Kenneth Hagin: Modern-Day Father of the Word of Faith Movement
Kenneth Hagin was heavily influenced by Kenyon’s writings. He elaborated on Kenyon’s theology of covenant confession, preaching a four-part formula for receiving God’s promises: “Say it; do it; receive it; tell it.” Hagin has essentially taken doctrines from a few different sources and has molded the Word of Faith teachings to what it is today. He pointed to E.W. Kenyon, T. L. Osborn, and William Branham as true men of God who greatly influenced his life and ministry.
Bible preachers and teachers have been influenced either directly or indirectly by Kenneth Hagin and his teaching. The most recognized include Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Jerry Savelle, Bill Winston, Joel Osteen, Jesse Duplantis, Charles Nieman, Hobart Freeman, and Bill Johnson.
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Why We Are Not Gods
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Based on Psalms 82:6, which says "I have said, Ye are gods and all of you, children of the Most High;" Jesus made reference to this Scripture when He was defending his deity in John 10:34.
Jesus was talking about the Old Testament judges that were set to rule over Israel. They were to carry out justice, so these judges had the responsibility of judging the people of Israel. They were like magistrates. They judged in the place of God who was the supreme judge. Any justice they did was God's justice. Any judgment they gave was God's judgment. Any rebellion against them was rebellion against God. They ruled in the place of God and so they were called in the Old Testament gods. It's just a term that means authority or rule. They were called gods. And so the term referred then to those judges of Israel. They received their office by divine appointment. They were called gods since they ruled in the place of God. (Liberty Commentary)
Do you see the connection with Gen. 3:5? It is the lie the serpent told Eve in the Garden. If she eats of the fruit, "...then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
Satan used a sincere motive to tempt Eve - "You shall become like God!" To become more like God is the highest goal of humanity. But Satan misled Eve on what he believed was the right way to accomplish this goal. He told her that you become more like God by defying God's authority, by taking God's place and deciding for yourself what is best for your life. You become your own 'god.' (Life Application Bible)
Some may argue that Adam was created in the image of God, as it says in Gen. 1:26. This does not mean that man is exactly like God? We are reflections of God's glory. God is sinless, eternal, and unlimited. We are given the potential to become sinless when we become a Christian, however, but we are given the choice to fall short - and we do. We will never be like God, or even a god. Our hope is to reflect His character in our love, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and faithfulness. (Life Application Bible)
We see Satan's temptation being posed to the Faith Movement as some believe they are like a god. By acting as gods, with a little "g", we can confess our desires until they become manifest. But all this truly does is set the believer up for a crisis in their own faith - since he will eventually learn that God doesn't work this way.
There is only one true God. He has said, “I am God, and there is none else” (Isa. 45:22). Of course there are many false gods, and none of them escape judgment, for He has said:
Kenneth Hagin was heavily influenced by Kenyon’s writings. He elaborated on Kenyon’s theology of covenant confession, preaching a four-part formula for receiving God’s promises: “Say it; do it; receive it; tell it.” Hagin has essentially taken doctrines from a few different sources and has molded the Word of Faith teachings to what it is today. He pointed to E.W. Kenyon, T. L. Osborn, and William Branham as true men of God who greatly influenced his life and ministry.
Bible preachers and teachers have been influenced either directly or indirectly by Kenneth Hagin and his teaching. The most recognized include Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Jerry Savelle, Bill Winston, Joel Osteen, Jesse Duplantis, Charles Nieman, Hobart Freeman, and Bill Johnson.
Kenneth Hagin wrote that God "made us in the same class of being that He is Himself," and that the believer is "called Christ" because "that's who we are, we're Christ!" According to Hagin, by being "born again," the believer becomes "as much an incarnation as Jesus of Nazareth."
(YouTube)
Why We Are Not Gods
(YouTube) (To order video)
Based on Psalms 82:6, which says "I have said, Ye are gods and all of you, children of the Most High;" Jesus made reference to this Scripture when He was defending his deity in John 10:34.
Jesus was talking about the Old Testament judges that were set to rule over Israel. They were to carry out justice, so these judges had the responsibility of judging the people of Israel. They were like magistrates. They judged in the place of God who was the supreme judge. Any justice they did was God's justice. Any judgment they gave was God's judgment. Any rebellion against them was rebellion against God. They ruled in the place of God and so they were called in the Old Testament gods. It's just a term that means authority or rule. They were called gods. And so the term referred then to those judges of Israel. They received their office by divine appointment. They were called gods since they ruled in the place of God. (Liberty Commentary)
Do you see the connection with Gen. 3:5? It is the lie the serpent told Eve in the Garden. If she eats of the fruit, "...then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
Satan used a sincere motive to tempt Eve - "You shall become like God!" To become more like God is the highest goal of humanity. But Satan misled Eve on what he believed was the right way to accomplish this goal. He told her that you become more like God by defying God's authority, by taking God's place and deciding for yourself what is best for your life. You become your own 'god.' (Life Application Bible)
Some may argue that Adam was created in the image of God, as it says in Gen. 1:26. This does not mean that man is exactly like God? We are reflections of God's glory. God is sinless, eternal, and unlimited. We are given the potential to become sinless when we become a Christian, however, but we are given the choice to fall short - and we do. We will never be like God, or even a god. Our hope is to reflect His character in our love, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and faithfulness. (Life Application Bible)
We see Satan's temptation being posed to the Faith Movement as some believe they are like a god. By acting as gods, with a little "g", we can confess our desires until they become manifest. But all this truly does is set the believer up for a crisis in their own faith - since he will eventually learn that God doesn't work this way.
There is only one true God. He has said, “I am God, and there is none else” (Isa. 45:22). Of course there are many false gods, and none of them escape judgment, for He has said:
“The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens” (Jere. 10:11).
