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p.4 Prince’s WORD FAITH TEACHING imbedded in grace If one is undecided on Princes word faith teachings these quotes should settle the question. Prince has a section on his website about confessing the word. Faith confessions, favor confessions, prosperity and provision confession. Most of the verses quoted are the same ones that all the Word faith teachers use in regards to their health/wealth teachings. “Believing first before seeing the evidence of what we are believing for is called faith.” (Joseph Prince, Believing is Receiving.) “He wants you to declare by faith that all is and shall be well with you, and to expect to see just that. And then, no matter how long you have had the problem, no matter how bad the experts say it is, an explosion of healing and restoration will take place, and you will receive what you are believing for!” (Joseph Prince, Believing is Receiving.) “Every time your faith is strengthened as you hear the Word, release it through your mouth to receive your miracle, for God’s Word is out to prosper you !” (Joseph Prince, God’s Word Is Out To Prosper You.)This is exactly what the word faith teachers espouse. He teaches like Creflo Dollar, “Declare it out loud! Come on, say it with me three times, each time louder then the first “I am the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ.” (repeats it three times) “I’m having problems paying off my debt but Jesus on the cross paid all my debts including my financial debts. [quotes] 2 Cor. 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” “You have the right to that blessing.” “Disease poverty I don’t want it because Jesus paid for it.” (Tongues the key to prophesying your future sermon 34) Prince says: “When I first entered the workforce, I began to declare the favor of God in my job. Every time I was given a new assignment, I proclaimed that the divine favor of God was on me. The company began to prosper and I was blessed financially. By the time I left the company to serve God full-time, my income had increased so that I was in the top 15 per cent of earners in my age group in Singapore. … Expect to receive preferential treatment wherever you are. Say, “I am surrounded with the favor of God because of Jesus’ finished work. I have favor before God and man !” (See The Favor Of God Multiplied In Your Life by Joseph Prince.)“The law has been replaced by the spirit in the Old Testament the way you have good success and make your way prosperous. Joshua 1:8, is to keep the law on your mouth, in the New Covenant when you keep the Spirit in your mouth you have good success and make your way prosperous.” (Tongues - the key to prophesying your future sermon 34) “Today, you don’t have to struggle for favor. Just release it by speaking forth God’s Word in faith. On your way to work, say, “God’s favor surrounds me as with a shield.” (Psalm 5:12) As you continue to speak God’s favor over your life out of a revelation of Jesus’ finished work, you will see more of it being released .” (See The Favor Of God Multiplied In Your Life by Joseph Prince.)This is a word faith affirmation that sounds just like Joyce Meyer, Paula White, Hagin, Copeland and so many others. The more I watched the more I became concerned with his mixing
truth with error. Prince is constantly using biblical examples and going beyond
the scrioptures meaning; an example: “When
I pray in tongues I can sleep one or two hours and it is enough”
(Tongues the key to
prophesying your future sermon 34) His messages contains elements of a word faith- prosperity teaching packaged with a nicer wrapping. “Jesus came to become you at the cross that you may become him today at the Fathers right hand” TV ad on CBN Sept. 13, 2011) I’m not quite sure what he is trying to express here, taken at face value it sounds like other word faith teachers, it may just be a bad explanation of our sin for his righteousness. The conclusion is that Prince has imbedded WORD FAITH TEACHINGS along with his message of grace. PROSPERITY TEACHING “ Oh so your one of those prosperity gospel preachers!”My friend there is no such thing as a prosperity gospel”. There is only one gospel in the Bible and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Yet he goes on to say the gospel of Jesus Christ “is based entirely on his grace, it will result in health and prosperity. In fact, the gospel of Jesus Christ leads to blessings; success; healing; restoration; protection; financial breakthroughs; security; peace; wholeness and MUCH MORE!”(p.23 Destined to Reign)There is no such thing as a prosperity gospel in the Bible! He is right. But this has not stopped men, those he has looked to as mentors to distribute it as if it is the Bible. Theysay the very things that Prince is saying, therefore Prince is still involved in the errors of word faith teachings. Prince says “He
gave you a blood-bought right to prosperity even when the economy goes down!”
(Joseph Prince,
God Is For You, Not Against You) He also says the same
thing for healing “…It is the
blood-bought right of Christians!” (Health and Wholeness through
the Holy Communion p.36) “So why settle for the curse of sickness or even poverty when the price for your healing and prosperity has been paid by Jesus? Sickness and poverty do not have the final word in your life. Jesus does because He redeemed you from every curse!” (p.124 Destined to Reign devotional). Jesus indeed does have the final word. Unfortunately, we cannot find any of these words promised in the Scripture for all believers. Going back to the beginning of his book “Destined to Reign,” he is proclaiming “You are destined to reign in life. You are called to be a success, to enjoy wealth, to enjoy health and to enjoy a life of victory.” It is not God’s will is for every Christian to be unsuccessful, not wealthy and not healthy in life neither is it God’s will is for every Christian to be successful, wealthy and healthy. His will is not the same for all on these matters. So obviously if you are not enjoying health and wealth you are not reigning and you are not walking in grace— what comes next is guilt, the very thing Prince says he is trying to remove from people. Prince may not be a dedicated prosperity teacher but there is enough of it to have him squaurely in this camp. He may be sincere in his endeavor to bring a message of grace but this does not excuse his neglect of having a more accurate biblical presentation. He preaches whole life prosperity, that all is for you NOW. And whether he is doing this intentionally or not; it still yields the same result of damaged lives. How rich were the apostles that preached the gospel of grace? Peter said that he and his fellow disciples forsook all. Jesus instructed the rich young ruler “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. And come, follow Me” (Mt.19:21). His message was unlike Prince’s in content and results. We know that the apostles were not prosperous from what they said of themselves. Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have” (Acts 3:6). Nowhere does the Bible say they were poor and became rich because of grace, because Jesus beca who was rich became poor for us. The Grace the Bible speaks of for us today are spiritual riches. “the riches of His grace” (see Eph. 1:7, 11, 2:7, 3:8; Rom. 9:23). This is what Paul preached: “the unsearchable riches of Christ,” It is in Christ, the Spirit that we have this inheritance, love, peace, joy; whether we are rich or poor. Quote From his church website: “Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour will not only save you from sin and hell, but also give to you health, joy, peace, love, hope, unconditional acceptance, favour, the power to get wealth, all good things you can think of and more ” http://www.newcreation.org.sg/aboutus/we_believe/cross.htm [underline mine]“Beloved, God sent His Son to die for you. And Jesus gave you a blood-bought right to an abundant life full of meaning and purpose! He gave you a blood-bought right to walk in divine health all the days of your life! He gave you a blood-bought right to prosperity even when the economy goes down! [underline mine] “You have all these things not because you deserve them, but because Jesus shed His blood and gave you the right to have them. All these blessings are yours today because God is for you! And if God is for you, who can be against you !” (Joseph Prince, God Is For You, Not Against You)“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Go look at the preceding verses to see what these things are. It is completely taken out of its context by Prince and many others. (Rom. 8:31) If we have a blood-bought right walk in divine health all the days of our life and prosperity why does Paul in 2 Cor. 12:5-10 speak of infirmities. And in v.7-9 explains that “a thorn in the flesh was given to me”… concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” God’s grace was made perfect in Paul’s weakness from an infirmity V.10 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” God did not heal Paul supernaturally each time. Paul had been accompanied by Luke the physician. This is not what Prince is preaching on grace. He actually dilutes authentic grace when he mixes it with the word faith teachings he holds. This becomes most apparent on the topic of HEALING. “ON HEALING” “When Jesus hung on the cross, He also took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. (Matthew 8:17). That is why your sickness does not have the final word in your life. Jesus does because He took your sickness upon His body and paid for your healing with His blood. When Jesus hung on the cross, He took our curse. (Galatians 3:13) We were supposed to be cursed because of our sins, but He took our place and the curse fell on Him. Today, we take His place and His blessings fall on us! So why settle for the curse of sickness or even poverty when the price for your healing and prosperity has been paid by Jesus? Sickness and poverty do not have the final word in your life. Jesus does because He redeemed you from every curse! (Gospel Revolution vol.3 issue 3 Joseph Prince). [underline mine] Actually Mt. 8:17 is about Jesus in his ministry before he went to the cross but this is the typical manner that word faith teachers use this verse. Mt. 8:16-17: “And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” He healed them when he was present among them. It is here where Prince teaches exactly what all word faith teachers do,. “But what came on Him was not just the whip stripping the flesh off His bare back, but your sicknesses and diseases. Each time He was whipped, every form of sickness and disease, including arthritis, cancer, diabetes, bird flu and dengue fever, came upon Him. “The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Today, healing is your right because Jesus has paid the price for your healing. So if the devil says, “You cannot be healed,” just declare, “Jesus has paid for my healing. Disease has no right to be in my body. I am healed in Jesus’ name !” (Joseph Prince, By Jesus’ Stripes You Are Healed).On his website he states Everyone Who Came To Jesus Was Healed and gives numerous scriptures on Jesus healing people. While we are able to be healed it does not guarantee we always be healed, as God’s will for an individual must be involved. And there is no promise of healing for all NOW. What it means is that we will all one day be healed in the body at the resurrection. “Forgiveness of you iniquities comes before the healing of your diseases. In other words, once you know that you have been forgiven of all your sins, past, present and future, the healing of your diseases follows. (Destined to Reign 290) Actually many times healing came before forgiveness such as in Mk.2 with the paralytic. To present one will absolutely be healed in this life once they realize have been forgiven of all sin is a false promise that is not found in the pages of the Bible. Prince believes that almost all sickness is self inflicted and very little as hereditary or caught. On the subject of guilt he explains the body produces our sicknesses; the solution- “everytime you sin you look to the cross and everything in your body says cool, you get sick because you sense somebody needs to pay… Jesus paid for all our sins” (Sermon 208, Daystar). He also stated those who go to church live longer and used the scripture my peace I give to you, equating God’s peace with relaxation and not worrying, which is the way of the world into the Bibles peace (ibid.). In his devotional Destined to Reign under the chapter heading
“Born again to have dominion” “Pastor
Prince, forget about having dominion over the sea, air or earth. I want dominion
over my backache which has robbed me of my time with my children. I want
dominion over my financial situation.” Communion healing Joseph Prince’s booklet Health and Wholeness through the Holy Communion is advertised on his website “Join Joseph Prince as he reveals how the covenant meal is God’s “delivery system” of His divine promises of health and wholeness. Once you know the significance of the Holy Communion and its elements, you will be able to partake in full understanding and expectation of the health- and life-giving benefits that Jesus died to bestow upon you.” In his book on communion he writes ‘Misconceptions about the Holy Communion have robbed many believers of an important God-ordained avenue of healing and wholeness (Joseph Prince, (2006), back cover of Health and Wholeness through the Holy Communion) Healing through the Holy Communion is promoted in an article found in Solid Rock (August 2004) “Health And Wholeness Through The Holy Communion” by Joseph Prince, in the: www.newcreation.org.sg. “The thing about taking the Holy Communion daily is this: If you are sick, you can be made well on a gradual basis. This means that you get healthier and stronger from day to day — first thirtyfold, then sixtyfold, then a hundredfold! You see, while you can receive healing through the prayer of faith (Mark 11:24), it sometimes puts pressure on you because it requires you to believe that you receive it all — complete healing — the moment you pray. There is nothing wrong with the prayer of faith, but you may find yourself saying, “I must believe I receive it all, now! I must believe I have it all, now!” But the Holy Communion allows you to receive a measure of healing every time you partake in faith, so that you get better and better. The more you take it, the better you become. There is no pressure to believe that you receive it all at once. Isn’t God good? He meets you at your level of faith!” (Healthier, Stronger Each Day http://www.josephprince.org/Resources_Daily_Grace_inspirations.asp?active=resources)So Prince is offering choice A or B for your healing, fast, immediate or slow in a process; hardly Biblical advice. In his introduction, Prince notes that, “I have discovered that God ordained the Holy Communion not as a ritual to be observed, but as a blessing to be received – the blessing of health and wholeness” (p.6). Prince attributes properties to the wine (representing the blood of Christ) and bread (representing his body broken for our sins). He interprets thcommunion as “the blood is for forgiveness” (p.24-25) and the “bread is for healing.”(p.25-32). Thus the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion “brings the double cure…in other words, Jesus bore not just our sins, but also our bodily weaknesses, sicknesses, and pains.” (p.32) What is the correct way to discern the Lord’s body? Prince
offers this answer, “And as you partake of His broken body, know that yours can
be whole. When you partake in this spirit of faith, something happens to your
body. You become strong, healthy and you will live long” (p.31). He further
adds, “so healing like forgiveness, is not a promise. It is the blood-bought
right of Christians!” (p.36) This contradicts what he has said elsewhere When you partake in this spirit of faith, something happens to your body. You become strong, healthy and you will live long” (p.31). Communion healing is held by many others who are into words faith teachings at various levels. Prince tries to prove Holy Communion can give health to its partakers: Prince also advises, “But if you are sick, I would recommend that you have Communion daily. I know of people who are so radical that they take it like medicine-three times a day. And you know what? They get radical results.” (p.45) Prince makes communion into a type of miracle cure - all Vitamin C. “The Holy Communion is God’s solution for us to stop the decay. And even your friends will see the results. They will begin to ask you, “Hey, why do you seem to look younger and younger? You never seem to age!” “One day, when we get to heaven, we will have brand new bodies that never be sick or grow old, never tire and never look bad. Meanwhile, the Lord’s Supper is how God helps us offset this process of ageing and walk in divine health. Every time you partake, you are reversing the effects of the curse or divine judgement in your body… (p. 47). I thought Prince taught the curse and judgment was already taken away by grace and the cross. This also sounds very similar to Latter Rain proponent O.L. Jaggers and his wife Miss Velmas miracle of restoration of youth, where one receives divine health and immortal life from partaking. Or ana Mendez’s teaching on communion that the blood brings nourishment and healing.The Bible says we do this is “in remembrance” of Christ’s sacrifice for us (Luke 22:19, 1 Cor. 11:24), and has absolutely nothing to do with divine health, healing or living longer. Like Hagin Prince says that “disease is due to the devil’s oppression,” (p.22) he says “the Bible treats disease and demon possession as the same thing since they both originate from the devil.” Despite his misuse of Acts 10:38 as a proof text, the Lord distinguishes the differences elsewhere. This is why we never use a single text to prove a doctrine unless it is the only text on it, and it is not. What it does show is a lack of biblical understanding and often leads someone to to the conclusion of deliverance of demons for all who are sick. “While most evangelicals will agree that the Holy Communion is a sacrament which is a blessing from God, they may have problem with the fact that partaking of the Holy Communion cures diseases and ill-health.” The proof text used by Prince is 1 Corinthians 11:29-30. “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.” Prince then explains that “He (Paul) was pointing us to one singular reason Christians become weak, sick, and die before their time…their failure to discern the Lord’s body.” (p.13) Apparently because they “did not know why they were partaking” or “they had no idea why they were eating the bread.” so they became weak, sick and die. So their failure to recognize the healing power of the wafer and wine was the reason why they were sick? REALLY? Prince “Jesus wants us to take the bread and believe that His body was broken so that our bodies can be made well. And when we discern it that way, we are partaking worthily.” (p.45) Prince writes of Paul,“he
was telling the Corinthians that they should examine themselves to see if they
were eating and drinking in a worthy manner. Nowhere does it say that he told
them to examine themselves to see if there was sin in their lives.” It may not be encapsulated in this verse but it is apparent from Paul’s teachings and Jesus’ own words that this is about sin. Prince does not believe in confession of sin so it must be made into something else. 1 Cor. 5:7: “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” This is what the unleaven bread of communion represents, Leaven is used for sin. Matt 26:27-28 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”(Eph.1:7; Col.1:4) 1 Cor.11:29-30: “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.” This scripture also goes to the heart of Prince’s teaching where we must be healthy and God does not judge. For Prince says they fail to recognize and claim the healing power of the communion bread “and this was the reason why they were not receiving the divine life of their Saviour,” (Health and Wholeness through the Holy Communion by Joseph Prince) Did the Corinthians partaking unworthily mean they did not recognize that the broken body of the Lord was to bring them healing and health? Apparently yes. “Christians become weak, sick, and die before their time…their failure to discern the Lord’s body.” (p.13) What he means by this is not what the text means. Prince postulates, “since truth is parallel, it means that if we do discern the Lord’s body, we will walk in His health and wholeness.” (p.13-14) Why is truth parallel? When is it parallel? When he wants his own interpretation to fit the Scripture? The Apostle Paul did not write the Corinthians because they were not recognizing the blessings of healing? Paul explained the problem -- they were treating it like an ordinary meal when it is about Christ. Where does the Bible say we can be healed by a memorial an ordinance? It says nothing of the sort, instead it says believers became sick or died when they took it wrong; in an unworthy manner.Because of Prince’s word faith basis for doctrine he arrives at some very bad conclusions. Teaching that the cup of communion heals is extremely bad bible teaching and can be dangerous, it is trendy. Jesus said “This is My blood...which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). Notice He said for sin. This memorial is to remind us of the actual event of Jesus dying for our sin. The cup of communion does not cleanse or heal, it as a symbol represents the actual event. We are told “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). It’s not about healing from sicknesses but sin. It is always our sin we are promised to be healed from. The Bible does not teach we can obtain sinless perfection in this life which is certainly what being free of sicknesses would mean. Sickness and death are from sin. So if we believe communion heals absolutely then those who partake would never physically die. We die because we are not cured physically from our sickness of sin, that is coming in the future to the whole church at once. How many times do I have to take communion especially if all my sins have already been forgiven? Prince says you are healed incrementally. Does he have an example of anyone being healed by communion in Scripture? Why do I take it to be healed for sickness when he teaches that God’s grace takes care of this? 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, explains the real purpose of the Holy Communion: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” The Apostle Paul referred to Luke 22:19, where it states: “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Prince makes this to be the Holy Grail if the Holy Communion is to provide healing, why did Jesus not say, “do this to heal your bodies” instead of “do this in remembrance of me.” 1 Cor.11:29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.… “will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord,” (11:27) and “eats and drinks judgement to himself…” (11:29) v. 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment.”“The manner in which we partake will determine whether we experience the benefits of the Lord’s body. If our attitude is “it’s just a piece of bread”, then that is what it will be. And we will have robbed ourselves of the life-giving effects of the bread at His Table. The full text of verse 29 is “For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.” Prince is implying that the Corinthians failed to recognize the “life-giving effects,” which he took to be “healing, health and wholeness.” However, there is a difference between the phrase “recognizing the body” and “recognizing the benefits of the body.” The former is trying to caution the Christians not to treat the Holy Communion like an ordinary meal by looking towards the atonement of Jesus Christ, while the latter is stressing on the blessings of the atonement. “if you are sick, I would recommend that you have Communion daily.” (p.45) The apostle Paul spoke to Timothy’s “frequent ailments.” (2 Tim 5:23) and recommended to “use a little wine” because the problem was the water Timothy was drinking was not pure. He did not mention to Timothy or anyone at any time to partake of communion to be healed. Prince completely fails to establish a link between healing and communion from Scripture. This will not detour his ardent followers from listening to him on this matter.Prince also teaches “Health And Wholeness Through The Holy Communion” unbiblical techniques. “See the Lord carrying all your sins and diseases. He
took your sins in His body on the cross. See Him taking on His body your
physical conditions. If you have a tumour, see the tumour on His body.
Whatever disease you might have, see it on His body. It is no longer on you.
See His health come on you… Hold the bread in your hand and say this: Prince is using creative visualization process, an imaginary transference. The sickness from you to Jesus and then his heath from him to you to bring about healing. Healing through the Holy Communion puts the emphasis on a ritual, a ceremony of symbols (this certainly falls into the concepts of Roman Catholicism). What is worse is imagining a picture in your mind, which has NOTHING to do with Christ (which has to do with new age practices). Besides the communion healing Prince adds oil to the list of healers. But he has a different take on this too. On James 5:14 Prince writes: As a king and priest in Christ (Revelation 1:6), you can also pray over the oil and set it apart to be holy. Here’s a prayer for blessing and sanctifying your oil: In the name of the Father, the Son Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I set this oil apart to be holy anointing oil. This oil is the holy anointing oil with the power to cast out demons and to heal the sick according to the Word in Mark 6:13 and James 5:14. It sets us apart unto God and makes us more than conquerors and overcomers. It honors God and man, and brings glory to Jesus Christ. This anointing oil gives us gladness and empowers us for service unto God. It speaks of the finished work of Christ and gives us protection from all evil. This anointing oil blesses us and gives us complete victory in Jesus Christ. Amen!” (Understanding The Significance Of The Olive Tree And Anointing Oil preached by Joseph Prince on 22 June 2008. www.destined2reign.com)Anointing oil does all this? So anointing oil gives us the same result as he says grace does, as he says communion does. There's a lot of alternatives one can choose to be healed from. It may not be evident where Prince stands, it does not appear that he is like those who intentionally introduce error. Yet Prince shifts the blame if one disagrees with him, stating, “For those who hate me, I don’t take it personally because they are actually hating the gospel.” No one has hate for him, but to be faithful to Christ we must test his words by Scripture. But why should any disagreement with him be considered as hating the gospel? Prince does not consider that it is he that may have caused the problems with his gospel presentation. The gospel is altered when additions are found, promises that are not included in the bible. Though it is not apparent to all, many of us see word faith ideas accompanying His grace teachings that can affect the recipient adversely. People are so starved for hearing teachings on grace that when they hear a portion of it, even when it is mixed with word faith ideaology and it can benefit them. For those who do not often hear a message of grace it appears comforting, but it can only bring temporary relief as one will eventually have to deal with the word faith additions slipped in the mix.
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