Have you ever wondered what Word of Faith teaches?  Have you formed an opinion based on what you heard someone else say or read on the Internet?  I have found that when people speak out against something or someone, it is usually out of fear of the unknown.  They have not taken the time to get the Word inside of them, but they think they know enough to criticize.  In most cases, they have based an opinion on what someone told them or have only heard part of the truth and believe they have the full picture.

I’m not going to defend the message here today, God’s Word does not need defended - it needs taught.  Jesus never argued to get His point across - He taught the Word and those who where willing learned how to receive and those who did not believe lived the same miserable life they had all along.  It was their choice.

I have found that it is more effective to teach people who want to learn, rather than debating with those who already have their minds made up.  It is my desire to set you free from religious thinking.  By shedding some light on traditional teaching that, you may believe as truth or have just never really questioned.  I believe you will sense a freedom and an understanding that was not available to you, based on what you believed to be true

The truth is when we die we will be judged based on the Truth of God’s Word and what we did with it in our lives here on earth.  Just because someone calls them self a minister or has a church following, does not mean that they are teaching the Truth of God’s Word.  We need to take everything we hear from the Internet and from the pulpit and judge it with the bible. 

I think it is time to shoot

some cows!

I grew up on a farm and when I had my own farm as well, I hunted birds and wild game.  I practised responsible use of a firearm.  I knew what I was hunting for and only pulled the trigger when I was sure of what I was aiming at. 

Anyone who has raised cattle will tell you that there are days that if you had access to a gun, at certain moments of working with cattle, it would be very easy to shoot your best cow.  Especially as she jumps through the fence and takes several other cows with her in a run for their lives, in the direction you just came from. 

You will also know that cows are not that smart.  They will do whatever it takes to stay where they are comfortable and with what they know.  Sometimes will fight you to stay in a pasture that has no water, no grass and means a very slow death, but that is all they know.  When, just on the other side of the field, the grass is greener and plenty of fresh water awaits them –all they need to survive! 

You may know some Christians that are like that.  They will fight you to hang onto what they have.  Not knowing God is only trying to get them to a place in their lives that they can only imagine!  A place where their every need is supplied and with the abundance, they can help others.

When I was ranching, the only time I would “really” consider killing a cow, was when it was suffering from an untreatable injury or was a danger to itself, other cows, my family or myself or a danger to my property.  I will add for those cowboys out there that say, “Oh ya, what about your steaks!”  We did our own livestock processing for food, but that was the exception to the rule and it usually was not a cow.

Today I am going to pick up my “gun” so to speak, and shoot some cows!  I see the danger they are to us!  There are some teachings that have crept into the Church and that have become a danger to anyone who would believe them.  These “cows” have become so dangerous that they are destructive to not only people, but also to their property. 

These very cows have caused people to ask questions such as:

Why do bad things happen to good people?  Why is my life so messed up?  Why doesn’t God help me? 

Well - do you believe He can help you?  Do you believe God will help you?  There is a key as to whether you will ever receive answered prayer.

Here is the big question!  Are you willing to help yourself, God’s way?

You may say “What do you mean, God’s way?”  God is a big God; He can do whatever He wants to, right?  Wrong! God gave us a will and He will not violate or force us to do anything.  He also gave us an ability to speak, as He speaks. 

In Word of Faith teaching, we do believe you can have what you say – good or bad!  You will be blessed - if you are saying what God said you can have!  In addition, you will live the life you say you have, if all you ever say is negative. 

We have been called “The Name-it-and-Claim-it-Bunch.”  Thank you!  We do believe God’s Word to be true in all His Promises to us.  We apply our faith to receive them for His Glory, for our benefit, and the benefit of everyone He brings across our path!  You may say, “I don’t want anything to do with that prosperity bunch!”  That is OK.  Stay broke and we will leave you alone.  You need to realize you are also saying that you do not want anything to do with The Truth of God’s Word then also.

We are blessed - to be a blessing!

I have heard people say that the Word of Faith bunch is just after your money.  The truth is we are trying to get money to you - not from you.  God is our source, not people!  The pastors who are trying to get your money are the ones who do not believe God will supply all their needs.  If the church programs are to be a success then they feel they need to take up an offering five times a week and twice on Sunday, because that is the only time they see some of these people.  They are looking to the people to meet their needs, not God.  If we get our eyes on people, we will never prosper God’s way!

Some people have asked us what denomination we belong to.  The short answer is - we do not belong to or follow any denomination, we believe and act on God’s Word.  Rena Mae & I are pastors in Northern Light Ministries, licensed as ministers with AFCM (Association of Faith Churches and Ministers) for Spiritual guidance and accountability.  At Northern Light Ministries, we believe the Word of Faith message and teach the Truth of God’s Word in this area. 

Some people place a label on this type of teaching based on the scripture we read in   Romans 10:8-10

“8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  (NKJV)

Now it makes good sense that if you believe that the way to receive the gift of salvation is to SAY with your mouth and believe it (to RECEIVE it), that this would be true for every promise God has in His Word.

If you are attending a church that does not teach, “the Word of Faith” for Salvation, I would run from it.  Your eternal destiny is at stake!  Some people have called us “the blab-it-and-grab-it-bunch.”  This is a compliment to us.  We do believe God’s Word in this area.  God’s Word says we are to speak God’s Word and expect Him to perform what He said He would do.  When He does, we grab it and run with it! 

I received my salvation this way, my healing for my body, provision for my family, deliverance from depression, along with numerous other promises.

Today I want to touch on some of the lies some people have believed that have held them from reaching their full potential in life.  I am here today to touch on the things that you may have heard in the past and believe to be true.  Some people would call them “Sacred Cows.”  I looked up the definition of what a Sacred Cow is.  Webster defines it as “someone or something considered being exempt from criticism or questioning.”  I have been in discussion with a family member that has placed the church he attends into this category.  

When we go though life believing something to be true, we will make decisions that affect our future based on these beliefs.  When we find out something was not true it can have traumatic effects in our life.  Some people refuse to change even when they hear the truth.  Just because that is the way Granny believed it and, “If it was good enough for her, it is good enough for me!”  Is it?  Possibly Granny could be still alive today to watch her grandchildren grow up if someone was bold enough to share the Truth.

Believing something because of tradition or lack of interest to change is a very dangerous place to be.  God said He would not have any other god’s before Him! Anything we place between us and the truth of God’s Word, is a Sacred Cow or as God puts it - a god. 

If you are attending a church that believes you and your little group are the only ones going to heaven and every one else has missed it, I would suggest you leave quietly and never return!  Or, if you are attending a church that places more importance on the denomination than the bible – RUN and never look back!

Have you ever heard the expression, “less is more.”  This is so true when it comes to what is coming out our mouths. We wonder how we ended up in such a mess. How did our world get to be what it is? To answer these questions let us go back, way back, to the beginning…

 In Genesis 1:1-29 we read that God created heaven and earth by SPEAKING.  When we are born again we become God’s children and are given the ability to operate in the laws He put in motion. 

Genesis 1:26-28 “26 Then God said, “Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life—the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals.” 27 So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and told them, “Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals.” (NLT)

This is the age-old question.  One of the reasons bad things happen to good people is that they walked into a trap they did not know about or recognize.  God has answered this question for us so simply.  We can only walk in the Truth we know.  If do not know your authority then you do not have access to it! 

Hosea 4:6

“6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”  (NKJV)

Satan is more than willing to help us fail wherever he can.

John 10:10

‘10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.”  (NLT)

God has made His Word available to everyone of us to study.  Unfortunately, some choose to let others read it for them.  Some reject what the Pastor is teaching from the Word.  Some people are in a church that just does not know the truth.  “It is such a nice building and all my friends go there.” 

I have used this illustration before, but it stands true again.  The Word says, “The truth will set you free.”  It is the truth you know - that will set you free.  Most Christians believe the bible is The Truth of God, speaking to us.  If it were the Truth itself that sets people free, then every person walking into the bookstore that carried bibles would be instantly saved, healed, delivered, and set free from financial lack and poverty.  

Another reason bad things happen to good people is, they asked for it!  What I mean by that is, when we are not concerned about what comes out our mouth we will create our own world with our words.  You may say, “No way - we do not have that kind of power.”  How many times did you miss the ball when you say things like, “I always miss the ball when someone’s watching me?”  How many times did you fail when you said, “I never pass tests when they are on a Monday?”

Too many churches neglect to teach on this fundamental Truth of God’s Word.  What we say does matter! 

 Mark 11:22-24 “22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I assure you that you can say to this mountain, ‘May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,’ and your command will be obeyed. All that’s required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart. 24 Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it. (NLT)

We are created in God’s image, or in other words, we are like Him!  Jesus told us He has all authority in heaven and earth.  Most Christians are fine with that, but when they hear that they can do anything Jesus did and more they start to make this strange sound.  I have heard it before.  It is a very familiar sound…”MOOOOO”…

I do not care if you have raised that cow all your life and even named it Betsy!  Whenever we find a sacred cow in our lives, we need to put the cross hairs of the Word of God on it and pull the trigger.

Matthew 28:18-20  “18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NLT)

Mark 16:15-18 “15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages. 18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them.”  (NLT)

John 14:12-14  “12 “The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it!”  (NLT)

OK one dead cow.  Now you may have heard that baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues has died with the early church.  I have even talked to bible school students from a well know Pentecostal college that say the baptism of the Holy Spirit was not a topic that was taught; therefore, they were not sure of the benefit of being baptized.

Some people say they are in ministry and are feeling burnt out, but refuse to accept teaching on how to receive the power to minister.  Pastors of denominational churches that refuse to teach or believe this fundamental truth are burning out and leaving the ministry.  Why?  Because when they open their mouths you hear… MOOOOO!

Acts 1:8 “8 But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NLT)

Mark 16:17

17 These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages.”  (NLT)

 Acts 19:1-6  “1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul travelled through the interior provinces. Finally, he came to Ephesus, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them.

“No,” they replied, “we don’t know what you mean. We haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked.  And they replied, “The baptism of John.”  4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was to demonstrate a desire to turn from sin and turn to God. John himself told the people to believe in Jesus, the one John said would come later.”

5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.”  (NLT)

1 Corinthians 14:22 “22 So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.”  (NLT)

Paul instructs us to pray both in our understanding and in the Spirit.  If we allow a cow to stand in our way, our prayer life is affected.  If we cannot pray effectively then we cannot hear God’s direction for our lives, and we are open to what ever comes our way!  When you open your mouth to pray do you hear… MOOOOO!

1 Corinthians 14:15-20 “15 Well then, what shall I do? I will do both. I will pray in the spirit, and I will pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will sing in words I understand. 16 For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? 17 You will be giving thanks very nicely, no doubt, but it doesn’t help the other people present. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.” (NLT) 

MOOOOO… I think I hear another cow!  Another deadly teaching from the pulpit of some churches is that God will bring a sickness or cause an accident to teach you something.  I agree that sometimes when sickness or trauma enters our lives God will speak to you a truth that will change your life forever.  The reality is, God was trying to teach you before the accident or sickness, - you just could not hear Him over all the MOO-ing!  Why did it take a devastating situation in your life to get you to hear the truth, when it was available all along in His Word?

Deuteronomy 30: 14-20 “14 The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.

15 “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between prosperity and disaster, between life and death. 16 I have commanded you today to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, laws, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and become a great nation, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. 17 But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, 18 then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.

19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! 20 Choose to love the Lord your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life. Then you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

The Word of God is full of promises to bring prosperity to us and God tells us He gives us the power to gain wealth!  (Deut. 8:18)  If God was against us prospering financially, He would be giving us the power to sin!  His very laws would cause us to sin!  If we are to be poor as some preachers teach, then as we give our excess away, God’s Law will cause us to sin!

Luke 6:38 “38 If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you.”  (NLT)

If we really look at the sacred cows in our lives, we can see how dangerous they can be.  If the truth on God’s healing power is behind a cow, we could die and the cure was one cow away.  If we desperately require finances, but there are just too many cows in the way, we could loose everything God has given us.  If we place the perceived value of our cows over the truth of God’s Word, we will never reach our full potential in our lives. 

We can only experience true freedom in Christ when we finally get bold enough to kill some of our favourite cows.  In other words, we are to kill a mindset that we have held onto all our lives.  When you finally get bold and start to shoot some cows, you may have your family come against you.  You may have your church friends come against you.  You may have your Pastor or Priest come against you.  This is normal.  Old Betsy is a favourite cow and has been loved by all.  But when you see that she has turned on you and has your life pinned to the wall; I believe you will chose life - Betsy has to go!

I was only able to touch on some of the scriptures that teach the truth on these subjects.  My purpose & hope today was to get you thinking on what you believe and why you believe it.  Do you have scripture that says what you were taught is true?  Did the person or persons that told you what you believe have a full knowledge of the Word of God?  I am not saying that I understand all there is to know about God and His ways.  What I do know is that it God’s Word is simple to understand and He wants us blessed in all we do - just as any loving father would want.