Paul said this almost 2000yrs ago.
2 Thessalonians 2:
1: Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2: That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3: Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

For a very long time I believed that the Great Falling Away spoken of in the Bible had happened during the dark ages and I taught this message because I believed it to be true. But the Lord woke me up in my mind to realizing what is taking place right under our noses. Jesus said that there would come a time that there would be a famine for the Word of God. I had always believed that this famine would come because people would not be able to have a Bible, basically to be deprived from hearing the Word. I didn't realize that the famine could come while people are still holding the Bible in their hands and this seems to be the case.

It is easy to see apostasy in the doctrines such as Mormonism or Jehovah's Witnesses. These doctrines have made great strides in America in our time and have added many new converts to themselves, but there is another doctrine that is swallowing up Christianity and deceit is in their lips. This doctrine crosses denominational lines and barriers and takes up roots in almost every kind of Church in America. It works through people that are easy to like and who appear to have it all together. They are very inspirational at times and preach a message that is mixed with truth and untruth to the point that people are deceived into believing that their messages are true. We end up with a famine for the truth because we don't hear it being preached. The sad thing is that because some of their false teachings have become so popular I myself have taught some of these teachings. I did this by not taking time to examine what was being taught. I simply believed that the messages must be true because so many people were teaching and saying the same thing.

God help us and please try to bear with me on this matter and consider the truth that I am about to share with you in the following things that I am going to share. I have many good friends and relatives that believe these false teachings and I love all of them very much. It is because of my love for every one that I cannot help but be a good watchman and declare the truth.

False Doctrines that are destroying Christianity in our world today are to blame for "the great falling away" or apostasy that Paul spoke of and is going across America and the World. This falling away from the faith is caused by doctrines that strip the word from people's hearts and drag them into apostasy and evil desire. One of the religions that does this is the "Word of Faith" movement. This movement is so large that it controls almost everything that is seen as Christianity on television. To sit down and watch Christian TV to this day is to expose your self to a tremendous amount of poison. Much in the same way that Liberals control the media on most TV stations they own and control who is going to be on their networks. If they have an opposing view from their false teachings then they do not get on their network. If someone does manage to get on their network that is opposed to "Word of Faith" teaching it is placed late at night so that the multitudes cannot see. There are a few that do get on but they never challenge the networks main believe and that is the "prosperity" message.

The "Word of Faith" movement manages to get into other Christian's minds because it is placed right before their eyes on TV programs.

It is that old monster that Jesus spoke of called "Mammon", the god of money. He is at work and is probably the most powerful false god of this world, pulling Christians into many hurtful desires. The "Word of Faith" preaches a heaven on earth philosophy that seeks to give a Christian their mansions on earth rather than having to wait to get to heaven to get the one that Jesus has prepared for them.

Do I seem to mean spirited? The Bible teaches us to cry out when the wolf comes. If I cried wolf and didn't tell you where he was I wouldn't be much of a watchman. Jesus would do as much if he were here in the flesh. He warned the early church of the hypocrisy of the Temple leaders, exposing their wickedness before them and the people. This made a lot of people angry because millions of the people of Israel looked up to these leaders as being appointed of God because of their positions. Positions do not mean anything in the kingdom of God if godly people do not sit in them. Just because someone is considered to be a great man of God by the people does not mean that they are. I once had a man tell me this, "You tell me that God talks to you? Why would God talk to you? You are not a Television Preacher, you ain't nobody". He was right in the sense that I am nobody. But he was wrong about me having to be a TV preacher in order to hear the voice of God. This is the kind of deception that is going on. Apparently if you are not on TV you are not worth listening to. The following will give you an idea of the apostasy that is taking place.

The following is word for word from that page.

This is no different than the Mormon Church that claims to have another or different New Testament. Notice that Kenyon's claims are that the early church didn't understand the Gospel? You mean the 12 Apostles didn't understand, only Paul did, and the rest were completely ignorant of the true revelation from God? "Whew" it seems that somebody didn't read the Bible.

You see Paul himself went to the other disciples to see if he was preaching the right message.
Galatians 2: 1: Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
2: And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

Paul checked his message alongside the disciples to see if his message was right. How could we believe that His message was different from the other disciples? How could E.W. Kenyon possibly believe that he had a new revelation on Christian living that the Apostles didn't understand? Did he say this because the scriptures that the apostles wrote did not match up to his new understanding? Could we possibly believe that the truth was not given to the Apostles but is now given to E.W. Kenyon? "Whew" Does this remind you a little bit of Joseph Smith and other false prophets that come up with a so-called new understanding of the Gospel?

When it comes to Prophecy I do believe that there will be a greater revealing of the end-times, but I do not claim to have all the answers to these mysteries. There is a great difference between events in the future and our daily living that God requires from us to walk in. Our daily walk with God has a great effect on the body of Christ as well as the world. We are the light of the world according to teachings of Jesus.

To correct E.W. Kenyon's thinking we go to a scripture that Paul himself taught in the Word of God.
2^nd Timothy: 4: 3: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
This really seems to fit with what Kenyon himself says at the top of this article. He says, "Discerning men and women have been asking for a new type of Christianity." Does this mean that people no longer look to the original teachings of the 12 Disciples to find what they want from God? This seems to be the case. He goes on to say, "We have looked back for it, but it is not in the past. The early Church did not have the thing for which hearts are craving." This is saying that the Early Church with the 12 Disciples and the other Apostles did not have the right teachings to satisfy the desires of men. Apparently according to Kenyon�s belief all they need is a new doctrine that will meet the requirements to satisfy the desires of men. And so it seems that he invented one to do this and it worked, because the doctrines that Kenyon invented have been followed by most of the TV ministers we see today. Many of these are teaching a teaching that comes from E.W. Kenyon that believed that the Gospel that was once delivered to the saints was not sufficient, it wasn't good enough to meet the needs of mankind. This is a far cry from what Jude had to say.
Jude: 1: 3: Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
The faith that we are to contend for in this scripture is speaking specifically about the Gospel that was being preached, which was also called the faith at that time.

Should we look for another Gospel? Paul said this about other Gospels and the results of some one that teaches them.
Galatians 1: 6: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9: As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

In order to prove or demonstrate the apostasy that is in these teachings I will start with one that causes a tremendous amount of pain and suffering to the sick and also to the poor. The belief that we are already healed and that we are all supposed to be extremely prosperous is a perverted Gospel that is killing the children of God and bringing terrible destruction to the body of Christ.

Number one if a teaching is a false teaching and we support it and share it with others we ourselves become false prophets. It would be impossible for us to have favor with God while being a false prophet; it would be absurd to believe that we could. So carefully consider what I am about to share with you. The first one we will approach is the teaching that we are already healed. Does the Bible really say that we are already healed? This teaching is drawn from Isaiah 53 verses 4 -6. In the King James it reads:
4: Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

According to the Word of Faith movement verse 4 of this chapter is saying that Jesus bore or carried our sickness and sorrow to the cross. It was there that he came down with every illness that was known to mankind and died on the cross to obtain our healing. If this were the meaning of this scripture I would be glad to accept it but this scripture definitely does not mean this at all. We get the meaning of this scripture not from your commentary or some preacher's opinion but from Matthew himself a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the 8^th chapter of Matthew we find that the first part of verse 4 pertaining to the lord carrying sickness and sorrow was fulfilled sometime before Jesus ever went to cross. Let's read what Matthew said.
Matthew 8:16: When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
17: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

The word fulfilled means that it happened as the scriptures had said and this was the end of it. We do not need another meaning for this scripture. To understand the whole verse let's look at it again.
4: Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

What this is saying is that Jesus came to Israel and healed the sick and took away their disease and that by doing so he took away their sorrows that accompany sickness. The prophet Isaiah was describing what the Messiah would be like when he came and what he would do. In other words how the children of Israel would be able to recognize him when he came. Isaiah 53 verse 4 explained that they would be able to recognize him because he would heal all the sick and take away their sorrows. This he did and according to Matthew proved beyond a shadow of doubt that Jesus was the Messiah to come. The last part of this verse is telling us that in spite of the love and mercy he showed toward Israel by healing so many they still believed that Jesus was a false prophet and should die on the cross for blasphemy. Even though he had worked all of these wonderful miracles they still said crucify him and made remarks such as physician heal thy self. If you are the Son of God deliver yourself from the cross. They believed that Jesus was getting the justice that God wanted him to have.

So verse 4 of Isaiah 53 does not mean what the Word of Faith people believe and teach. They go on to the next verse that says;
5: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Because they assumed that they were right on verse 4 they also assumed that this verse only verifies what they already believed. By his stripes we are healed. He went to the cross to take our punishments for our sins. You see the chastisement of our peace was upon him. He was bruised because of our sins. Is it a sin to be sick? Some of the Word of Faith people seems to think so. But is sickness a sin? Has God ever punished the sick because they were sick? You see there has never been a punishment for being sick. Why would Jesus have to suffer the beatings that he took for sickness if sickness carried no punishment? The stripes on his back from the whip were for our sins not for our sicknesses. In Deuteronomy 25: 1-3 we find the reason Jesus suffered stripes. The Law of Moses required that a person that was found guilty of being wicked must be beaten with stripes, not to exceed forty. Jesus was found guilty by the Law for being wicked and suffered for the worst kind of wickedness for all of mankind.

Jesus never had to go to the cross to give us healing of the body. God had been healing sickness and disease all the way from the beginning of mankind. We see all kinds of accounts of this in the Old Testament; some were even raised from the dead by the prophets. God has always had the ability to heal us at his own discretion and still has the right to do this without Jesus going to the cross. The thing that separated us from God was not sickness but it was sin. It was necessary for Jesus to die for our sins on the cross, but not for sickness.

"With his stripes we are healed" is speaking of being healed from the disease of the soul called sin.
Mk: 2:17: When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
In this scripture Jesus is referring to the sinner being sick in sin and needing to be healed through repentance. When we were born again we were healed from the power of sin. In the book of Psalms David prayed for God to heal his soul.
Ps: 41:4: I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

Going back to Isaiah 53 and continuing with the 6^th verse we see by the context that it was sin that was the problem not sickness. Isaiah is explaining the reason for the cross. Notice what he says and does not say. He says that we were like sheep that had gone astray but he did not say that we were sick. He says that our iniquities were laid on him, it he does not say that our sickness were laid on him.
6: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Does God still heal? Absolutely he has never changed but we must ask him for it. It isn't something that we can claim because it has already happened. But it is given out of his love for us when we are in trouble. Remember he was already in the healing business long before he went to the cross.

What is wrong with believing that we are already healed? This doctrine promotes people to act like Job's comforters toward the sick. They say things like, all you have to do is confess it. If someone doesn't confess to being healed when he or she says they are sick they are accused of a lack of faith and are criticized rather than cared for and comforted. If someone dies from sickness in a family the family members feel responsible because they didn't say it right or claim it or didn't have the faith. If we are responsible for someone's life because of not saying it right then I guess we would be murderers as well, right? Wrong, God has not already healed us and the healing power is in his hands not ours. God still does according to his good pleasure no matter what we may attempt to claim or do. To teach that we are already healed because of the cross is a false doctrine and lays many hurtful burdens upon the sick. We shouldn't teach it, don't be a false prophet.

The fruit of the spirit is not found in this teaching. The fruit of the true spirit of God would be love, kindness and comfort toward the sick, not condemnation and blame. This is the very thing that woke me up concerning this teaching. I have seen it with my own eyes over and over again. This is the very thing that caused me to search it out to find the truth for myself and I have. The false teaching of the Word of Faith movement not only condemns the sick; but condemns the poor as well. Believe me when I say that if we do this to the sick and the poor we are touching a very important issue with the Lord and could provoke his anger toward us for it.

The evil that is found in this teaching is that it robs a sick persons faith in God's love for them while they are still sick wondering what is wrong with themselves. The Word of Faith teaching is a thief and a robber. It protects the minister but does not protect the victim and I do mean victim, not patient. Since they teach that you are already healed you must confess it to be healed. If you confess it and you are still not healed they say that you just don't have enough faith. If you say you have faith and don't confess it then they say that you didn't confess it. The blame is always placed on the shoulders of the person that is sick. Now faith healing turns into blame.

A modern day faith healer teaches you that you must say that you are healed in order for you to receive your healing. He then forms a prayer line and prays for the sick. Then he asks everyone if they had received their healing, duh? He just told them that in order to receive it they had to say that they were healed so the congregation watching this assumes that they must have all been healed. The Preacher is always protected. People hear of some of these people not being healed and they are accused of losing their healing. It is a no-lose situation for the ministers themselves they can always say that you didn't have faith, it is never that they didnt tell you the truth. One minister says, Well it ain't God's fault that you didn't get healed. This shifts the eye from blaming the minister to saying that a person that was not healed is accusing God. These people that teach this stuff are nothing more than con-artist and very talented indeed. Their false teachings does not change the fact that God does heal today, he changes not. But it is not accomplished through formulas, the tongue, the lips, or your hands but only through calling on a God that loves you. If it doesn't happen we still trust him for his love for us.

There are many that teach that a hundred-fold would be to take something and fold it a hundred times which would mean that if you fold something once that it would become two, then to fold it again would make it four and so on. But the word hundred-fold in the Greek means to multiply it by one hundred.

The idea that God will give us a hundred times back for every dollar that we give is a common teaching amongst the evil evangelist that are stealing every dollar they can get from the people. Preying on the poor and giving them false hopes and dreams to their despair. Let me share with you what this would mean and try to explain it in simple terms. First let's look at the mathematics of this idea.

My wife and I gave over 3,000 dollars in 2003 in tithes and offerings. For God to give me a return for just this one year multiplied a hundred times would be 300,000 dollars. This would be just for this year alone. This is over a quarter of a million dollars, which is 250,000 dollars, for the three thousand that I gave in offerings for one year. Now if God were to wait on blessing me with the 300,000 dollars and I were to give 3,000 every year for just four years I would have given 12,000 dollars. If he were to give me a hundred-fold return for just these four years I should receive 1,200,000 dollars. I would be a millionaire in just four years for paying a normal amount of tithes and offerings. Is this the message that God is giving us? If this were the case Christians would be the envy of America. Money is the god of most Americans today and it is to many in the Church as well.

Let's read through both of these and compare what is said.
Mt: 19:
27: Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28: And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29: And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Mk: 10:
28: Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29: And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
30: But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

A distinction is made in Matthew's version because he explains that Jesus has promised that the 12 disciples would judge the 12 tribes of Israel at the final judgement. In Matthew it also includes wife and Mark doesn't say wife in his version of this conversation. In Mark's version he said that they would receive a hundred-fold now in this time and he also included persecutions along with it whereas Matthew didn't tell us this part of it.

The question is; what is Jesus talking about? Well we must also include the fact that in both accounts of this conversation that Jesus had just told the rich young ruler that he would have to sell what he had and give it to the poor. He also said that he would have treasure in heaven if he would take up his cross and follow Jesus. The man couldn�t do it. Jesus went on to explain how hard it was for people that had earthly riches. That it was almost impossible to enter the kingdom of Heaven. He said that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it was for a rich man to accept Jesus.

After Peter had explained to Jesus that him and the others had given up everything to follow him Jesus gave the scriptures about a hundred-fold. The idea behind this is not giving ten dollars in the offering and expecting to receive a thousand dollars for it. It is about people who have had to make great sacrifices in order to serve God. If God requires you to give up everything in this world he will reward you for it a hundred-fold in heaven. In Mark's version he said "in this time." This simply means that from the moment we surrender these things to God that we have treasure stored up in heaven "right now." Jesus told the rich young ruler that he would have treasure in heaven and that meant "right then." We are storing up treasure in heaven every time we give up something for God on this earth.

Many of the Jews that became Christians at the time of Jesus lost their families and friends. They lost their inheritance from their parents if they had any coming. They lost their social status among the Jews and were commonly rejected. They were often driven out of their homes and lands and had to go somewhere else to live. It was very hard. But Jesus was telling them that all of this suffering and persecution was going to be worth it all when they get to heaven. This same kind of rejection also came to many of the Gentiles in other lands that had left idolatry to follow Christ. In lands that worshipped other gods this offended the worshippers of these gods. Another part of this is the fact that when you give up family to serve God that you receive a much larger family in the Kingdom of God, the Church. In the family of God we have many mothers, brothers, sisters and loved ones. We find many places to live among the brethren and the many lands that the Body of Christ lives in. There is much more than a hundred-fold in this promise.

Paul said in Rom: 8:18: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Our treasure is in heaven not in this present world. Jesus and the Apostles warned us against desiring riches and materialism in this present world.

We might then ask about the term pressed down and shaken together. This is another scripture that is misused in an effort to sell the common so-called prosperity movement. Let's go to that scripture.

Lk: 6:38: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Once again we must look at the context in which this scripture is given. What is Jesus talking about? The two verses right before this verse says this:
36: Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37: Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Then it says:
38: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

The thought behind this is that if you want to receive mercy then you should give mercy. Or that if you don't judge others you won't be judged if we don't condemn, we will not be condemned, if we forgive then we shall be forgiven. And that if we will give this to others that we will receive it again from others as well. Not just a little bit but the same measure pressed down and shaken together and running over.

In order to understand this. Some things like clothes in order to get more in a basket for it to be full we would have press down on them in order to get something else into it. Shaken together means that it would be like a basket of grain that we shake and bounce on a table to fill it up completely to get as much as we can get into it. To the Jews running over meant that a cup had been filled so full to the top that if you were to pick it up you would be running the risk of spilling it. This is the concept of this teaching. That what ever you give, whether it is good or bad it is going to come back to you with a full measure of whatever you give. Notice that it said that with the same measure it would be measured to you again. Even in giving money to help someone this scripture does not promise a greater return but will give back exactly what you put into it. It isn't talking about an avenue to gain riches or wealth.

2^nd Corinthians 9: 6: But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

This verse is the same as the same measure that we just read about in Luke 6: 38. That what you put into it is what you will get in return. If you plant one grain of corn you get one corn plant, if you plant one field of corn you will get one field of corn, not two. Gal: 6:7: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

The scriptures that you have just read explain that if we sow sparingly that we will reap sparingly. It also goes on to explain that God will increase what we are able to sow if given in the right spirit. To give to get wealth would be wrong; to give because we love would be right. God loves a cheerful giver and will increase a person that will be willing to take the increase and give it to someone in need. But he is not required to do so. God is still sovereign and does according to his good pleasure. We do not have a formula that demands God or forces God to do anything that he doesn't want to do. Notice in verse 8 of the above scriptures that Paul said that God is able not that God is required. Our part is to trust God in all things. In these same scriptures Paul is asking the Church in Corinth to share what things they could to help the Church in Jerusalem that was starving to death. The whole point behind all of this teaching is that if they will help the starving Church in Jerusalem that God is able to help them if they ever get in the same situation.

We must consider that Jesus went to great lengths to warn about the consequences of desiring riches and what it does to a person.
Mt: 13:22: He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Lk: 6:24: But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
Lk: 12:15: And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
27: Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28: If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29: And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30: For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31: But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32: Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33: Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The Lord�s own brother, James had a perfect understanding of seeking materialism. These are some of the scriptures that give us a warning to such desires.

The Evangelist and ministers that are teaching the Church today to give to them in order to become prosperous are going to face the judgement of all mighty God on judgement day for their horrible sins. Many own jet planes, Mercedes and very expensive cars, live in homes that costs millions, own million dollar condo's and do this at the expense of the poor and needy. The poor and needy are giving with the hope of coming out of their poverty but just like bingo or gambling their money doesn't return with the dividends that are promised to them. Most of the times do not break even. It is a sad thing that this deception is taking place but it is happening to millions every day. There is one consolation that every time someone gives to the Lord they are storing up treasure in heaven as long as they are giving in order to please him and not giving to get wealth.

The health and wealth movement in America despises the poor the same as the rich in James 2: 6. They place heavy burdens just like the Pharisees and will not use one finger to lift any of these burdens from those that are poor. The poor are criticized and accused as having no faith by the so-called faith movement and are left not only poor but accused by people they love for being poor. Robert Tilton said that it is a sin to be poor. This all adds to their misery and is not a fruit of the spirit in fact it is of the Devil. It is the same thing that Job's comforters did to him while he was in the same situation. This is why I have written this article and I am preaching the things that I am preaching. I love the people of God's church everyone not just a few and I am concerned that we all abide in the truth so that we can please the Heavenly Father the way we should.

James: 2:5: Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6: But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
James: 5:1: Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2: Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

Jesus taught us to beware of the deceitfulness of riches yet the prosperity message persuades men to seek after wealth in this world. Jesus told us to set our affections on things above, to have treasure in heaven.

There are many ministers on TV that will tell you that God will give you a special anointing if you send them a donation of so much. Some say that God will bless your finances, some even go so far as to say that God will heal you if you send them money. The things that they are putting a price tag on are the gifts of God to men. God takes care of us because he loves us, we do not have to buy it from some Evangelist on television. It is easy to sit back and notice that the sellers of merchandise in God's kingdom today are the TV ministers. Jesus told the Pharisees that they had made his house a den of thieves and the Word of Faith people are doing the same thing in the Body of Christ today. I would run from this doctrine as fast as my spiritual legs could carry me.

But, did you ever think of the sin that we ourselves commit when we give these preachers money in order to receive a special anointing or anything similar to it? When Simon the sorcerer offered to buy the Holy Spirit from Peter he was answered with sharp rebuke.
Acts: 8:18: And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19: Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
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.
21: Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22: Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Anything that we receive from God cannot be bought with money, it is a sin to think so.

How many of these ministers while teaching their prosperity message tell you that it would be good for you to give your money to the poor? Do they tell you that if you have a poor neighbor that you would be better off to give money to them? God would tell you that, I will tell you that. The TV Evangelist will tell you that God wants you to give to them, that the Lord says so. While they live in million dollar homes, own jet planes and condos they ask for money from the poor and the suffering. They lie to the poor and tell them to give their money to them and when God doesn't give them money and a poor person is to write to them and tell them that it didn't work. You are right. They say you just didn't have enough faith, send us a little more money and we will pray for you. It is a no-lose situation if you are on the butter end of the stick, but it is the poor and the desperate that are buttering that sick without getting a return for it.

The only way you can come out on top in the Word of Faith prosperity message is to become a preacher yourself and tell others to give to you so that they can be blessed. It is a pyramid of preachers getting rich off of the people and leaving them hanging high and dry. This is why so many preachers have become Word of Faith preachers. They are filled with a lust for earthly wealth and have figured out how to get it. And you and I are their source of wealth, not God. If you are a false teacher you may have money and all the wealth in the world, but what you don't have is God's favor and there will be a judgement day at the return of the Lord. Your friends may not tell you this, but you see I love you and the Lord does to. If you are going to help someone with money don't give it to some preacher that is building a kingdom on this earth. Give it to the poor and the needy.

Ye are gods
Jn: 10:34: Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

As born again believers we are responsible for what we believe and teach and will face God in the judgement. All false teachers and prophets will go into the lake of fire. Let us consider what we teach. One such teaching is the teaching that teaches we are gods. When we leave the faith we are no longer protected by Grace.

Kenneth Copeland has taught the following:
That we do not have a god in us but that we are a God.
"You don�t have a God in you. You are one!" - The Force of Love audiotape

That Adam was God manifest in the flesh.
"God's reason for creating Adam was His desire to reproduce Himself. I mean a reproduction of Himself, and in the Garden of Eden He did just that. He was not a little like God. He was not almost like God. He was not subordinate to God even. . . . Adam is as much like God as you could get, just the same as Jesus. . . . Adam, in the Garden of Eden, was God manifested in the flesh."
Following the Faith of Abraham I, side 1

Kenneth Hagin also says, "in the new birth God imparts his very nature, substance and being to our human spirits" and he says that, "every born-again man is an incarnation, as much an incarnation of God as Jesus." He goes further to say that, "the church is Christ. It is the incarnation of Christ, and we need to realize that in order to save the world."
Notice that he said that every born-again man is an incarnation, as much an incarnation of God as Jesus. He goes on to say that the church is Christ. In both cases he is wrong, every born-again man is not an incarnation of God as much as Jesus Christ, neither is the church the incarnation of God or Jesus. This teaching is not just another opinion of the Gospel and to be treated as different strokes for different folks but should be treated as a doctrine of demons and should be shunned and rejected. Those that are teaching this are teaching a doctrine from Satan himself. It is as bad as a Jehovah's witness and should not be allowed in our homes. The teachers of such a doctrine are to be warned of God's coming judgement on their souls for continuing to preach such a thing.

What does the scripture say about human beings being "called" gods?
Jn:10:34: Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35: If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36: Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Strongs Concordance says this about the word "gods" in the New Testament:
gods: 2316 qeovß Theos (theh'-os);
Word Origin: Greek, Noun Masculine, Strong #: 2316
1.a god or goddess,
a general name of deities or divinities
2. the Godhead, trinity
God the Father, the first person in the trinity
Christ, the second person of the trinity
Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
Christ, the second person of the trinity
Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
spoken of the only and true God
3. refers to the things of God
his counsels, interests, things due to him
whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
4. God's representative or viceregent:
of magistrates and judges
The last definition above is the one that is used for what Jesus said about man being called gods, magistrates and judges. he was speaking to the rulers of Israel when he said this. He was not saying that God called all men gods.

Matthew Henry's Commentary says this about this scripture: He called them gods to whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken. The word of God's commission came to them, appointing them to their offices, as judges, and therefore they are called gods, Ex. 22:28. To some the word of God came immediately, as to Moses; to others in the way of an instituted ordinance. Magistracy is a divine institution; and magistrates are God's delegates, and therefore the scripture calleth them gods; and we are sure that the scripture cannot be broken, or broken in upon, or found fault with.

Exodus 22: 28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
Thou shalt not revile the gods, that is, the judges and magistrates, for their executing these laws; they must do their duty, whoever suffer by it. Magistrates ought not to fear the reproach of men, nor their revilings, but to despise them as long as they keep a good conscience; but those that do revile them for their being a terror to evil works and workers reflect upon God himself, and will have a great deal to answer for another day.
Deut:16:18: Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
Judge with just judgment, according to the direction of the law and the evidence of the fact. The judges are here cautioned not to do wrong to any, nor to take any gifts, which would tempt them to do wrong.

Strongs Concordance explains the word "gods" for us in the Old Testament:
gods: 430 ~yhla 'elohiym (el-o-heem'); Noun Masculine, Strong #: 430
(plural) rulers, judges, divine ones, angels, gods.
The word "gods"was used as judges and magistrates five times in the Old Testament

Psalms 82:1 is speaking expressly about judges and how that they will be comdemned and punished for their evil judgments that they are committing against the people and for forgetting God�s righteous judgements.
Psalms 82: 1: God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
2: How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
3: Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4: Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
5: They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
6: I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
7: But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
8: Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

God never said that everyone or that all men were gods, but that the judges and rulers of Israel were called gods because they stood in his place. God held the people responsible to obey them as though a judge or a priest were God himself. This is because they were supposed to judge the people according to the Law of Moses. If the people disobeyed it was to disobey God himself. They were not gods but were called gods.

God called Mammon or the love of money a god because people obey the lust of this god. This god is not real but is called a god by Jesus himself because people obey their lust for money. He called Satan the god of this world, not the god of this earth and there is a difference. God called Satan a god not because he is a god but because people obey him as though he were. This is the same thing with the judges; they were called gods because the people had to obey their commands as though a judge was God himself.

When Satan tempted Eve he planted the thought in her mind that there were more gods than the one true God and that she and Adam could become one as well.
Gen:3:5: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Both Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland teach that we are not living up to the ability that God has given us because we are gods made in the image of God and that we have dominion over all things. Now that Jesus has died for our sins we have been restored to our original status as a god and have dominion over everything. Being restored to our god status we can now create just as God did, speaking things into existence with our words. This is not just a grave error; it is demonic apostasy.
Psalms 8: 4: What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5: For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6: Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8: The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9: O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Gen:1:26: 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 air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28: And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Strongs Concordance has this to say about this word image.
image: 6754 ~lc Tselem (tseh'-lem); Noun Masculine, Strong #: 6754
image, images (of tumours, mice, heathen gods), image, likeness (of resemblance), mere, empty, image, semblance (fig.)
This is not meaning the Express Image of God as in Jesus who was God incarnate. But it does mean that we are made in a likeness or similarity to God.

Hebrews 2: 5: For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6: But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
7: Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
8: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
(The rest of these scriptures reveal some of the things that man have no dominion over while living on this earth. We had no power over the devil but were taken captive by him at his will. Once a person fell into sin it was impossible for them to find forgiveness and deliverance outside of themselves they had to have help; we do not have dominion over these things. We were commanded to be perfect but we could not be perfect in our own strength. Therefor because of this we have dominion over many things in this earth, yet we have no dominion over our own self without God we are defeated and doomed to hell. We could not save ourselves. We had no dominion over our final destiny without God's salvation through the blood of Jesus and faith in him and him alone. We see the solution to this lack of dominion and God's answer for it in the following scriptures.)
9: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10: For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11: For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12: Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
13: And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
14: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
(Question about this scripture might be that some believe that Satan had the keys to death. This is not what this scripture means. He only had the power to draw men into spiritual death by taking them captive at his will. He did not have the power over the death of the body. Only to tempt men to sin and there by cause them to fall into spiritual death such as Adam and condemnation to hell. He only had power through their weakness not because he had taken the keys to death when Adam sinned. 1st Samuel 2: 6: The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. This means that God has always had the power to give or take life and to raise the dead. God did not have to get permission from the devil to raise the dead.)
15: And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16: For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17: Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18: For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

1^st Corinthians chapter 15 goes on to tell us the difference between us and Jesus.
45: And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46: Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47: The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

We are not gods and we are not God Incarnate, we are the children of God by title but are still human beings being saved by the Grace of God that has been given to men. We have the great blessing of having God's Spirit in us but to be God incarnate is much more than having God's Spirit living in you. Jesus was much more than that, he was God living in a human body. We are human beings in a human body with the Spirit of God living in us to direct our steps. This is a vast difference from being God incarnate.

To say that we are God incarnate destroys the deity of Jesus. Jesus was not a person born into this earth with the Spirit of God living in him. He was God clothed upon in this earth with his own personal human body that was given to him and predestined to be his body just as we are given bodies that have been predestined to be our body. He was not a human being living in a human body with God's Spirit in him. We are but he wasn't, he was God living in a human body without anyone else in there. In our bodies we are in there as well as God as long as we have been born again. He was not given a human Spirit. To try and make the incarnation like our human frailness is blasphemy in itself.

Heb:10:5: Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Jesus the second person in the Godhead was given a human body to become the sacrifice for our sins. He lived a perfect life because he was God. His body became the lamb without spot or blemish and carried ours sins to the cross. This is why he had a human body but He was the Son of God come down from Heaven and living in this body that God had prepared for him.

Even in the resurrection we will not become a God but will become little gods in the sense of being judges and rulers. But God will always be God. Even the angels are not God, but are subject to him. It is doubtful that we will ever be given any more power to create or do anything in the world to come except what God himself permits us to do. We will always worship and obey him as the Almighty God that He is. Would a true believer want it any other way? Kenneth Copeland and Kenneth Hagin believe that God is a creature bound by faith laws and that Gods hands are tied unless we step up to the plate and take our positions as gods. This means to use this power that we now have since they believe that we are gods, to speak things into existence by the words of our mouth. Since we are gods we have the power to create and write our destiny with our lips. This is a demonic view of God and his people. We depend on God because we know that he loves us. Any law that he has created does not bind him; there is no stupidity in God.

What about speaking those things that are not as though they are? Didn't Abraham do this?
The truth of the matter is that this is a false teaching. The only person that can create by calling those things that are not as though they are is God himself. The doctrine used by these teachers is taken from Romans 4:17.
17: (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
We must realize that this is not saying that Abraham said this but rather that God said it. It is taken from Genesis 17: 5 where God spoke to Abraham and said, �I have made thee a father of many nations' and repeated in Romans 4 verse 17. The emphasis is that God having said this meant that he was calling those things that were not as though they were in order to give an assurance to the promise. If you will carefully examine the scriptures you will find that Abraham never once made this statement. Had he said this in Genesis there would have been an account of it especially if we are to teach it for a doctrine. Had God intended it for a doctrine for us to use then it would have been found by at least two witnesses in scripture. So, it is evident that only God has the power to create anything with his words.
When God told Abraham that he had made him the father of many nations it was to make it a certainty so that the Jews would realize that God was going to save the Gentiles as well as them. This was to establish that it would happen and that nothing could stop it from happening.

Jude said this:
3: Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4: For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul said this in Galatians the first chapter:
7: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9: As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

But, what about the way they worship God? Doesn't that count for something? Jesus said this:
Matthew 15: 8: This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9: But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

One of the things that create an illusion to us is the worship and praise of the Word of Faith movement. It is a fact that out of this group comes forth a tremendous amount of praise and worship. If it were possible to judge the heart by the amount of praise and worship we would have to say that what they are doing is acceptable to God. But God doesn't judge us according to the amount of praise but according to the heart. Jesus explained that if we teach doctrines that are of our own invention and twist scriptures to prove our teachings that we worship God in vain. We must abide in him and his Words abide in us. If we twist the meaning of scriptures we are taking liberties that we do not have in Christ. Though we may worship God and shout and weep and cry before him if we teach a false teaching our worship is in vain. The only way that we can remain in him is to remain in the truth. And this is the only way that we can worship God is in Spirit and in truth. We must worship in truth as well as in the Spirit. If we are teaching doctrines and expecting others to follow after them then we are in a very precarious position and should carefully examine everything that we teach and preach. The scriptures tell us not to be many teachers because we will be held accountable for it.
James: 3: 1: My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
The meaning of masters in the scripture is teachers. We must love everyone but not at the expense of the truth of God�s Word, his Word is Holy and should be kept that way. For us to change it in any way is to defile and corrupt it from the purity that is in it.

I am sure that God gives us a certain amount of grace in order to repent from our false teachings. But, we can not depend on him allowing us to go on forever without coming to the knowledge of truth. May God bless you and may you gain some knowledge from what I have shared with you. It is only in love and concern that I have said these things. There are many other false teachings that cover the land such as Mormonism, Jehovah's witnesses and others so I am not saying that the Word of Faith people is the worst. It is my concern that the teachings in that movement does not come out of the truth that is found in God's Word and it has been allowed to go unchallenged for around sixty years. This has happened because it seemed to be harmless, just a different point of view. But, now we know that it is much more than this and should be avoided as much as possible. It is like swimming to close to a whirlpool in a river, if you get to close it could pull you down into it and drown you.

Yours in Christ,
Tommie Spurgeon

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