THE little GOD/MEN

It is popular notion today to claim one is connected to or has become like God.   M.Scott Peck a psychologist who's books are popular even in some Christian bookstores writes "God wants us to become himself (or herself or itself) we are growing toward godhood, God is the goal of evolution (The Road Less Traveled).

Likewise we can expect this talk form the gurus. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi says " man is  divine, the inner man is fully divine. Be still and know you are God. when you know you are God you will begin to live Godhood. Swami Muktananda says "Your God dwells within you as you."

Margot Adler a well known witch writes "We are gods and may as well get good at it."

People were shocked several years ago when they tuned in and saw shirley Maclean in  a movie about her search standing on the beach on the beach chanting "I am God , I am God." But it does not have the same impact today, even in Christian circles.

And as disturbing as these claims may be we can expect those who have no guidance to be deceived by Spirits of self glamorizing. Unfortunately we don't seem to be as a shocked when we hear this same thing inside the Churches walls.

The little God movement of the word faith teachers has become established in the church despite its obvious contradiction to the Bible. 

2 Cor.11:15 transformation is the key and many want to be transformed to have godlike abilities in life to solve their problems and have power for whatever they want.

If Satan can us believe we are little gods like he did with Eve he can change a whole group of people (the church) not just 2 people that He first delivered this lie to. He never changes the lies only dresses them up to be accepted by a different culture. In this respect he has convinced even Christians who are supposed to know, acknowledge and worship the one true God, into thinking that they are a little God like him and have all the same capabilities. Satan is working on all fronts to change the boundary line, but the main attack is to have Christians believe they are like God in every way. For if one thinks this way they automatically disconnect themselves from the one true God

We are told in Scripture to have humility and not to think to highly of ourselves. Does not claiming to be a little god do this?  

As I have talked to numerous people about some of the leading men teaching in modern Christian TV. There is either two reactions. One is I never heard them say this I'd like to see the proof before you defame these men. Or I never heard them say that I don't believe they would and I don't want to see any of your evidence because its slander. But its not my words its theirs. There is problem with people who call themselves Christians who are to be following Jesus and not want to know the truth about certain men they hold in high esteem. The Church has become  much like an ostrich with their head in the sand.  

The word faith teachers are trying to reverse the effects of the fall when God pronounced a curse on the earth and punishment for mankind

I will comment little as we go through the quotes that should speak for themselves (if words mean anything). Kenneth Copeland  "Every Christian is a god. … You don’t have a god in  you, you are one". (Kenneth Copeland, The Force of Love (Fort Worth, TX: Kenneth Copeland Ministries, 1987), audiotape #02-0028, side 1.)  

Ask yourself is this true? Can you find a verse in the bible for this.   

"Pray to yourself, because I'm in your self and you're in Myself. We are one Spirit, saith the Lord." (Kenneth Copeland)  

Can you imagine the early Christian church saying these things. They are not found in the Bible, in fact the Bible says the very opposite.

Copleand states" Am I a god? Man was created in the god class, was not created in the animal class, it was the god class. He has a uniqueness about him that even angels do not have...Now Peter said by exceeding great and precious promises, you become partakers of the divine nature. Alright, are we gods? We are a class of gods." (Praise the Lord, TBN, 2/5/1986)

But God is uncreated in a class all by himself. How can any created thing be it man or any other creature be in the same category?

In the world of hyper faith there is no will of God only your will all that God has is yours, His nature, His power, His wealth. This is a man centered religion and self is the focus. This is all very contrary to Jesus' teachings. This is why Copeland can say "Pray to yourself, because I'm in your self and you're in My self. We are one Spirit, saith the Lord." ("Believer's Voice of Victory", Feb. 1987, p.9) Who inspired this?

Copeland speaking about Adam..."I thought you said he was a god. He was created in the god class, but when he created high treason he fell below the God class. Am I God? Man was created in the god class. Not created in the animal class. He's in the god class. He has a uniqueness about him that even angels do not have. And that is the God-given right to choose his own words and speak them, thereby setting his own divine destiny, his own destination, 'cause he can go to hell if he wants to. He can go to heaven if he wants to. Jesus said, "by your words are you condemned. BY your words are you justified and you will stand judgment for empty word you speak out your mouth."  Well, that's divine faith. Now Peter said, by exceeding great and precious promises you become partakers of the divine nature. All right, are we gods? we are a class of gods." (Praise the Lord" TBN,  2/5/86)

It seems everyone can be called God but not Jesus. Why? Because many believe he left his deity in heaven. "Nothing Jesus did was because He was the Son of God. The Bible says He laid aside His royal robes of Deity and when He walked on earth He did so as a Prophet under the Abrahamic Covenant." (Rodney Browne the touch of God p.13,14)

"Earl Paulk states "Just as dogs have puppies and cats have kittens, so God has little gods .... Until we comprehend that we are little gods and we begin to act like little gods, we cannot manifest the Kingdom of God.' (Earl Paulk, Satan unmasked 1984 pp.96-97)

Morris Currello had the people chant "Who are you? Come on, who are you? Come on, say it: ‘Sons of God!’ Come on, say it! And what does work inside us, brother, is that manifestation of the expression of all that God is and all that God has. And when we stand up here, brother, you’re not looking at Morris Cerullo; you’re looking at God. You’re looking at Jesus." (Morris Cerullo, The Endtime Manifestation of the Sons of God World Evangelism tape 1)

Casey Treat a number of years ago said, "Say it out loud, "I'm an exact duplicate of God! [The congregation repeats it a bit tentatively and uncertainly.]

Came on, say it! [He leads them in unison.] "I'm an exact duplicate of God!" Say it again! "I'm an exact duplicate of God!" [The congregation is getting into it, louder and bolder and with more enthusiasm each time they repeat it.] Say it like you mean it? [He's yelling now.] "I'm an exact duplicate of God!" Yell it out loud! Shout it! [They follow as he leads.] "I'm an exact duplicate of God! I'm an exact duplicate of God!" [Repeatedly] . . . .When God looks in the mirror, He sees me! When I look in the mirror, I see God! Oh, hallelujah! . . .

You know, sometimes people say to me, when they're mad and want to put me down..., "You just think you're a little god!" Thank you? Hallelujah? You got that right! "Who d'you think you are, Jesus?"Yep!Are you listening to me? Are you kids running around here acting like gods? Why not? God told me to! . . . Since I'm an exact duplicate of God, I'm going to act like God!"(Quoted from Seduction of Christianity p.85)

One can only wonder why this teaching seems to have found its home in the word/faith camp? Its echo from the Garden has become a confession of faith for the "end of the age Christian."

Heb. 2:5-9 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6But one testified in a certain place, saying:
“What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him?  7You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands.  8You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

At first if one wants to isolate this verse with its context they can preach on it to prove mans to have control. However if we read on.
For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 

If the son of man means here in this scripture anyone or all of the fallen posterity, then all have everything in subjection to them.

If one were to look at all the scriptures of what is man they get a balance and would know it is not about us becoming gods or anything like it.

Ps 144:3-4 LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him? Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow.

Job 15:14-16 “What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous? If God puts no trust in His saints, And the heavens are not pure in His sight, How much less man, who is abominable and filthy, Who drinks iniquity like water!
 Job 7:17-18 What is man, that You should exalt him, That You should set Your heart on him,  That You should visit him every morning, And test him every moment? 

Nowhere in scripture is there a teaching of little gods verses big God, but false Gods verses the true God. So in reality to claim to be a little god is to put one in the category of a false God.

“Jesus is mocking the people as if to say, 'You all think you're gods yourselves. What's one more god among you? To imagine that we are gods when we are saved is to misunderstand our condition, even though in Christ. Even though the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in our lives, it does not mean that we have been deified! If man is deified, surely we also have to accept the doctrine that we are therefore sinless! Yet, the Scriptures deny that we are sinless, even after our salvation.

The greatest evil is to call oneself God when they are not. Since there is only one true God no one can ever be in the same class as a creature created by God, it is a delusion of unprecedented proportions to call oneself this, it is the height of arrogance. It is the same sin that caused Lucifer the greatest creature God created to fall. All those who say this will find themselves sharing the same fate.

  Ps. 82:6-8 ‘I said, 'You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.’ This was addressed to the judges of Israel they were called gods not because they were divine but because they represented god when they judged the people. The word Elohim is applied to an aspect of God, as God was also to be ruler and judge over the people so He installed human rulers to do the same (see Deut.19:17-18). The Psalm is a put-down of corrupt judges who were abusing their authority and has a lot of irony in it. The word Judges is found in Ex.21:22; 22:8-9 it is Ha Elohim  (other scriptures of how the acted Deut.1:16;16:18; 25:1; 2 Sam.11:7). Elohim is only used for God as God, it is never used for man or the angels to imply they are God but as rulers of certain positions in the world.

He said this in the tense that they were presently gods. Jesus uses this to pronounce sentence on there being judges who were not ruling over the people correctly. Instead they were showing partiality to the wicked and neglected in defending the weak. He is conveying if unjust judges are called to rule with power and authority, how much more the Son of God whose authority they rejected.

Notice Ps.82:6 says they ‘will die as mere men and fall as one of the princes’, that prince was Satan. This is sarcasm, Jesus is saying ‘the scripture cannot be broken’ referring to the Psalm. They thought they were like God but they will die as mere men. It is then they will know the difference between the creator the true God and their own mortality of man. Ps.82 ends with verse 8 ‘Arise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit all nations.’  It points to there being only one God who eventually will judge and rule over everyone. 

Jesus is mocking the people as if to say, 'You all think you're gods yourselves. What's one more god among you? To imagine that we are gods when we are saved is to misunderstand our condition, even through in Christ. Even though the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in our lives, it does not mean that we have been deified! If man is deified, surely we also have to accept the doctrine that we are therefore sinless! Yet, the Scriptures deny that we are sinless, even after our salvation. We are still sinners waiting for the full redemption from the cross.

Here's what the God of the Universe said Jer.10:11 The God’s that have not made heaven and earth will perish. If Jesus is not the creator its goodbye to him and any other new God that comes along, this certainly means all Gods with a small g or a big G, nowhere in scripture is there a teaching of little gods verses big God, but false Gods verses the true God. So in reality to claim to be a little god is to put one in the category of a false God.

God and man are two different categories

The Hebrew word for “likeness” (demuth) simply means similarity or resemblance, not identity. Furthermore, the term itself actually “defines and limits” the word “image.”

The greatest evil is to call oneself God when they are not. Since there is only one true God no one can ever be in the same class as a creature created by God, it is a delusion of unprecedented proportions to call oneself this, the height of arrogance. It is the same sin that caused Lucifer the greatest creature God created to fall. All those who say this will find themselves sharing the same fate.

The ultimate evil is to call oneself God, with a big G. or small g. Israel was strictly monotheistic (Deut.6:4).

Of Jesus the scripture says in Heb.1:3 “who's being the brightness of his glory and express image of his person. “ He alone is this image.

In Rom. 8:29 we are told that we are “to be conformed to the image of his Son.” This is a continual process even though it was started the time we were born again. When we a renewed we don't become God nor will we be exactly like him in the resurrection. We are creatures and will stay this way. We shouldn't strive to be something we clearly are not.

God possesses eternality he is infinite, immortal, deathless, God has eternal life in himself Jn.5:26; Ps.90:2 Man dies physically and can die spiritually Gen. 1:26 man is dependent on God to sustain him Jn.1:3-4,9; Acts 17:28.

Ps. 90:1-2: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

God is almighty is able to do all things Job 4:2; Isa.40:10-13 man is weak 1 Cor. 1:25.

God is the creator of all things Jn.1:3, Col.1:16.

Man cannot create from nothing but can only use what materials are already there. If man is God or trying to become one it will never happen

Mt.24:3 “Take heed that no one deceives you for many will come in my name saying “I Am” and will deceive many. “They will come in his Divine name and office, they will claim to know him in a special way, that they have his authority and approval and his anointing. All this will occur in the church. Matt. 24:23-24 “Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There! 'do not believe it.” For false Christ's’s and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. “See I have warned you beforehand.”

Christ means the anointed one, who the Bible says is the Son of God. What are we hearing today? That they are anointed; they are Christ. This new movements claiming to have a greater anointing is go over to this person he is anointed, or the anointing is over there (the Christ presence is here and there). The anointing is not passed on by laying on of hands as in the catch the fire frenzy of today's revivalism. Power transference may look appealing but look whose claiming these abilities, the same men who think they are little gods. But there is only one God, so what are they teaching? Passing the blessing with laying on of hands was a symbolic accompaniment for the word spoken. There is no biblical basis to connect this with a transmission of a mantle, or calling or anointing from one person to another especially in experiences such as slain in the Spirit as the proof it occurred. When Jacob blessed his sons they didn't fall down; wasn't he anointed?

The OT gives us two prohibitions in the symbolic act of anointing. In Ex.30:32 it commands that the anointing oil must not touch the flesh or be imitated. It was a grave sin to mix the oil of ones anointing in the same measure for another. Vs.33 warns of those making it for personal benefit were to be excommunicated. Today those who sell tapes and books saying they have a special anointing are committing the sin of sinomy, named after Simon the sorcerer who wanted to buy the Holy Spirit for his own use, the only difference is they are selling it.

The Torah regards any attempt of someone giving his anointing to another as an abomination. The Hebrew text is mekudesh Lacha meaning set apart or sanctified specifically unto you. this prohibition was evident When Elisha asked Elijah for his mantle in which he told his protégé it is not mine to give. He was told to wait and see if the Lord would place it on him (Kings 2: 10) If he saw him taken to heaven he would receive the blessing. Yet he had to leave for it to be placed on him. there are no double portions today we all share the same anointing (1 Jn.2:27) just different giftings. Jesus is the baptizer not anointed men.

Whatever is being transferred today from one person to another is not the true anointing.

If the church wants the true anointing we need to get under the anointed one who was made head of the church. Ps. 133 tells us Behold how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together. The next verse it is like the precious oil poured out on Aaron's head, coming down off his beard and dripping on to the rest of his body. Hebrews tells us Aaron as high priest is a picture of Christ a greater one. The anointing flows off the head to the members of his body. We need to be under the head receiving his instructions.

Christ was anointed with the spirit without measure our anointing can only come from the eternal mediator for man. Christ was anointed for burial first before he was anointed for exaltation. The church needs to die to self to receive the life of Christ and then the Lord will give us power, not for self but for his glory.

Scripture must interpret so called new revelation. What we are hearing is that there are new apostles and prophets imparting a new anointing doing things not even the prophets and apostles of old had done. We are certainly in the midst of a revival, a Gnostic one of unprecedented proportions, led by new mediators.

Benny Hinn stated this and never rescinded it, “ Now, are you ready for some real revelation knowledge? OK. Now watch this: He laid aside His divine form...so one day I would be clothed on earth with the divine form. Kenneth Hagin has a teaching. A lot of people have problems with it. Yet it is absolute truth. Kenneth Copeland has a teaching. Many Christians have put holes in it, but it's divine truth. Hagin and Copeland say: You are god. Ye are gods. 'Oh, I can't be god.' Hold it. Let's bring balance to this teaching. The balance is taught by Copeland, who is my dear friend, but it's those that repeat what he says that are messing it up. You see there brother? When Jesus was on earth, the Bible says that first He disrobed Himself of the divine form. He, the limitless God, became a man, that we men, may become as He is.” (Our Position In Christ” cassette tape #A031190, Orlando Christian Center, 1990)

Hinn with authority states “Are you ready for some real revelation knowledge....you are god” (“Our Position In Christ”, tape # AO31190-1)

This is claimed to be under the inspiration of God. But it can't be because God himself has said there is no other God but Himself. So who is inspiring Benny Hinn to say this?  Whoever claims to be God big or small is a liar a deceiver and should not be entertained as a true Bible teacher. I didn't say this, God's word says this; it’s not my opinion, its absolute truth.

I'm glad that we straightened out this whole mess. I thought that when I heard this it was exaggerated. But the quotes are documented for anyone with enough courage to look to confirm them. All one needs to do is go to the source of the quotes to see that what the apologetic cult watching organizations have been warning is true. Yet I speak to people and they tell me I never heard that. Maybe not, but it certainly is recorded and written so that no one has an excuse. It was the same attitude in Jeremiahs day,