deals with heavenly things not man, man must stick to the earth, so no binding the principalities in the heavens. Man rules the earth under God as the next verse shows.
Psalm 89 v 11 says “Thine are the heavens, the earth also is thine; the world and its fullness, thou has founded them.”
I have to say that lot of what AW says is excellent but his foundational teaching is sinking sand.
Friday, February 26, 2010
FALSE PROPHET ALERT
FALSE PROPHET ALERT!Matt 24:23-26 Fulfilled in Your Hearing!
Previous failed prophecies of Benny Hinn, made on New Year's eve of 1989:
The Spirit tells Benny that Castro will die in the 90's. (© 1989 by Benny Hinn)
Orlando Christian Center, Dec. 31st, 1989.
"The Spirit tells me - Fidel Castro will die - in the 90's. Oooh my! Some will try to kill him and they will not succeed. But there will come a change in his physical health, and he will not stay in power, and Cuba will be visited of God."
- Benny Hinn.
The Lord tells Benny that homosexuals in America will be destroyed by fire by 1995. (© 1989 by Benny Hinn)
Orlando Christian Center, Dec. 31st, 1989.
"The Lord also tells me to tell you in the mid 90's, about '94-'95, no later than that, God will destroy the homosexual community of America. [audience applauds] But He will not destroy it - with what many minds have thought Him to be, He will destroy it with fire. And many will turn and be saved, and many will rebel and be destroyed."
- Benny Hinn.
Note that Benny Hinn claimed that God revealed the above prophecies to him. Now either God has erred, or Benny Hinn invented these prophecies and he never heard from God. The truth should be obvious - Benny Hinn does not hear from God, he is without doubt a false prophet.
Jer 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Ezek 13:2 [NIV] "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: 'Hear the word of the LORD!Ezek 13:3 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!Ezek 13:4 Your prophets, O Israel, are like jackals among ruins.Ezek 13:5 You have not gone up to the breaks in the wall to repair it for the house of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the LORD.Ezek 13:6 Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, "The LORD declares," when the LORD has not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled.Ezek 13:7 Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, "The LORD declares," though I have not spoken?Ezek 13:8 "'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign LORD.Ezek 13:9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.
Now with that kind of record for Benny Hinn, Trinity Broadcasting Network began its Spring 2000 fundraising Praise-A-Thon with some rather astounding claims. On the April 2nd TBN program, Benny Hinn claimed that God is about to make a major move to anoint the people of God, as soon as Israel signs a treaty with the ailing Hafez Al-Assad* of Syria, which will likely be within the next year. This will signal the impending large scale shift of financial wealth from the wicked to those obedient to God. But, in order to benefit from this unprecedented supernatural anointing, you must be obedient to God and sow your financial seed (to TBN) now!
However, its not the money that really concerns God, its your total obedience. The greatest danger that Christians face now, according to Hinn, is disobedience against God by not contributing financially to the coming harvest of God with your seed money! You must be willing to give your all, in order to demonstrate your true obedience. In fact, Benny revealed that God is even now healing those who call in their contributions to TBN. But this is not selling healing for money, he says, it is God blessing those who are truly obedient and worthy to receive his coming unusual anointing! Indeed, God will even be saving people you know as you are calling in your pledge to TBN. Great signs and wonders are anticipated this coming year, and Benny even told Paul Crouch to expect that there will be dead people raised this year! (R. W. Schambach claimed to have raised a dead man on another later TBN program, in addition to healing the blind, deaf, mute, and lame.) The implication is that you will be bypassed by God and miss out on the supernatural anointing to come if you are not totally obedient to God and call in your pledge to TBN now!
* The death of Assad on June 10th 2000 shows that Benny Hinn did not know what he was talking about, and is further proof that he is a false prophet, if any more evidence was needed.
Benny Hinn's failed prophecy of a peace treaty with Syria's Hafez Al-Assad (© April 2nd, 2000 by TBN) Note: this clip has been edited for the sake of file size, and has several places where content has been edited out. A brief pause occurs at those points.
On the 25th of July, 2000 (© July 25th, 2000 by TBN) when peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in Washington, Benny Hinn again appeared on a TBN program and said, regarding the recent death of Hafez Al-Assad and his failure to make peace with Israel, - "...it was God's plan for it not to happen, really."
Perhaps God had not foreseen Assad's death, or neglected to tell Benny about it, and maybe God had also misinformed Benny about His alleged "coming move" that was merely weeks or a few months away. That, or God does not talk to Benny Hinn, and Benny invented the entire "move of God" thing in order to extract money from TBN viewers. Which is more likely?
JESUS WILL APPEAR PHYSICALLYBEFORE THE SECOND COMING!
Is there nothing that TBN or Benny Hinn will not stoop to in order to extract money from viewers? Well, to top everything, Benny Hinn claimed that Jesus is now physically appearing in Moslem countries, and he predicted on the April 2nd 2000 TBN broadcast that Jesus will appear physically very soon in many churches to signal the nearness of the second coming, and that Jesus would also appear physically on the stage at his crusade in Nairobi Kenya (29th -30th of April, 2000)! He told Paul Crouch he might very well have video of Jesus on the stage when he returned from his trip to Kenya!
Benny Hinn prophesying Jesus' soon appearance.Image © 2000 by TBN
Listen to these startling claims for yourself:
Jesus is appearing physically to Muslims: © 2000 by TBN.Real VideoWindows MediaWindows Media (Best Quality)Here is a transcript of this clip:
April 2nd, 2000 - TBN Praise-a-thon
"Ladies and gentleman, Jesus is shaking the world! Now something else is happening that is to me awesome! Absolutely awesome! The Lord is physically appearing in the Muslim world. I'm telling you, Paul, I am hearing it now more and more and more. Since we preachers cannot go there, Jesus is - just going there Himself. Since we preachers are not permitted to go in, He is just showing up - Himself. You know the Scriptures says clearly that the Lord did appear, did He not? Ah for forty days, isn't that right? And the, and the, and the Scriptures says he, he, he even, he even appeared to Paul. Now we are always thinking, well Jesus can't really preach, preach the Gospel. Who told you that? He was the first one to preach the Gospel. In fact He is the one who came to Paul and said, Paul, I am Jesus. He, He didn't send no angel to do that job. He did it Himself. If Jesus revealed Himself to Paul, why not reveal Himself to a lot more than just Paul? And He is doing it! The reason the Lord had to appear to Paul is because He knew Paul wouldn't listen to nobody else. Now in the case of Cornelius, the angel said send for Peter, 'cause, because Cornelius was, was ready, his heart was right, he'd been in prayer. But here's Paul killing everybody, causing 'em to blaspheme, Jesus said this man won't even listen to an angel, so I'll go do the job myself. So He went and knocked him right off his horse and preached the Gospel to him. He's doing the same thing today in the Muslim world. He's appearing, hear this, He is appearing to Muslims, saying I am Jesus of Nazareth! And they're coming to know the Lord! Why are those things happening? It's the last days! Saints, this is why we need to give to the Gospel now more than ever. You know naively say well I gave last year. Forget it! Last year it's gone! That cycle is over with! Seed time - harvest of last year is gone. Every season is a fresh season. We are in a fresh season. What, what you gave last year will not reap you anything this year. What you gave even a few months ago is gone, you got the harvest for that."
- Benny Hinn
The failed prophecy that Jesus would appear physically in Nairobi, Kenya: © 2000 by TBNReal VideoWindows MediaWindows Media (Best Quality)
Here is a transcript of this clip:
April 2nd, 2000 - TBN Praise-a-thon
"The hour is urgent. Many of you have known me for many years. But I am telling you right now, things I haven't said years 'n years 'n years ago. I believe - here this, hear this! I believe, that Jesus, God's Son, is about to appear physically, in meetings and to believers around the world, to wake us up! He appeared after His resurrection and He is about to appear before His second coming! You know a prophetess sent me a word through my wife, right here, and she said 'Tell your husband that Jesus is go'n to physically appear in his meetings.' I am expecting to see, I am telling you that - I feel it's going to happen. I, I, I'm, I'm careful in how I am saying it now, because I know the people in Kenya are listening. I know deep in my soul, something supernatural is going to happen in Nai - in Nairobi Kenya. I feel that. I may very well come back, and you and Jan are coming, to - Paul and Jan are coming to Nairobi with me, but Paul, we may very well come back with footage of Jesus on the platform! You know that the Lord appeared in Romania recently, and there's a video of it? Where the Lord appeared in the back of a church and you see him on video walking down the isle? Yeah! Paul do you remember when I came on TBN years ago and showed you a clip of the Lord appearing in our church in Orlando, on the balcony on the wall? Yeah. You, you remember that? [Paul Crouch] Very well, I saw it! [Benny Hinn] That was '80, 80 something, '86, what - whatever. You know I always wondered why the Lord, why did He do that? Do you know why, now I look back? That was the beginning of the greatest move of God in our church. Because '83, '84, and '85 were horrible years for me, horrible years. Eighty-six the blessings of God began, but they began with a - with this manifestation of the Lord's face on, on the balcony, that stayed for eight weeks. Eight solid weeks! The Lord has done this in the past, but He is about to do it again, now hear this, I am prophesying this! Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is about to appear physically in some churches, and some meetings, and to many of His people, for one reason - to tell you He is about to show up! To Wake Up! Jesus is coming saints! You have held back from the Lord in the past, don't you dare do it now. The day will come you'll stand before Him and give an answer. How dare we not give to God. How dare we hold back."
- Benny Hinn.
Benny repeated his claim that Jesus will be appearing physically at his crusade(s) about 10 minutes into the 20 April, 2000 This is Your day program. © 2000 Benny Hinn Ministries.Real VideoWindows MediaWindows Media (Best Quality)
Here is a transcript of the relevant portions:
April 20th, 2000 - This Is Your Day
"Ruth Heflin: the Lord spoke to her recently, and she called my wife and told her to tell me, that Jesus said to her, that He will appear physically on the platform in one of our crusades. [Harald Bredesen] My! [Benny] She said, 'Tell Benny, that the Lord told me, that He is going to appear physically, on the platform, and the crowds will see Him, on the platform.' [Harald Bredesen] Jesus! [Benny] Dear God my hair is standing up! [Harald Bredesen] Praise God! [Benny] It may very well happen in Nashville!" ...
"... think about what's going to happen when the people, thousands, she said thousands will see the Lord on the, on the, on the platform! Lord may it happen in every crusade this year in Jesus mighty name."
- Benny Hinn.
At the beginning of the April 21st, 2000 This Is Your Day program, Benny again repeated his belief that Jesus would appear physically at the Nairobi Crusade: 21 April, 2000. © 2000 Benny Hinn Ministries.Real VideoWindows MediaWindows Media (Best Quality)
Here is a transcript of a portion of that program:
April 21st, 2000 - This Is Your Day
"You know, yesterday on the program I was telling you and the audience here that Ruth Heflin, the prophetess, had sent me a word from the Lord, where she said that the Lord had spoken to her clearly, that, a, for me to prepare myself, for the Lord is going to visibly appear, on the platform, in one of our crusades. I pray it'll happen in every crusade. But I have a feeling, I am just telling you honestly, I have even told some of our staff, when I go to Kenya, I am going to Kenya in just a few days from now, a million people will be in Kenya, Nairobi. I feel in my being it is going to happen there. So pray for us as we go to Kenya. I pray it will happen tonight, at the good Friday service in Nashville. I pray it will happen in every crusade."
- Benny Hinn.
On the May 2nd, 2000 This Is Your Day, Benny again repeated that Jesus will physically appear at his crusades: (Programs are recorded 3 weeks in advance, so this program was recorded before the Nairobi Crusade.) © 2000 Benny Hinn MinistriesReal VideoWindows MediaWindows Media (Best Quality)
Here is a transcript of the relevant portion:
May 2nd, 2000 - This Is Your Day
"And I know, that I know, that I know, we are about to see the greatest manifestations of God's presence ever! A prophetess named Ruth Heflin sent me a word recently and told me to get ready, to see, physical manifestations of Christ on the platforms in our crusades, that people will have visions of the Lord in the meetings. Those things have happened in the past, I know. In a Thialagua (spelling?) meeting one time in Africa, the Lord appeared to a - to the whole crowd! It is about to begin happening, I know it too! Expect it, to happen also, in your own home!"
- Benny Hinn.
[NOTE: physical manifestations and visions are two different things. A physical manifestation of Christ would involve a literal in-the-flesh appearance, likely to be visible to everyone, while a vision would be a private dream, seen only in the mind of the beholder.]
Benny should have invited the world press to witness such a great event! Millions would surely have journeyed to Nairobi just to be present, but, can it be true? Will Jesus really appear physically at any of Benny's Crusades?
The Testimony of Scripture
Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Rest assured that Jesus will not be visiting Benny Hinn's crusades in person, nor will he be physically appearing at any other meetings, secret chambers or churches, since Benny Hinn clearly contradicts scripture.
Here is an audio clip 29mar2000 (© 2000 by Benny Hinn Ministries) from the "This Is Your Day" program of March 29th, 2000, when Benny apparently first announced that Jesus would appear at his meetings. This occurred about 10 minutes into the program. Here is a transcript of the clip:
March 29th, 2000 - This Is Your Day
"Let me tell you something. The Holy Spirit has already told me He is about to show up. And you know, oh, I gotta tell you this quickly, just before we go. I had a word of prophecy from Ruth Heflin, you know who Ruth Heflin is? Ruth prophesied over me back in the seventies and everything she said has happened. She just sent me a word through my wife and said the Lord spoke to her audibly and said that He is going to appear physically in one of our crusades in the next few months. Yeah, she - I'm telling ya - she said, the Lord spoke to her audibly and said, 'Tell Benny I'm going to appear physically on the platform in his meetings'. Lord, do it in Phoenix Arizona in the name of Jesus! And in Kenya too, Lord, please, Lord, in fact, do it in every crusade. In Jesus' name."
- Benny Hinn
"FIRE ... FIRE ... FIRE"
Notably, Benny in the March 29th program showed a video clip of a Toronto Canada crusade where he was slaying young people in the spirit saying "FIRE, FIRE, FIRE, ... put FIRE on these kids ... He's being electrocuted by God's power ... Fire on you ... I never thought I would see this in Canada, ... FIRE, FIRE, FIRE." The stage was nearly full of young people who had fallen down and were incapacitated under the alleged imparting of the Holy Spirit. There is no scriptural precedent for "slaying in the spirit". In fact, it is contrary to the scriptural nature of the Holy Spirit to knock down or incapacitate people, even briefly. Acts chapter 2, which describes the great initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, doesn't have the slightest hint of anyone being "slain in the spirit." The baptism of fire (Matt 3:11, Luke 3:16) was a visible tongue of fire above the head (Acts 2:3) and not an incapacitating "electrocution." Slaying in the Spirit is simply unbiblical, and should be considered a counterfeit!
Signs and wonders may be happening at Benn Hinn crusades, but according to scripture, there can be false and misleading miracles, designed to deceive if possible even the very elect of God:
False Prophets Work Miracles That Deceive!
Jan Crouch shows the Sunday Standard newspaperreport on Benny Hinn's Nairobi Crusade on TBN's"Behind the Scenes" Image © 2000 by TBN
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, (See update below)Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
So by what means will the elect of God avoid being deceived by false signs, wonders, and miracles? When the government teaches people how to spot counterfeit money, it is not the fake that they study intently, it is the genuine article. When you know the genuine, the fake is then very easy to spot. The only way to spot the false prophets, false signs and wonders, and false miracles, is to be so familiar with the word of God, the Bible, that only the genuine will be accepted, and the counterfeit easily discerned.
Simony
Now, listen to this clip: 02apr2000-clip4 (© 2000 by TBN).
April 2nd, 2000 - TBN Praise-a-thon
"And Paul, while you were speaking, the Lord spoke to me, and I have to obey Him. He said, tell Paul - Thank you Lord for this. You know I have been praying about a, something I have asked the Lord for when it comes to the anointing. And the Lord said, you tell Paul, that in the - in the next few months, and I'll - I'll do this in - no more than six months, I will sow $150,000 dollars, into TBN - no I have to - I have to obey the Lord, because the Lord wants to bring something to me in our ministry. You see the ground here is very anointed right now. So Lord, I am doing it now. I am sowing Master, and I am expecting this miracle too Lord. But Lord I am proving myself worthy again of your trust. Lord we know its not the money. We know its our hearts and its our obedience to you when you speak to us. To you be praise Jesus [Benny briefly speaks in tongues] Now some of you, at home, need to do the same."
- Benny Hinn
Benny Hinn, desiring a gift from the Holy Spirit (the anointing), represents God as commanding him to give a large sum of money to TBN in order to receive his requested spiritual gift. This suggests that God sells spiritual gifts for a price. Scripture deals explicitly with this situation, and it has been called Simony ever since it was first attempted by Simon the sorcerer:
Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:Acts 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)Acts 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,Acts 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.Acts 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.Acts 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Necromancy
On the 4th and 5th of May 2000, Benny Hinn had as a guest, Dr. D. G. S. Dhinakaran of Jesus Calls ministry in India, who claims to have been to heaven and back multiple times. While in heaven, he claims to have spoken with Jesus, God the Father, and the apostles Peter and Paul. He described the apostle Paul as a short man, and his spirit soul in heaven still bears the marks of his trials and tribulations while on this earth. The soul in heaven, according to Dr. Dhinakaran, retains the outward appearance of the earthly physical body, which he says, is why Moses could be recognized by the apostles at the transfiguration (Matt. 17:3, Mark 9:4, Luke 9:30).
Again, knowing what scripture teaches about the state of the dead, it becomes clear that Dr. Dhinakaran's visits to heaven are either concocted, or delusional deceptions, because he could not possibly have spoken to the disembodied souls of Peter and Paul. In fact, he is basically repeating Satan's first lie in the garden of Eden to Eve, see What really happens when you Die? Moses was not at the transfiguration as a bodyless soul, he had been resurrected (Jude 9), and was as much present in the flesh at the transfiguration as Elijah and Jesus, but Peter and Paul are both still dead, asleep in the grave, awaiting their resurrection at the second coming. Claiming to have contacted the dead (Peter and Paul), is actually necromancy, and is forbidden as an abomination by God:
Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,Deu 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.Deu 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
The state of the dead is a crucial point to understand as we near the end of time, because it allows one to discern the truth and exposes the deceptions of false prophets and deceiving spirits.
NEWS FROM NAIROBI
Benny Hinn - A False Prophet!
Four Die at Benny Hinn's Nairobi "Miracle Crusade"! (Reuters)
Hundreds Attend Historic Crusade (Nation Newspapers Limited)
Sick baby dies at Benny Hinn crusade (Nation Newspapers Limited)
"I have never seen so much money in my life"
"We counted the money for two days... I have never seen so much money in my life," says Charles Babbler, who hosted the Benny Hinn miracle crusade in April, attended by an estimated 1.2 million faithful. - Daily Mail & Guardian, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 7th, 2000.
2 Pet 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.2 Pet 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.2 Pet 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Benny Hinn was the guest on the May 9th Behind the Scenes program of TBN with Jan Crouch, and video from his Nairobi Crusade was shown, but there was not even the slightest mention of Jesus physically appearing, and neither did Benny Hinn explain why the widely prophesied appearance had not happened.
The point needs to made that Benny Hinn is a false prophet, not just because Jesus failed to appear in Nairobi, but because scripture in advance warned us not to believe a word of what he was saying. Should some supernatural being appear at a future Benny Hinn crusade, it will not be Jesus, no matter how impressive, and no matter what "miracles" are done in the name of Jesus. Again, we have been warned by Jesus Himself in scripture:
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
False Prophets call down false fire from Heaven.
A little over a minute and a half into the May 24th / June 8th, 2000, "This is your day" program, Benny Hinn claimed that "fire is falling down from heaven."
May 24th, 2000 - This Is Your Day
"You know what days these are? The days of Elijah. We are in the days of Elijah! Fire is falling down from heaven!"
- Benny Hinn
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, (See update below)Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
On his June 7th, 2000, "This is your day" program (© 2000 Benny Hinn Ministries), taped in Nairobi Kenya, Benny Hinn made the following pronouncement, beginning19 minutes into the program:
June 7th, 2000 - This Is Your Day
"Today, I do not say, as the old covenant prophets used to say, "Thus saith the Lord". For thousands of years prophets would say "Thus saith the Lord", and only when they'd say it, the power of God would fall. But this man [Jesus] didn't say "Thus saith the Lord", He just said "I say". He looked at the storm and said "Peace be still". It obeyed Him. He looked at death and said GO! and it fled. He looked at demons and said GO! and they fled. He looked at disease and said GO! and it fled. He never once said "Thus saith the Lord." He just said "I say". Now, here is the amazing thing. He came to the twelve and He went (blow, blow, blow, blow), on all of them, and said "Go in my name." Ladies and gentlemen, you haven't heard me say "Thus saith the Lord", have you? You haven't heard me say "I say", have you? No you know what we say? We don't say "Thus saith the Lord, we don't say "I say", we say I say in the name of Jesus! I say in the name of Jesus! In the name of Jesus! In the name of [crowd] Jesus! [Benny Hinn] The prophets of old said "Thus saith the Lord". Jesus, for thirty years said, "Verily I say unto you". Ever since the resurrection there's been men and women all over this earth, there's been prophets, there's been preachers, there's been evangelists, there's been believers like yourselves who simply stretch the hand and say "I say in the name of Jesus". "I say in the name of Jesus". "I say, in the name [crowd] of Lord Jesus". [Benny Hinn] My brother, when Jesus said "I say" disease fled, demons fled, darkness fled, bondage fled, death fled. And when we say "I say in His name", its the same, because when we say "in His name" He is saying it, when we say "in His name", He is doing it!"
- Benny Hinn
Well, Benny Hinn has prophesied the imminent physical appearance of Jesus (before the actual second coming) in Jesus name, but this clearly contradicts scripture. Merely invoking the name of Jesus does not mean that Jesus will respond to the will of Benny Hinn, or that Jesus is working miracles through Benny Hinn. Featured in the May 24th / June 8th, 2000 program is a clip from the Nairobi Crusade where Benny claims to cast out 13 devils from a Hindu woman. Does this prove Benny Hinn is a man of God? No, it does not!
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Benny Hinn in Nairobi allegedly casting out 13 devils.Image © 2000 by Benny Hinn Ministries
On the June 5th / 9th, 2000, "This is your day" program, is a tape of a Nashville crusade where Benny fills the stage with incapacitated young people "slain in the spirit", an unbiblical and false manifestation of the "fire" of the Holy Spirit being called from heaven.
Benny Hinn in Nashville with a stage full of incapacitatedyoung people that have been "slain in the spirit".Image © 2000 by Benny Hinn Ministries
The August 10th, 2000 "This is your day" featured an extraordinary clip from the recent Chicago crusade where Benny Hinn casts the fire of the Spirit on portions of the audience, and many are "slain", falling in large groups.
False Prophet Goes Forth to the Kings of the Earth!
Benny Hinn gave a crusade in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on April 30-May 1st, 1999 at the invitation of Prime Minister Bill Skate. - Religion Today News Summary of Thursday, May 6, 1999
On the April 21st, 2000 "This is your day" program, Benny Hinn stated that the President of Kenya "would be on the platform", and that "his government was backing up the whole crusade." (See 24 1/2 minutes into the program.)
On the June 12th, 2000 "This is your day" program, Benny Hinn announces that the government of China has given its approval for the "This is your day" program to be aired daily in China, without restrictions, beginning as soon as July 3rd, 2000. China's government has also approved a crusade to be held there by October, and a personal meeting with the Premier of China will be arranged!
Rev 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.Rev 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Benny Hinn gives every appearance of being a False Prophet by scriptural standards, and not a man of God!
Is The Second Coming Imminent?TBN's LAST Tel-A-Thon?
Benny Hinn was the guest preacher on Trinity Broadcasting's fall 2000 Praise-A-Thon on the evening of Tuesday, November 7th. He claimed that God clearly and audibly spoke to him in a vision on the previous Saturday, while under a "fearful anointing" at First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania:
The Last Tel-A-Thon (© 2000 by TBN)
November 7th - TBN's Fall 2000 Praise-A-Thon
STOP what you are doing and hear this! The Lord said to me last Saturday, I heard His voice in that church, and He said, "Tell them, time is running out", and His voice was coming in waves in into my heart. "Time is running" and then there was a second voice. Now hear this one. ...
"Tell the people, I am passing by many" Hear this - "I am passing by many and if I pass by it would be as though I never knew them. I am passing by many and if I pass by it would be as though I never knew them." My friend we're all being tested right now on whether we are gonna stick with this or walk away from it. Tonight is decision night. It is not only decision night for America, for the next four years, this is decision night for eternity. What you do for God tonight, you do it with your soul, you do it with your life. This is not, my friend, just another Tel-A-Thon. This is - this may very well be the last one. Time is so short people, I'm tellin' ya, never have I sensed it - I am telling you I am speaking to you prophetically.
- Benny Hinn
A little later in the same program, Benny said the following:
God Is Passing By Many (© 2000 by TBN)
November 7th - TBN's Fall 2000 Praise-A-Thon
The Lord said to me audibly, I heard it. People I don't often hear the Lord's voice audibly, but I heard the Lord's voice audibly. He said "Tell them - time is running out". Then I heard another voice, that I believe is the voice of the Holy Spirit. He said "Tell the people", and the atmosphere changed when that happened, He said "Tell the people, I am passing by many, and once I pass by it would be as though I never knew them." In other words, there's, its, its the last call. Do you remember what He said in the scripture, when, when he said, the young virgins, that some had the oil and some didn't have any? The five wise, the five foolish. It, we are in it. We are in it. People, He is passing by many. Thank God He is not passing you by.
- Benny Hinn
The message is clear. Give to TBN now or God will pass you by, and you will be forever lost! It will be as if God never knew you! Benny also claimed, on the same program, that the Lord told him that December 12th will be a historic day in the Kingdom of God!
Could it be true? Well, just as true as Castro dying in the 90's. Just as true as the homosexuals in America being destroyed by fire by 1995! Just as true as Assad signing a peace treaty with Israel. Just as true as Jesus Christ appearing physically on the stage at Benny's Nairobi Crusade in April of 2000! Which is to say, TBN will have more Tel-A-Thons, and Benny Hinn will again beg for even more donations. But, you can be saved without giving a single nickel to TBN. What we don't know, is what gimmick Benny will use at the next TBN Tel-A-Thon, what alleged word from God he will claim to have, in order to coerce money from the viewing audience.
Benny Hinn curses all those who speak against his ministry (Windows media video- 350k).
Yes, Lord, I 'll do it. I place a curse on every man and every woman that will stretch his hand against this anointing. I curse that man who dares to speak a word against this ministry.
- Benny Hinn
Related Links:
Benny Hinn Prophesies That God's Glory Will Visibly Appear as Fire in the Sky!
Is Benny Hinn Teaching The Real Presence Of The Catholic Mass?
Benny Hinn's Prophesies For 2003 Fail!
The Dead Resurrected By TVs Tuned To TBN!
Benny Hinn Threatens Lawsuit
Benny Hinn Ministries
Trinity Broadcasting Network
http://www.biblelight.net
Previous failed prophecies of Benny Hinn, made on New Year's eve of 1989:
The Spirit tells Benny that Castro will die in the 90's. (© 1989 by Benny Hinn)
Orlando Christian Center, Dec. 31st, 1989.
"The Spirit tells me - Fidel Castro will die - in the 90's. Oooh my! Some will try to kill him and they will not succeed. But there will come a change in his physical health, and he will not stay in power, and Cuba will be visited of God."
- Benny Hinn.
The Lord tells Benny that homosexuals in America will be destroyed by fire by 1995. (© 1989 by Benny Hinn)
Orlando Christian Center, Dec. 31st, 1989.
"The Lord also tells me to tell you in the mid 90's, about '94-'95, no later than that, God will destroy the homosexual community of America. [audience applauds] But He will not destroy it - with what many minds have thought Him to be, He will destroy it with fire. And many will turn and be saved, and many will rebel and be destroyed."
- Benny Hinn.
Note that Benny Hinn claimed that God revealed the above prophecies to him. Now either God has erred, or Benny Hinn invented these prophecies and he never heard from God. The truth should be obvious - Benny Hinn does not hear from God, he is without doubt a false prophet.
Jer 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Ezek 13:2 [NIV] "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: 'Hear the word of the LORD!Ezek 13:3 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!Ezek 13:4 Your prophets, O Israel, are like jackals among ruins.Ezek 13:5 You have not gone up to the breaks in the wall to repair it for the house of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the LORD.Ezek 13:6 Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, "The LORD declares," when the LORD has not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled.Ezek 13:7 Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, "The LORD declares," though I have not spoken?Ezek 13:8 "'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign LORD.Ezek 13:9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.
Now with that kind of record for Benny Hinn, Trinity Broadcasting Network began its Spring 2000 fundraising Praise-A-Thon with some rather astounding claims. On the April 2nd TBN program, Benny Hinn claimed that God is about to make a major move to anoint the people of God, as soon as Israel signs a treaty with the ailing Hafez Al-Assad* of Syria, which will likely be within the next year. This will signal the impending large scale shift of financial wealth from the wicked to those obedient to God. But, in order to benefit from this unprecedented supernatural anointing, you must be obedient to God and sow your financial seed (to TBN) now!
However, its not the money that really concerns God, its your total obedience. The greatest danger that Christians face now, according to Hinn, is disobedience against God by not contributing financially to the coming harvest of God with your seed money! You must be willing to give your all, in order to demonstrate your true obedience. In fact, Benny revealed that God is even now healing those who call in their contributions to TBN. But this is not selling healing for money, he says, it is God blessing those who are truly obedient and worthy to receive his coming unusual anointing! Indeed, God will even be saving people you know as you are calling in your pledge to TBN. Great signs and wonders are anticipated this coming year, and Benny even told Paul Crouch to expect that there will be dead people raised this year! (R. W. Schambach claimed to have raised a dead man on another later TBN program, in addition to healing the blind, deaf, mute, and lame.) The implication is that you will be bypassed by God and miss out on the supernatural anointing to come if you are not totally obedient to God and call in your pledge to TBN now!
* The death of Assad on June 10th 2000 shows that Benny Hinn did not know what he was talking about, and is further proof that he is a false prophet, if any more evidence was needed.
Benny Hinn's failed prophecy of a peace treaty with Syria's Hafez Al-Assad (© April 2nd, 2000 by TBN) Note: this clip has been edited for the sake of file size, and has several places where content has been edited out. A brief pause occurs at those points.
On the 25th of July, 2000 (© July 25th, 2000 by TBN) when peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in Washington, Benny Hinn again appeared on a TBN program and said, regarding the recent death of Hafez Al-Assad and his failure to make peace with Israel, - "...it was God's plan for it not to happen, really."
Perhaps God had not foreseen Assad's death, or neglected to tell Benny about it, and maybe God had also misinformed Benny about His alleged "coming move" that was merely weeks or a few months away. That, or God does not talk to Benny Hinn, and Benny invented the entire "move of God" thing in order to extract money from TBN viewers. Which is more likely?
JESUS WILL APPEAR PHYSICALLYBEFORE THE SECOND COMING!
Is there nothing that TBN or Benny Hinn will not stoop to in order to extract money from viewers? Well, to top everything, Benny Hinn claimed that Jesus is now physically appearing in Moslem countries, and he predicted on the April 2nd 2000 TBN broadcast that Jesus will appear physically very soon in many churches to signal the nearness of the second coming, and that Jesus would also appear physically on the stage at his crusade in Nairobi Kenya (29th -30th of April, 2000)! He told Paul Crouch he might very well have video of Jesus on the stage when he returned from his trip to Kenya!
Benny Hinn prophesying Jesus' soon appearance.Image © 2000 by TBN
Listen to these startling claims for yourself:
Jesus is appearing physically to Muslims: © 2000 by TBN.Real VideoWindows MediaWindows Media (Best Quality)Here is a transcript of this clip:
April 2nd, 2000 - TBN Praise-a-thon
"Ladies and gentleman, Jesus is shaking the world! Now something else is happening that is to me awesome! Absolutely awesome! The Lord is physically appearing in the Muslim world. I'm telling you, Paul, I am hearing it now more and more and more. Since we preachers cannot go there, Jesus is - just going there Himself. Since we preachers are not permitted to go in, He is just showing up - Himself. You know the Scriptures says clearly that the Lord did appear, did He not? Ah for forty days, isn't that right? And the, and the, and the Scriptures says he, he, he even, he even appeared to Paul. Now we are always thinking, well Jesus can't really preach, preach the Gospel. Who told you that? He was the first one to preach the Gospel. In fact He is the one who came to Paul and said, Paul, I am Jesus. He, He didn't send no angel to do that job. He did it Himself. If Jesus revealed Himself to Paul, why not reveal Himself to a lot more than just Paul? And He is doing it! The reason the Lord had to appear to Paul is because He knew Paul wouldn't listen to nobody else. Now in the case of Cornelius, the angel said send for Peter, 'cause, because Cornelius was, was ready, his heart was right, he'd been in prayer. But here's Paul killing everybody, causing 'em to blaspheme, Jesus said this man won't even listen to an angel, so I'll go do the job myself. So He went and knocked him right off his horse and preached the Gospel to him. He's doing the same thing today in the Muslim world. He's appearing, hear this, He is appearing to Muslims, saying I am Jesus of Nazareth! And they're coming to know the Lord! Why are those things happening? It's the last days! Saints, this is why we need to give to the Gospel now more than ever. You know naively say well I gave last year. Forget it! Last year it's gone! That cycle is over with! Seed time - harvest of last year is gone. Every season is a fresh season. We are in a fresh season. What, what you gave last year will not reap you anything this year. What you gave even a few months ago is gone, you got the harvest for that."
- Benny Hinn
The failed prophecy that Jesus would appear physically in Nairobi, Kenya: © 2000 by TBNReal VideoWindows MediaWindows Media (Best Quality)
Here is a transcript of this clip:
April 2nd, 2000 - TBN Praise-a-thon
"The hour is urgent. Many of you have known me for many years. But I am telling you right now, things I haven't said years 'n years 'n years ago. I believe - here this, hear this! I believe, that Jesus, God's Son, is about to appear physically, in meetings and to believers around the world, to wake us up! He appeared after His resurrection and He is about to appear before His second coming! You know a prophetess sent me a word through my wife, right here, and she said 'Tell your husband that Jesus is go'n to physically appear in his meetings.' I am expecting to see, I am telling you that - I feel it's going to happen. I, I, I'm, I'm careful in how I am saying it now, because I know the people in Kenya are listening. I know deep in my soul, something supernatural is going to happen in Nai - in Nairobi Kenya. I feel that. I may very well come back, and you and Jan are coming, to - Paul and Jan are coming to Nairobi with me, but Paul, we may very well come back with footage of Jesus on the platform! You know that the Lord appeared in Romania recently, and there's a video of it? Where the Lord appeared in the back of a church and you see him on video walking down the isle? Yeah! Paul do you remember when I came on TBN years ago and showed you a clip of the Lord appearing in our church in Orlando, on the balcony on the wall? Yeah. You, you remember that? [Paul Crouch] Very well, I saw it! [Benny Hinn] That was '80, 80 something, '86, what - whatever. You know I always wondered why the Lord, why did He do that? Do you know why, now I look back? That was the beginning of the greatest move of God in our church. Because '83, '84, and '85 were horrible years for me, horrible years. Eighty-six the blessings of God began, but they began with a - with this manifestation of the Lord's face on, on the balcony, that stayed for eight weeks. Eight solid weeks! The Lord has done this in the past, but He is about to do it again, now hear this, I am prophesying this! Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is about to appear physically in some churches, and some meetings, and to many of His people, for one reason - to tell you He is about to show up! To Wake Up! Jesus is coming saints! You have held back from the Lord in the past, don't you dare do it now. The day will come you'll stand before Him and give an answer. How dare we not give to God. How dare we hold back."
- Benny Hinn.
Benny repeated his claim that Jesus will be appearing physically at his crusade(s) about 10 minutes into the 20 April, 2000 This is Your day program. © 2000 Benny Hinn Ministries.Real VideoWindows MediaWindows Media (Best Quality)
Here is a transcript of the relevant portions:
April 20th, 2000 - This Is Your Day
"Ruth Heflin: the Lord spoke to her recently, and she called my wife and told her to tell me, that Jesus said to her, that He will appear physically on the platform in one of our crusades. [Harald Bredesen] My! [Benny] She said, 'Tell Benny, that the Lord told me, that He is going to appear physically, on the platform, and the crowds will see Him, on the platform.' [Harald Bredesen] Jesus! [Benny] Dear God my hair is standing up! [Harald Bredesen] Praise God! [Benny] It may very well happen in Nashville!" ...
"... think about what's going to happen when the people, thousands, she said thousands will see the Lord on the, on the, on the platform! Lord may it happen in every crusade this year in Jesus mighty name."
- Benny Hinn.
At the beginning of the April 21st, 2000 This Is Your Day program, Benny again repeated his belief that Jesus would appear physically at the Nairobi Crusade: 21 April, 2000. © 2000 Benny Hinn Ministries.Real VideoWindows MediaWindows Media (Best Quality)
Here is a transcript of a portion of that program:
April 21st, 2000 - This Is Your Day
"You know, yesterday on the program I was telling you and the audience here that Ruth Heflin, the prophetess, had sent me a word from the Lord, where she said that the Lord had spoken to her clearly, that, a, for me to prepare myself, for the Lord is going to visibly appear, on the platform, in one of our crusades. I pray it'll happen in every crusade. But I have a feeling, I am just telling you honestly, I have even told some of our staff, when I go to Kenya, I am going to Kenya in just a few days from now, a million people will be in Kenya, Nairobi. I feel in my being it is going to happen there. So pray for us as we go to Kenya. I pray it will happen tonight, at the good Friday service in Nashville. I pray it will happen in every crusade."
- Benny Hinn.
On the May 2nd, 2000 This Is Your Day, Benny again repeated that Jesus will physically appear at his crusades: (Programs are recorded 3 weeks in advance, so this program was recorded before the Nairobi Crusade.) © 2000 Benny Hinn MinistriesReal VideoWindows MediaWindows Media (Best Quality)
Here is a transcript of the relevant portion:
May 2nd, 2000 - This Is Your Day
"And I know, that I know, that I know, we are about to see the greatest manifestations of God's presence ever! A prophetess named Ruth Heflin sent me a word recently and told me to get ready, to see, physical manifestations of Christ on the platforms in our crusades, that people will have visions of the Lord in the meetings. Those things have happened in the past, I know. In a Thialagua (spelling?) meeting one time in Africa, the Lord appeared to a - to the whole crowd! It is about to begin happening, I know it too! Expect it, to happen also, in your own home!"
- Benny Hinn.
[NOTE: physical manifestations and visions are two different things. A physical manifestation of Christ would involve a literal in-the-flesh appearance, likely to be visible to everyone, while a vision would be a private dream, seen only in the mind of the beholder.]
Benny should have invited the world press to witness such a great event! Millions would surely have journeyed to Nairobi just to be present, but, can it be true? Will Jesus really appear physically at any of Benny's Crusades?
The Testimony of Scripture
Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Rest assured that Jesus will not be visiting Benny Hinn's crusades in person, nor will he be physically appearing at any other meetings, secret chambers or churches, since Benny Hinn clearly contradicts scripture.
Here is an audio clip 29mar2000 (© 2000 by Benny Hinn Ministries) from the "This Is Your Day" program of March 29th, 2000, when Benny apparently first announced that Jesus would appear at his meetings. This occurred about 10 minutes into the program. Here is a transcript of the clip:
March 29th, 2000 - This Is Your Day
"Let me tell you something. The Holy Spirit has already told me He is about to show up. And you know, oh, I gotta tell you this quickly, just before we go. I had a word of prophecy from Ruth Heflin, you know who Ruth Heflin is? Ruth prophesied over me back in the seventies and everything she said has happened. She just sent me a word through my wife and said the Lord spoke to her audibly and said that He is going to appear physically in one of our crusades in the next few months. Yeah, she - I'm telling ya - she said, the Lord spoke to her audibly and said, 'Tell Benny I'm going to appear physically on the platform in his meetings'. Lord, do it in Phoenix Arizona in the name of Jesus! And in Kenya too, Lord, please, Lord, in fact, do it in every crusade. In Jesus' name."
- Benny Hinn
"FIRE ... FIRE ... FIRE"
Notably, Benny in the March 29th program showed a video clip of a Toronto Canada crusade where he was slaying young people in the spirit saying "FIRE, FIRE, FIRE, ... put FIRE on these kids ... He's being electrocuted by God's power ... Fire on you ... I never thought I would see this in Canada, ... FIRE, FIRE, FIRE." The stage was nearly full of young people who had fallen down and were incapacitated under the alleged imparting of the Holy Spirit. There is no scriptural precedent for "slaying in the spirit". In fact, it is contrary to the scriptural nature of the Holy Spirit to knock down or incapacitate people, even briefly. Acts chapter 2, which describes the great initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, doesn't have the slightest hint of anyone being "slain in the spirit." The baptism of fire (Matt 3:11, Luke 3:16) was a visible tongue of fire above the head (Acts 2:3) and not an incapacitating "electrocution." Slaying in the Spirit is simply unbiblical, and should be considered a counterfeit!
Signs and wonders may be happening at Benn Hinn crusades, but according to scripture, there can be false and misleading miracles, designed to deceive if possible even the very elect of God:
False Prophets Work Miracles That Deceive!
Jan Crouch shows the Sunday Standard newspaperreport on Benny Hinn's Nairobi Crusade on TBN's"Behind the Scenes" Image © 2000 by TBN
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, (See update below)Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
So by what means will the elect of God avoid being deceived by false signs, wonders, and miracles? When the government teaches people how to spot counterfeit money, it is not the fake that they study intently, it is the genuine article. When you know the genuine, the fake is then very easy to spot. The only way to spot the false prophets, false signs and wonders, and false miracles, is to be so familiar with the word of God, the Bible, that only the genuine will be accepted, and the counterfeit easily discerned.
Simony
Now, listen to this clip: 02apr2000-clip4 (© 2000 by TBN).
April 2nd, 2000 - TBN Praise-a-thon
"And Paul, while you were speaking, the Lord spoke to me, and I have to obey Him. He said, tell Paul - Thank you Lord for this. You know I have been praying about a, something I have asked the Lord for when it comes to the anointing. And the Lord said, you tell Paul, that in the - in the next few months, and I'll - I'll do this in - no more than six months, I will sow $150,000 dollars, into TBN - no I have to - I have to obey the Lord, because the Lord wants to bring something to me in our ministry. You see the ground here is very anointed right now. So Lord, I am doing it now. I am sowing Master, and I am expecting this miracle too Lord. But Lord I am proving myself worthy again of your trust. Lord we know its not the money. We know its our hearts and its our obedience to you when you speak to us. To you be praise Jesus [Benny briefly speaks in tongues] Now some of you, at home, need to do the same."
- Benny Hinn
Benny Hinn, desiring a gift from the Holy Spirit (the anointing), represents God as commanding him to give a large sum of money to TBN in order to receive his requested spiritual gift. This suggests that God sells spiritual gifts for a price. Scripture deals explicitly with this situation, and it has been called Simony ever since it was first attempted by Simon the sorcerer:
Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:Acts 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)Acts 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,Acts 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.Acts 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.Acts 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Necromancy
On the 4th and 5th of May 2000, Benny Hinn had as a guest, Dr. D. G. S. Dhinakaran of Jesus Calls ministry in India, who claims to have been to heaven and back multiple times. While in heaven, he claims to have spoken with Jesus, God the Father, and the apostles Peter and Paul. He described the apostle Paul as a short man, and his spirit soul in heaven still bears the marks of his trials and tribulations while on this earth. The soul in heaven, according to Dr. Dhinakaran, retains the outward appearance of the earthly physical body, which he says, is why Moses could be recognized by the apostles at the transfiguration (Matt. 17:3, Mark 9:4, Luke 9:30).
Again, knowing what scripture teaches about the state of the dead, it becomes clear that Dr. Dhinakaran's visits to heaven are either concocted, or delusional deceptions, because he could not possibly have spoken to the disembodied souls of Peter and Paul. In fact, he is basically repeating Satan's first lie in the garden of Eden to Eve, see What really happens when you Die? Moses was not at the transfiguration as a bodyless soul, he had been resurrected (Jude 9), and was as much present in the flesh at the transfiguration as Elijah and Jesus, but Peter and Paul are both still dead, asleep in the grave, awaiting their resurrection at the second coming. Claiming to have contacted the dead (Peter and Paul), is actually necromancy, and is forbidden as an abomination by God:
Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,Deu 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.Deu 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
The state of the dead is a crucial point to understand as we near the end of time, because it allows one to discern the truth and exposes the deceptions of false prophets and deceiving spirits.
NEWS FROM NAIROBI
Benny Hinn - A False Prophet!
Four Die at Benny Hinn's Nairobi "Miracle Crusade"! (Reuters)
Hundreds Attend Historic Crusade (Nation Newspapers Limited)
Sick baby dies at Benny Hinn crusade (Nation Newspapers Limited)
"I have never seen so much money in my life"
"We counted the money for two days... I have never seen so much money in my life," says Charles Babbler, who hosted the Benny Hinn miracle crusade in April, attended by an estimated 1.2 million faithful. - Daily Mail & Guardian, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 7th, 2000.
2 Pet 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.2 Pet 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.2 Pet 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Benny Hinn was the guest on the May 9th Behind the Scenes program of TBN with Jan Crouch, and video from his Nairobi Crusade was shown, but there was not even the slightest mention of Jesus physically appearing, and neither did Benny Hinn explain why the widely prophesied appearance had not happened.
The point needs to made that Benny Hinn is a false prophet, not just because Jesus failed to appear in Nairobi, but because scripture in advance warned us not to believe a word of what he was saying. Should some supernatural being appear at a future Benny Hinn crusade, it will not be Jesus, no matter how impressive, and no matter what "miracles" are done in the name of Jesus. Again, we have been warned by Jesus Himself in scripture:
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
False Prophets call down false fire from Heaven.
A little over a minute and a half into the May 24th / June 8th, 2000, "This is your day" program, Benny Hinn claimed that "fire is falling down from heaven."
May 24th, 2000 - This Is Your Day
"You know what days these are? The days of Elijah. We are in the days of Elijah! Fire is falling down from heaven!"
- Benny Hinn
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, (See update below)Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
On his June 7th, 2000, "This is your day" program (© 2000 Benny Hinn Ministries), taped in Nairobi Kenya, Benny Hinn made the following pronouncement, beginning19 minutes into the program:
June 7th, 2000 - This Is Your Day
"Today, I do not say, as the old covenant prophets used to say, "Thus saith the Lord". For thousands of years prophets would say "Thus saith the Lord", and only when they'd say it, the power of God would fall. But this man [Jesus] didn't say "Thus saith the Lord", He just said "I say". He looked at the storm and said "Peace be still". It obeyed Him. He looked at death and said GO! and it fled. He looked at demons and said GO! and they fled. He looked at disease and said GO! and it fled. He never once said "Thus saith the Lord." He just said "I say". Now, here is the amazing thing. He came to the twelve and He went (blow, blow, blow, blow), on all of them, and said "Go in my name." Ladies and gentlemen, you haven't heard me say "Thus saith the Lord", have you? You haven't heard me say "I say", have you? No you know what we say? We don't say "Thus saith the Lord, we don't say "I say", we say I say in the name of Jesus! I say in the name of Jesus! In the name of Jesus! In the name of [crowd] Jesus! [Benny Hinn] The prophets of old said "Thus saith the Lord". Jesus, for thirty years said, "Verily I say unto you". Ever since the resurrection there's been men and women all over this earth, there's been prophets, there's been preachers, there's been evangelists, there's been believers like yourselves who simply stretch the hand and say "I say in the name of Jesus". "I say in the name of Jesus". "I say, in the name [crowd] of Lord Jesus". [Benny Hinn] My brother, when Jesus said "I say" disease fled, demons fled, darkness fled, bondage fled, death fled. And when we say "I say in His name", its the same, because when we say "in His name" He is saying it, when we say "in His name", He is doing it!"
- Benny Hinn
Well, Benny Hinn has prophesied the imminent physical appearance of Jesus (before the actual second coming) in Jesus name, but this clearly contradicts scripture. Merely invoking the name of Jesus does not mean that Jesus will respond to the will of Benny Hinn, or that Jesus is working miracles through Benny Hinn. Featured in the May 24th / June 8th, 2000 program is a clip from the Nairobi Crusade where Benny claims to cast out 13 devils from a Hindu woman. Does this prove Benny Hinn is a man of God? No, it does not!
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Benny Hinn in Nairobi allegedly casting out 13 devils.Image © 2000 by Benny Hinn Ministries
On the June 5th / 9th, 2000, "This is your day" program, is a tape of a Nashville crusade where Benny fills the stage with incapacitated young people "slain in the spirit", an unbiblical and false manifestation of the "fire" of the Holy Spirit being called from heaven.
Benny Hinn in Nashville with a stage full of incapacitatedyoung people that have been "slain in the spirit".Image © 2000 by Benny Hinn Ministries
The August 10th, 2000 "This is your day" featured an extraordinary clip from the recent Chicago crusade where Benny Hinn casts the fire of the Spirit on portions of the audience, and many are "slain", falling in large groups.
False Prophet Goes Forth to the Kings of the Earth!
Benny Hinn gave a crusade in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on April 30-May 1st, 1999 at the invitation of Prime Minister Bill Skate. - Religion Today News Summary of Thursday, May 6, 1999
On the April 21st, 2000 "This is your day" program, Benny Hinn stated that the President of Kenya "would be on the platform", and that "his government was backing up the whole crusade." (See 24 1/2 minutes into the program.)
On the June 12th, 2000 "This is your day" program, Benny Hinn announces that the government of China has given its approval for the "This is your day" program to be aired daily in China, without restrictions, beginning as soon as July 3rd, 2000. China's government has also approved a crusade to be held there by October, and a personal meeting with the Premier of China will be arranged!
Rev 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.Rev 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Benny Hinn gives every appearance of being a False Prophet by scriptural standards, and not a man of God!
Is The Second Coming Imminent?TBN's LAST Tel-A-Thon?
Benny Hinn was the guest preacher on Trinity Broadcasting's fall 2000 Praise-A-Thon on the evening of Tuesday, November 7th. He claimed that God clearly and audibly spoke to him in a vision on the previous Saturday, while under a "fearful anointing" at First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania:
The Last Tel-A-Thon (© 2000 by TBN)
November 7th - TBN's Fall 2000 Praise-A-Thon
STOP what you are doing and hear this! The Lord said to me last Saturday, I heard His voice in that church, and He said, "Tell them, time is running out", and His voice was coming in waves in into my heart. "Time is running" and then there was a second voice. Now hear this one. ...
"Tell the people, I am passing by many" Hear this - "I am passing by many and if I pass by it would be as though I never knew them. I am passing by many and if I pass by it would be as though I never knew them." My friend we're all being tested right now on whether we are gonna stick with this or walk away from it. Tonight is decision night. It is not only decision night for America, for the next four years, this is decision night for eternity. What you do for God tonight, you do it with your soul, you do it with your life. This is not, my friend, just another Tel-A-Thon. This is - this may very well be the last one. Time is so short people, I'm tellin' ya, never have I sensed it - I am telling you I am speaking to you prophetically.
- Benny Hinn
A little later in the same program, Benny said the following:
God Is Passing By Many (© 2000 by TBN)
November 7th - TBN's Fall 2000 Praise-A-Thon
The Lord said to me audibly, I heard it. People I don't often hear the Lord's voice audibly, but I heard the Lord's voice audibly. He said "Tell them - time is running out". Then I heard another voice, that I believe is the voice of the Holy Spirit. He said "Tell the people", and the atmosphere changed when that happened, He said "Tell the people, I am passing by many, and once I pass by it would be as though I never knew them." In other words, there's, its, its the last call. Do you remember what He said in the scripture, when, when he said, the young virgins, that some had the oil and some didn't have any? The five wise, the five foolish. It, we are in it. We are in it. People, He is passing by many. Thank God He is not passing you by.
- Benny Hinn
The message is clear. Give to TBN now or God will pass you by, and you will be forever lost! It will be as if God never knew you! Benny also claimed, on the same program, that the Lord told him that December 12th will be a historic day in the Kingdom of God!
Could it be true? Well, just as true as Castro dying in the 90's. Just as true as the homosexuals in America being destroyed by fire by 1995! Just as true as Assad signing a peace treaty with Israel. Just as true as Jesus Christ appearing physically on the stage at Benny's Nairobi Crusade in April of 2000! Which is to say, TBN will have more Tel-A-Thons, and Benny Hinn will again beg for even more donations. But, you can be saved without giving a single nickel to TBN. What we don't know, is what gimmick Benny will use at the next TBN Tel-A-Thon, what alleged word from God he will claim to have, in order to coerce money from the viewing audience.
Benny Hinn curses all those who speak against his ministry (Windows media video- 350k).
Yes, Lord, I 'll do it. I place a curse on every man and every woman that will stretch his hand against this anointing. I curse that man who dares to speak a word against this ministry.
- Benny Hinn
Related Links:
Benny Hinn Prophesies That God's Glory Will Visibly Appear as Fire in the Sky!
Is Benny Hinn Teaching The Real Presence Of The Catholic Mass?
Benny Hinn's Prophesies For 2003 Fail!
The Dead Resurrected By TVs Tuned To TBN!
Benny Hinn Threatens Lawsuit
Benny Hinn Ministries
Trinity Broadcasting Network
http://www.biblelight.net
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Price, Frederick K. C.
Price, Frederick K. C. (1932-) One of the more brazen proponents of *PROSPERITY THEOLOGY, the notion that God will bless believers with affluence, Frederick K. C. Price was born in Santa Monica, California, and reared as a Jehovah’s Witness. He was converted to evangelical Christianity in 1953 and entered the ministry two years later, affiliating with a succession of denominations: Baptist, African Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, and *CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE. Price’s Spirit *BAPTISM in 1970, however, set him on a denominationally independent course. He founded Crenshaw Christian Center in 1973, which now occupies the former campus of Pepperdine University in Los Angeles. The congregation is multiracial and numbers well above ten thousand. Price, an African-American, broadcasts his *PROSPERITY THEOLOGY nationwide with a television program called Ever Increasing Faith, begun in 1978. He is unabashed about the pursuit of wealth as a sign of God’s blessing and does not shy away from ostentatious displays himself.- Source: Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism, Randall Balmer, Baylor University Press, Waco, TX. 2004. Page 557
Fred Price is the most notable of a growing number of black prosperity preachers. His church in Los Angeles now claims some 16,000 members. He is seen nationally on television and has referred to himself as the “chief exponent of Name It and Claim It.”33 Price has added his own unique twists to Faith theology by asserting that Jesus took on the nature of Satan prior to the crucifixion34 and by claiming that the Lord’s Prayer is not for Christians today.35 Despite telling his followers that he doesn’t allow sickness in his home, Price’s wife has been treated for cancer in her pelvic area.36 Referring to his wealth, Price says the reason he drives a Rolls Royce is that he is following in Jesus’ steps.37- Source: What’s wrong with the faith movement, Hank Hanegraaff, Christian Research Journal, volume 15, number 3 (1993)Footnotes:33) Frederick K. C. Price, “Name It and Claim It! What Saith the WORD? . . ,” Ever Increasing Faith Messenger, Summer 1989, 2.34) Frederick K. C. Price, “Identification #3″ (Inglewood, CA: Ever Increasing Faith Ministries, 1980), audio tape #FP545, side 1.35) Frederick K. C. Price, personal correspondence, 14 October 1992.36) Pat Hays, “Betty Price Speaks at 1991 ‘Wisdom from Above’ Luncheon,” Ever Increasing Faith Messenger, Winter 1992,12-13.37) Frederick K. C. Price, Ever Increasing Faith (television program), TBN, 9 December 1990, available from Crenshaw Christian Center, Inglewood, CA (audio tape #CR-A2).
Fred Price is the most notable of a growing number of black prosperity preachers. His church in Los Angeles now claims some 16,000 members. He is seen nationally on television and has referred to himself as the “chief exponent of Name It and Claim It.”33 Price has added his own unique twists to Faith theology by asserting that Jesus took on the nature of Satan prior to the crucifixion34 and by claiming that the Lord’s Prayer is not for Christians today.35 Despite telling his followers that he doesn’t allow sickness in his home, Price’s wife has been treated for cancer in her pelvic area.36 Referring to his wealth, Price says the reason he drives a Rolls Royce is that he is following in Jesus’ steps.37- Source: What’s wrong with the faith movement, Hank Hanegraaff, Christian Research Journal, volume 15, number 3 (1993)Footnotes:33) Frederick K. C. Price, “Name It and Claim It! What Saith the WORD? . . ,” Ever Increasing Faith Messenger, Summer 1989, 2.34) Frederick K. C. Price, “Identification #3″ (Inglewood, CA: Ever Increasing Faith Ministries, 1980), audio tape #FP545, side 1.35) Frederick K. C. Price, personal correspondence, 14 October 1992.36) Pat Hays, “Betty Price Speaks at 1991 ‘Wisdom from Above’ Luncheon,” Ever Increasing Faith Messenger, Winter 1992,12-13.37) Frederick K. C. Price, Ever Increasing Faith (television program), TBN, 9 December 1990, available from Crenshaw Christian Center, Inglewood, CA (audio tape #CR-A2).
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Infant Baptism -FAQs
FAQ’s on Infant Baptism
What does the child know?
Luke 1:15 he (John the Baptist) will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
I Corinthians 7:14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
I Corinthians 1:14-17 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
I Corinthians 15:29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?
Acts 16:15 When she (Lydia) and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home.
Repent and be baptized?
Acts 19:3-5 So Paul asked the disciples at Ephesus , "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. 4Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Mathew 3:11 I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Jesus also was baptized?
Luke 2:21-22 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
22When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
Luke 4:2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days,
Obedience ? obeying the Lord ……
Mathew 5:38-48 You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'[g] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Noah’s Ark a type – All the family was saved
1 Peter 3:20,21 God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge[e] of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
What does the child know?
Luke 1:15 he (John the Baptist) will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
I Corinthians 7:14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
I Corinthians 1:14-17 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
I Corinthians 15:29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?
Acts 16:15 When she (Lydia) and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home.
Repent and be baptized?
Acts 19:3-5 So Paul asked the disciples at Ephesus , "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. 4Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Mathew 3:11 I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Jesus also was baptized?
Luke 2:21-22 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
22When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
Luke 4:2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days,
Obedience ? obeying the Lord ……
Mathew 5:38-48 You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'[g] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Noah’s Ark a type – All the family was saved
1 Peter 3:20,21 God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge[e] of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
CHILD BAPTISM - MARTIN LUTHER
PROJECT WITTENBERG
__________
The Large Catechism
by Martin Luther
Translated by F. Bente and W.H.T. Dau
Published in:
Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books
of the Ev. Lutheran Church
(St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921)
pp. 565-773
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Previous Page - Book of Concord - Martin Luther - Project Wittenberg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
XIIIA.
Part Fourth
Of Infant Baptism.
__________
Here a question occurs by which the devil through his sects, confuses the world, namely, Of Infant Baptism, whether children also believe, and are justly baptized. Concerning this we say briefly: Let the simple dismiss this question from their minds, and refer it to the learned. But if you wish to answer then answer thus: --
That the Baptism of infants is pleasing to Christ is sufficiently proved from His own work, namely, that God sanctifies many of them who have been thus baptized, and has given them the Holy Ghost; and that there are yet many even to-day in whom we perceive that they have the Holy Ghost both because of their doctrine and life; as it is also given to us by the grace of God that we can explain the Scriptures and come to the knowledge of Christ, which is impossible without the Holy Ghost. But if God did not accept the baptism of infants, He would not give the Holy Ghost nor any of His gifts to any of them; in short, during this long time unto this day no man upon earth could have been a Christian. Now, since God confirms Baptism by the gifts of His Holy Ghost as is plainly perceptible in some of the church fathers, as St. Bernard, Gerson, John Hus, and others, who were baptized in infancy, and since the holy Christian Church cannot perish until the end of the world, they must acknowledge that such infant baptism is pleasing to God. For He can never be opposed to Himself, or support falsehood and wickedness, or for its promotion impart His grace and Spirit. This is indeed the best and strongest proof for the simple-minded and unlearned. For they shall not take from us or overthrow this article: I believe a holy Christian Church, the communion of saints.
Further, we say that we are not so much concerned to know whether the person baptized believes or not; for on that account Baptism does not become invalid; but everything depends upon the Word and command of God. This now is perhaps somewhat acute but it rests entirely upon what I have said, that Baptism is nothing else than water and the Word of God in and with each other, that is when the Word is added to the water, Baptism is valid, even though faith be wanting. For my faith does not make Baptism, but receives it. Now, Baptism does not become invalid even though it be wrongly received or employed; since it is not bound (as stated) to our faith, but to the Word.
For even though a Jew should to-day come dishonestly and with evil purpose, and we should baptize him in all good faith, we must say that his baptism is nevertheless genuine. For here is the water together with the Word of God. even though he does not receive it as he should, just as those who unworthily go to the Sacrament receive the true Sacrament even though they do not believe.
Thus you see that the objection of the sectarians is vain. For (as we have said) even though infants did not believe, which however, is not the case, yet their baptism as now shown would be valid, and no one should rebaptize them; just as nothing is detracted from the Sacrament though some one approach it with evil purpose, and he could not be allowed on account of his abuse to take it a second time the selfsame hour, as though he had not received the true Sacrament at first; for that would mean to blaspheme and profane the Sacrament in the worst manner. How dare we think that God's Word and ordinance should be wrong and invalid because we make a wrong use of it?
Therefore I say, if you did not believe then believe now and say thus: The baptism indeed was right, but I, alas! did not receive it aright. For I myself also, and all who are baptized, must speak thus before God: I come hither in my faith and in that of others, yet I cannot rest in this, that I believe, and that many people pray for me; but in this I rest, that it is Thy Word and command. Just as I go to the Sacrament trusting not in my faith, but in the Word of Christ; whether I am strong or weak, that I commit to God. But this I know, that He bids me go, eat and drink, etc., and gives me His body and blood; that will not deceive me or prove false to me.
Thus we do also in infant baptism. We bring the child in the conviction and hope that it believes, and we pray that God may grant it faith; but we do not baptize it upon that, but solely upon the command of God. Why so? Because we know that God does not lie. I and my neighbor and, in short, all men, may err and deceive, but the Word of God cannot err.
Therefore they are presumptuous, clumsy minds that draw such inferences and conclusions as these: Where there is not the true faith, there also can be no true Baptism. Just as if I would infer: If I do not believe, then Christ is nothing; or thus: If I am not obedient, then father, mother, and government are nothing. Is that a correct conclusion, that whenever any one does not do what he ought, the thing in itself shall be nothing and of no value? My dear, just invert the argument and rather draw this inference: For this very reason Baptism is something and is right, because it has been wrongly received. For if it were not right and true in itself, it could not be misused nor sinned against. The saying is: Abusus non tollit, sed confirmat substantiam, Abuse does not destroy the essence but confirms it. For gold is not the less gold though a harlot wear it in sin and shame.
Therefore let it be decided that Baptism always remains true, retains its full essence, even though a single person should be baptized, and he, in addition, should not believe truly. For God's ordinance and Word cannot be made variable or be altered by men. But these people, the fanatics, are so blinded that they do not see the Word and command of God, and regard Baptism and the magistrates only as they regard water in the brook or in pots, or as any other man; and because they do not see faith nor obedience, they conclude that they are to be regarded as invalid. Here lurks a concealed seditious devil, who would like to tear the crown from the head of authority and then trample it under foot, and, in addition, pervert and bring to naught all the works and ordinances of God. Therefore we must be watchful and well armed, and not allow ourselves to be directed nor turned away from the Word, in order that we may not regard Baptism as a mere empty sign, as the fanatics dream.
Lastly, we must also know what Baptism signifies, and why God has ordained just such external sign and ceremony for the Sacrament by which we are first received into the Christian Church. But the act or ceremony is this, that we are sunk under the water, which passes over us, and afterwards are drawn out again. These two parts, to be sunk under the water and drawn out again, signify the power and operation of Baptism, which is nothing else than putting to death the old Adam, and after that the resurrection of the new man, both of which must take place in us all our lives, so that a truly Christian life is nothing else than a daily baptism, once begun and ever to be continued. For this must be practised without ceasing, that we ever keep purging away whatever is of the old Adam, and that that which belongs to the new man come forth. But what is the old man? It is that which is born in us from Adam, angry, hateful, envious, unchaste, stingy, lazy, haughty, yea, unbelieving, infected with all vices, and having by nature nothing good in it. Now, when we are come into the kingdom of Christ, these things must daily decrease, that the longer we live we become more gentle, more patient more meek, and ever withdraw more and more from unbelief, avarice, hatred, envy, haughtiness.
This is the true use of Baptism among Christians, as signified by baptizing with water. Where this, therefore, is not practised but the old man is left unbridled, so as to continually become stronger, that is not using Baptism, but striving against Baptism. For those who are without Christ cannot but daily become worse, according to the proverb which expresses the truth, "Worse and worse -- the longer, the worse." If a year ago one was proud and avaricious, then he is much prouder and more avaricious this year, so that the vice grows and increases with him from his youth up. A young child has no special vice; but when it grows up, it becomes unchaste and impure, and when it reaches maturity real vices begin to prevail the longer, the more.
Therefore the old man goes unrestrained in his nature if he is not checked and suppressed by the power of Baptism. On the other hand where men have become Christians, he daily decreases until he finally perishes. That is truly to be buried in Baptism, and daily to come forth again. Therefore the external sign is appointed not only for a powerful effect, but also for a signification. Where, therefore, faith flourishes with its fruits, there it has no empty signification, but the work [of mortifying the flesh] accompanies it; but where faith is wanting, it remains a mere unfruitful sign.
And here you see that Baptism, both in its power and signification, comprehends also the third Sacrament, which has been called repentance, as it is really nothing else than Baptism. For what else is repentance but an earnest attack upon the old man [that his lusts be restrained] and entering upon a new life? Therefore, if you live in repentance, you walk in Baptism, which not only signifies such a new life, but also produces, begins, and exercises it. For therein are given grace, the Spirit, and power to suppress the old man, so that the new man may come forth and become strong.
Therefore our Baptism abides forever; and even though some one should fall from it and sin, nevertheless we always have access thereto, that we may again subdue the old man. But we need not again be sprinkled with water; for though we were put under the water a hundred times, it would nevertheless be only one Baptism, although the operation and signification continue and remain. Repentance, therefore, is nothing else than a return and approach to Baptism, that we repeat and practise what we began before, but abandoned.
This I say lest we fall into the opinion in which we were for a long time, imagining that our Baptism is something past, which we can no longer use after we have fallen again into sin. The reason is, that it is regarded only according to the external act once performed [and completed]. And this arose from the fact that St. Jerome wrote that repentance is the second plank by which we must swim forth and cross over after the ship is broken, on which we step and are carried across when we come into the Christian Church. Thereby the use of Baptism has been abolished so that it can profit us no longer. Therefore the statement is not correct, or at any rate not rightly understood. For the ship never breaks because (as we have said) it is the ordinance of God, and not a work of ours; but it happens, indeed, that we slip and fall out of the ship. Yet if any one fall out, let him see to it that he swim up and cling to it till he again come into it and live in it, as he had formerly begun.
Thus it appears what a great, excellent thing Baptism is, which delivers us from the jaws of the devil and makes us God's own, suppresses and takes away sin, and then daily strengthens the new man, and is and remains ever efficacious until we pass from this estate of misery to eternal glory.
For this reason let every one esteem his Baptism as a daily dress in which he is to walk constantly, that he may ever be found in the faith and its fruits, that he suppress the old man and grow up in the new. For if we would be Christians, we must practise the work whereby we are Christians. But if any one fall away from it, let him again come into it. For just as Christ, the Mercy-seat does not recede from us or forbid us to come to Him again, even though we sin, so all His treasure and gifts also remain. If, therefore we have once in Baptism obtained forgiveness of sin, it will remain every day, as long as we live, that is, as long as we carry the old man about our neck.
__________
The Large Catechism
by Martin Luther
Translated by F. Bente and W.H.T. Dau
Published in:
Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books
of the Ev. Lutheran Church
(St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921)
pp. 565-773
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Previous Page - Book of Concord - Martin Luther - Project Wittenberg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
XIIIA.
Part Fourth
Of Infant Baptism.
__________
Here a question occurs by which the devil through his sects, confuses the world, namely, Of Infant Baptism, whether children also believe, and are justly baptized. Concerning this we say briefly: Let the simple dismiss this question from their minds, and refer it to the learned. But if you wish to answer then answer thus: --
That the Baptism of infants is pleasing to Christ is sufficiently proved from His own work, namely, that God sanctifies many of them who have been thus baptized, and has given them the Holy Ghost; and that there are yet many even to-day in whom we perceive that they have the Holy Ghost both because of their doctrine and life; as it is also given to us by the grace of God that we can explain the Scriptures and come to the knowledge of Christ, which is impossible without the Holy Ghost. But if God did not accept the baptism of infants, He would not give the Holy Ghost nor any of His gifts to any of them; in short, during this long time unto this day no man upon earth could have been a Christian. Now, since God confirms Baptism by the gifts of His Holy Ghost as is plainly perceptible in some of the church fathers, as St. Bernard, Gerson, John Hus, and others, who were baptized in infancy, and since the holy Christian Church cannot perish until the end of the world, they must acknowledge that such infant baptism is pleasing to God. For He can never be opposed to Himself, or support falsehood and wickedness, or for its promotion impart His grace and Spirit. This is indeed the best and strongest proof for the simple-minded and unlearned. For they shall not take from us or overthrow this article: I believe a holy Christian Church, the communion of saints.
Further, we say that we are not so much concerned to know whether the person baptized believes or not; for on that account Baptism does not become invalid; but everything depends upon the Word and command of God. This now is perhaps somewhat acute but it rests entirely upon what I have said, that Baptism is nothing else than water and the Word of God in and with each other, that is when the Word is added to the water, Baptism is valid, even though faith be wanting. For my faith does not make Baptism, but receives it. Now, Baptism does not become invalid even though it be wrongly received or employed; since it is not bound (as stated) to our faith, but to the Word.
For even though a Jew should to-day come dishonestly and with evil purpose, and we should baptize him in all good faith, we must say that his baptism is nevertheless genuine. For here is the water together with the Word of God. even though he does not receive it as he should, just as those who unworthily go to the Sacrament receive the true Sacrament even though they do not believe.
Thus you see that the objection of the sectarians is vain. For (as we have said) even though infants did not believe, which however, is not the case, yet their baptism as now shown would be valid, and no one should rebaptize them; just as nothing is detracted from the Sacrament though some one approach it with evil purpose, and he could not be allowed on account of his abuse to take it a second time the selfsame hour, as though he had not received the true Sacrament at first; for that would mean to blaspheme and profane the Sacrament in the worst manner. How dare we think that God's Word and ordinance should be wrong and invalid because we make a wrong use of it?
Therefore I say, if you did not believe then believe now and say thus: The baptism indeed was right, but I, alas! did not receive it aright. For I myself also, and all who are baptized, must speak thus before God: I come hither in my faith and in that of others, yet I cannot rest in this, that I believe, and that many people pray for me; but in this I rest, that it is Thy Word and command. Just as I go to the Sacrament trusting not in my faith, but in the Word of Christ; whether I am strong or weak, that I commit to God. But this I know, that He bids me go, eat and drink, etc., and gives me His body and blood; that will not deceive me or prove false to me.
Thus we do also in infant baptism. We bring the child in the conviction and hope that it believes, and we pray that God may grant it faith; but we do not baptize it upon that, but solely upon the command of God. Why so? Because we know that God does not lie. I and my neighbor and, in short, all men, may err and deceive, but the Word of God cannot err.
Therefore they are presumptuous, clumsy minds that draw such inferences and conclusions as these: Where there is not the true faith, there also can be no true Baptism. Just as if I would infer: If I do not believe, then Christ is nothing; or thus: If I am not obedient, then father, mother, and government are nothing. Is that a correct conclusion, that whenever any one does not do what he ought, the thing in itself shall be nothing and of no value? My dear, just invert the argument and rather draw this inference: For this very reason Baptism is something and is right, because it has been wrongly received. For if it were not right and true in itself, it could not be misused nor sinned against. The saying is: Abusus non tollit, sed confirmat substantiam, Abuse does not destroy the essence but confirms it. For gold is not the less gold though a harlot wear it in sin and shame.
Therefore let it be decided that Baptism always remains true, retains its full essence, even though a single person should be baptized, and he, in addition, should not believe truly. For God's ordinance and Word cannot be made variable or be altered by men. But these people, the fanatics, are so blinded that they do not see the Word and command of God, and regard Baptism and the magistrates only as they regard water in the brook or in pots, or as any other man; and because they do not see faith nor obedience, they conclude that they are to be regarded as invalid. Here lurks a concealed seditious devil, who would like to tear the crown from the head of authority and then trample it under foot, and, in addition, pervert and bring to naught all the works and ordinances of God. Therefore we must be watchful and well armed, and not allow ourselves to be directed nor turned away from the Word, in order that we may not regard Baptism as a mere empty sign, as the fanatics dream.
Lastly, we must also know what Baptism signifies, and why God has ordained just such external sign and ceremony for the Sacrament by which we are first received into the Christian Church. But the act or ceremony is this, that we are sunk under the water, which passes over us, and afterwards are drawn out again. These two parts, to be sunk under the water and drawn out again, signify the power and operation of Baptism, which is nothing else than putting to death the old Adam, and after that the resurrection of the new man, both of which must take place in us all our lives, so that a truly Christian life is nothing else than a daily baptism, once begun and ever to be continued. For this must be practised without ceasing, that we ever keep purging away whatever is of the old Adam, and that that which belongs to the new man come forth. But what is the old man? It is that which is born in us from Adam, angry, hateful, envious, unchaste, stingy, lazy, haughty, yea, unbelieving, infected with all vices, and having by nature nothing good in it. Now, when we are come into the kingdom of Christ, these things must daily decrease, that the longer we live we become more gentle, more patient more meek, and ever withdraw more and more from unbelief, avarice, hatred, envy, haughtiness.
This is the true use of Baptism among Christians, as signified by baptizing with water. Where this, therefore, is not practised but the old man is left unbridled, so as to continually become stronger, that is not using Baptism, but striving against Baptism. For those who are without Christ cannot but daily become worse, according to the proverb which expresses the truth, "Worse and worse -- the longer, the worse." If a year ago one was proud and avaricious, then he is much prouder and more avaricious this year, so that the vice grows and increases with him from his youth up. A young child has no special vice; but when it grows up, it becomes unchaste and impure, and when it reaches maturity real vices begin to prevail the longer, the more.
Therefore the old man goes unrestrained in his nature if he is not checked and suppressed by the power of Baptism. On the other hand where men have become Christians, he daily decreases until he finally perishes. That is truly to be buried in Baptism, and daily to come forth again. Therefore the external sign is appointed not only for a powerful effect, but also for a signification. Where, therefore, faith flourishes with its fruits, there it has no empty signification, but the work [of mortifying the flesh] accompanies it; but where faith is wanting, it remains a mere unfruitful sign.
And here you see that Baptism, both in its power and signification, comprehends also the third Sacrament, which has been called repentance, as it is really nothing else than Baptism. For what else is repentance but an earnest attack upon the old man [that his lusts be restrained] and entering upon a new life? Therefore, if you live in repentance, you walk in Baptism, which not only signifies such a new life, but also produces, begins, and exercises it. For therein are given grace, the Spirit, and power to suppress the old man, so that the new man may come forth and become strong.
Therefore our Baptism abides forever; and even though some one should fall from it and sin, nevertheless we always have access thereto, that we may again subdue the old man. But we need not again be sprinkled with water; for though we were put under the water a hundred times, it would nevertheless be only one Baptism, although the operation and signification continue and remain. Repentance, therefore, is nothing else than a return and approach to Baptism, that we repeat and practise what we began before, but abandoned.
This I say lest we fall into the opinion in which we were for a long time, imagining that our Baptism is something past, which we can no longer use after we have fallen again into sin. The reason is, that it is regarded only according to the external act once performed [and completed]. And this arose from the fact that St. Jerome wrote that repentance is the second plank by which we must swim forth and cross over after the ship is broken, on which we step and are carried across when we come into the Christian Church. Thereby the use of Baptism has been abolished so that it can profit us no longer. Therefore the statement is not correct, or at any rate not rightly understood. For the ship never breaks because (as we have said) it is the ordinance of God, and not a work of ours; but it happens, indeed, that we slip and fall out of the ship. Yet if any one fall out, let him see to it that he swim up and cling to it till he again come into it and live in it, as he had formerly begun.
Thus it appears what a great, excellent thing Baptism is, which delivers us from the jaws of the devil and makes us God's own, suppresses and takes away sin, and then daily strengthens the new man, and is and remains ever efficacious until we pass from this estate of misery to eternal glory.
For this reason let every one esteem his Baptism as a daily dress in which he is to walk constantly, that he may ever be found in the faith and its fruits, that he suppress the old man and grow up in the new. For if we would be Christians, we must practise the work whereby we are Christians. But if any one fall away from it, let him again come into it. For just as Christ, the Mercy-seat does not recede from us or forbid us to come to Him again, even though we sin, so all His treasure and gifts also remain. If, therefore we have once in Baptism obtained forgiveness of sin, it will remain every day, as long as we live, that is, as long as we carry the old man about our neck.
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