Heaven opened, earth
invaded, storehouses unlocked and miracles created, dreams and visions, angelic
visitations, declarations, impartations and divine manifestations, anointings,
giftings and calls, positions and promotions, provisions and resources, to go
to the nations, souls and more souls, from every generation, saved and set
free, carrying Kingdom revelation! Thank You, Father, that as I join my value
system to Yours, You will shower FAVOR, BLESSINGS
and INCREASE upon me, so I have more than enough, to co-labor with Heaven and
see JESUS get His FULL REWARD. Hallelujah!!!" -- Bethel Website
Where the first declaration was more in your face about the greed, number two wants to appear more spiritual. You still cannot miss the overall financial implications of "unlocked storehouses", provision and resources, and being showered with favor, blessings and increase. The same tactic of pretending you are declaring these greedy decrees for "kingdom matters" is employed but that only reminds us to a familiar rebuke from Jesus Himself:
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. -- Matthew 23:15 (ESV)
John Calvin once said that zeal without doctrine is like a sword in the hands of a lunatic. It matters not if Bill Johnson and the Bethelites are sincere -- they are sincerely wrong. Only the uncompromised Gospel has the power to save anyone. The rest of this declaration is a hodgepodge of Charismatic catchphrases that have little scriptural backing but will resonate with those who have been taught so poorly. Heaven opening and earth invaded are two popular themes from the wicked hearts of false signs and lying wonders teachers. So are the over-spiritualized notions of dreams, visions, angelic visitations, impartations, anointings, giftings, and calls. These are all biblically themed but not actually supported by the Word of God the way they are being taught. Even the divine manifestations is charismatic code speak for gold dust, gemstones, glory clouds and angel feathers -- which Bethel claims all occur regularly at their church. The final point on this section is the seediness of the doctrine of me instead of focusing on Christ. Notice at the end there that this statement makes us responsible for making sure that Jesus gets His full reward? Where the heck is that in the Bible? We are not co-laborers with Christ beloved. He is our Lord and our Master. Bethel will never teach that however. Instead you are a co-laborer with the one you are supposed to serve and directly responsible for making sure He gets His full reward, which is why you need God to shower you with so much money. Once again, vile.
"Offering Reading Number Three - As we pray for new wells of revival, we pray for new economic wells in Redding to be created. So Lord, we ask You for: Favor for our city with CEO's, government leaders, and kings, manufacturing firms that produce goods for the nations and provide new jobs for our people. Technology to establish new markets, energy sources, and efficient solutions to grow as a population. Laws and Courts that measure with the justice and the freedom of our land's Constitution. Civil Servants that encourage entrepreneurs and a media known for wisdom and truth. Natural resources released, harvested, sold, and reproduced. Education, books, and universities that develop mind molders who influence the influential. Capital to build small businesses that provide services, arts, and culture attracting both young and old. Medical community known for integrity and excellence. REPENTANCE from poverty, small thinking, and envy. Courage to recognize opportunities and make wealth. Abundance to bless the world and the prudence to save and invest. Revelation to pass on wealth to our children's children"So we declare, that when the righteous prosper, the city rejoices! Hallelujah!!!" -- Bethel Website
Decree number one was outright carnal greed. Decree number two was hyper-spiritualism. This one however is straightforward NAR theology. This is the blueprint for worshiping this country as an idol, conquering the seven mountains of culture and chasing carnal revival. The Bible does not promise a great end times revival beloved -- just an apostasy. The NAR crowd however is positively obsessed with the notion of revival in America. They like the sin this country affords. They like the little niche they have carved out for themselves within that sin construct. We see this decree is demanding progress on the business mountain with favor over CEOs, manufacturing firms, production businesses and natural resources. They are teaching conquering the government mountain of influence by decreeing favor with governmental leaders, civil servants, and even our constitution. Media, arts, and education are also touched on. We must understand that this declaration is needed because Bill Johnson and the dominionist agenda is to have Christians take over the word to bring about the second coming of Christ. Now, of course this is not biblically supported but that will not stop them because they have the personal testimony of their hearts speaking to them and not realizing that it isn't the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps the most insulting part of this entire webpage however is the chastising of people to repent of their poverty! Are you kidding me? They equate poverty to small thinking! To Bethel the job of a Christian is to create wealth -- not spread the Gospel. Save, invest and pass along wealth to our children. You know, three topics not covered in the Bible. This is however a major plank in the Bethel platform. They honestly believe and openly teach that poverty is a mindset that can be overcome with word faith and following their suspect doctrines of devils. Do we fully comprehend what Bethel is teaching here? That poverty is a sin! It requires repentance! How does Bethel explain the church in third world countries then? The underground church in China? The Middle east church facing beheadings for refusing to denounce Christ. The poverty stricken Christians in South America or even south Detroit? If your gospel cannot be preached across this entire world then it is false by definition. I would say this is vile but that would be unfair to the word vile.
"Offering Reading #4 - I am powerful and what I believe changes the world. So today I declare
God is in a good mood.
He loves me all the time. Nothing can separate me from His love. Jesus' blood
paid for everything. I will tell nations of what He has done. I am important.
How He made me is amazing. I was designed for worship. My mouth establishes
praise to silence the enemy
Everywhere I go becomes a perfect-health zone. And with God nothing is
impossible!" -- Bethel Website
