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Derek Prince

Derek Prince (1915 - 2003). British-American Bible teacher, author, and evangelist born in Bangalore, India, to British military parents. Educated at Eton and King’s College, Cambridge, where he earned a fellowship in philosophy, he was conscripted into the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War II. Converted in 1941 after encountering Christ in a Yorkshire barracks, he began preaching while serving in North Africa. Ordained in the Pentecostal Church, he pastored in London before moving to Jerusalem in 1946, marrying Lydia Christensen, a Danish missionary, and adopting eight daughters. In 1968, he settled in the U.S., founding Derek Prince Ministries, which grew to 12 global offices. Prince authored over 50 books, including Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting (1973), translated into 60 languages, and broadcast radio teachings in 13 languages. His focus on spiritual warfare, deliverance, and Israel’s prophetic role impacted millions. Widowed in 1975, he married Ruth Baker in 1978. His words, “God’s Word in your mouth is as powerful as God’s Word in His mouth,” inspired bold faith. Prince’s teachings, archived widely, remain influential in charismatic and evangelical circles.
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Derek Prince emphasizes the importance of moving towards maturity, fulfillment, and completion in our spiritual journey, rather than being stagnant in our faith. He highlights the misconception of sinless perfection and the negative impact of hypocritical attitudes on the pursuit of spiritual growth. Prince encourages believers to have a spiritual objective and to continue progressing in their salvation, avoiding turning back from the path of righteousness.
Our Spiritual Objective
Let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (Hebrews 6:1–2) We seek to go on to perfection. Unfortunately, as I previously noted, the word perfection has an unattractive sound for most Christians because of some doctrine of sinless perfection that they’ve been exposed to. In most cases, those who claim to have achieved perfection demonstrate just the opposite by their words, behavior, and lifestyles. This hypocritical attitude has turned people away from the pursuit of perfection. I would like to remind you of three alternative translations of the word perfection that make better sense: “maturity,” “fulfillment,” and “completion.” The Greek word translated “perfection” comes from a noun that means “end.” Therefore, it suggests a goal or objective toward which we are moving. I think we would all agree that having a spiritual objective is desirable. Having entered into the way of righteousness by faith, we can go on, or we can go back. God will have no pleasure in anyone who turns back, so we belong to those who are moving on into the full salvation of their souls. (See Hebrews 10:38–39.) There are two things: the actual and the ideal. To be mature is to see the ideal and live with the actual. To fail is to accept the actual and reject the ideal; and to accept only that which is ideal and refuse the actual is to be immature. Do not criticize the actual because you have seen the ideal; Do not reject the ideal because you see the actual. Maturity is to live with the actual but hold on to the ideal.
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Derek Prince (1915 - 2003). British-American Bible teacher, author, and evangelist born in Bangalore, India, to British military parents. Educated at Eton and King’s College, Cambridge, where he earned a fellowship in philosophy, he was conscripted into the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War II. Converted in 1941 after encountering Christ in a Yorkshire barracks, he began preaching while serving in North Africa. Ordained in the Pentecostal Church, he pastored in London before moving to Jerusalem in 1946, marrying Lydia Christensen, a Danish missionary, and adopting eight daughters. In 1968, he settled in the U.S., founding Derek Prince Ministries, which grew to 12 global offices. Prince authored over 50 books, including Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting (1973), translated into 60 languages, and broadcast radio teachings in 13 languages. His focus on spiritual warfare, deliverance, and Israel’s prophetic role impacted millions. Widowed in 1975, he married Ruth Baker in 1978. His words, “God’s Word in your mouth is as powerful as God’s Word in His mouth,” inspired bold faith. Prince’s teachings, archived widely, remain influential in charismatic and evangelical circles.