It has come to my attention that Hillsong Church has invited Word of Faith teachers Joel Osteen and Jentezen Franklin as keynote speakers for Hillsong Conference 09. I find this very interesting as it suggests that, increased commitments to charity aside, Hillsong are still very much captive to the ‘name it and claim it’ prosperity gospel.
Here are a few quotes from Osteen on prosperity and positive confession:
“I look at the great truths of Almighty God and with the sixth sense in my spirit man, I believe I have a consciousness that they are mine. I see and believe salvation is mine. Healing is mine. Prosperity is mine. All of God’s blessings are mine. On the basis of this information from the sixth sense of faith, I can confidently say, ‘I am healed! I am blessed! I am redeemed! I am prosperous!’” (Joel Osteen, The Quarterly Journal, October-December 2004, Vol. 24, No. 4, 15)
You can cancel out God’s plan by speaking negative words. God works by laws. (Joel Osteen, “Speaking Faith Filled Words,” Tape # 223. Daystar Television, May 2, 2004)
You’ve got to speak it out. Your words have creative power. One of the primary ways we release our faith is through our words. There is a divine connection between you declaring God’s favor and seeing God’s favor manifested in your life. And some of you are doing your best to please the Lord. You are living a holy consecrated life, but you’re not really experiencing God’s supernatural favor. And it’s simply because you’re not declaring it. You’ve got to give life to your faith by speaking it out. (Joel Osteen, audio clip from Bible Answer-Man Broadcast, April 26, 2004).
Start calling in divine health. Start calling in abundance. You can prophesize your future. (Joel Osteen, “Speaking Faith Filled Words,” Tape # 223. Daystar Television, May 2, 2004)
To me this all just seems like a baptized version of esoteric New Thought teaching. Consumerism in spiritual clothing. I wonder what Osteen makes of The Secret?
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