There are many wonderful and sincere believers who have been…

There are many wonderful and sincere believers who have been taught Scriptures which are commonly misinterpreted in the Word of Faith, “hyper“-charismatic and New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movements.

Unfortunately, much of the theology behind this originates in New Age/New Thought teachings, and does not represent sound interpretations of the biblical text.

That said, I’d like to point you to this content-rich video by Melissa Dougherty and Pastor Mike Winger who discuss 15 commonly misinterpreted Bible verses:

?« Are there Scriptures that support the New Age and Word of Faith? Talking with Pastor Mike Winger »: ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ

Seriously guys…this video is gold ❤️?. It will help you learn how to interpret what Scripture actually means (properly called “exegesis”), rather than using isolated verses to build entire doctrines out of unintended meanings (called “eisegesis”).

Note that at its core, the proper interpretations discussed in the video are not a matter of a cessationist vs continuationist perspective. While neither Melissa Dougherty, Pastor Mike, nor Steven Bancarz adhere to a cessationist perspective, this bears no impact on the discussion. This video will allow you to glean sound interpretation of the biblical text no matter where you stand on the cessationist vs. continuationist debate.

Although the entire 2 hours is well worth your time, here are direct links below to where specific verses are discussed, queued accordingly, in order to better help you.

? 15 Commonly Misinterpreted Verses:

1️⃣ John 10:10, re: What did Jesus mean by saying He “came that they may have life and have it abundantly“? ? https://youtu.be/d3NVJU82du8?t=3m44s

2️⃣ Mark 11:24/ Matthew 21: 22, re: “whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it”; believing & receiving/ declaring & decreeing? ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=1185

3️⃣ Matthew 7:1-2, re: “judge not or you too will be judged“, ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=1614

4️⃣. Matthew 7:7, re: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you “, ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=2132

5️⃣ 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10 re: Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”, suffering and healing; is it always God’s will to physically heal on this earth? ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=42m13s

6️⃣ Proverbs 23:7, re: “as a man speaks in his heart so is he”; does this support the notion of attracting what we think?, ? https://youtu.be/d3NVJU82du8?t=2973

7️⃣ John 10:34, 35, re: “Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”; WOF little god theology and New Age self-divinity, ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=3213

8️⃣ Romans 4:17, re: “as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.“; Can we use our words to speak things into existence like God does? ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=3942

9️⃣ 1 John 4:16-18, re: “God is love“ and “perfect love casts out all fear“, ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=4264

1️⃣0️⃣ Galatians 6:7-9, re: “sowing and reaping”; Financial“seed of faith” giving and blessings? ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=1h17m12s

1️⃣1️⃣ Proverbs 18:20-21, re: “death and life are in the power of the tongue”; Are we co-creators with God capable of creating our own reality with our spoken words? ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=4903

1️⃣2️⃣. John 14:12-14, re: “greater works you will do”; Can we do greater works than Jesus? ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=1h27m38s

1️⃣3️⃣ Philippians 4:13, re: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me“, ? https://youtu.be/d3NVJU82du8?t=1h47m17s.

1️⃣4️⃣ Jeremiah 29:11, re: “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future “, ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=6472

1️⃣5️⃣ Romans 12:12, re: “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind“, ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=6833

? Refuting Other Common Errors:

? « Don’t put God in a box »

While this expression is sometimes used by well meaning believers, at its core it’s based on misappropriated logic. It is also sometimes used as a means of avoiding objections against a viewpoint that may be flawed, erroneous or incomplete by Scriptural standards. For more on this, see ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=3900

? « God won’t hand you a serpent if you ask for a fish. For every demonic counterfeit, there’s an authentic godly practice to be found. If I’m a believer sealed with the Holy Spirit seeking a supernatural encounter with God, I’m protected and He will never allow me to experience the demonic ».

Not only is this false logic, it’s also very dangerous. Contrary to such teachings, just because there is a counterfeit doesn’t mean that God’s genuine article is hiding somewhere behind it, waiting on standby for us to recover and repurpose it for Him.

Sometimes the counterfeit presents itself in order to confuse believers into thinking that God has something more in store for us to discover, when in reality, this is just another ploy to lead believers down a spiritually dangerous path which God never intended.

As believers we’re not immune to spiritual attacks. We can definitely open ourselves up to demonic oppression by dabbling in areas we shouldn’t, be it things we willfully know are wrong, things we still don’t realize are wrong, or things we justify to ourselves as being right but aren’t by biblical standards. For more on this, see : ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=5380

? « Paul’s vision (whether inside or outside the body) was intended to be an example of what all believers should be seeking to experience. »

The passage of 2 Corinthians 12:3-6 is frequently misinterpreted to promote spiritually dangerous practices within Christianity that are steeped in the New Age, and leave believers vulnerable to demonic deceptions and attacks. For more on this, see ? https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ?t=1h28m35s

? For more information on the origins and issues of the Word of Faith movement, also see the following interviews with Steven Bancarz & Melissa Dougherty:

? Part 1: What is the Word of Faith Movement? https://youtu.be/rVixv-lg9Gc

? Part 2: What is the Word of Faith Movement? https://youtu.be/TKOBwRSOFDU