Words of Faith Doctrine.

"We have the power to speak things into existence" or "Positive Confessions"
"Name it and claim it by faith" or "Blab it Grab it"

These are popular phrases used by many Christians who desire for God to move on their behalf. In this article I will use Biblical passages to further examine the Word of Faith Doctrine in attempt to expose it for what it truly is...New Age Mysticism that has nothing to do with God or the Bible.

First I implore you to ask this question;
If God is Sovereign then how can we say he needs OUR permission to move? Word of faith implies that God cannot move unless we speak some magical words that will pull strings...

Romans 9: 15-16 "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion"

It does not depend on MAN's Effort, But GOD'S mercy and grace!He is not our personal Genie.

Romans 4:16 "Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace..."


WORD OF FAITH ORIGINS

Kenneth Haggin,E.W.Kenyon and Phineas Parkhurst



Kenneth Haggin was considered to be the founder of the Word of Faith Movement but he was influenced by a man name Phineas Parkhurst Quimby (1802-1866).Phineas laid the foundations and was a Metaphysical Christian who inspired E.W. Kenyon who in return inspired Kenneth Haggin. E.W.Kenyon studied Mysticism and mingled Mystic and New Age theologies with Christian teachings.

NEW AGE, MYSTICISMS(Affirmation Prayers and relation to Confession of Faith)



Affirmations in New Age and New Thought terminology refers primarily to the practice of positive thinking—fostering a belief that "a positive mental attitude supported by affirmations will achieve success in anything."[1] More specifically an affirmation is a carefully formatted statement that should be repeated to one's self and written down frequently. For an affirmation to be effective, it needs to be present tense, positive, personal and specific. -Wikipedia

Affirmative prayer is a form of prayer or a metaphysical technique that is focused on a positive outcome rather than a negative situation. For example, a person who is experiencing some form of illness would focus the prayer on the desired state of perfect health and affirm this desired intention "as if already happened" rather than identifying the illness and then asking God for help to eliminate it.

Here we can see that New Age and Mystics intermingled these "Affirmation" theology with Christian teachings, distorting God's words. Kenneth Haggin, E.W. Kenyon implemented these false satanic doctrine into Christianity and now we have people quoting scriptures out of context to "speak things into existence"


Word of faith gives the impression that man hold the power hence men are Gods. Although we are created in God's image and he gave us power over the Earth, there are no scriptures that state we are given power to usurp over God's will, and if it is NOT in his will, he will NOT perform it. You are not gods over God.

Isiah 43:10 "Before me no god was formed, nor will there be after me"

All these extra, additional formulas and special "mantras" to get favor from God to receive things is ridiculous and wrong. Those who do such things are plainly working in a spirit of unbelief.

Luke 12:30
"seek ye not what ye shall eat or drink, neither be ye doubtful of mind"

So if your seeking God for earthly needs when he has already provided us (which he has from birth)we are working in unbelief;

Luke 12: 28 "If Then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; HOW much MORE will he clothe you, O YE OF LITTLE FAITH?

So in actuality "professing" speaking out confessions of faith for such things are signs of unbelief and distrust or even a sign of being UNGRATEFUL.



WHAT IS TRUE FAITH?



Hebrews 11

Vers 1;
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"

Interpretation:

Faith IS things hoped for(we put our hope in things we cant see, Spiritual things) the evidence of things not seen (hope is the evidence of things that do exist BUT we CANT see, like Jesus). No where in this verse is there any indication of having faith for whatever man wants which is usually material, temporal, earthly wants. If you can see it (material things of this earth) then you cant have faith in it or hope for it. Last I check you can see a car, house, money etc. This scriptures is not speaking about obtaining material things but having faith in God whom we cant see (with our physical eyes) and believing that He is with us (even though we cant see him), NOTHING MORE THAN THAT! Verse 3 clearly explains this;

Hebrews 11:3

"Through Faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the WORD (which was unseen) of God, so that things which are seen( material things,earthly things) were NOT made of things which do appear (not made by things you can see, touch and feel)."

God is the reward you receive with faith. Faith is always with us because Jesus is our faith, we just have to trust and be fully persuaded IN our faith.

With further reading and studying of Hebrews 11 it would be clear that people now having faith for earthly temporal things are using text out of context.The individuals quoted in Hebrews 11 were NOT promised earthly goods and gains. And if God was obligated to give us what we say he promised us...then why did those quoted died NOT receiving the promises? Hebrews 11:13. yet they died IN Faith?



NAME IT CLAIM IT?



Many use this formula when seeking to possess things such as a job,financial blessings, cars, house, husband or wife or to get over sickness etc.

what does it mean to claim?
To Claim
1. A demand for something as rightful or due.
2. A basis for demanding something; a title or right.
3. To take in a violent manner as if by right
4. To assert one's right to or ownership of.

Now having these definition in mind...does this sound like a respectful way to approach God our creator? Demanding from him, asserting our rights to something from him, take by violence?

First of all, Who are we to tell God he is obligated to give us what we feel is rightfully ours? And if God Has already promised, then why do we need to make such statements? It would be sensible to rationalize that if God has it, then no one else can take it from him and if we do not have it in our possession at the time of making "claims", then its safe to say we don't deserve it. Again God is not obligated to give us ANYTHING, no matter if we rant on like spoil children. Again if God has it for us what is the point of "speaking out words of faith" this makes absolutely no sense!When ever HE feels fit, He will grant it to us...on HIS TERMS. So we can "name and claim" until we turn blue.

Secondly you cannot claim something that is already in your possession, so if you believe its yours already why make professions?If its not yours God is not going to be your partner in Crime and steal some one's possessions and give it to you. "Demanding" from God is stating that we don't trust that he will FREELY grant it.

CLAIMING HEALING



If one is sick and claim healing but does not heal, then it is said their faith was not strong enough or they didn't believe enough.This is False.Just because you want to be healed or see some one healed does not mean it is God's will for them to heal! We cant manipulate His Will with some "profession of faith" formula. Also remember your body is also Temporal , it will perish but the spirit is what God is most concerned about. 2 Corinthians 4:16 "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day"

"Name it claim it" IS NOT IN THE BIBLE.Its simply using scriptures out of context.

Romans 8:26 "for we know not what we should pray for as we ought"



And because of this we need to operate in the Spirit which is there to GUIDE and TEACH. Jesus laid out a prayer for us (Mathew 6:9-15) and no where in that prayer is there any request to be made for financial blessings,and other earthly, material things that God gave us hands to work for on this earth.

Its because we are working out of our flesh, we want what we want and use God as our servant. But we are His servants!

Other Scriptures that require further study...

Romans 4: 17 "...calleth those things which be not as though they were."
some love to quote this scripture as well to justify "name it claim"
again, misinterpretation and using scriptures out of context.
Study the full text and pray for understanding. And even then, realize this simple fact...this very scripture has NOTHING to do with getting what you want in the natural.


Psalms 37:4 "...and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart..."
Before we come to christ we have worldly desires. So after Christ we desire spiritual things or should desire spiritual things such as peace, wisdom, understanding etc.
So again nothing to do with God being obligated to give us our carnal, self centered desires.



God is more focused on supplying us with spiritual/eternal resources and blessings not material/temporal. Satan blesses with worldly things
Mathew 4:1-11

I think we are getting the two confused.

Be not wise in your own conceit

"Word of Faith" Indoctrination at its WORSE...




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