Firstly, there are some basic beliefs of our Faith that we can, and should agree on. One of them being that the Holy Spirit is the Author of the bible. The second one is IF we indeed know that The Holy Spirit is the author, He will not contradict Himself. I am not speaking on scriptures that are sometimes hard to understand and appear to be contradictory. The key word being, "appear". We know that the Holy Spirit is not the author of confusion. He will not say in one place do not fornicate, than in another place a scripture that appears to say that fornication is ok. We would automatically know that the latter scripture must have another meaning. To presume the opposite, would mean that we are looking for ways to justify the lustfulness in our hearts and our sinful ways. Much the same way, the homosexual clergy bends and perverts scripture to see their agenda in every scripture, and explain away the plain scriptures where God condemns the act of homosexuality.
Then, oh person of God, how is it that you can turn your head and a deaf ear to the plainness of the Lord’s testimony against those who would be rich, and the riches of this world? How quick you are to ignore the scriptures that warn against those who would desire worldly riches!
Num 15:39-40 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: 40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
You are indeed seeking after your own heart, when you justify this perversion of scripture.
My Prayer for me, and the readers:
Lord, your word tells us in 1COR.2:14, that the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God. Your Word tells us that your Word is spiritually discerned. We pray now for that discernment right now Father God. We pray that you would begin to sow to our spirit, that we might reap life everlasting, because of you word that tells us in Galatians 6:8, that to reap to our flesh, is to reap corruption and death. I pray that all who read these words that You have inspired me and moved me to write and to speak on, would look to you for understanding. I pray that eyes would be opened and their understanding enlightened that they may walk in fullness and contentment that only You, Your Word and Your Spirit can bring in our inner man.
In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen.
Lets start with the Lord’s own words:
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
– In this portion of the Lord’s Prayer, Christ is giving the disciples and us, a prayer format. He is teaching us how to pray (as per his disciples request). We are to pray for our daily needs. It speaks also to what we should desire as well. That is, to desire for our needs to be met. A heart of simplicity.
Notice also, how much of the Lord’s Prayer is given to our needs. We will see in the next passage of scripture, that the Lord is telling us that He is all sufficient to meet our needs, and that we should desire nothing more, than our daily needs.
Mat 6:19-21 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 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: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
-Is this not contrary to what is at the heart of every prosperity thinker, Treasures on this earth?
The NIV translates the word "lay" , "store". Do not store up for yourselves treasures on the earth. Do not seek to be rich in this world, but seek to store up riches in heaven, where they will last forever. Material possessions do not last, but spiritual riches do. I for the life of me do not see how we still act like this scripture does not mean what it says.
v 22-23 says; "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
-In these verses, the Lord simply says to not seek after heavenly riches, is to have an unhealthy eye, in turn which will fill you with darkness, or sin. The desire to have earthly treasures is darkness. Don't get mad at me, this is what the bible says. " The eye of the body scripture cant be contrasting seeking earthly riches and seeking heavenly riches!", I can hear a lot of you saying. Lets look at the verse 24; "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
- The Lord tells us in verse 24 exactly what He was referring to, and what He was contrasting in the preceding verses. To seek earthly riches is to become a servant to it. Verse 25 starts off with the word "Therefore.." meaning simply "For this reason...". By this simple word, you know that the Lord is about to give us the solution for the dilemma in the preceding verses. This word connects verses 19-24 with verses 25-34
Matt 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
- Why would the Lord instruct us not to seek after earthly riches, and not to worry about what we will eat or clothing, and yet somehow mean that He really wants us to be materially prosperous? Can you begin to see how this line of spiritual thought really doesn't make sense? Lets look at the rest of the verses to get an even clearer view:
Mat 6:26-34 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
-Here, we have the Lord contrasting us (or rather His love for us) to the animals and the plants. If He takes care of things such as these, will He not more so take care of and meet our needs? As a matter of fact, he tells us in verse 30, to not believe it is so, is to have "little faith".
We have let the devil and our own sinful desires usurp the word of God. We have let men and women who are greedy fro money, tell us that to NOT desire to be prosperous, is having little or no faith, when GOD'S word says the complete opposite. We have allowed the devil to operate through our sinful desires and emotions. In doing so, he has turned the meaning of true faith to "sin", and sin to "true faith". Lets look at this scripture, that I submit to you, that tells us about our church people:
2 Tim 3:1-10 1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. 10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
-It is important for us to realize that it is the Holy Spirit's wish for us to follow Paul's example in the Faith. (v. 10). I am sure we already realize this, that is why the word of faith "teachers" have to try to prove to you that the early disciples and apostles were rich. I have even heard on particular one boldly proclaim that Jesus Himself, had an over abundance of financial prosperity.
In the above verses, is the Holy Spirit (writing through Paul) referring to saints, or the world?
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. (also see Luke 8:14)
- How much more plain and direct can the Lord be? The deceitfulness of riches will choke and kill the word that was in a persons heart, and that person WILL BE UNFRUITFUL!
Christ says this about not producing fruit:
Mat 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Let's take a look at some more scripture where the Lord speaks to us regarding the desire to be rich:
Mar 10:21-22 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (many translations render "possessions" "riches". The terms are interchangeable.)
-Once again, our faith preachers are notorious for misusing this scripture. I have heard it explained more than once, that the Lord was only speaking to this rich young man. that HE had a problem with money. ( see verses 17-22, and Matt 19:16-30) I guess it is bad for that one particular person to be rich, but it is ok for everyone else. Listen up, liars and hypocrites! The only reason to preach material and financial prosperity is because you love money!
But, if you continue to read the verses that follow, that idiotic argument, becomes even more so: Mar 10:23-25 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
The Lord was addressing His followers, His children.
Mar 10:28-30 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Right away we see that Peter and the disciples left everything to follow Christ. But, verse 30 seems to be saying something contrary to what I am preaching. Before I put my comments down, I would like you to read comments regarding this scripture by the commentator Adam Clark:
Vs 30- In this time - Åí ôùͅ êáéñùͅ ôïõôùͅ, "In this very time. Though Jews and Gentiles have conspired together to destroy both me and you, my providence shall so work that nothing shall be lacking while any thing is necessary.
And fathers. This is added by K, upwards of sixty others, Ethiopic, Gothic, Slavonic, Saxon, Armenian, Coptic, and in one of my own MSS. of the Vulgate.
Some have been greatly embarrassed to find out the literal truth of these promises; and, some in flat opposition to the text, have said they are all to be understood spiritually. But thus far is plain, that those who have left all for the sake of Christ do find, among genuine Christians, spiritual relatives, which are as dear to them as fathers, mothers, etc.; yet they have the promise of receiving a hundredfold often literally fulfilled: for, wherever a Christian travels among Christians, the shelter of their houses, and the product of their lands, are at his service as far as they are requisite. Besides, these words were spoken primarily to the disciples, and pointed out their itinerant manner of life; and how, travelling about from house to house, preaching the Gospel of the grace of God, they should, among the followers of Christ, be provided with every thing necessary in all places, as if the whole were their own. I have often remarked that the genuine messengers of God, in the present day have, as noted above, this promise literally fulfilled.
With persecutions - For while you meet with nothing but kindness from true Christians, you shall be despised, and often afflicted, by those who are enemies to God and goodness; but, for your comfort, ye shall have in the world to come."
- The early church (believers) took the Lord at His word. More so, after the coming of the Holy Spirit, the believers are empowered to follow Christ, and Christ's words are confirmed by the Holy Spirit. We can tell this by their actions in Acts 2:44-47: And all who believed were together and had all things in common.45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
-We have scripture interpreting scripture. They followed the Lord's example and leading of the Holy Spirit. They all sold all of their possessions, which shows that the Lord was not only referring to the one ruler. They distributed the proceeds according to the needs, and since their numbers were growing they could literally say that they had a lot of land, houses and finances, except they did not seek it, and it belonged to no one and yet everyone. Their needs were met, and their desire was not prosperity of possessions, but of God's will, purpose and brethren.
So that we might see that the apostles understood, preached, and taught exactly the same that Jesus taught, let's have a look at some scriptures that speak directly to this matter.
Act 2:44-45 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Act 4:32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
Act 4:34-37 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
-Everyone had all things in common. There was no need that was not met. We do not have the disciples doing "positive confessions". Their faith was shown in their actions. No one was after their own rewards or material possessions, but sought to meet one another's needs. This was not the "law of the tithe" or "seed time and harvest time". We need to stop letting the devil twist scripture. But more so, we need to change our own fleshly heart and carnal desires. If we were not carnal, then the devil would not be able to manipulate us in this area.
Lets look at what happened to two people in particular, whose heart was not right with God. I believe this happened for our own correction and as an example of the heart that is not pleasing to God.
Act 5:1-11
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."9 But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
-Do we see any mention of " you did not tithe your 10 percent"? Did they fall dead because they did not pledge "seed time and harvest time"? Peter plainly says, that even after He sold the property, it was his to do what so ever he chose. The same with his wife. Their sin was lying to the Holy Spirit. Their sin was greed, self and pride. They did not need to sell their property but did for the wrong reason, and then say that they gave all of the proceeds from that sale. They could have given as much or as little as they determined to give, (verse 4) but lied about it.
Col 3:1-6 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
We are to crucify our flesh and it's desires. We are instructed once again where we are to set our desires and affections. Set it on things above, on heavenly things, and NOT on this earth. We are told to mortify( deny, discipline) our members, or our desires. The Church has been coveting money. We even covet the love of money and material possession! The Word says this is idol worship, and it is placing our desires for the worldly above our desire to serve, seek, and worship the almighty. We cannot love God and mammon.
I have not found one apologetic ministry, not a one, that considers the prosperity doctrine, and the word of faith movement scriptural and godly. I will include plenty of links and those sites that have articles combating the lies and false teachings of this false gospel.
Gal 1:6-10 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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. 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.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.
Do we seek to please men, or to be pleasing to God? Are we following man made traditions, and teaching them for the word of God?
Let us follow the spirit of Christ, and stand on the doctrine that the apostles laid down, through the Spirit, strength, power and love of Christ and the Father.
Amen.
