ANOINTING, ABUNDANCE AND PROSPERITY These were the three “anointed” keywords spoken in “abundance and prosperity” during the two weeks of the “Daystar Fall 2006 Share-a-Thon” held from September 18^th to October 2^nd.  This newsletter, which you are about to embark, is my report of what I’ve seen and heard during this TV fundraiser. I’ll have direct quotes from some famous, and some not so famous, “anointed” TV preachers who spent the “abundance” of their time, speaking a “prosperity” message, which was about nothing but “anointing, abundance and prosperity”.

Now before I begin, I want to address those who read this article and support Daystar and these TV preachers in their 24/7 Word Faith message and their fundraising methods, because lately I have been receiving emails from those who do support Daystar and TBN, and they have not been pleasant. I want to set the record straight and be VERY CLEAR about what I am doing in this article. So all I ask is that you PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY!!!

I am not, repeat NOT, bashing, criticizing, judging nor attacking Daystar or the preachers that will be mentioned in any personal way at all! I am not trying to bolster my own viewpoint by putting others down. I am not trying to make public anyone’s faults (otherwise known as fault-finding), nor am I trying to remove the spec from my brother’s eye while there is a log in my own, meaning I am not judging the faults or sins of my brother or sister. Therefore, Matthew 7: 1-5 does not apply here! Most important, I am not here to cause any manner of division due to the fact that sound doctrine already does that (read Romans 16:17). All I am simply doing is reporting what I’ve seen and heard during the Share-a-Thon, and giving my response to it. In a nutshell, all that I am criticizing and judging is their doctrine, and that’s all! (1 Thessalonians 5:21 - Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.) The basis for this is the Word of God, not my own opinion!

Now whether or not you believe or accept what I am saying is of no consequence to me, I am simply stating this because when I do receive the hostile emails (because no matter what I say or do, I will receive them), I then can actually quote directly from this article what I have just stated above, so there will be no room for doubt!

Now with all this said, it’s time to get the ball rolling and get to the business at hand!

Let me start out by saying that I was not overly impressed with Daystar’s production of their Share-a-Thon. They did re-broadcast some of the speakers; so at times I was seeing re-runs of some past fundraising programs. TBN has also done this as well, however TBN does put on a better production I must say!

I was going to actually count how many times I heard the words “anointing” or “anointed”, but that would take up more than an entire newsletter, so I relented from doing so.I mean; I must have heard those words more than a thousand times! Every other word out of Marcus Lamb’s mouth was either “anointing” and/or “anointed”. For some reason, those are the buzzwords on these fundraisers, and you hear them more than any other time during the year!

Tuning in everyday during this Share-a-Thon, I would be presented with a new dollar amount to “sow my seed” with, and I heard various amounts used! From one dollar a day for a year, to $24.00 a month for 12 months, to $54.00 a month for 12 months to a one time “seed” of $240.00, even a “seed” of $2,400.00. Lets not forget Mike Murdock’s plea for 12 people to give a “seed” of $8,500.00! The amounts went as high as $10,000.00 to one million dollars! It was incredible because I did not know what to expect when I tuned in! I would ask myself, what dollar amount would God want me to give today?

Now don’t get me wrong, I know it does cost money to run a ministry. I do not oppose people giving to ministries to help spread the Gospel. I just disagree with the way Daystar does it! It’s flat out wrong for these people to twist scripture out of proportion to justify the “seed faith” begging, pleading and yes, even demanding for people to give to Daystar. According to these fundraisers, people need to release their faith by going to the phone and give otherwise they are in disobedience to God’s Word, which as a result, they will not receive their miracle or breakthrough in their lives. This is a travesty! Over and over again I heard denials that they were there to sell miracles, and stated “this is not about money”, however when you get right down to it, they were selling miracles, and it was all about money, plain and simple!

Now, Daystar did show clips of some missionaries they support in third world countries, who feed the poor and clothe them and give them the help they need. I personally take no issue with this; I believe helping those in need is a very noble task! They also gave testimonies of those in Muslim nations who watch Daystar by satellite. However, all those good works does not excuse Daystar from allowing these preachers to go on their network and spread doctrinal error, which many of those who do watch in those Muslim nations are being exposed to! That is the primary concern I have!

With this in mind, let’s get to the quotes!

I have always believed that it is respectful to allow ladies to go first, so I will start out with Paula White, who is “co-pastor” of Without Walls International Church in Tampa Florida.

Paula White is just one of the many speakers Daystar featured who was in the doctrinal error I mentioned above, here is why I say this:

“Now the Lord’s going to speak to you to partner with Daystar” (Daystar Fall Share-a-Thon 9/29/06)

Paula keeps them glued to the TV screen by giving the viewers the anticipation that God is going to “speak” to them to give to Daystar! But what if the Lord has already “spoken” to them and they have already given a “seed faith offering”? Paula has that one covered:

“Perhaps you say Paula, I’m already a partner! Well God wants you to increase that partnership and that monthly commitment” (Daystar Fall Share-a-Thon 9/29/06)

This is the reason why I write these articles! You see, according to Paula, it’s not enough that you have already given! You need to do more! They make you believe that God is not satisfied with your initial offering, so you need to increase your commitment to get an increase of His favor! This puts an even heavier yoke on the people; especially those who have already given and think they have pleased God with their obedience. So now they have people under the burden of a works mentality! This is an outrage!

Jesus said otherwise: Matthew 11:28-30 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Defiantly no guilt trip there! Next, Paula asks the question:

“How much does a soul value to you? How could you put a price tag on the anointing, the Word of God, a soul, the promises, the Kingdom of God?” (Daystar Fall Share-a-Thon 9/29/06)

Ask a simple question; get a simple answer, because next Paula said:

“I’m going to ask you to do something. Won’t you sow just a dollar a day into the Kingdom of God? That’s $30.00. Won’t you call and put on your credit card $360.00?” (Daystar Share-a-Thon 9/29/06)

There’s you’re answer! The price tag in this case, is $360.00!

SOLA SCRIPTURA – THE SCRIPTURE ALONE!

Now here is a test of your Bible knowledge. Paula White quotes Romans 4:17:

“Your imagination is more powerful than your reality. That’s why God says in Romans Chapter four verse seventeen call those things that are not as though they were” (Daystar Fall Share-a-Thon 9/29/06)

Now, will someone please open their Bible and look at Romans 4:17? Because it DOES NOT say for believers to “call those things that are not as though they were” Read it for yourself! Get your King James Bible, or any Bible version for that matter and you’ll see it DOES NOT SAY THAT!!! Here’s what it DOES say:

Romans 4:17 - (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Now, according to this verse, GOD and GOD ALONE calls those things that are not as though they were! Christians were NEVER given that authority! It belongs to GOD and Him alone!! This is where the Word of Faith crowd base their “name it and claim it” theology. According to Paula’s version of Romans 4:17, WE can speak those things that are not as though they were, but it first says, “Quickeneth the dead”. Does that mean WE can give life to the dead as well?? It is apparently obvious that Paula White mis-quoted this verse and in doing so taught doctrinal error to the live studio audience and to the millions watching her by satellite!

Now, another passage of scripture that Paula mis-quotes is one that most Christians themselves mis-quote, and that is Proverbs 29:18. This is how she read it:

“Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Daystar Share-a-Thon 9/29/06)

Paula then went on to explain this verse of scripture by saying:

“Now a vision, watch, is a mental picture of your future state” (Daystar Share-a-Thon 9/29/06)

She further stated: “it is a God inspired, hope and expectation planted in the heart of man and made real in their imagination by the Spirit of God” (Daystar Share-a-Thon 9/29/06)

Let me make this as clear as I can…are you ready?? Proverbs 29:18 DOES NOT ONLY SAY,  “Where there is no vision, the people perish!!!  Again, if you have your Bible…READ IT!! Here is what it says:

Proverbs 29:18 - Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Notice the part where it says “…but he that keepeth the law, happy is he?” Why didn’t Paula White read that part? Because that part changes everything! This verse HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A “MENTAL PICTURE OF YOUR FUTURE STATE!!!” This passage simply means that where the Word of God is not revealed, or preached, the people perish! In the Old Testament, the Word of the Lord was revealed to His prophets through visions; the prophets would then speak forth the Word of the Lord to the people:

1 Samuel 3:1 - And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

2 Chronicles 32:32 - Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

Lamentations 2:9 - Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD.

Proverbs 29:18 in the Bishop’s Bible (1568) states: When the worde of God is not preached, the people perishe: but well is hym that kepeth the lawe.  

So you see, Proverbs 29:18 is not about your “vision” or your “future state”. It is clearly about the Word of God, and what happens to people when sound doctrine is not taught or scripture is not revealed or preached!! Another doctrinal blunder on Paula White’s part!

Mike Murdock of The Wisdom Center in Fort Worth Texas was another featured guest speaker. Mr. Murdock is known for his support of the Word of Faith theology, and these quotes prove that loud and clear:

“Your faith can produce any future you want” (Daystar Share-a-Thon 9/20/06)

My faith can produce any future I want?? If I read Mr. Murdock correctly, he is stating that if I believe it, I can have it! That means anything my heart desires! Sounds pretty good at first, but there’s one problem concerning my heart’s desire:

Jeremiah 17:9: - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

As far as my faith producing any future I want, I’m sorry to burst any bubbles out there, but sovereignty is not mine, it belongs to the LORD:

Zechariah 4:6 - Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

My faith is not in my faith: Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I mentioned earlier about Mike Murdock and a plea for an $8,500.00 “seed”:

“There are twelve people, that God will speak to, to plant a $8,500.00 seed” (Daystar Share-a-Thon 9/20/06)

It looks like God gave him specific instructions on how these twelve can give this “seed”:

“You may do it on your credit card, you may do it over twelve months, but you know who you are” (Daystar share-a-Thon 9/20/06)

2 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.

I think Mr. Murdock’s last quote more than qualifies as “feigned words!”

One last quote to leave you with. Think about the arrogance of this statement: “Poverty is a curse!” – Rod Parsley (Daystar Share-a-Thon 9/25/06)

To Mr. Parsley, “poverty” is anyone who makes minimum wage. The message of this “prosperity gospel” is no matter how much you love Jesus, as long as you are living paycheck to paycheck, you are cursed!

Speaking of curses, part two of this article will deal with Larry Huch, and his “revelation” from God concerning Christians and curses. Part two will be available next month in Volume 14. Till next time!

Search the Scripture for yourself!  SOLA SCRIPTURA!  The Scripture ALONE! May the Lord bless you!

If you would like to respond please send your comments to: email@bereanradio.org.