Lets consider what apostle Paul write to his young protege in the faith. Timothy, in 1 timothy ch. 3, which states;
It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?)-- (verses 1-5)
Here we are given a clear instruction from Paul via the holy spirit as to how Christ wants the church to be structured. it is not just a cultural ideal but a permanent mandate, which the church through the ages must adhere too. and it teaches that a man must lead and teach the flock of God.
Notice what the apostles of the Lord also state as being the only measure in preaching;
Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound[ words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. -- 1 timothy 6 :2c-5
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.2 timothy 4 :1-5
The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.--Titus 1 :5-9
And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. --- 2 peter 1 :19 -21
From these texts and other like them in the new testament. We are given a picture of what the elders are meant to be ministering to the flock of God, we are to received nothing more than the divine word of the Lord 100%. and when this command is not lived out by the elders of the church, it becomes obvious that those precious soul to the Lord are being malnourished, and starved of the only source which can build them up and protect them from spiritual and physical attacks, I believe when one deals with the false hood of certain teacher they truly have to tread carefully as not to get caught in the snare.
So now we can give a rather detailed refutation of some of this lady's statements which can be found in a number of her sermons, if we can truly class them as such.
Here is the first example to which I will be examining from the biblical stand point, which is the only manner one can do
"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." proverbs 23 :7.... Now let me give you the literal meaning. as he is all alone in his heart.. so is he at last in act. ..... as I am all alone in heart so I am at last in my action.Alright. that means if you want to change your way of living, you gotta change your way of thinking. . "TURN TO SOMEBODY AND SAY ... I'M CHANGING ABOUT YOU TODAY" ....... The word tells us , "as we are in our heart ... whatevers in my heart is ultimately going to be in my life. if i want to adjust my life, if i want to get out of depression, poverty, bitterness. nobody can make you do anything in life. it becomes a part of a choice, of free will , if i want to adjust my heart i have got to correct my heart So lets say it again, "As I am in the heart.... so I am at long last in act" (sermon, power of thought)
This is a portion of a sermon called "the power of thoughts." the title gives us a pretty clear picture of what this talk will be based on. and this small segment confirms it with a 100 % affirmation, it is about her own life and how her followers can become "a better you." the teaching happens to be total narcissistic. its all self centered
A point which is seen as evidenced by here own comment in capitals and one we must recognize as being anti-biblical in nature.
The rendering/ translation which this lady utilities is the KJV version. which has the ""For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." despite this fact, the context rules out such an abuse
There are, however, a number of points to consider in this small segment, lets lay them out clearly.
Firstly, the passage has been taken out of context and has been fitted with a meaning that is not contextual. here is the context of this proverb.
Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. --- proverb 23 :5-7 , E S V
Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost.“Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. -- proverb 23:5-7, N I V.
From any fair and balanced read of this little section one can gather two things quite clearly, 1) the person hosting the party has an ulterior motive and agenda in what he is doing, perhaps twisted and sinister. and 2) there is nothing in this about this power of thought ideal, where you change our own position and reflect a more decent attitude.
The worst thing about this is that this lady's understanding has no basis in the text. whatsoever, it is being read into it from an external source of authority, and sadly these followers of hers are buying it hook, line and sinker.
Secondly, if she wants the bible to be about her or anyone else in her congregation (not that i would call it that) then perhaps there is something which could apply, notice these passages;
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.--Romans 1 :18 -20
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. --1 timothy 1 :3 -7
What this female preacher is teaching is a combination of self-help/law of attraction mixed with a little snippet of the gospel. Which is always twisted to fit her concepts and law based ideology, not Gods law but her own kind of law. but what we should note is that this all comes from an ungodly mentality and focus.
And as such she has no excuse for her rejection of Gods word at the point of her supposed gifting, and teaching falsehood
Thirdly, if this scripture can be used to to tell us something about mankind. It would be the same thing the rest of te scripture attests too, lets give a few examples
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.-- genesis 6 :5-8
Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” genesis 8 :20 -22
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” -- Jeremiah 17 :9-10
It is the concensus of the old and new testament that the heart of a man is evil beyond dispute. everything the unregenerate man does is due to his own selfish fulfillment, there is no true good in him, even the subjective good things he does are full of corruption.so where does this leave us with what this lady is trying to push in this sermon of hers. telling us we can change our mind set. the scriptures tell us that "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil." meaning the corrupt nature of man remains in a man till his dying day unless God does something to remedy it, otherwise the heart remain defiled and unable to please God.
Here is the second example to which I will examine;
"leviticus 23:1-2,27. If it is important to God it must be important to me. God is a God of patterns, precepts and principals so through out his word, he has established certian thing which he holds sacred throughout all eternity (meaning no limitationsto time)"..... "it must become a fundamental, a foundation in our life. If it is important to God it must be important to us. it's havest time. which is a season we are entering into, both prophetically and literally. (sermon, I am prepared)
Here is the second portion from her "I am prepared" sermon where this lady seeked to give her understanding of another biblical text, but in doing so showed that she does not understand the basic principals of exegesis. as she made a beautiful text from the old testament more a shrine to her false ideology.
bare in mind one basic truth of the bible as we go forth with our examination and that is "the bible is not about Paula nor is about us"
Firstly, The text is from the levitical laws, chapter 23. let us consider the sections very breifly so we ascertain the point behind them.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts -- leviticus 23 :1-2
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the Lord. And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people. And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.” --- leviticus 23 : 26 -32
It should be noted that that the importance of this whole chapter lies in the fact that God was be honor through a function he himself set up as a way to give the Israelites an understanding of who he was. and just the glory that is his alone, but here is the thing these acts were to be considered a sign, a shadow of the greater glory to come.so much for this lady's word "we can not treat it as if it is a preference." as the whole system was nothing more than a symbol pointing to the true atonement which God himself would provide by his son. More importantly, is the fact that these act were never put in place to help selfish people like this one believe there own hype. So rather than allowing the context speak it's own truth, we have a false teacher shoe horning in some self centered idea. and it is not getting any where real fast.
Secondly, the new testament gives much more information on the unique point of veiw behind the old testament sacrifices, notice what is said;
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions,puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. -- colossians 2 :16 -19
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. -- Hebrews 9 :11-15
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. .....And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ[b] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. --- Hebrews 10 :1-4, 11-14.
The argument being given here is that the atonement in Christ is far superior than those of the old covenant. for they were mere representations of the one that God would bring to fulfillment in Christ. the thing to see in this is while the old were vital for the understand of God true intent in Christ, they were not by nature what Christ's atonement is. as they were not truly redemptive and had to be done continually.Therefore, Paula's idea of it being something Christian should continue is somehow lacking any support. and should be discarded as being false teachings
The real truth is that Paula has to find such statements to base her false ideas around. which are nothing more than the word of faith repackaged and sold
Thirdly, we should also inquire as to why she chose to ignore these sections from Leviticus 23-24, take note of these;
Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places.-- Leviticus 23 :3
“Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Whoever takes an animal's life shall make it good, life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death. You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the Lord your God.” So Moses spoke to the people of Israel, and they brought out of the camp the one who had cursed and stoned him with stones. Thus the people of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses.--- Leviticus 24 :17 -23
One must ask if one old testament ideal is permanent for all Christians to follow. without recognizing its true importance to the atonement in Christ, then does this lady teach that we must keep the Sabbath or keep the commandment an eye for an eye. If not then why not, since it is her appeal to following a specific commandment from the old testament.
Or are we seeing an inconsistent pattern in this lady's understanding, for a true Christ we need to allow all the old and new testament to speak its own truths,
Here is the third example to which i will examine;
"One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” --- Jesus proposed a proposition to the man. he said, "will you be made whole." are you ready fr your miracle, are you ready for what i have been waiting to release in your life. are you ready for the transformation .... there is so much richness and depth in this text to disect and discern. that it is easy to get it distorted and to lose focus of our faith and what God wants to say.I could go into detail on each verse and illuminate what it teaches but that's not my assignment this day (sermon, pursue the passion)
In this example we have a great testimony to the fact that this mindset is such a dangerous place for any Christian to even be caught, they must forsake her and totally abandon her as she is not deliver a God honoring sermon but devil honoring sermon.
Best to keep in mind what happened to the first parents in the garden. after the serpent deceives them both, "you'll become like God." this is no different.
There are however, a number of thing one must realize in this objection styled serrmon of paula white
Firstly, notice these words of this lady's "I could go into detail on each verse and illuminate what it teaches but that's not my assignment this day"
This is a clear admission that exegesis is not her main focus in her speeches. perhaps because she can not actually go into the text as she is spiritually dumb and blind (not physical), like many of her companion "word of faith" teachers. and when she says "that's not my assignment" what this means is that she is not doing what God desires. She must know all the biblical mandates on being the under-shepherd of the high shepherd Jesus. we are to have the bible preached systematical and exegetically.
Hence this lady pastor (who has no biblical right for being one) is not being biblical in her preaching.
one passage from the beginning of this article which I will reproduce here;
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.2 timothy 4 :1-5
Here is Paul command to his young protege timothy where in he lays out what he sees as being the most important point for the church to be focused upon "I will give you this charge : preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season." this means that the church must be 100% in the word, preaching and teaching it all the days of our lives. also notice Paul says this, "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." such people are only wanting to hear that which is in accord to their own nature sinful living.
Secondly, does Jesus words to this man in john 5 lend to the idea that everyone will have a miracle like this, Is the bible just a play pen for our desires;
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” --- John 5 : 1-17
This passage as a whole is not speaking to some bogus idea of "you're going to get your miracle." in fact, the only biblical honoring, and God glorifying approach to this text, is the truth in that the gospel has nothing to do with us (we may be given a gracious gift of salvation) but the real truth is this; the gospel is about Christ, it is Christ all the way. God sent his son Jesus to die for man yes, but the result of this that God the triune being is glorified in and through this magnificent truth.
And here in this passage it is no different this miracle was an evidence (if you will) of his true uniqueness. that being, Jesus is the real center of this passage. in fact, these words "My Father is working until now, and I am working" and also "This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." In these words we find a clue .. his signs were the evidence of his unique relationship to the father, in that he is also God by nature like the father and the holy spirit is.
Thirdly, the further discourse of Jesus words in john 5 further develops this truth, even more to the point it can not be ignored;
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me -- john 5 :19 -30
Here in this section of scripture we have the most in-depth explanation of the previous verses, the demonstration in the first 16 verses, and his initial reason in verse 17. which the leaders took to mean a special kind of unity between the father and his son (who became the person of Jesus).A point to make mention of here is that when Jesus states, "i can do nothing of my own" does not mean he is not God by nature, it just means this unity is so deep in the Godhead, trinity. that it reveals itself in the persons in different points such as in periods of the incarnation and the indwelling of the spirit.they are not renegade deities from the father but that one true divinity called God, all three persons are.
Here is the fourth example to which i will examine;
"Matthew 1:18 -25. (focus on verse 23) I don't care what you feel like. how alone you felt, how many people walked out on you, what your business is facing, what your check book looks like, what your doctors report is. God is with us. when you begin to say "Immanuel." you are literally saying 'with us is God' i want you to look at your neighbor call them by name -----. and say , excuse me, but you have to know; God is with you. Let them know..... there is nothing to difficult for God. the doctor says cancer; God says healing. the back balance says nil; God over flowing with money. husband say he does not love you; God says i will restore. the wive's nasty; God i'll change her heart. the children are rebellious; God says i will snatch them way. there's nothing to difficult for God. (sermon, God is with us)
In this example we see this lady has not even given a exegetical presentation of the passage, nor given any reason to trust what she has offered instead of a contextual exegesis. the problem is this : her sermon is totally self centered and not God centered. which means the followers are not being feed spiritually.
rather than being able withstand spiritual attacks, they will fall apart. and they will blame God and not Paula
There are a few points which need to seen in this ;
Firstly, the whole demeanor of this statement, "i don't care about your ..." is some what misguided and out of place;
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 peter 5 :1-5
We should do well to note the words "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight" the first word "shepherd" is the translation of the Greek word poimainó which holds the idea of caring for those under your watch. this mean in two sense, fistly, by ministering the word of God faithfully .. exegeting the scriptures in order to allow the sheep to be fed spiritually. and secondly, to maintain them in all situations person and biblical count
Next, we have this word "exercising oversight" which is the translation of the Greek word episkopeó this holds the mean of to care for, visit. therefore by the words of peter an elder's duty is to minister the word of God and care with great concern for those under his care.
Secondly, when since has Christ's birth held some kind of hidden ideal that it was really about you and I , in one sense it is possible to say that his birth and death was for his elect people. but it is a stretch to say because of his birth that God has blessed us in every imaginable way.. notice her words;
"when you begin to say "Immanuel." you are literally saying 'with us is God' i want you to look at your neighbour, call them by name -----. and say , excuse me, but you have to know; God is with you. Let them know..... there is nothing to difficult for God."
The self centredness of this claim is beyond all comprehension .. she is basically stating that Jesus birth was a way that God could arrange for all our worries to vanish. but this is not the biblical truth. the bible tells Christ purpose to bring glory to God through redeeming a particular people who do not deserve such grace. We all deserve death as we are vile and wretched sinners.
next she states this important focus;
The doctor says cancer; God says healing. the back balance says nil; God over flowing with money. husband say he does not love you; God says i will restore. the wive's nasty; God i'll change her heart. the children are rebellious; God says i will snatch them way. there's nothing to difficult for God.God never once promised to do things like fill your bank with a limitless amount of cash, or help your with any other problem you may be facing. When God performs a miracle it is not about the one whom he does it for. it is a sign of the true living God is here and will reign indespite of our veiws. he is sovereign Lord of all things.
the bible tells us not to be a people who seek after the worldly contempment but to be content with what God has blessed with, the true blessing that counts is that Christ has redeemed us
Thirdly, now we have refuted this lame attempt at perverting this passage, what is it really about. well we only need to consult the context;
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
The key to understanding this passage is in the one word term ... "Gospel." as this passage introduce the good news in two ways, the first is in the unique term "Immanuel" which means God with us. here is Matthew point of the incarnation of the God man, Jesus which John delves into with more understanding.and secondly in the last words of the angel of the lord this we get the real purpose of Christs coming "do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” he came to redeem man from sin and reconcile them God the father.
Here is the fifth example to which i will examine;
""Luke 2 :41-52." -- (focus on vs 52) and you know you gotta get an authority on you because there's a real anointing here tonight. i want you to get the person next to you and just call it out, and insert where it says "Jesus" with another name. 'and ..... increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man'. turn to somebody you haven't talk too, see your making a declaration in the spirit. you're sending out the utterance of God, say it. look at somebody you better celebrate, don't hate when i'm favored ...... favor isn't just an experience, it's a divine overflow that takes you from your present season to your destined position. to the place where God wants you to be.... you'll never complete a God assignment without his favor its his seal of approval. the moment your born again he loves you unconditionally, he accepts you unconditionally." (sermon, knowing the favor of God)
This message wreaks of a deception of a grand scale that is undeniably man-centered, the main focus seems to be based on a false reading of Luke 2. God just want to be a slave to your unnumbered desires. and you just don't know who or what your worth really is in Gods sight. since he is nothing more than a genie in a bottle who wants to grant you your desires.
The sad reality is that none of these followers of this lady will ever know who God is. truly, because they are being sold a false concept.
Let us consider just what this statement is trying to say to us;
Firstly, in these words "inset, where it says Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." to make this about oneself is very self deluded;
And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
These words can never be applied to anyone else but the Lord Jesus Christ.and for anyone one to try is simply ridiculous and absurd contextually speaking to apply them to anyone else it mental gymnastics and an eisegetical invasion. We must note a few points. a) this took place in Jerusalem. b) this was a demonstration of Jesus' true nature and the fact that the law was about him alone. c) it is Jesus who alone is said to be increased in 3 ways, not you or your congregation. Therefore, one must conclude that this is simply a false application that this lay is making just to get some buzz from her crowd of false believers.
Secondly, Why is these "name and claim it." power of thought motivators believe everything in the bible is about themselves, then ass it off as a sign of greatness in their awake.Notice what this lady states;
Turn to somebody you haven't talk too, see your making a declaration in the spirit. you're sending out the utterence of God, say it. look at somebody you better celebrate, dont hate when i'm favoured...
This response is very interesting for us to note as it makes the point very clear. these types of motivational leader are a clear danger to true Christian, spewing out venomous lies such as "declaration in the spirit, utterance of God." this is so delusional in a sense as nothing in the foregoing text can even be promoted in the manner she is forcing it to be.
The word thing comes in this little mantra, "you better celebrate, dont hate because i am favored" this leads one to conclude that she is self deceived by his own hype that she does not recognize reality. she might as well dance around. proclaiming to be a god like Satan says to eve in genesis 3 "you can become a God."
Thirdly, one should also consider just what the heart of these words are that she speaks next.
Favor isn't just an experience, it's a divine overflow that takes you from your present season to your destined position. to the place where God wants you to be.... you'll never complete a God assignment without his favor, its his seal of approval. the moment your born again he loves you unconditionally, he accepts you unconditionally "
It's true that favor is a powerful thing which God bestows upon his own people, the redeemed in Christ, the elect. However, that does not mean these people listening to this lady's poison has received it. It is also true to an extent that it is his favor that can take you from one place to another, such as being in a war torn place preaching the gospel to a place where you are free from such affliction, but one must never equate it with earthly success and the trimmings as this is against God .
Having said this, we must also recognize that it is also God's favor that keeps us in a place of stability, and by his grace and mercy we are enabled to give our all to his course.but one must inquire into her ideal of being born again to find out what she means.
At this point we must ask 'does this lady actually know what the term "born again" means or is she using it in a loose sense to make her self sound right? '
CONCLUSION
This brings me to the final point in this article which is just to make one or two biblical points upon what I have demonstrated in the above examination. Firstly, the bible teaches us on many occasions to "be aware of false teachers" who teacher destructive heresies and contradictory things. not only to what the word of God clearly teaches but also to some extent to each other and themselves.Secondly, we are to hold fast to what is true and test all thing to see if it is in accord to sound doctrine and morals. And on this point these teachers are not being biblical consistent.
I believe a scripture is warranted in this area;
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn-bushes or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
A common trait in such deceivers as the "word of faith" movement is that they believe in some way, shape or form that they are receiving new revelation from God about some unknown or some forgotten principal. Which may be or may not be God's purpose in peoples lives even with this lady it is unmistakable. Recall what she said about the Luke 2 statement above. that is is not just about Jesus but also has some transforming link to each person in her congregation. as Matthew says "You will recognize them by their fruit." and here is no exception, her teachings are rotten and deceptive in nature.
