Who Was Kenneth Hagin? Exploring His Faith And Legacy

In his book, What Faith Is, Kenneth E. Hagin, the father of the modern faith movement, defines faith as laying hold of the unrealities of hope and bringing them into the realm of reality. Hagin, an American preacher, pioneered the Word of Faith movement, which teaches that faith is an act of grasping the intangible hopes and making them real. He believed that faith is built on the foundation of God's Word, which has a 100% success rate. Hagin's teachings emphasise the importance of believing before receiving, and he provides a formula for achieving this, which includes having God's Word, believing it, not considering contradictory circumstances, and giving praise.

Faith is an act

In his book, *What Faith Is*, Kenneth E. Hagin defines faith as: "Laying hold of the unrealities of hope and bringing them into the realm of reality." Hagin, an American preacher and pioneer of the Word of Faith movement, believed that faith is not just a passive belief but an active force that can bring about tangible results.

For Hagin, faith is built on the foundation of the Word of God. By accepting and acting upon God's Word, individuals can achieve results in their lives. This includes physical healing, financial provision, and other blessings. Hagin taught that faith is not just a mental assent to a set of beliefs but a deep trust in God's Word that leads to action. In other words, faith is not just something we think or feel; it's something we do.

Hagin's understanding of faith was shaped by his own personal experiences, such as his conversion to Christianity and his healing from paralysis and a deformed heart. He believed that faith was not just a theoretical concept but a practical tool for overcoming life's challenges.

One of the key verses that influenced Hagin's understanding of faith is Hebrews 11:1, which says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." This verse suggests that faith gives substance to our hopes and assures us of things we cannot see. It is this assurance that leads to action, as we begin to live out the promises of God's Word.

Hagin also emphasized the importance of speaking to our problems, or "mountains," rather than simply speaking about them. By doing so, we keep things in proper perspective and maintain a posture of faith and trust in God.

In summary, for Kenneth E. Hagin, faith is not just a passive belief but an active force that leads to tangible results. It is built on the foundation of God's Word and involves taking action based on our trust in His promises. By doing so, we can bring our hopes and desires into the realm of reality.

Faith is built on the Word of God

The Bible tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God, but what is faith? Faith is grasping the unrealities of hope and bringing them into the realm of reality. Faith is giving substance to things hoped for. It is confidence in what we hope for and a conviction in what we do not see.

There are two types of faith: natural, human faith, and supernatural faith. Supernatural faith believes with the heart rather than believing what our physical senses tell us. It is faith in God's Word, and it grows out of the Word of God.

Our text describes faith as "the evidence of things not seen." For example, if you hope for finances to meet your obligations, faith gives you the assurance that you will have the money when you need it. If you hope for physical strength to do your work, faith says, "The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1). Faith will say about itself everything that the Word says, for faith in God is simply faith in His Word.

Faith is like a house; it must be built on a strong foundation to withstand tests and storms. The foundation of faith is the Word of God. You cannot build a great faith life without it.

The integrity of the Word of God is the first step toward the highest kind of faith. We must accept and understand that the Word of God is what it declares itself to be. We must believe what the Word says, not what we think it says. When we study the Word and accept it as it is, we will be amazed to learn that some of the things we have always believed are not in the Word at all.

The second step is understanding our redemption in Christ. We have been translated from the authority of Satan into the kingdom of God. We have been redeemed from the power and penalty of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ.

The third step is knowing the reality of the new creation. We are new creatures in Christ, with the very life and nature of God in our spirits. We have passed from death to life and are children of God.

The fourth step is recognizing the reality of our fellowship with the Father. Fellowship is the very mother of faith, the parent of joy, and the source of victory. Through prayer, we can have sweet and intimate communion with God.

The fifth step is understanding the reality of the authority of Jesus' name. We have been given the "power of attorney" to use the name of Jesus to meet our every need. We have authority over Satanic forces, and we can approach God with full assurance because we have been made righteous through Christ.

The sixth step is realizing our righteousness in Christ. We have been made righteous through the blood of Jesus, and we can stand in God's presence without guilt, condemnation, or inferiority.

The seventh and final step is comprehending the reality of the indwelling Spirit. Our bodies are now the temple of God, and the Holy Spirit dwells within us. We can be conscious of His indwelling presence every moment and allow Him to work through us.

These seven steps form the foundation of faith, which is built upon the Word of God. By understanding and applying these principles, we can grow in our faith and experience the power and presence of God in our lives.

Faith is grasping the unrealities of hope

In his book, *What Faith Is*, Kenneth E. Hagin, the "father of the modern faith movement", defines faith as: "Laying hold of the unrealities of hope and bringing them into the realm of reality".

Hagin's interpretation of Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen", is that faith is about being "confident of what we hope for, convinced of what we do not see". He argues that faith is not about believing what our physical senses tell us, but about believing with the heart.

Hagin uses the example of someone hoping for finances to meet their obligations. Faith, he says, gives the assurance that the money will be there when it is needed. Another example is someone hoping for physical strength to do their work. Faith, according to Hagin, would say, "The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?".

Hagin also differentiates between head faith and heart faith. He argues that many people agree that the Bible is true, but only with their minds. It is heart faith, he says, that receives from God. Heart faith, according to Hagin, says, "If God's Word says it's so, then it's so. It is mine. I have it now."

Hagin also stresses the importance of acting on faith. He gives the example of needing to find work during the depression. Despite feeling weak, he forced himself to get out of bed each day and go to work, trusting in God's Word. It was only then that he received strength.

Hagin's teaching on faith is built on the foundation of the Word of God. He argues that the Bible is a revelation from God and that it is God speaking to us now.

Faith grows out of the Word of God

Faith is the foundation of a strong life, akin to the foundation of a house, and it grows out of the Word of God. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." This means that faith gives substance to our hopes and assures us of what we cannot see.

Kenneth Hagin, the American preacher who pioneered the Word of Faith movement, defines faith as "laying hold of the unrealities of hope and bringing them into the realm of reality." He emphasizes that faith is an act, and it is always in the present tense. Hagin's understanding of faith is deeply rooted in his interpretation of Scripture, particularly Mark 11:23-24, which states:

> "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

Hagin's teachings on faith are also influenced by his personal experiences. He recounts how, at the age of 15, he was paralyzed and bedridden but was healed after converting to Christianity. This healing, he believes, came from his faith in God's Word.

Hagin emphasizes the importance of acting on God's Word and not just agreeing with it mentally. He calls this "heart faith," which is distinct from "head faith" or "mental assent." According to Hagin, faith is not merely intellectual agreement but a deep trust in God's promises that leads to action.

Furthermore, Hagin differentiates between faith and hope. He asserts that hope is future-oriented, while faith is always in the present. He teaches that hope paints a picture of the future, but faith brings that future into the present, declaring, "I have it now."

In conclusion, Kenneth Hagin's teachings on faith are centered on the belief that faith grows out of the Word of God. He emphasizes the importance of acting on God's Word, having a deep trust in God's promises, and understanding the difference between faith and hope. By doing so, Hagin encourages believers to live a life of faith that brings God's promises into reality.

Faith is the language of Heaven

Faith is the foundation of a house. It is what your house is built on, and it must be strong if it is to withstand tests and storms. The Word of God is the foundation of faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Faith is grasping the unrealities of hope and bringing them into the realm of reality. It is giving substance to things hoped for. It is the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is an act. It is stepping out and taking action. It is believing that you have received what you are praying for before you see it in the physical realm. It is believing that you already have it, not that you will have it someday.

Faith is now, not future. It is the present tense. It is acting on God's Word and seeing results. It is being confident in what we hope for and convinced of what we do not see.

Faith is believing with the heart, not just the mind. It is knowing that God's Word is true and acting on it, even when your feelings or circumstances contradict it. It is walking by faith, not by sight.

Faith is simple. It is believing God at His Word and acting accordingly. It is taking God at His promise and trusting that He will do what He has said.

Faith is powerful. It is the currency of prayer. It is what connects us to God and allows us to receive from Him. It is what makes the impossible possible.

Faith is for everyone. Every believer has been given the same measure of faith. It is not that God has blessed some with more faith than others. It is that some have learned to develop their faith and put it into action.

Faith is a choice. We can choose to believe God and act on His Word, or we can choose to doubt and unbelief. We can choose to focus on the problem or speak to the problem and see it changed.

Faith is the victory. It is what overcomes Satan and delivers us from the power of darkness. It is what translates us into the Kingdom of God's dear Son. It is what gives us authority over the devil.

Faith is a gift. It is a gift that God has given to us so that we can live the abundant life He has promised. It is a gift that we can choose to receive and put to work in our lives.

Let us, therefore, build our faith on the solid foundation of God's Word, step out in faith, and see the power of God at work in and through us.

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