Kenneth E. Hagin is the father of the Word of Faith movement. His emphasis on Romans 10:8, where the term "Word of Faith" is present and where the name of our movement comes from. Hagin learned and borrowed much from E.W. Kenyon, who had much to teach about faith, but it was Hagin who birthed this movement. So as THE founding father it is a very good thing to review some of his teachings that helped to form this movement and some that shaped the continual growth of our Word of Faith.
To continue in the series of teachings from our founding father I'd like to touch on Kenneth E Hagin's teaching on Prosperity's tie to giving. This post will be taken from the book The Midas Touch, Chapter Seven "Balance and Sound Teaching," the consecutive sections titled "Is Prosperity Tied Solely to Giving?" and "The Whole Counsel of God's Word" (pp.195-199, Second Printing 2002).
Kenneth E. Hagin wrote:
Hagin certainly teaches giving. There is no doubt about that. And he teaches that when we give we position ourselves for a harvest -- to receive the blessing that the Lord has for us. That is not what this teaching is about. What we are focusing on in this thread is the idea that giving into ministries is the ONLY way to have prosperity.
Hagin goes on to write about his "son, Rev. Kenneth [W.] Hagin Jr., pastor of RHEMA Bible Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma." He tells us that prosperity is certainly the will of God for His children. Hagin Jr. stressed that:
Hagin teaches us that there is a spiritual aspect to prosperity. But there is also a practical aspect to prosperity. People should get a good education or vocational training. Even if this means that as adults we take additional classes to get extra training.
In addition to this, we are taught to work hard, to put our hand to the plow, so to speak. We have roles to play on our job and we should diligently perform them. This will lead to recognition and reward, including raises and promotions.
Our job and our responsibilities in life have a direct impact and relationship to our prosperity. Greater financial reward comes to and through those who diligently work hard.
Another important aspect is your associations with other people. You can't be hanging around with people who would fill you with doubt and unbelief. That will affect you. It will permeate you until you begin to doubt yourself. It will affect your ability to believe that God will provide through your own efforts. You cannot be associating with people who are critical and complaining, people who poke at you and have issue with everything that you say. Don't hang around with people who cheat and lie to get ahead. Watch people's moral character.
Hagin goes on to write that ...
He teaches that people can become religiously imbalanced, stressing certain things while ignoring others; or in most cases teaching certain things while minimizing others. We need to learn that...
Hagin was a teacher who stressed the level of prosperity that people would experience as well. It certainly does not preclude that we could see great wealth, but it is not a given that we shall see it as such. Well, let's let Kenneth E. Hagin say it in his own words:
Emphasis in the above quotes is mine. I thank God for the wise counsel of our founding father, Kenneth E. Hagin. How about you?
To continue in the series of teachings from our founding father I'd like to touch on Kenneth E Hagin's teaching on Prosperity's tie to giving. This post will be taken from the book The Midas Touch, Chapter Seven "Balance and Sound Teaching," the consecutive sections titled "Is Prosperity Tied Solely to Giving?" and "The Whole Counsel of God's Word" (pp.195-199, Second Printing 2002).
Kenneth E. Hagin wrote:
In teaching prosperity, too many preachers seem to communicate the idea that receiving financial abundance is totally and exclusively tied to one thing -- giving... usually to them! Don't misunderstand me. I believe in giving. I believe that giving is important. But it is not the only key to prosperity.
Hagin certainly teaches giving. There is no doubt about that. And he teaches that when we give we position ourselves for a harvest -- to receive the blessing that the Lord has for us. That is not what this teaching is about. What we are focusing on in this thread is the idea that giving into ministries is the ONLY way to have prosperity.
Hagin goes on to write about his "son, Rev. Kenneth [W.] Hagin Jr., pastor of RHEMA Bible Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma." He tells us that prosperity is certainly the will of God for His children. Hagin Jr. stressed that:
... knowing and doing what the Bible says has a direct relationship to our prosperity. Joshua 1:8 declares, "This book of the law [the Word of God] shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou salt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
You see, the Bible doesn't just speak about God prospering us. The Bible also speaks of us making our own way prosperous.
You see, the Bible doesn't just speak about God prospering us. The Bible also speaks of us making our own way prosperous.
Hagin teaches us that there is a spiritual aspect to prosperity. But there is also a practical aspect to prosperity. People should get a good education or vocational training. Even if this means that as adults we take additional classes to get extra training.
In addition to this, we are taught to work hard, to put our hand to the plow, so to speak. We have roles to play on our job and we should diligently perform them. This will lead to recognition and reward, including raises and promotions.
It is true that we should trust God as our Source rather than putting all our confidence in a job or the economy. But that doesn't mean that financial prosperity is totally unrelated to a person's occupation.
While God can channel blessings to us from many sources, much of the time He uses our job as the primary channel.
While God can channel blessings to us from many sources, much of the time He uses our job as the primary channel.
Our job and our responsibilities in life have a direct impact and relationship to our prosperity. Greater financial reward comes to and through those who diligently work hard.
Paul told the Thessalonians, "...work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing (1 Thess. 4:11,12).
He also declared, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Col. 3:23).
He also declared, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Col. 3:23).
Another important aspect is your associations with other people. You can't be hanging around with people who would fill you with doubt and unbelief. That will affect you. It will permeate you until you begin to doubt yourself. It will affect your ability to believe that God will provide through your own efforts. You cannot be associating with people who are critical and complaining, people who poke at you and have issue with everything that you say. Don't hang around with people who cheat and lie to get ahead. Watch people's moral character.
Hagin goes on to write that ...
... pastors and teachers have a responsibility to teach the full Word of God, not just on part.
He teaches that people can become religiously imbalanced, stressing certain things while ignoring others; or in most cases teaching certain things while minimizing others. We need to learn that...
...the Bible doesn't teach a lopsided, imbalanced message regarding prosperity. There is much more to the message than constantly saying, "If you want to be prosperous, give! If you want to be prosperous, give! If you want to be prosperous, give!"
Ministers who do this are not teaching the whole counsel of God. In my personal opinion, they do an injustice to the Word of God by emphasizing just one side of the issue.
Ministers who do this are not teaching the whole counsel of God. In my personal opinion, they do an injustice to the Word of God by emphasizing just one side of the issue.
Hagin was a teacher who stressed the level of prosperity that people would experience as well. It certainly does not preclude that we could see great wealth, but it is not a given that we shall see it as such. Well, let's let Kenneth E. Hagin say it in his own words:
Another crucially important issue is that ministers should never suggest or lead people to believe that prosperity means conspicuous, lavish wealth. It simply is not true that everyone who has faith for prosperity will live in a palace, drive a luxurious car, and dress in expensive, designer-label clothes.
Prosperity is relative. For some people, being able to pay their bills and provide the basic comforts of life for their families would be a great blessing -- a definite step up. In some countries, being prosperous might mean having a bicycle or motorcycle to ride, or an ox to plow the fields to plant a crop
Prosperity is relative. For some people, being able to pay their bills and provide the basic comforts of life for their families would be a great blessing -- a definite step up. In some countries, being prosperous might mean having a bicycle or motorcycle to ride, or an ox to plow the fields to plant a crop
Emphasis in the above quotes is mine. I thank God for the wise counsel of our founding father, Kenneth E. Hagin. How about you?
