Interesting Article on Joel Osteen

[TK Burk]

Here's a few scriptures to keep in mind when talking about men like Osteen....

1 John 4:1
(1) Beloved, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TRY THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Deuteronomy 13:1-5
(1) If there ARISE AMONG YOU A PROPHET, OR A DREAMER OF DREAMS, AND GIVETH THEE A SIGN OR A WONDER,
(2) And THE SIGN OR THE WONDER COME TO PASS, whereof he spoke unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
(3) Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD PROVETH YOU, TO KNOW WHETHER YE LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL.
(4) Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
(5) And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

Proverbs 14:15
(15) The simple believeth every word: but THE PRUDENT MAN LOOKETH WELL TO HIS GOING.

2 Corinthians 11:12-15
(12) But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
(13) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
(14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
(15) Therefore IT IS NO GREAT THING IF HIS MINISTERS ALSO BE TRANSFORMED AS THE MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; whose end shall be according to their works.

Isaiah 66:4
(4) I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

2 Thessalonians 2:7-13
(7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
(8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
(9) EVEN HIM, WHOSE COMING IS AFTER THE WORKING OF SATAN WITH ALL POWER AND SIGNS AND LYING WONDERS,
(10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED.
(11) AND FOR THIS CAUSE GOD SHALL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A LIE:
(12) THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMNED WHO BELIEVED NOT THE TRUTH, BUT HAD PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
(13) But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

[Sister Alvear]

I read a beautiful story about J.O´s father.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

You can listen and even say "amen"...and I've never been in a church meeting where someone amened themselves into an emotional frenzy...have you done this?

As a matter of fact, no I have not.

Sarcastically, I was commenting on the need for some of our fellow Pentecostal saints to not only hear, but listen to what their preacher is saying while he preaches.

I have seen folks, on more than a few occasions, who jump up, say things like, "that's right, that's right!", or "preach it!"-- they do it loudly and it is usually not just a one time occurrence, ad libbing to the sermon as they see fit.

I've even seen folks run up and touch the preachers back with the Bible, as if to pat him on the back. Why all the nonsense while the preacher is trying to preach?


It's a distraction, misplaced enthusiasm. Biblically, they are out of order as their antics take away from the preached Word of God.

We would do better to sit and listen.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by 1399

As a matter of fact, no I have not.

Sarcastically, I was commenting on the need for some of our fellow Pentecostal saints to not only hear, but listen to what their preacher is saying while he preaches.

I have seen folks, on more than a few occasions, who jump up, say things like, "that's right, that's right!", or "preach it!"-- they do it loudly and it is usually not just a one time occurrence, ad libbing to the sermon as they see fit.

I've even seen folks run up and touch the preachers back with the Bible, as if to pat him on the back. Why all the nonsense while the preacher is trying to preach?


It's a distraction, misplaced enthusiasm. Biblically, they are out of order as their antics take away from the preached Word of God.

We would do better to sit and listen.

Doesn't happen here. They might get a few amens though.

[Apocrypha]

John Osteen (Joels father) was baptized in Jesus name by the former pastor of the church I help at. He was a baptist pastor here in Baytown and then recieved the Holy Spirit. In trying to learn more about the experience he met with all the various spirit filled pastors in town (AG, Pentecostal Church of God, UPCI) and Rev. Ford showed him where it was in scripture and he agreed to be baptized.

They still baptize in Jesus name using a hybrid formula at Lakewood from what I understand.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by erikwebster

I've been to Lakewood a few times now on Saturday evenings.

Yes, Joel is "Diet Gospel" in his public sermons. Their approach at Lakewood is to get people in the door.

However... I will defend them on this... they do emphasize the Holy Spirit. If you walk through one of their lobbies they have plenty of literature on receiving the Holy Spirit. They don't push it from a salvational viewpoint, but it would be in line with what a AG church does.

His mom has massive healing prayer services once a week after one of the Sunday services in one of the attached wedding chapels. They are big into pentecostal/charismatic style healing.

They have classes once a month to explain what receiving the Holy Spirit and Baptism is all about (which actually beats most apostolic churches since they hardly ever lay down doctrine systematically).

They have many classes to help people grow in various areas like divorce recovery, financial planning, learning basic bible doctrines, etc etc in a buffet style approach.. which actually isn't a bad way to do bible study overall.


The approach of Lakewood is to have a wide open door and then start assimilating folks as they get plugged into the system. They do emphasize the Holy Spirit, Tongues (they call it speaking in your God Given Prayer Language in the literature), and divine healing... they just wait until you buy into the church and join before they push it.


I'm not a fan of Joels preaching by any means.. its somewhat empty for me. But his church has a amazing back end system to get the job done. Its the opposite of most apostolic churches where they have good preaching, and no back end systems or delegated authority at all beyond the few home bible study teachers who never get a ounce of respect from the platform (and you know its true).

This is the part that the bashers never see nor are they interested in knowing, Lakewood is in the life changing business. I thought we all believed the Holy Spirit would lead and guide to all truth, apparently many only believe this if the come thru their doors and their baptismal tanks?

I'll take the "diet" gospel on the front end, and the "meat" on the back end any day for effective ministry.

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by crakjak

This is the part that the bashers never see nor are they interested in knowing, Lakewood is in the life changing business. I thought we all believed the Holy Spirit would lead and guide to all truth, apparently many only believe this if the come thru their doors and their baptismal tanks?

I'll take the "diet" gospel on the front end, and the "meat" on the back end any day for effective ministry.

Why not just give the full gospel, with the meat, up front?

Isnt that what God expects from his church?

...Not to mention that there are many pastors/churches that only give people the "diet" ("watered down") gospel and never give any "meat" later. As a matter of fact, some of these guys wouldnt recognize meat, even if it fell on their heads like manna from heaven.

[LUKE2447]

yeah, Jesus was giving his masses the love spill of self improvement vs repent from your ways etc...

[Apocrypha]

Originally Posted by LUKE2447

yeah, Jesus was giving his masses the love spill of self improvement vs repent from your ways etc...

The parables contained alot on what the future Kingdom of God would be like, but his sayings also had a lot of life living skills in them too.. consider the lily in the fields...