“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:13

Command to withdraw thyself from those who infer that what you have monetarily is equal to your spiritual state:

“Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:5-12

Does God favor the rich? No! – “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? James 2:5 

Jesus says: “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15

Serita Jakes bring in Yoga to the Potter’s House

Path to Popularity: Catapulted on the success of his book titled “Women Thou Art Loosed,” Jakes played on the emotions of women nationwide. He became popular by convincing women they are victims without ever calling them to repentance for their own sin and wrongdoing. Satan has not changed – he likes to go to “the weaker vessel” in order to gain a foothold into the family (1 Peter 3:1-7) Remember in the Garden of Eden how the serpent approached Eve and not Adam? (1 Timothy 2:9-14) This is how Satan, the most subtle beguiler, gains entrance and bring his stealing, killing, and destroying (John 10:10).

“For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” 1 Timothy 2:13-14

Without exception, the true Gospel begins with repentance and not before (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Acts 2:38; 3:19). Women are not innocent victims and their core problem is not men (males) but rather their own sin. This is the case with all humans. The woman was integrally involved in the fall of mankind – “the woman being deceived was in the transgression (sin).” Jakes fails to mention this but rather coddles women in their wounds without giving them the biblical command to repent of their own sin which is where all divine healing begins and not before (Acts 3:19).

Jesus or Jakes?

Comparing Jakes and Jesus

“Start appreciating yourself. Remind yourself, “I am valuable to God. I am somebody. Yes, I’ve been through some bad times. But the Lord touched me and loosed me and now I’m glorifying God and I’m not going back to where I came from.”-T.D. Jakes

My Response:

No such language is ever seen in Scripture as Jakes uses here. Christ and His holy apostles are not once seen telling any person to “appreciate yourself” or to “remind yourself of how valuable YOU are to God.”

Who infuses our hearts with God’s love?

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:16

You see, confirmation, affirmation, and assurance is the work of the divine Person of the Holy Ghost inside each true born again disciple who is abiding in Christ and not the prerogative for any mere man to pretend to undertake.  Any man who attempts to do this assuring work reserved for God Himself, is meddling and usurping His place in that believer’s life.

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:13-16

You see, instead of Jakes giving the Word of God, he gives the enticement line to draw in his unsuspecting prey.

“For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.” 2 Peter 2:18

Jakes is playing on the emotions of his listeners. He is playing them and making merchandise of them (2 Peter 2:1-3). Also, Jakes uses his signature deception concerning “I’ve been through some rough times” to play upon his listeners, luring them in as he fosters in them excuses. He never speaks of their sins they have committed which caused them to reap where they sowed. No sense of personal responsibility is ever mentioned. He leaves out a very large component of God’s economy and Word – sin! We are all guilty of sinning and must own up to the fact that we just may be reaping where we have sown (Galatians 6:7-8). Then there is purgings, chastening, and also persecutions.

Jakes often speaks of the Lord touching people, but God is not going to touch or bless anyone who is not being honest before Him – “He that covereth (hides, denies) his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”(Proverbs 28:13)

In contrast to Jakes, Jesus commands us to “deny” and “lose” ourselves and not appreciate self (Lk. 9:23-24). The consistent teaching of Scripture is that self must be crucified, mortified, and put to death (Romans 6, etc.). Self is never to be aggrandized. God is Majestic and “Holy, holy, holy” and we do not deserve to be saved as wretched, depraved sinners.

“Deny” and “Lose”

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him DENY himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will LOSE his life for my sake, the same shall save it. “ Luke 9:23-24

Jakes is alluring gullible ears as he is teaching a cheap brand of pyscho-babble. He is feeding the flesh of his naïve listeners and supporters, just as Scripture foretold. They do not want to truth and are therefore turned over by the LORD Himself to believe lies and fables. This is divine judgment upon them for following a man instead of Christ who gave us His blessed Word.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4

“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.” 2 Thess 2:10-12

“Give us smooth things” is what the rebels of Isaiah’s day cried for and nothing has changed (Isaiah 30:9-10).