Back in 2009 I did this radio show when John Edwards and I started the groupblog The Word on The Word of Faith @ (https://thewordonthewordoffaith.wordpress.com/).
I had forgot that I had this radio show and several others at my old channel on SoundClick.com. Here I show that Cessationism is a historical fact.
I hope the radio show is helpful and edifying to you and others, Damon Whitsell
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From time to time we get comments on our group blog (The Word on The Word of Faith @ https://thewordonthewordoffaith.wordpress.com/) that need to be responded to in depth. This is one case.
Demonknight2 SAID…. “Hello, Damon. Since you clearly don’t want comments that say anything nice about the guys youre against, I wont say anything. But I have to ask you SERIOUSLY your personal opinion or what you think the Bible says about the issue Perhaps God doesnt necassarily want ALL believers to be BILLIONARES. But Do you really think that as Christians, the only things were worthy of having (in Gods eyes) are the SAME things non-believers have or LESS than what non-believers have??? In other words, why would God ask believers to engage in things completely outside the realm of what the rest of the world is doing, then expect those SAME people to eat mud pies for dinner, AND LIKE IT??????
Again, are you saying that the God we serve is a turn the other cheek & eat hambergers for dinner & thank me for it type of God, while the person that slapped you is laughing with his friends about it & eating steak & has NOTHING to do with God??? Honestly, if God is going to contrast the size of our wallet to whether we love & trust in him, then perhaps its not us who are putting stock in money, maybe its really God! OK, but that sounds ridiculous, doesnt it??? But equally ridiculous? The notion that God wants, condones, or commands that all believers be LESS than the world even if the subject IS MONEY!!! Be HONEST Do you want to serve a God that sees you as not being worthy to have a house BIGGER than a person who OUTWORDLY MOCKS GOD???? Thanks”
DAMON WITSELL SAYS: The Lord has blessed some to be rich and some not. Mainline Christianity does not say that God does not want us rich NOR does it posit that God wants us to live in poverty. But the Word of God is clear that we cannot serve both God and Money (mammon), and Gods declares chose this day whom you will serve!
THERE ARE MANY WARNINGS ABOUT RICHES: 1Tim 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded; nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; Jas 1:10-11 But the rich, in that he is made (….)
In this video former Word of Faith pastor John Edwards gives his testimony and rightfully says that the Word of Faith Movement is a “counterfeit Christianity” and is indeed “The Self help Gospel of Me”.
10 years go I seen this video from John and I got in touch with him and we became friends and together we founded a Groupblog on the Word of Faith Movement, with 6 or 7 blog authors, titled The Word on The Word of Faith.
John and myself, along with other former word of faith pastors, believers and some ordinary people (like me) that was deeply and negatively affected by the Word of Faith’s false teachings studied and posted on the topic on the Groupblog to try to help others, and from the stats and responses we received our Groupblog has indeed helped (especially the Ex-Word of Faith Believers Testimony Page) people to see the false teachings of the Word of Faith Movement, to come to know correct biblical doctrine and to heal and deprogram from the heretical false teaching of the Word of Faith Movement such as Positive Confession, Jesus died spiritually, that words have creative power, and that God always want us to be healthy, wealthy and materially prosperous Etc.
You can visit The Word on the Word of Faith Groupblog to see over 1100 post there if you wish.
Be more blessed and take good care ya’ll!!
Damon Whitsell
The Question of “Does God Want All Christians To Be Rich” is a question that needs to be asked sincerely more often these days. Because of the Word of Faith Movement (A.K.K. The Prosperity Gospel), which dominates Christian TV these days, claims that it is indeed true that Jesus wants all his believers and followers to be rich and have big houses; but is that really the truth?
In this video, which is the most viewed most viewed video on my Youtube Channel about Christian Doctrine (HERE), I do my best to try to answer the question biblically when we received a interesting comment on our GroupBlog on the Word of Faith Movement titled The Word on the Word of Faith; that demanded a thouruogh responce.
This is the question left on our groupblog that I responded to. You can watch the video to see how I responded and to also see if you agree or not. Whether you agree or disagree with my opinion I welcome discussion and/or friendly debate about the issue in the comment section below since the question of “Does God Want All Christians To Be Rich” is a question that needs to be asked sincerely and biblically answered more often these days. I hope you enjoy and will be edified by the vidoeo. Here is the question or comment I answered….
Demonknight2 ASKED/SAID,,,, “Hello, Damon. Since you clearly dont want comments that say anything nice about the guys youre against, I wont say anything. But I have to ask you SERIOUSLY your personal opinion or what you think the Bible says about the issue Perhaps God doesnt necassarily want ALL believers to be BILLIONARES. But Do you really think that as Christians, the only things were worthy of having (in Gods eyes) are the SAME things non-believers have or LESS than what non-believers have??? In other words, why would God ask believers to engage in things completely outside the realm of what the rest of the world is doing, then expect those SAME people to eat mud pies for dinner, AND LIKE IT?????? Again, are you saying that the God we serve is a turn the other cheek & eat hambergers for dinner & thank me for it type of God, while the person that slapped you is laughing with his friends about it & eating steak & has NOTHING to do with God??? Honestly, if God is going to contrast the size of our wallet to whether we love & trust in him, then perhaps its not us who are putting stock in money, maybe its really God! OK, but that sounds ridiculous, doesnt it??? But equally ridiculous? The notion that God wants, condones, or commands that all believers be LESS than the world even if the subject IS MONEY!!! Be HONEST Do you want to serve a God that sees you as not being worthy to have a house BIGGER than a person who OUTWORDLY MOCKS GOD???? Thanks”
This is an excellent expose/refutation video by BEZELT3. This might repulse your spirit but believe it or not Joel Osteen might be the most dangerous false teacher in all of Christianity because unlike Jesus he is always so positive, upbeat and likable. . Before you turn your ears away hear me out.
BEZELT3 correctly points out that Joel Osteen does not preach the gospel of Christ but rather the gospel of “YOU”. And he proved so by counting at least 244 times that Osteen used the word you or other personal pronouns. He watched a whole sermon from Joel Osteen and said there was nary a mention of Jesus Christ and his sovereignty. Joel Osteen teaches The Power of Words, the power of positive thinking and the false practice of positive confession, otherwise known as name it and claim it, or believe it and receive it.
BEZELT3 demonstrates how Joel Osteen takes every passage he quotes out of context or only quotes it partially to make the Bible say something that it does not say. The gospel is simply not about me and you, or you and I, it is about Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection from the dead so that we may be forgiven our sins and live with him eternally one day. That’s what we must believe and receive. Not this or that blessing.Scripture clearly says that it is God that calls those things that are not as though they are and causes them to be, not us and our words as Joel Osteen and other word of faith movement teachers teach. That is more akin to Witchcraft when humans do it but when God calls things into being it is real and really really miraculous.
If you have not believed and received the free gift of Salvation in Jesus Christ maybe you should consider doing so today. You’ll never find a better deal than God’s free gift to all humanity who will receive it, the gift of his only begotten son Jesus Christ.
From Faith in Faith
to Faith in Christ
By: Peter Glover
Mark Haville’s is an extraordinary story. Converted into the Pentecostal/Charismatic church he quickly came under the spell of the Word-Faith teaching of men like Kenneth Copeland. But things did not stay that way for Mark…
Still in his mid-20’s, Mark became an itinerant minister travelling the country earning large sums of money through his ability to perform ‘signs and wonders’. Remarkably, he has renounced his former life, his beliefs, and his practices as a Word-Faith minister and is now speaking out boldly against the beliefs and practices of the current Signs and Wonders movement.
(Note: In the text ‘EN’ refers to Evangelicals Now, and ‘MH’ refers to Mark Haville. ‘PG’ is Peter Glover)
EN: “How did you first get involved with Word Faith teaching?”
MH: I was given lots of tapes and books by Kenneth Copeland which everyone was into at my church in North London. I believed that my Christian experience could validate my faith. It convinced me that what I was in was real. I was impressed by the numbers involved, their interest in the media, publications, the money and the general trappings of success – it bred the belief in me that biggest must be best.
EN: “What was the most appealing aspect of Word Faith teaching for you?”
MH: The Word Faith movement offered me power, what I believed to be a convincing testimony to the reality of God. It gave me support because I could show ‘things’ by preaching and performing. I was given numerous videos, audios and literature. All that I was given appeared glossy and successful.
EN: “How did you use what you saw in this material?”
MH: Basically, I copied it. I learned gradually to do what all these speakers like Copeland, Cerullo, Benny Hinn and others do. They manipulate audiences and individuals simply by the power of suggestion. They call the result ‘signs and wonders’. They are deluded. Gradually, I too had learned the process of controlling meetings and inducing hypnotic techniques through suggestion in churches. I did many of the so-called signs and wonders.
(PG: I was shown a video of a meeting held at a Pentecostal fellowship in Leeds being run by Mark. He explained the staged process of audience manipulation as things progressed. After a long period of singing what Mark described as ‘relaxing’ Spirit-focused songs, he appeared to be able to blow individuals over at will. They then remained on the ground for long periods – what is commonly termed ‘slaying in the spirit’).
THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE
EN: “You maintain then that you were able to induce an atmosphere that was conducive to hypnotic suggestion?”
MH: Absolutely. The techniques are no different to those used by any practising hypnotist. First, the people in these meetings are already coming with high expectancy – they want it to be God. Second, you need to create the right atmosphere – hence the long periods of singing certain types of songs to make people feel relaxed and warm.
EN: “What kind of praise and worship?”
MH: It is very important to use songs and words that are focused on the Holy Spirit. This creates a far more mystical atmosphere. Songs full of Christian or Biblical doctrine work against people suspending their critical faculties. The effect is to create a mindlessness that will open your audience up to suggestion. Most people have no idea just how powerful suggestion can be. Let me add that all this is not necessarily done wilfully by leaders. This is something many of them have stumbled upon. It works, so they do it and call it “the Holy Spirit”.
EN: “Will it affect everyone at the meeting?”
MH: No, not at all. If you do not believe that it is God that is doing these things in the meeting, there is no way you will fall down. But remember, I am the one running the show. Just like any good hypnotist, I will be ‘working’ the audience. I can tell which ones are the more suggestive by asking certain questions. I can then bring people forward, having gotten them into a very relaxed and accepting state. You have to remember, people who come really want to believe that God is at work. By telling them to stand in a particular place I am strongly influencing their belief that by standing where I have told them – on that exact spot – something is going to happen. By telling them someone will stand behind them, because we wouldn’t want them to get hurt if they fall, it is all heightening the sense of anticipation and suggestiveness. The rest is easy.
EN: “You seemed to find it difficult to watch yourself on screen.”
MH: Yes, I find it very hard knowing how I unconsciously deceived good people into believing that the Holy Spirit was at work when it was common or garden hypnosis. But at the time I suppose I did believe, however incorrectly, that these things were the activity of God. But the reality is, I learned these techniques by watching others, and anybody can do them given enough training. They are psychological techniques – nothing else.
EN: “What caused you to look again at what you were doing and believed?”
MH: In a nutshell – the Scriptures themselves. I decided that I wanted to learn the Scriptures in the original Greek and I began to realise that what I believed didn’t match up with what the Scriptures actually taught.
A BIG RETHINK
EN: “For instance?”
MH: In 1 Corinthians it didn’t say we would be given spiritual gifts on demand, but as God wills. I had always been taught that, with enough faith, if you were ‘anointed’ and prayed enough, you would manifest the relevant gifts. I could see that God really didn’t work that way.
I could see that my fellow Bible students didn’t change for all their ‘anointing’. I witnessed the lack of basic integrity in fellow students and in my church. The church was in great debt and yet money was spent on unnecessary things like an electronic song board. We owed £200,000! And there were factions in the church. None of it added up. It didn’t fit at all with the health and wealth gospel we had been taught and which we preached. So I left.
EN: “And then?”
MH: Somebody gave me some videos teaching the Jewish exegetical method of learning. These methods would have been employed by the apostles. It really started to give me a much more critical mind. It caused me to ask more questions highlighting more and more areas that were very wrong. My faith started to re-focus again on Jesus and not the ‘outworkings’ such as praying in tongues or signs and wonders.
EN: “At this stage did you think of looking for an appropriate church?”
MH: Just before leaving I had already started the National Prayer Network evangelistic enterprise, producing teaching tapes and evangelistic videos. My energies went into that. Out of that came a group of people who started meeting together as a small church.
VERY DANGEROUS
EN: “What is your view about what is happening on the British church scene today?”
MH: We’re seeing an increase of Word Faith/health and wealth preaching and teaching. It is weakening the witness of the body of Christ by compromising to a world view. It gauges spirituality by success. The most dangerous thing is they are undermining true Christian faith which is based on God’s word alone. As Luther said, “My heart is captive to the word of God.”
EN: “What do you see as the hallmarks of this kind of ‘Christian’ belief?”
MH: Revelry, riotous behaviour, sensual Christianity.
EN: “And the more practical effects?”
MH: It re-directs funds away from legitimate gospel evangelism and real social needs, the orphans and widows and such. Its leaders earn exorbitant amounts of money – where the Bible teaches leaders shouldn’t reap dividends. If you can perform signs and wonders you can earn vast amounts of money. It was not unknown for me to be ‘gifted’ £400 – £500 on occasions. This is nothing to the five-figure sums charged by some modern prophets. Basic Christian truth is being superseded by pseudo-Christianity. We need to return to a Christ-centred gospel which produces a selfless and non-materialistic lifestyle.
EN: “What about the numbers the Faith and signs and wonders movement claim are saved?”
MH: This is self-deluding exaggeration based on faulty theology of conversion. They teach commitment to a message rather than conviction by the gospel. They need figures to validate their ministry for the continued solicitation of funds.
END-TIME ADVICE
EN: “What would you say then to those caught in the current signs and wonders movement?”
MH: Jesus did more signs and wonders than anybody else and at the end of His ministry He only had about 500 followers. Anyone caught up in the current trend towards belief in a great end-time restoration of the Church must first realise that this kind of revival is the opposite of what scripture promises. What Jesus did promise is the falling away of professing Christians, and an influx of false ‘anointed’ ones.
If we are truly living at the imminent return of Christ, where are those things that God promised must take place?
I would say to my brothers and sisters in these movements that you may well not be conscious that what you believe is other people’s opinion on Scripture, as I did. You would do well to heed the words of Martin Luther – ‘Sola Scriptura’.
Notes:
1.
Word-Faith preaches a gospel of personal wealth which can be obtained through the ‘force of faith’. Spiritual power is thus generated through ‘faith’. God’s sovereign will is effectively overridden by this ‘force of faith’, effecting eternal spiritual laws to which God Himself is subject. PG.
2.
Research carried out in 1994 amongst a number of Christians from many different backgrounds revealed that almost 100% believed the ‘Word-Faith’ message is merely the gospel plus healing and prosperity on demand. None of those surveyed had any idea of the depth of heresy and extent of error in this movement. (Extract from ‘The Faith Movement May Be Prospering But Is It Healthy?’, by Stuart St. John: 95 pence booklet available from Reachout Trust, 24 Ormond Road, Richmond, England).
The above article was first published by Evangelicals Now, March 1996, and is reprinted by kind permission.
ARISE SOLDIERS OF CHRIST 