Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Do You Judge Word of Faith?


John R. Houk
© December 27, 2017

Jyrki Soini has been a great Internet friend for some time. Jyrki knows that my Christian persuasion derives from Pentecostal-Charismatic-Word of Faith. Which tends to be non-denominationally Protestant yet not always. Indeed, there are some denominational Protestants and Roman Catholics that have incorporated Charismatic faith into their belief system understanding the issue is merely recognizing Holy Spirit Baptism (The Holy Spirit and His Gifts – Chapter 5 The Holy Spirit Upon: His Infilling Power; By Kenneth E. Hagin) and the operation of the Holy Spirit gifts are as significant today as they were when first manifested after Pentecost in the Upper Room.

There is a large swath of Christians so offended by the operation of the Holy Spirit that those Christians have called it “of the devil” or “demonic” or “Satanic”. In a bit of irony there are Pentecostals that call Charismatics excessive hence heretical. There Word of Faith people that say the same as Pentecostals about Charismatics yet are displeased with the Pentecostal tendency toward exclusivity. On a personal level, I tend to identify with Word of Faith which is no more heretical than the Bible is. I guess Jews that don’t believe Jesus is the Messiah and Muslims that acknowledge Jews and Christians as deluded folk, would consider dependence on the Bible as heretical.

To be honest there is an extremely valid reason for the existence of Word of Faith criticism from those that have taken on the role of defender of the faith.

Those that awakened to the efficacy of the Word of God (the Bible) believe the Bible is as present TODAY as it ever has been. Word of Faith simply means acting on the Word as a lifestyle belief system. The difficulty of taking a stand to live the Bible is it requires discipline and a steadfastness.

Way too many people that have taken on the Word of Faith mantle have become lazy Believers. The lazy person is too willing to rely on the actions of others which may not be centered on the Bible but are motivated by the old fashioned unredeemed Old Man flesh. The lazy Believer thus believes the person that warps the Word for self-benefit. You can believe this: You don’t have to be a big-name preacher to manipulate a lazy Believer with a warped sense of the Word of God.

The original founders of the Word of Faith preach Faith in the Word which did include a prosperity message. For lazy Believers prosperity in the Word began to line up Biblical warping. Thus second-tier leaders of faith found a way to make a buck off the backs of the lazy who would believe anything to acquire a quick fix for a dire financial situation. PERHAPS even incurring their dire financial circumstances purposely out of the idiocy that they believed God would fix their mess-up.

The self-appointed defenders of the faith thus fell from being centered on the Bible by lumping the faithful with 2nd tier faith preachers who shared the Bible more as business rather than as a gift to spread the Good News that Jesus the Christ came in the guise of sinless flesh to be Crucified as the sacrificial Lamb of God to Redeem all humanity that choose to believe Christ died for them and three days later, arose bodily as fully human and fully God by faith enabling Believers to rejoin the Presence of God lost by the disobedience of Adam and Eve.

The Apostle Paul writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit about a similar situation of preachers sharing Jesus for gain, contrasting good preachers sharing the gift of Redemption in Christ:

[Blog Editor: Disciplined Life]

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Christ Is Preached

12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 The former[a] preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1: 9-18 NKJV)

Now there are some Bible-believing preachers that chose a Christ-lifestyle of faith in God’s Word that came from some fairly poverty-stricken circumstances. These people did not “blab and grab” or “name and claim” as their critics point out with the planks in their eyes. Rather they learned a disciplined life of trust in God through Christ and professed a life that fit the circumstances they faced. The true meaning of confession brings possession is not greed, but the bringing about the purposes that bring people to Salvation in the Risen Savior Jesus Christ.

As the demand increased for a faith preacher to share the Good News of Jesus, plenty answered the and began to emerge for those hungered to receive ministry as provision came into existence to build the redeemed. Some of these early faith preachers who did awesome work for Christ are some of the most criticized by the self-appointed defenders of the faith.

Let’s look at the person called the father of the Word of Faith movement by critics and admirers alike – Kenneth E. Hagin. I was Born Again under the teaching books that came from Kenneth Hagin, Charles Capps and Kenneth Copeland. Hagin and Capps have since passed on to glory (regardless of their judgmental critics). Ken Copeland is still going strong. In the mid-1970s when I read their books and comparing their teaching with the Bible, I departed a life devoted to sin (although I had no conviction of sin until I realized I was living in darkness) and decided to be a pilgrim progressing in the knowledge of a Salvation provided by the Redeemer lighting the way to the Presence of God.

Here is a Ken Hagin biography devoid of his critics who have judged him a preacher of Satan rather than Christ:

Biography Of Kenneth E. Hagin
September 16, 2016

Kenneth Erwin Hagin was an influential American Charismatic preacher born on August 20, 1917 in McKinney, Texas to the family of Lillie Viola Drake Hagin and Jess Hagin. He was so small and lifeless that the doctor thought that he was stillborn.

Personal Life

He was married to Oretha Rooker. They had two children, a son, Kenneth Wayne Hagin, who is presently the pastor of Rhema Bible Church and President of Kenneth Hagin Ministries, and a daughter, Patricia Harrison. She is the widow of the late Doyle “Buddy’ Harrison and is the owner and publisher of Harrison House, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

According to Hagin’s testimony, he was sickly as a child, suffering from a deformed heart and what was believed to be an incurable blood disease. He became bedfast at age 15 and was not expected to live. In April 1933 during a dramatic conversion experience, he reported dying three times in 10 minutes, each time seeing the horrors of hell and then returning to life. But in August 1934, he was miraculously healed, raised off a deathbed by the power of God and the revelation of faith in God’s Word. Jesus appeared to Rev. Hagin eight times over the next several years in visions that changed the course of his ministry.

Two years later he preached his first sermon as the pastor of a small community church in Roland, Texas, 9 miles from McKinney.

In 1967, he began a regular radio broadcast that continues today as Rhema for Today.

His favorite scripture was Mark 11:23: “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith”.

Many of his followers often called him “Dad Hagin”, “Papa Hagin”, and more commonly “Brother Hagin”. He is also often referred to as the “father” (or “granddaddy”) of the “Word of Faith” movement. Hagin never received any formal theological training, however, he received an honorary doctorate from Oral Roberts University in the 1970s.

Ministry

Hagin began an itinerant ministry as a Bible teacher and evangelist in 1949. He was also a part of the Voice of Healing Revival in the U.S. in the 40s and 50s together with Oral Roberts, Gordon Lindsay and T. L. Osborn. In 1963, Kenneth E. Hagin Evangelistic Association was incorporated, and in 1966, the ministry offices moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. That same year, he taught for the first time on radio — on KSKY in Dallas. In 1967, he began a regular radio broadcast that continues today as Faith Seminar of the Air. Teaching by his son, Rev. Kenneth Wayne Hagin, is also heard on the program.

Since its inception in 1963, his organization grew to include numerous media outreaches and ministries. These are:

§  Faith Library Publications – with 65 million book copies in circulation

§  “RHEMA Praise” – a weekly television program on the Trinity Broadcasting Network

§  “Faith Seminar of the Air” – a radio program heard on many stations nationwide and on the Internet

§  “The Word of Faith” – a free monthly magazine with roughly 600,000 subscribers

§  crusades conducted throughout the nation

§  RHEMA Correspondence Bible School

§  the RHEMA Prayer and Healing Center, located on the Rhema campus in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

RHEMA Bible Training College

In 1974 Rev. Hagin founded what is now Rhema Bible Training College (RBTC). RBTC is an unaccredited Bible institute located on 110 acres (0.45 km2) in Broken Arrow, a suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. The curriculum is taught from a Charismatic/Pentecostal heritage. There are seven ministry concentrations specializing in Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Evangelism, Pastoral Care, Missions, Biblical Studies, and Supportive Ministry.

The school has campuses in many countries of the world including Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, the South Pacific, Thailand, Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, and the Philippines.

RBTC also has over 40,000 graduates who reside and minister in more than 100 countries.

In 1979, he founded the Prayer and Healing Center there to provide a place for the sick to come to “have the opportunity to build their faith.” Its Healing School continues to be held free of charge twice daily on the RHEMA campus.

After Kenneth E. Hagin’s death in 2003, his son Kenneth W. Hagin continued to run the RBTC.

See List Of Books By Kenneth Hagin [Blog Editor: I received a warning from Google the link https://www.believersportal.com/list-books-kenneth-e-hagin/ has too many redirects to be trusted in my browser. Ergo, here is a direct link to examine Kenneth E. Hagin books: https://www.rhema.org/store/books.html?author=9]

Others

Until shortly before his death on September 19, 2003 at the age of 86, Rev. Hagin continued to travel and teach throughout the United States and into Canada conducting All Faiths’ Crusades and other special meetings. Known as the “father of the modern faith movement,” Rev. Hagin was a dynamic preacher, teacher, and prophet. His teachings and books are filled with vivid stories that show God’s power and truth working in his life and the lives of others. He will be remembered not only as a great minister but as a great family man—for his family was his heart. He was there at every milestone ready to talk, to answer, to pray. He was a man whose belly laugh filled the room at the sight of one of his grandchildren or great-grandchildren.

In full disclosure, I am a graduate of RHEMA attending from 1982 – 1984. In those days the school’s name was RHEMA Bible Training Center. At the present many classes have been cleared as credited for further college education (much like a Junior or Community College) with the name of RHEMA Bible Training College.

In the days I attended school, Brother Hagin taught students personally – two days a week for first year students and three days a week for second year students.

I have to tell you. Kenneth Hagin always told the students to NOT take his word for anything but check it out with the Bible. And, Hagin realized that human beings are fallible. With fallibility comes opinionated conclusions that might not line up with the Word of God. Hence, one of Kenneth Hagin’s favorite sayings when listening to anyone preaching or teaching – including himself – was this: “Be as smart as an old cow. Eat the hay and spit out the sticks.”

In case you miss the meaning: Take in what is good for you and spit out what is bad for you using the Bible as your measuring stick. In computer programing talk one might say, “Good Programing produces good results. Garbage Programming produces garbage results.”

By the time I graduated in 1984, Brother Hagin and his teaching staff recognized the message of faith in the Word of God was beginning to be abused by too many who used the Word to manipulate people for selfish ends. He actually had a class which I unfortunately can’t remember its course title now, but explored past preachers that utilized faith to win souls or heal the sick. Many of these past preachers started out awesome but wrong choices or bad decisions warped their good beginnings with unfortunate endings. 1984 was a long time ago I’ll address some of those giants of faith that I can remember but certainly not all.

John Alexander Dowie 1847-1907

Dowie was born in Scotland. He became a devoted Christian in childhood. The Dowie family moved to Australia. As an adult he went back to Scotland for a theological education. After which he moved back to Australia. His ministry became focused on divine healing.

After a while the John Alexander Dowie family moved to the USA with a successful healing ministry.

Historically, Dowie is an important figure in the divine healing movement of the last two centuries. David Harrell, who chronicled the healing revivals in America, calls Dowie “the father of healing revivalism in America.”2 This title does not imply that Dowie was the sole originator of the modern healing revival, but rather that his influence was so widespread that he is deserving of the title “father.” Dayton acknowledges that Dowie was a major source of Pentecostal doctrines of healing and that these doctrines grew out of the already existent Holiness teaching yet “being restated in a more distinctly Pentecostal vein.”3 While the Holiness teachings on healing from Charles Cullis, Boardman, A. B. Simpson, Gordon, and Andrew Murray played a role in the Pentecostal ministry of healing, none had quite the same effect as Dowie. Those who were influenced by Dowie include: F. F. Bosworth, John G. Lake, Charles Parham, and Lilian B. Yeomans, as well as various missionaries who went around the world with Dowie’s theological perspective on healing. Bosworth, Lake, and others later joined the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles. Walter Hollenweger estimates that Dowie “exercised a considerable influence to the early Pentecostal movement.”4

Through the establishment of his International Divine Healing Association, Dowie was able to spread his teachings throughout America and around the world. In a 1892 publication titled, Talks with Ministers being Two Addresses on Divine Healing, Dowie introduces his theology of healing based on two “cardinal” doctrines.

First – That ‘Jesus, the Christ, is the same yesterday, to-day [sic] and forever,’ and being so, He is unchanged in power and in will. Second – That Disease, like Sin, is God’s enemy, and the devil’s work, and can never be God’s will. Peter said in the household of the Centurion Cornelius, Acts 10:38: ‘God anointed Jesus Christ with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good and HEALING ALL THAT WERE OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL, for God was with Him.’7 These two doctrines are the foundation of Dowie’s theology of divine healing.


The element of faith was important for Dowie, for he would not pray for one who did not believe in divine healing.11 However, the focus was never on faith, but on God. Dowie writes, “While faith is a very precious grace, yet it is only the medium of the communication of God’s infinite love and power, and we must never put it in the place of God, Himself.”12 Dowie was so adamant about this that he shunned the term “faith healing,” in preference of “divine healing,” because it is healing by God, and not faith. Theologically, he expresses it as, “Divine Healing, or ‘Healing through Faith in Jesus;’ not healing BY faith, but THROUGH faith; through faith in Jesus, by the power of God.”13 Faith, prayers, laying on of hands all have Christ as their focus, because in Dowie’s theological scheme, Christ is the healer.


His two cardinal doctrines are valid, but they are not without criticism. The first doctrine, that Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever is not refutable. This is the stronger of his two doctrines. If the gift of healing is to be claimed, it is much more clear to state that this gift is often manifested by the Spirit, but it is as He wills. Dowie’s theology is better yet. It places the focus on the Lord as the one who heals. This also keeps the sick person’s attention on the Healer and not the instrument.

Dowie’s second doctrine, that sickness is evil, an effect of sin and a work of the Devil, is plausible, but Dowie goes far to the extreme. I concede that sickness is a result of sin, and that it is a work of the Devil.  Sin hinders relationship with God, while sickness does not. Granted, sickness is a result of sin, but the two are not the same. Thus, it is still plausible that God could allow some one to remain sick for a higher purpose. READ ENTIRETY (John Alexander Dowie – The Father of Healing Revivalism in America; By Derek Vreeland; HopeFaithPrayer.com)

The above excerpt paints a rosy picture of Dowie with only a bit of criticism. Unfortunately, the man who plugged into what the Bible says about a divine health lifestyle, allowed selfish pride, self-aggrandized power and a lifestyle suggesting greed to overtake him.

Dowie was of the opinion that government should be operated as a theocracy based on Biblical tenets. That sounds altruistically great to the Biblical Christian. However, Dowie’s theocracy, just as many past and present theocracies, when managed by man or men (how’s that for some good old-fashioned chauvinism? 😊) execute a governance that is flawed. The only theocracy that will ever be effective will be when King Jesus returns to fully complete the Redemption of all that is on Earth.

Dowie founded a suburb city outside of Chicago called Zion City. The formation of Zion was with good motives, but men called the shots and Dowie received all the benefits of power. What’s the old saying about “power”:


Power corrupted Dowie:

One of the most interesting Christian biographies is that of John Alexander Dowie. His biography reveals how a person can stray from God’s plan for our lives He was obviously a servant of God who led thousands of people to receive salvation and healing; but in the latter part of his life Dowie’s activities were not so focused on serving the will of God. He strayed from the path.

Building an earthly kingdom. One of the most obvious mistakes made by Dowie was that he did not stick with his original calling. One example of this is the city of Zion, which he began to build in the latter part of his life. He began to build an earthly kingdom instead of concentrating on his original calling: salvation and healing. Before that, he was for a brief period of time active in politics.


Dowie’s mistake was that when he began to build an earthly kingdom, his spiritual work died down. He did not remember that we have been called to spread the Gospel, not to found the kingdom of God on the Earth too early.

The wrong illusions about himself. The errors of Dowie did not end with his attempt to build an earthly kingdom. In addition to the building, he began to imagine that he was Elijah. This took place when some people talked to him about the issue. He dismissed the idea at first, just as he was supposed to do, but it stuck in his mind to develop, until he finally accepted it, received it and proclaimed it truth. Later on he also proclaimed himself as the first apostle, which is a perfect example of strayed thinking. 

Criticizing others. One of Dowie’s faults in the latter part of his life was that he began to criticize other servants of God. He began to attack them and his sermons became mere criticizims [sic] of his enemies. He was especially hostile towards Maria Woodworth-Etter, through whom thousands of people had been saved and healed. He preached against Etter whenever he had the opportunity, even though he had supported her before and said that her actions were from God.
   
There are probably three reasons for Dowie’s behaviour and his criticizing others, a pattern of behaviour into which many others have lapsed.

Jealousy is probably one reason why some begin to criticize others. 


The wrong gift of distinguishing between spirits is the second reason why some begin criticizing others


The lack of love. The third reason for criticizing is simply a lack of love. The atmosphere towards those who think outside the box and towards official Christianity is always critical and judgmental in places where there is a lack of love. In these cases, attention is paid to unessential issues and differences between people, but appreciation of people is forgotten.  READ ENTIRETY (Matter From Guidance: CHAPTER 7 - The biographies teach; By Jari Iivanainen; Jari Iivanainen’s Websites)

If you choose to join the critics of people that began with listening to God then are blinded by the self of the flesh or choose a wrong path because the self listens to flattery, then remember this:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7: 1-5 NKJV)

Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes about sex-sin not dealt with among the Congregation of Believers. If one horribly misses God, one is separated from God’s Presence. If the “miss” is bad enough, I am convinced what Paul wrote about sex-sin could happen to anyone:

And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.[a] (1 Corinthians 5: 2-5 NKJV)

William Branham 1909-1965 - was a bit in the same boat of being tune with God Biblically yet going off into the ditch later in life:

Note: Some consign William Branham to 'false prophet' status, giving him a rather ruthless historical review. This is a kinder, balanced text that does not skimp on his errors. A friend whom I know who lived during the Latter Rain movement and observed it's fall into heresy, and who was not a disciple of Branham, have testified to me that this may be the best brief review of Branham's life they have ever read.


William Branham was an evangelist this century who was mightily used of God for a number of years. In fact, there can be little doubt that he was endued with power to a degree that has rarely been seen since the days of the apostles. And there is still a great deal of controversy surrounding his life, death and teachings. To some of his most ardent followers (who are still around today), he seemed to assume almost semi-divine status, a damaging and tragic fallacy that has frightened many sound Christians away from studying his life. On the other hand, even in his heyday some believers were skeptical [sic] and suspicious of the tremendous power and unusual signs and miracles that accompanied his ministry. There can be little doubt that Branham went astray in his ministry in the latter part of his life. (The fact that God took him home early, and that the cause of death was a car-crash in which his body became horribly tangled in the wreck, though he lingered on for a few more days - bears this out). However, it is my belief, and the belief of many who have studied his life, that in his early years he was one of the most anointed men of God that has ever lived in modern times.

As Gordon Lindsay wrote in his 1952 biography of Branham's early life and ministry:  "The story of the life of William Branham is so out of this world and beyond the ordinary that were there not available a host of infallible proofs which document and attest its authenticity, one might well be excused for considering it far-fetched and incredible." (G. Lindsay, 'William Branham - A man sent from God', pg 9). Even his birth and childhood had unusual aspects to them. Born in 1909 in Kentucky, his family soon shifted to the state of Indiana, where they eventually settled not far from Jeffersonville. Branham's family were the "poorest of the poor". 


Afterwards when Branham was baptizing 130 converts in the Ohio River, a heavenly light, like a blazing star, appeared above him just as he was about to baptize the seventeenth person. This was witnessed by the vast 4000-strong congregation that stood on the banks of the river looking on. Some of them ran for fear, while others shouted or fainted. A report of this unusual event appeared in the local newspaper shortly afterwards. It has also been reported that a voice spoke from within the light, saying, "As John the Baptist was sent to forerun the first coming of the Lord, so you are sent to forerun His second coming..."  What is certain is that a heavenly light was seen, and it seems likely also that something along these lines was spoken over him.


The amazing thing about this series of seven visions is that they were given at a time (June 1933) when Branham had no way at all of coming to these conclusions through mere guesswork. In 1933 Germany was by no means ready for war, Russia was by no means a dominant world power, and Communism was a relatively minor force in the world. Some of the details given in the visions were just too extraordinary to pass off as mere coincidence. (See 'The Acts of the Prophet' by Pearry Green, pg 48-51, for a fuller description). Also, the fact is that these visions were given to an uneducated, simple man in the back-blocks of Indiana, a man who had little understanding at all of political complexities. And the fact that at least five of these visions have now been precisely fulfilled, means that we should surely take the others seriously also.


"Now, coming through the light, I saw the feet of a man coming toward me, as naturally as you would walk to me. He appeared to be a man who, in human weight, would weigh about two hundred pounds, clothed in a white robe. He had a smooth face, no beard, dark hair down to his shoulders, of rather dark-complexion, with a very pleasant countenance, and coming closer, his eyes caught with mine. Seeing how fearful I was, he began to speak. 'Fear not. I am sent from the Presence of Almighty God to tell you that your peculiar life and your misunderstood ways have been to indicate that God has sent you to take a gift of divine healing to the peoples of the world. IF YOU WILL BE SINCERE, AND CAN GET THE PEOPLE TO BELIEVE YOU, NOTHING SHALL STAND BEFORE YOUR PRAYER, NOT EVEN CANCER.'" (Pg 76-77).

The angel told Branham that he would now have two special signs or gifts operating in his life, given to him by God. The first would enable him to detect or discern illnesses in people - a visible violent reaction in his left hand which would make it red and swollen whenever it came into contact with sickness. The second sign would be a gift that would enable him to discern the thoughts and deeds in the past life of the individual - specific sins that needed to be repented of, etc. It was often found that as Branham challenged people over such specific sins, and they confessed them to God, they would regularly be healed of whatever ailed them even before he had a chance to lay hands on them.

This angelic visitation marked the beginning of Branham's incredible international miracle ministry, and also led directly to the great American Healing Revival of 1947 through 1955, in which many well-known ministries were raised up, and thousands upon thousands of people were saved and healed. 

Right to the end of his life, William Branham was renowned for his transparency, his simplicity and his genuine humility. No doubt this was due in part to his early life of hardship, brokenness and poverty - a great advantage when it came to his eventual ministry. I have read several of his early sermons, and they often appeared to be little more than personal testimonies accompanied by a simple (yet effective) gospel message. There was little sign of the somewhat strange, divisive and controversial teachings of his latter years.

Over the following months and years, Branham travelled widely in the USA, and also to Europe and South Africa, etc. Thousands came from far and wide to hear him preach and to witness the many outstanding healings, miracles and 'words of knowledge' that accompanied his ministry. Often, he would call out the name, city of origin and background information of people in the audience whom he had never met, who had come to hear his preaching or to be healed. 

And the mighty 1954 Argentina Revival under Tommy Hicks (with meetings of up to 400,000 people) also had strong links with this Revival. Even amongst the better-known evangelists who came into prominence at that time (such as Oral Roberts, T.L. Osborne, A.A. Allen, Jack Coe, etc), William Branham was acknowledged as something special - something extraordinary. 

Later in the 1950's, when a number of healing evangelists were drifting into showmanship, hype, 'prosperity' doctrines and begging for money, Branham would have none of it. He was unchanged in his attitude toward these kinds of excesses right to the very end. 

However, there were crucial weaknesses in the practices and ministry of William Branham, which tragically began to manifest themselves in the mid-1950's. In 1955, largely through his own carelessness and lack of good management, Branham fell into financial difficulty. He had always been nonchalant, almost naive, toward all business matters. "He sometimes missed scheduled meetings and was totally unconcerned about business details. Some of his business associates came to feel that he was culpably irresponsible.  Branham's difficulties became more complicated in 1956 when the Internal Revenue Service filed a tax evasion suit against him... The unsophisticated Branham, apparently little interested in personal wealth, had made no systematic effort to account for the thousands of dollars that flowed through his ministry." (Ibid, pg 39-40). For the remainder of his life, Branham worked under the burden of a $40,000.00 debt to the IRS. (Which was an enormous amount of money in those days).


By 1958, William Branham (along with many of the other healing evangelists) was deeply re-assessing his ministry. It was clear that the great Healing Revival was now well and truly over, and there can be little doubt that the decline in Branham's own ministry had contributed to this. You can never afford to lose such a leader in any move of God, as history clearly shows. It was after this that Branham began to gradually withdraw into his own little circle, where he had an adoring and loyal following. (Essentially this circle was made up of "Oneness" or 'Jesus-Only' Pentecostals). And instead of his previous unwillingness to speak about contentious or divisive 'minor' issues, he now gradually began to emphasize such things more and more in his preaching. Slowly, these teachings became ever-more alarming and extreme.

As early as 1957, Branham had received a dream in which he was ministering in a 'white disk' above a pyramid. A voice from heaven proclaimed that no other man could stand in the disk "unless he die or be killed", and that Branham was "the only one who can and will stand there." Branham apparently considered this dream to be of 'spiritual significance'. (Ibid, pg 41). By the 1960's, he had clearly become convinced that he was the end-times "Elijah" and the true "Messenger of the Covenant". And the adoring followers in his tight little circle were certainly not going to contradict him. A number of writers believe that it was when Branham took a 'teaching' ministry upon himself that he fell into error. It is clear that he had been anointed and commissioned by God to have a prophetic / evangelistic ministry, but never one of teaching. And as soon as he got into this area of teaching doctrine, he began to trespass into realms to which God had never called him, thus opening himself up to ever-increasing deception. It has been reported that towards the end, some of his teachings almost bordered on the occult. However, the original sign-giftings that God had given him never left him, right up until the time of his death in 1965.


A full TWO YEARS before Branham died, Kenneth Hagin, who was renowned for his accurate prophetic ministry at that time, was given a prophecy about Branham which he took to Gordon Lindsay. The prophecy read: "'At the end of 1965, He who now stands in the forefront of the healing ministry as a prophet will be taken out of the way. He'll make a false step and Satan shall destroy his life, but his spirit will be saved, and his works will follow him. Ere 1966 shall come, he shall be gone.'


Two years later, when driving to Tucson, Arizona, William Branham was involved in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. His wife was badly injured in the smash, and Branham's body was horribly tangled in the wreck. He lingered on for a few days in hospital, though his head became terribly swollen and a tube was placed in his throat to assist his breathing. William Branham died on Christmas Eve, 1965, just before the turn of the year, exactly as the prophecy had predicted. Once more - "How have the mighty fallen". Satan had again succeeded in 'taking out' one of God's great servants. 

THE LESSONS WE MUST LEARN

 History clearly demonstrates that the greater the power, the greater the potential for subtle pride and error to enter in. READ ENTIRETY (THE ENIGMA OF WILLIAM BRANHAM; By Andrew Strom; HarvestNet.org; This page has been loaded  07/25/1999)

The above excerpt mentions some names that were a part of the Healing Movement days all of which faced controversy largely by critics of healing miracles, but some actually messed up with their God-given ministry or lifestyle. One name Kenneth E. Hagin spoke of with sadness was Jack Coe.

Jack Coe 1918-1956(57) –

Jack Coe was born in Oklahoma City in 1918, but was abandoned by his parents and raised in an orphanage where he stayed until he was aged 17. He joined the army during World War II, where he experienced a miraculous healing. Thereafter he became a minister and began conducting healing revivals while still a soldier. In early 1944 he was ordained an Assemblies of God minister.

His public ministry

He had a dynamic personality and stage presence and soon won the allegiance of thousands. He rented his first tent in 1947 and was an established evangelist when the healing revival broke in 1947. From then on his influential ministry career enjoyed a meteoric rise to national fame, placing Coe as a serious challenge to Oral Roberts as the popular leader of the revival.

Coe was a powerful preacher. His messages were peppered with humour, presented boldly and dynamic in their effect. Some found him too controversial and impulsive but thousands of people, both black and white, were attracted to his lovable and tender-hearted personality.

But it was his healing ministry that was the main attraction. He would walk down rows of wheelchairs and crutches commanding people to be healed and to walk normally. Not all did, but there were large numbers of afflicted who got out of their wheelchairs, threw their walking aids away, got up off their beds and walked out of the meeting healed.


In a 1955 revival service in Miami, Florida Coe had told the parents of a three year old boy that he healed their son who had polio.  Coe then told the parents to remove the boy's leg braces.  However, their son was not cured of polio and removing the braces left the boy in constant pain. As a result, Coe was arrested and charged on February 6, 1956 with practicing medicine without a license, a felony in the state of Florida.

He was jailed and released on $5,000 bail. Coe appealed to evangelists all over the world to come to Miami to testify in his defence. Many came to take the witness stand, most notably Gordon Lindsay, Raymond T. Richey, Gayle Jackson and Richard Vinyard. After a two-day trial the judge ruled that he could not "condemn the defendant or anyone who in good faith advocates and practices Divine Healing" and dismissed the case.

The trial received national publicity bringing the healing revival to the attention of America. Coe maintained that the trial was the result of a conspiracy between atheists, newsmen and the Churches of Christ, whose ministers were among his main accusers. Their opposition represented the general feeling of many evangelical leaders across the nation.  Some thought that the claim of divine healing was a threat to public health. Others had theological objections.  

While preaching in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Coe became critically ill. Like all the itinerant healing evangelists he ran a tortuous schedule and had been careless of his health. He had long been badly overweight. At first people concluded it was sheer exhaustion but then his disease was diagnosed as polio. 

Jack Coe died in early 1957 READ ENTIRETY (JACK COE; By Tony Cauchi; The Voice of Healing; 12/2011)

Here’s a post about Jack Coe that relates close to what Brother Hagin shared in class about him as a warning to not minister under the influence of the desires of the flesh:

An Early End

Jack Coe continued to hold healing crusades around the country, facing all sorts of persecution, including being arrested. By 1956, however, he was physically worn out. Doctors reported that he had the body of a ninety-five year old man even though he was only thirty-eight. It is believed that the Lord had told Coe about his early death a year earlier causing him to work that much more relentlessly to spread the Gospel.

  
Coe was diagnosed with Polio late in 1956 and was admitted to the hospital where he was unconscious most of the time. On a few occasions, he was able to speak to his wife to make his desires known, and relay that the Lord had said he was ready to take Jack home. Early in 1957, Jack went home to be with the Lord.

There is a story that says Coe had been warned of his impending death, due to some health habits, personal habits, and his rigorous schedule. The story says that the Lord had spoken several times to one minister in particular. This prophetic man of the time is said to have heard the warning of the Lord for Jack Coe. And it is said that he obeyed God and went to Coe.
  
RTNKC Note: Kenneth Hagin is the prophet this story speaks of.
  
As the story goes, Coe was told to judge himself in three areas: (1) his love of the brethren; (2) his weight problem; and (3) the love of money. The prophet reportedly told Coe that if he would not judge himself in these areas, he would die early. And Coe did die early. He was only thirty-eight years old when he died.
  
It is important to note that the Coe family strongly refutes that this particular prophet ever spoke to Coe. The family maintains that a member of the Coe family approached the prophet to confront him about this widespread report. According to the Coe family, this prophet said that he never spoke to Coe directly, although he was told by God to do so.

READ ENTIRETY (Jack Coe - The Man of Incredible Faith; Reach The Nations Kingdom College)

To read more on these pioneers of those that influenced or were a part of the Word of Faith Movement you should read God’s Generals by Roberts Liardon. (In full disclosure, Liardon is not without controversy himself.)

Some others that did great things for the Gospel of Christ that I’ll let you the reader search:

A.A. Allen died an alcoholic

Aimee Semple McPherson: Missionary, Widow, Evangelist, Divorced, Mysterious Kidnapping/Disappearance, WWII Home Heroin – GlowingAll the Pearls-Scandals

Kathryn Kuhlman – Tulsa WorldGod’s Generals & Revivals

There are many more.

I have looked at the Word of Faith heritage. The inspiration for this incomplete inquiry was Jyrki’s concern with the Prosperity teachings among Word of Faith ministers.

Jyrki’s concerns are well founded. It is my opinion that a true Prosperity message either out of greed or wealth derived initially from authentic Gospel transformed into matters of business relegating the Good News to second place.

Some of the names mentioned below can be viewed as some of the legends of faith, beginning well yet corrupted by the urges of old man flesh. Even staging non-existent miracles when their anointing was lost more than likely for listening to self rather than to God.

Before I send you to Jyrki’s concerns I have found a video recorded of a Kenneth E. Hagin sermon that looks circa 1986 entitled “How to be led by the Spirit 1”. Also, here is a link to a Kenneth E. Hagin book in pdf format entitled “Tongues: Beyond the Upper Room”. Watch the video and read the book without the cherry picking of critics that might be misled by the beam in their own eye. Don’t compare what you see and read with the critics, rather find the full context in the Bible. Remember: Eat the hay, spit out the sticks.

Below there is an extremely disappointing video of Paula White. I haven’t listened White in years, but then hear ministry delivered the Good News well. BUT NOW – it is apparent she has fallen into the ministry flesh trap of manipulating money out of donors as if the Good News is for sale rather than a gift from God Almighty via the Redeeming Blood of Christ.


Posted by JehToday
Published on Jan 31, 2013

December 1986 Jeh's video bible School: http://jhlavac.mnsi.net/word/bible/vbs.htm

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Serious

Sent by Jyrki Soini
Sent 8/28/2017 7:23 PM

Dear John.
I must be honest with you. As you might have noticed I'm against prosperity gospel. I'd like to hear your opinion about that kind of action.

Though I'm not a Theologian I try to be a Realist. I hope you don't get me wrong. I intend not to offend you in any way. I value you and your work pretty much.

Beware of False Prophets Who Teach A Prosperity Gospel

By David J. Stewart

1st Timothy 6:6, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

 I am amazed at how accurate the Bible is about everything. I read this Scripture today and it jumped out at me so clearly. We've all heard televangelists teach that financial gain is God's will for everyone's life; but 1st Timothy 6:5 says only men of corrupt minds, who are destitute of the truth, think that financial successes equates with godliness...

1st Timothy 6:5, “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

There you have it, perverse minds think that financial gain is godliness!

God says to withdraw thyself from these type of people; namely, Pentecostals and Charismatics who teach a prosperity gospel. ALL televangelists teach that God wants everyone rich in this temporarily earthly life; but they're the only one's getting rich, swindling people. A prosperity gospel errantly claims that God wants everyone to be rich; but first you have to give your money to the person preaching.

The 700 Club survives on this type of exploitation of the public. They show testimony after testimony of people (I think rigged) who claim that they gave their last $20, and now they  have a better job, two cars, a new home... blah, blah, blah! Pat Robertson is not my hero, I'll tell you that! The 700 Club is a notorious example of what the prosperity gospel heresy is. That's all they teach! The entire Ecumenical Movement is saturated with prosperity heresies. The truth is that you may give everything to God and end up poorer, as most people do who send their money to Benny Hinn, The 700 Club, Mike MurdockPeter PopoffDon Stewart and other shysters. Don't be a fool with God money.

Everything that you own belongs to God. We are all living on borrowed time from God. That baby you aborted was lent to you by God, but you destroyed it instead. One Scripture that you'll never hear from a televangelist is 1st Timothy 6:8 that says, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” No, instead use appeal to your covetousness, with slick words, and before you know it they suckered you in for the long haul, taking your money. This is exactly what God said they would do to people. 2nd Peter 2:3, “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

Hell will be hot enough, which is where they're all going! The world is filled with religious phonies who exploit the Gospel for their own greedy gain. God says that their damnation hasn't been delayed, meaning they are damned this very moment! They have already been judged, found guilty, and will split Hell wide open when they breath their last breath. God's Law condemns all humanity as guilty (Romans 3:19). This is why Hebrews 9:27 says after death, the judgment, because the second you die you'll go to either Heaven or Hell. At The Great White Throne of Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15), God will open the Books, no doubt because there will be people who call God unfair and partial

The Bible teaches in 1st Timothy 6:6 that Godliness with contentment (i.e., being satisfied with just food and raiment (1st Timothy 6:8), are GREAT GAIN. Amen to that! God is the best investment!

Jesus told us in Matthew 6:20 to lay up treasures in Heaven! Souls is the greatest investment! What are you doing to get souls into Heaven? What are you doing to teach others how to get souls into HeavenMatthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

All we hear nowadays are gimmicks, advertising schemes, high-pressure sales tactics, and that gold is the best investment. They're all carnally-minded. God is the best investment my friend!!!

The following Scripture warns us about false prophets who teach that God wants us all to be wealthy here on earth...

1st Timothy 6:4-6, “He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

I think this is IMPORTANT. It's about Paula White and Donald Trump.

Paula White Heresy – Exposing Satanism and Witchcraft

Paula White did NOT lead Donald Trump to Christ!

“A time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats.”– C.H. Spurgeon

Proverbs 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
Jon Watkins ExposingSatanism.org July 16, 2016

After reading several recent articles, I was prompted to address the Jezebel Paula White. In one of the articles she claimed she led Trump to Christ. I know that is not true for two reasons. One being that Trump obviously has not been born again. The other being, you cannot give away something you do not have to give. Paula White does not even know what salvation is, or what it means to be born again, so she could not lead anyone to Christ! “If you do not get Jesus right, it does not matter what else you do get right!” – Mike Muzzerall.


Ms. White believes that Jesus died a sinner, went to the burning side of hell for 3 days, and was at the mercy of Satan until God said enough. He then became the first born again person and came out of hell victorious over Satan! That is the Word of Faith in a nutshell. It is not Scripture and is Blasphemy!

Paula White is a Prosperity Preaching Pimp. She is of the feather of fellow Pimps like Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyers, (another Foolish, Silly Woman) Kenneth Copeland, Mike Murdock, and the rest of that clan that which poisons the airwaves via The Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) and The DayStar Network.

None of these people know the true gospel. They are not preachers. They are mere Motivational speakers akin to Tony Robbins. They are not teaching truth. They are ignorant proponents of new age sorcery. They have head knowledge of Jesus Christ, but have not been “Born Again” as the Gospel teaches. They are not lead by the Holy Spirit, but by the spirit of Anti-Christ.

These people Fleece the Flock and laugh all the way to the bank! 1st Peter 5:2 “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”

Jesus addressing the Scribes and Pharisees, the “Religious Leaders” of the day. Matthew 15:13-14 “But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

White claims her ministry is not based on wealth. “Do I believe that God is a sugar daddy? Not at all,” she claimed. “Find your passion in life and figure out a way to make money,” Source

Nowhere in the Bible does scripture support that philosophy. Perhaps James Dobson was giving her tips on how to twist scripture! James Dobson says Donald Trump has recently accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and that Christians should be praying for him. And then a few days later; James Dobson takes back assertion Trump Is Christian: ‘Do I Know That for Sure? No.’. Couple that with several other disturbing quotes from things Ms. White said in recent interviews, I believe she is just looking for a ride on the coat tails of Trump to further her false doctrine, gain fame, and stuff the coffers. In this video clip she is pimping the 144,000 of Revelation Chapter 7 who will be witnesses in the Tribulation. That scripture has nothing to do with money. She is channeling Lucifer!

I have addressed her “Word of Faith” and “Prosperity Pimping” a bit in earlier articles. Before hashing quotes from an article, consider the following.


Posted by Secular Talk
Published on Jul 12, 2016

Paula White has divorced 2 times and her most recent marriage is to rock and roll musician Jonathan Cain. He is known for his membership in the bands Bad English and Journey. He is most recognized for penning the Journey hits “Don’t Stop Believin,’” “When You Love a Woman” and “Who’s Crying Now.” See that info here. How long will she stay married this time? Only time will tell!

Not only does she not know understand salvation, she has no idea what God says about divorce. Especially for a “practicing” Christian! Those two facts are disturbing enough, but what really disturbs me is the fact that she celebrates Halloween. Witches and Satanists consider that day to be one of the most holy days of the year. This picture, of Paula and her hubby, was taken as they celebrated Halloween 2015. She is dressed as little red riding hood and he as the big bad wolf.

How appropriate, as scripture says, in Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

In an interview with the Communists at Politico, White spoke some revealing words to those with discernment. The agenda of Atheists, Satanists and Witches at Politico is merely to mock and bring shame on Jesus Christ and Christians. I have no problem with them exposing fools like Paula White and others. They do their job well in that area. Of course, little effort is required when highlighting a false prophet like Paula White and others or her ilk. I constantly try to bait them by sending them my articles. I send them to all those God hating liberal news outlets. To no avail. They avoid the True Gospel of Jesus Christ that comes from this ministry. They are attuned to their overlord Satan who alerts them! Some excerpts from the interview are as follows:

“I can absolutely tell you that Mr. Trump has a relationship with God. He is a Christian, he accepts Jesus as his Lord and savior,” White said in a rare interview with POLITICO, reflecting on a relationship with the New York tycoon that has now spanned more than 14 years. The two first connected when Trump, who was watching Christian television, saw her onscreen and called her, saying she was “fantastic.”

According to her own words she has known Trump for 14 yrs. [..] relationship with the New York tycoon that has now spanned more than 14 years. So in those 14 years I can guarantee you that she shared the true Gospel with him. No, all she ever did was preach that prosperity crap in his ear, trying to ease his mind that God wants him to get richer! I don’t want to rehash what I have already written about Trump and the Quotes that have come out of HIS OWN Mouth, you can view those here: See Donald Trump an unsaved Rich Man.

“On her next trip to New York, the Florida-based White met with him, marking the start of a close, cross-country friendship. “Over the years, that [relationship] grew stronger and stronger,” she said of her ties to Trump. “I was in New York for many years. He has a very open-door policy. If I was in town, [he’d say], ‘Hey Paula, come by, hang out with friends, family.’ He’d allow me to sit in his office, be a part of his life, his world.”

White tells stories of walking up Fifth Avenue in New York with Trump and watching the real estate mogul cross the street to shake hands with construction workers. And there was the time he was showing her a new golf course in California and got out of the golf cart to thank a Latino man who was taking care of his sand traps. White, who still owns a unit at a Trump property in New York, said his employees at his buildings were loyal to him. To her, this serves as evidence that the cussing, controversial Trump is ultimately a man of God.”

Walking down the street being nice to people and shaking their hand does not make you a “man of God” Miss White! And on Mr. Trumps cussing:

Proverbs 4:24 “Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.”

Luke 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

Ephesians 5:4 “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”

James 3:10 “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

Come on Paula, it is time to get beyond those prosperity and blessing scriptures you covet. Find out who is really bestowing those so called blessings you think are from God upon you. Read ALL of the scripture and find out what God really thinks and commands. You will find YOU Silly woman, that unless you repent and change your ways, you are doomed to Hell!! 

2nd Timothy 3:6-7 “For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

“There’s a lot of people that have influenced Mr. Trump’s life,” she said. “One thing I can tell you, which absolutely might be new to some of the media, new to some people, but God is not new to Mr. Trump. He absolutely has a heart and a hunger and a relationship with God.”

Those hounds of Hell do not know what it is to have a relationship with God, so how can they say that! 

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” 

What is righteousness Paula? Do you know? It is right standing with God according to HIS Word. Not the twisted words you are your money hungry cohorts profess!

What did Jesus tell the Woman at the Well? “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again” John Chapter 4

I have a saying I coined some years ago, and is as follows:
If you go to the store to buy Meat, don’t run to the Milk Section or the Junk Food Aisle looking for it. 

The Meat Section is the True Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Milk Section is likened to those who will not preach on sin and Hell, just a feel good message.

The Junk Food Isle is the outright false doctrine AKA the prosperity gospel, name it and claim it, the purpose driven life, the Unitarians, the Chrislams, the Noahides, the Judizers, the Hebraic Roots movement and other false teachings!! Feasting on just Milk and Junk will eventually cause you great harm!!

“But she has also emphasized her wealth in her preaching and public appearances, causing critics to deride her as one who pushes “prosperity gospel,” a doctrine that says God wants people to be rich — and that more traditional religious leaders frown upon.

“Paula White is a charlatan and recognized as a heretic by every orthodox Christian, of whatever tribe,” read a recent tweet from Russell Moore, a prominent Southern Baptist leader and vocal Trump critic, who wasn’t available for an interview.”

If Trump does win the election and he is taking spiritual advice from this group of fools, we will be in no better shape than we would be if Hillary Clinton gets in and practices her Witchcraft. The end result will be God executing HIS wrath upon this Country, in either case! Mr. Trump, purge these Hounds of Hell from around you. Fire them! I can point you to several Godly Men and Women who will advise you properly and Biblically!
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Do You Judge Word of Faith?
John R. Houk
© December 27, 2017

Of interest:


 ________________________
Serious

Shared by Jyrki Soini


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