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Joyce Meyer
As a woman, Meyer’s preaching is forbidden by God’s Word.
“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (1 Ti. 2:12-14).
Joyce Meyer teaches the Word-Faith gospel heresy that Christ suffered for our sins in hell and says that the individual must believe this in order to be saved.
“[Jesus] took man’s sin on the cross. He did not stay dead. He was in the grave three days. During that time, He entered hell, where you and I deserved to go (legally) because of our sin. ... Whatever it took to get God’s people back, free again, is what they would do. Jesus paid for our sins on the cross and went to hell in our place. ... His spirit went to hell because that is where we deserved to go. ... Jesus went to hell for you” (The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make, pp. 41, 42, 43, 1996 edition).
“[To be saved you must believe the following:] 1. Believe…what the Bible says. 2. That when Jesus was on the cross He did not stay dead but went to hell. 3. That Jesus went to hell in our place because that is where we deserved to go. 4. That God would do whatever it took to free His people. 5. That there is no hope of anyone going to heaven unless they believe this truth, meaning what Jesus did to make atonement for sins. 6. That a person must believe in their heart that Jesus took their place on the cross, He died spiritually, was separated from the Father, tormented by demons in hell” (The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make, 1991 edition).
“His spirit went to hell because that is where we deserve to go. ... There is no hope of anyone going to heaven unless they believe this truth” (The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make, p. 37, 1993 edition).
This is a false gospel. Paul summarized the gospel that he had received by revelation from God as follows, and there is nothing about Jesus going to hell in our place: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Co. 15:3-4). Christ did not pay for man’s sin in hell. He paid the full price on the cross by His blood and death. “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, IT IS FINISHED: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (Joh. 19:30). It is impossible that Christ could have then gone to hell for man’s sin, because the full price had already been paid. “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:14).
Meyer teaches the heresy that Jesus was the first born again person.
“He was resurrected from the dead the first born-again man” (The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make, p. 35, 1991 edition).
The Bible never says Jesus is born again. All other men have to be born again, as Jesus said to Nicodemus (Joh. 3:1-21), but the sinless Son of God has no need of this. It is blasphemy to say that Jesus is a born again man. He is the firstborn from the dead, but this refers to the first in resurrection glory and first in preeminence. “ And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Col. 1:20).
Meyer claims that she is not a sinner.
“I’m going to tell you something folks, I didn’t stop sinning until I finally got it through my thick head I wasn’t a sinner anymore. And the religious world thinks that’s heresy and they want to hang you for it. But the Bible says that I’m righteous and I can’t be righteous and be a sinner at the same time. All I was ever taught to say was, ‘I’m a poor, miserable sinner.’ I am not poor, I am not miserable and I am not a sinner. That is a lie from the pit of hell. That is what I was and if I still am then Jesus died in vain” (“What Happened from the Cross to the Throne,” audio sermon).
The Bible says that the believer’s sins are forgiven, but the “old man” is still present in this life. John said, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 Jo. 1:9-10). Paul warned about “the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Heb. 12:1). He taught the believer to “put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Eph. 4:22), which would be a ridiculous command if the old nature and its sin is no longer present and active.
Meyer claims that she preaches with the assistance of angels.
“I believe there is, and I certainly hope there is, several angels up here this morning that are preaching with me. I believe that right before I speak some anointed statement to you, that one of them bends over and says in my ear what I’m supposed to say to you” (Meyer, “Witchcraft and Related Spirits,” part 1, audiotape).
The Bible nowhere teaches that angels assist in preaching. To the contrary, the Bible says angels are learning from the things that are revealed to believers (1 Pe. 1:12).
Meyer preaches a prosperity gospel and the seed-faith heresy, claiming that God will do miracles for those who give sacrificially to her ministry.
“You’re on the brink of a miracle. Go to the phone and give $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 and $1,000,000; go to the phone. God has a miracle waiting on your response. ... I believe that there are 10 people that need to match that $10,000. You’re believing for the greatest miracle of your life, then sow the greatest seed of your life. ... This is inspiration, Oh! I heard you, Holy Ghost! God is teaching you right now how to hear His voice. Go to your phone!” (Meyer, Trinity Broadcasting Network, Mar. 31, 2004).
“God said, ‘You can sow for whatever your soul lusteth after.’ Sow $2,000 says the man of God” (Meyer, TBN, April 6, 2003).
This type of thing is in direct contradiction to the teaching we see in Scripture. Such language was never employed by Peter or Paul or James or John. They would not have dreamed of making cheap merchandise of God’s people in such a way.
Meyer preaches the Word-Faith heresy that she can create things by her words (positive confession).
“Words are like containers for power. Your mouth can be filled with creative power that you speak out over your own life, the life of people you love, your city, and the world. You can speak against the enemy and stop his action in your life by speaking the Word of God!” (@JoyceMeyer, Twitter, Jul 22, 2021).
We don’t see anything like this in the New Testament Epistles. There is zero instruction to the churches from the apostles and prophets about speaking with creative power.
Joyce Meyer preaches many other heresies, such as Jesus stopped being the Son of God on the cross, believers are “little gods,” continued revelation, tongues speaking as meaningless babbling, healing in the atonement, healing of emotions, victim mentality, the power of positive imaging, and recovered memory.
Two of the former employees of Joyce Meyer Ministries rejected her false teaching and have given their testimonies on YouTube -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=imluDBBvTaQ
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