Gods only purpose for us is to make us God sufficient, not self sufficient.
I know that statement does`nt tickle the ears. It goes agianst the grain of teaching of every prosperity preacher on the planet. They parade on the worlds stage clothed in silken suits and tell you GOD has given them wealth and fame because of their sacrifice, and GOD will do the same for you, if you give your money to Him.
The message the world accepts and loves is one of self suffiency, on google alone you will find that phrase 8,610,000 times and counting. What a wonderful ideal, to not have need of anything. If we were going to have to live only in this world, with no eternity in view, perhaps so. But i`m here to tell you, self sufficiency is counter to all God Is, and what His Word teaches, and for anyone who believes there is a heaven to gain, you had better shun this teaching lest you become deceived by it!
Listen closely to the Words of Jesus Christ;
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
There is three things (underestimated count for sure) that are very wrong with teaching prosperity to the followers of Christ.
First, its telling you God wants you to have treasure on earth, but what does God have to say?
Luk 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Treasure in heaven? That`s a wonderful promise, but God must want us to have treasures on earth too! Whats that verse about bringing treasure into the storehouse, and having my coffers run over? Look at the example of these preachers, they preach the Word so zealously, with such sincerity, and they are BLESSED, how can they be wrong? Because GOD says so.
Secondly, its telling you that God will supply all your needs (sure) - until you won`t have needs anymore.
Huh? So let me see if I understand this right. God is concerned that I have houses, and lands, and cars, and a storehouse full of food and treasures so I have need of nothing, not even Him, except of course for salvation, which happens to be a nice security blanket whenever I am forced to leave my earthly treasures behind. Again, lets compare that message with what GOD said;
Self sufficiency
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God
God sufficiency
Luk 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Thirdly, every preacher I`ve read or listened to who preaches this, convinced so many women and men, young and old alike to give to their ministry (which IS giving to God you know) that they themselves became rich by thier own message. Take note of that, THIER OWN message. Again and again, lets see what God says;
Paul spoke of the heavenly glory that takes you downward as the world sees it and even in the eyes of many Christians when he said, "To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now."(1 Corinthians 4:11-13, NKJV).
Poorly clothed, beaten, homeless, working to support themselves with their hands, defamed? Are these signs of those who we often identify as successful ministers? The answer is all too obvious. Ministers (so called) of the Gospel seeking , and worse by far, telling the children of God to seek, earthly treasures.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Let us take a close look at Judas for a moment. Bearing in mind, the first thing that comes to most of our minds, is you can`t compare Brother or Sister so and so prosperity preacher to Judas! Is that really so? Think about this if you will. Judas was called by Christ. Judas walked with Christ. Judas talked with Christ. He looked and acted like one of His chosen. Then He betrayed His Lord for thirty pieces of silver. But you say these preachers would`nt sell Jesus for money? No? Have`nt they already by the teaching what is very contrary to His own Words. "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat ...." sound familiar? Oh the damning subtility of one lie.
When Judas saw that he was condemned, he repented himself. Condemned.
How can a man who looked and acted like one of His chosen have gone so wrong? Ah...man looks on the outward, God looks on the heart. God allows us a glimpse of his heart in this verse;
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? (Sounds exactly like CHRIST!)
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Jam 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon [you].
Jam 5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
Jam 5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
So what is richness for the born again child of God? It is freedom! Freedom from the bondages of this world, free from its lusts, its evil, its corruption and bondages!
2Co 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Prosperity Preachers?
2Pe 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Preachers of the Cross of Jesus Christ;
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
2Co 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2Co 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2Co 4:11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
2Co 4:12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
Surely we must stand with those faithful to the message of the Cross!
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Amen! May our hearts only longing, and desire, and cry be heard above the of sounding brass, and tinkling cymbals of those holding this worlds audience captive, be even so come quickly Lord Jesus!
I know that statement does`nt tickle the ears. It goes agianst the grain of teaching of every prosperity preacher on the planet. They parade on the worlds stage clothed in silken suits and tell you GOD has given them wealth and fame because of their sacrifice, and GOD will do the same for you, if you give your money to Him.
The message the world accepts and loves is one of self suffiency, on google alone you will find that phrase 8,610,000 times and counting. What a wonderful ideal, to not have need of anything. If we were going to have to live only in this world, with no eternity in view, perhaps so. But i`m here to tell you, self sufficiency is counter to all God Is, and what His Word teaches, and for anyone who believes there is a heaven to gain, you had better shun this teaching lest you become deceived by it!
Listen closely to the Words of Jesus Christ;
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
There is three things (underestimated count for sure) that are very wrong with teaching prosperity to the followers of Christ.
First, its telling you God wants you to have treasure on earth, but what does God have to say?
Luk 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Treasure in heaven? That`s a wonderful promise, but God must want us to have treasures on earth too! Whats that verse about bringing treasure into the storehouse, and having my coffers run over? Look at the example of these preachers, they preach the Word so zealously, with such sincerity, and they are BLESSED, how can they be wrong? Because GOD says so.
Secondly, its telling you that God will supply all your needs (sure) - until you won`t have needs anymore.
Huh? So let me see if I understand this right. God is concerned that I have houses, and lands, and cars, and a storehouse full of food and treasures so I have need of nothing, not even Him, except of course for salvation, which happens to be a nice security blanket whenever I am forced to leave my earthly treasures behind. Again, lets compare that message with what GOD said;
Self sufficiency
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God
God sufficiency
Luk 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Thirdly, every preacher I`ve read or listened to who preaches this, convinced so many women and men, young and old alike to give to their ministry (which IS giving to God you know) that they themselves became rich by thier own message. Take note of that, THIER OWN message. Again and again, lets see what God says;
Paul spoke of the heavenly glory that takes you downward as the world sees it and even in the eyes of many Christians when he said, "To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now."(1 Corinthians 4:11-13, NKJV).
Poorly clothed, beaten, homeless, working to support themselves with their hands, defamed? Are these signs of those who we often identify as successful ministers? The answer is all too obvious. Ministers (so called) of the Gospel seeking , and worse by far, telling the children of God to seek, earthly treasures.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Let us take a close look at Judas for a moment. Bearing in mind, the first thing that comes to most of our minds, is you can`t compare Brother or Sister so and so prosperity preacher to Judas! Is that really so? Think about this if you will. Judas was called by Christ. Judas walked with Christ. Judas talked with Christ. He looked and acted like one of His chosen. Then He betrayed His Lord for thirty pieces of silver. But you say these preachers would`nt sell Jesus for money? No? Have`nt they already by the teaching what is very contrary to His own Words. "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat ...." sound familiar? Oh the damning subtility of one lie.
When Judas saw that he was condemned, he repented himself. Condemned.
How can a man who looked and acted like one of His chosen have gone so wrong? Ah...man looks on the outward, God looks on the heart. God allows us a glimpse of his heart in this verse;
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? (Sounds exactly like CHRIST!)
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Jam 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon [you].
Jam 5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
Jam 5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
So what is richness for the born again child of God? It is freedom! Freedom from the bondages of this world, free from its lusts, its evil, its corruption and bondages!
2Co 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Prosperity Preachers?
2Pe 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Preachers of the Cross of Jesus Christ;
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
2Co 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2Co 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2Co 4:11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
2Co 4:12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
Surely we must stand with those faithful to the message of the Cross!
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Amen! May our hearts only longing, and desire, and cry be heard above the of sounding brass, and tinkling cymbals of those holding this worlds audience captive, be even so come quickly Lord Jesus!