How Word of Faith Teachers Twist Mark 11:22-24

The Word of Faith Movement (also known as the Prosperity Gospel or Name and Claim It), like many aspects of mainstream Christianity, contains both biblical and unbiblical teachings. In this video, I reveal how teachers like the late Kenneth Hagin borrowed from new age and science of the mind teachings and twisted Yeshua’s words in Mark 11:22–24 turning it into a gravy train benefiting them financially. We will also reveal what Yeshua really meant by, “For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

 

YHVH Is Raising Up John the Baptist–Type Preachers to Prepare the Way for Yeshua

John was no reed shaking in the wind—and neither are those who are now coming in that spirit to prepare the ways for Yeshua the Messiah’s second coming!

The Gospels contain many curious, arcane and cryptic statements by Yeshua that invite the reader to ponder and reflect on in order to fully understand and appreciate them. Matthew 11:7–12 is one such statement.

As they departed, Yeshua began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER BEFORE YOUR FACE, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’  “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

This statement of Yeshua is a very telling commentary how he viewed the mainstream religious leaders of his day. This was juxtaposed against his view of John the Baptist, who, though he was of priestly lineage, left the existing religious establishment and went into the wilderness to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. 

In his Matthew chapter eleven statement, Yeshua also predicts that a whole new genre of preachers would arise who, unlike the typical soft-spoken preachers of mainstream religion, would be violent and forceful in their demeanor and approach. Violent in the sense of confronting the religious establishment and the lukewarmness and sin of the people as he forcefully advanced the agendas of the kingdom of heaven against the opposing forces of a reluctant and recalcitrant spiritual environment.

With regard to John, who was a spiritual pioneer and pacesetter for this new breed of preacher, and who would enter the placid and staid religious waters of his day like a hurricane, let us consider the implications of this as well as Yeshua’s  view of John. John’s background is part of the context of this iconoclastic individual, which we will now view under a magnifying lens. 

To start with, John’s father, Zachariah, was of such a priestly status that he was allowed to minister in the inner portions of the temple itself. Yet John left this system to fulfil a ministry mission that was even greater than that of his father. Although John likely did not realize it at the time—for he was simply following the leading of the Spirit—he, by Yeshua’s own declaration, was to become the greatest prophet of all time up until then. To fulfil that divine mission, John had to exit the existing religious system and its status quo into which he was born, and execute that mission from outside of that system. Why? Because the Jewish religious system of the day would not, never did, and still does not recognize Yeshua as the Messiah. In fact, they viewed him as a threat to their religious tradition not to mention their secure positions of power and wealth, and on numerous occasion, they even tried to murder him. Eventually, they finally succeeded. 

YHVH called and raised up John, who was a special vessel, to stir the pot of the religious system of his day in hopes of waking up his few saints who were trapped in that system. It was John’s divine mission to put out a forceful call to those who had ears to hear to exit the Babylonian system of that day in preparation to meet Yeshua the Messiah. (YHVH is doing similar work in our day through similar type people as per the prophecy of Malachi chapter four.)

It was against this backdrop of constant religious antagonism and persecution that John executed his mission to prepare the way for Yeshua the Messiah, which involved clashing with the rich, powerful religious leaders of his day, who were concurrently in league with both the political and economic forces in control of that geographical region. The Truth and light of Messiah was literally confronting the satanic darkness of man’s religious, economic and political agendas. To use a jungle warfare term, John was the point man in this cosmic conflict, thus he took the incoming fire. To be sure, this was no place for a spiritual neophyte or weak-kneed, limp-wristed pansy in the pulpit. This was a struggle to the death—a literal clash with demonic god-like Titans. Therefore, YHVH raised up a man with a powerful background for a tough assignment. John was immersed in the Spirit while still in the womb, and Scripture deems his parents to be spiritually faultless. His father was of high repute as a Levitical priest, plus John was the cousin of Yeshua the Messiah himself. This was no average family even in human terms. No. John was no spiritual lightweight in the boxing ring of religion. Out of the fiery forge and crucible of his familial background come a mighty sword of a man who YHVH raised up to lay a spiritual ax to the root of the religious tree of his day and to the man-made system that was leading people astray and making of none-effect the Word of Elohim by their traditions. John was no pansy, no weak reed shaking in the wind, no well coiffed, tailored suit wearing pastor in the pulpit speaking man-pleasing, flattering and ear-tickling words to pew warmers religious addicts sitting passively and comfortably in padded benches in neat little rows beneath stained glass windows getting their weakly religious fixes. No! YHVH called and commissioned John, who was a rugged man for a rugged job to prepare the way for the Messiah, who himself would carry this battle against the religious system to an unprecedented level in an effort to call out YHVH’s true followers, who would worship Elohim in Spirit and in Truth instead of merely playing religious games.

This now brings us to Yeshua’s cryptic, slightly arcane and even a bit sarcastically-tinged statement about John and those who followed him about a reed shaking in the wind.

What is a reed shaking in the wind anyway? It is a weak blade of grass that moves with the slightest breeze. In human terms, it is someone who puts their finger to the wind to determine its direction and then bends accordingly. Such a person follows the popular currents of thought and the prevailing and popular mores or zeitgeist (or spirit of the age) of the time and accommodates himself and his message accordingly to curry the favor and popularity of the masses. These are the kind of leaders we see in the mainstream Christian church system of our day. They are often well coiffed, well-dressed and wear soft clothing as part of their marketing strategy, and speak soft words so as not to offend “the giving units”. Few, however, preach repentance. Fewer yet preach the gold standard of biblical righteousness, which is YHVH’s Torah-Truth of which Yeshua the Messiah was the living, walking breathing personification and our example to follow.

Yes, John came to lay the ax to the status quo of a religious system of his day that was keeping people in a state of being spiritually obese, comfortable, happy, paying their dues, non-questioningly and spiritually lukewarm.

Yes, John was popular. Many if not most of the inhabitants of Judea made the long, hot and arduous trek down from the Judean mountains to the lowest spot on earth (an apt geographical representation of the current state of the  religious system of that day…and ours) into the Jordan River Valley near the Dead Sea (another apt geographical description of the religious system of John’s day…and our day as well) to hear this goat-skinned clad, locust and honey-eating and wild-eyed preacher man. When they arrived, did he tickle their ears with gentle happy, happy-talk religious platitudes? Did he tell them that “Come to Jesus because he has a wonder plan for your life?” Or, “Come to Jesus and he’ll help improve your self esteem.” Or, “Say a prayer, receive forgiveness and go to church and pay your tithes, and now that you’re once saved always saved, just go and stand on the street corner, while waiting for the rapture bus to take you to heaven before all the you-know-what hits the proverbial fan.” Or “Come to Jesus and if you buy my how-to books and videos, then I’ll show you how he’ll make you healthy and wealthy here and now on demand.” No! This was not even close to John’s message. Rather it was…

[W]hile Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of Elohim came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS: ‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD; MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE FILLED AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL BROUGHT LOW; THE CROOKED PLACES SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT AND THE ROUGH WAYS SMOOTH; AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF ELOHIM.’ “Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that Elohim is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:2–9) 

In the last days, prior to Yeshua’s second coming, if we correctly understand the end time prophetic implications of the Book of Malachi chapters three and four, YHVH will raise up John the Baptist–type preachers, who will be coming in the spirit of Elijah, and who will be preaching a hard and unpopular message. They will be warning YHVH’s people to repent of sin, and return to the ancient spiritual paths as taught by the biblical fathers of the Christian faith by getting back to YHVH’s Torah-Truth. This will be the unpopular and disturbing message of, to put it in modern vernacular, “to turn or burn” (see Mal 4:1, 3 and 6b). May those who have ears to hear, and who are children of the light, hear and understand the times and seasons in which we are living (1 Thess 5:1–10).

 

John the Baptist-Type Preachers Are Preparing the Bride

As prophesied by Isaiah and Malachi the prophets, YHVH is currently raising up John the Baptist-style preachers to prepare the way for Yeshua’s (Jesus’) second coming. They are calling Christians out of the spiritual Babylon of churchianity, which is a mixture of truth and error, good and evil, and to repentance and back to their Torah-based, biblical roots.

These preachers are NOT pansies in the pulpits like the majority of Christian pastors, but are rough-hewn, plain spoken and fearless servant of YHVH Elohim, who are laying the spiritual ax to the tree of the anemic, lukewarm, idol-worshipping, man-pleasing religious system called modern Christianity. Can you handle this, or are you content to play church and remain in your spiritual state of lukewarm complacency?

Watch this video, be challenged to grow up spiritually, so you will be the chaste and righteous bride for which Yeshua the Messiah is coming back to marry.

The Bible is clear: not all Christians will be the bride of Yeshua! The choice is yours.

 

Gospels Decoded—Prophetic Pictures of End Time Events (Pt 11)

In this video, Nathan explains the end time prophetic implications of Yeshua the Good Shepherd gather his lost and scattered “sheep” together, the Parable of the Two Sons and how it relates to modern Jews and Christians, and Yeshua clashing with the religious system of his day and how that is a model for true end time believer Truth seekers to do the same.

 

Gospels Decoded-Prophetic Pictures of End Time Events (Pt 5)

This is the fifth in a series of videos containing the subject matter of Nathan Lawrence’s upcoming new book entitled, “The Gospels Decoded—Prophetic Pictures of End Time Events”. In this book, we will discover who we are as a people and what the future holds for us as we look at Yeshua’s ministry and teachings through the lens of the third level of biblical interpretation. You have never heard anything like this before. This is not hyperbole. I invite you to check it out for yourself.

 

The Truth—Reformation 2.0

I, Nathan Lawrence, have read and helped to edit the following book and have advised my good friend and brother in the faith, Luke Abaffy, while he was writing it. By his own admission, Luke has relied heavily on my teachings in the writing of his book.

But, more importantly, as I was reading and editing Luke’s book, it became clear to me that YHVH has given him much fresh revelation and new insights, which I have found to be unique, refreshing and inspiring in our attempt to understand and then to present a Torah-based view of the Scriptures to those around us. Honestly, in my more than 50 years of studying the Torah and attempting to living a Torah-compliant lifestyle, I have not come across another apologetic that addresses Christianity’s anti-Torah views as well as this book does. Luke’s book is compelling and spiritually energizing. Thus, I am convinced that Luke is a Spirit-led instrument in the hands of the Almighty YHVH Elohim to bring the Truth of Torah in light of Christianity’s apathy toward it to a whole new level and a new generation of believers. I have never said this about another book on this subject.

Therefore, please purchase his book, read it and assimilate the concepts found therein and then share it with others who are looking to help bring the lost sheep of Israel back to the Truth of the Bible.

This promotion is totally unsolicited by anyone, and Nathan Lawrence and Hoshana Rabbah Biblical Resources gains no financial or other benefit from it other than knowing that this book will help to advance the kingdom of Elohim for the glory of Yeshua our Messiah. —Nathan Lawrence


Presenting the new E book and paperback book by Luke Abaffy (creator of The Way Documentary) entitled The Truth-Reformation 2.0. This new books is…

A lighthearted, hard-hitting apologetics book from the creators of THE WAY documentary. Inside you’ll find:

  • The biblical case for keeping (even more of) God’s law
  • 25 contradictions in popular theology solved
  • Illustrations that visually contrast true and false doctrines
  • Clear language you can use to articulate your beliefs

Read THE TRUTH on your digital devices! You’ll receive an email with a choice of ebook file formats to download once your order is processed & completed. Learn more about THE TRUTH in the description below.

For 2,000 years, Christians taught that trying to keep the laws of the Old Testament is at worst, a blasphemous attempt to earn one’s salvation and at best, a misguided pursuit meant for Jewish people alone. Thanks to our fortunate involvement in the New Covenant, we don’t need to concern ourselves with now-symbolic food laws or the shadow-picture feasts of Leviticus 23 … or do we?.What if those laws are essential to the New Covenant and tied to the very purpose of life? What if they reveal more of Jesus’s example for us to follow? And what if the law of God is a perfect reflection of who He is, allowing us to know Him in a deeper way than ever before?
The Truth: Reformation 2.0
 is an apologetics resource that reveals harmful contradictions in popular Christian theology. 

Description

Inside you’ll find:

  • The biblical case for keeping (even more of) God’s law
  • Practical insights into what laws can be kept today and why
  • 25 contradictions in popular theology solved
  • Venn Diagrams and illustrations that visually contrast true and false doctrines
  • Clear language and a simple framework you can use to articulate your beliefs

The Truth: Reformation 2.0 provides clear, easy-to-remember answers to questions and objections like:

  • But didn’t Jesus fulfill the law so we don’t have to?
  • Why are you trying to be Jewish?
  • You’re misdirecting your energy, focusing on minutiae from the Old Testament instead of just loving people!
  • But doesn’t God love us unconditionally … no matter what we do?
  • But didn’t Jesus break the Sabbath?
  • Have you read Galatians?!
  • Aren’t we only responsible to keep the laws that are repeated in the New Testament?
  • But didn’t Jesus declare all foods clean?
  • You think it’s a good idea to stone your children!?
  • But God can sanctify something that used to be pagan to bring Himself glory!
  • But God’s law changes all the time!
  • Isn’t the point of the New Covenant that we don’t need to keep the law anymore?!
  • Didn’t Jesus give us new, more spiritual commands instead of the old stuff from the law of Moses?
  • Aren’t we, as the church, still Gentiles?
  • Shouldn’t I just decide for myself and be “fully convinced in my own mind?”

To order the E book or paperback book, click the link below: