Prosperity Gospel

o Prosperity theology (sometimes referred to as the prosperity gospel, the health and wealth gospel, the gospel of success, or seed faith)[A] is a religious belief among some Christians, who hold that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one's material wealth. Prosperity theology views the Bible as a contract between God and humans: if humans have faith in God, he will deliver security and prosperity.

o 4 out of 10 churches in America preach this type of msg.

o God will grant material prosperity to all believers who have enough faith.

o What a coincidence that these same people who preach that God blesses you financially are filthy rich.

· Leaders of the prosperity gospel….

o Kenneth Copeland $760M; 17.5m$ jet; 6M$ house

o Pat Robertson $100M

o Benny Hinn $60; many house/travels luxuriously. (repented)

o Joel Osteen $40M; 10.5m home

o Creflo Dollar $27M; owns many expensive cars, jet, 3 multimillion-dollar homes.

o Td Jakes $18million in 2000 bought a 2.6M house; 2014 downsize 1.7

o Joyce Meyer $8million; 10m jet; several homes; 20m headquarters-5.7m worth of furniture. And a $23,000 antique marble toilet

o She did admit that her prosperity message was out of balance.

· Quotes from some prosperity preachers.

o Do all you can to make your dreams come true.

o God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to fulfill the destiny He has laid out for us. Osteen.

o "Some people come to me and say, well I came here to get some peace, not money, and I tell them, you NEED money otherwise you ain't gunna get no peace."

o "Some people say it's about peace, joy and love. NO!! It's about MONEY!"

o "God is trying to put material wealth into your hands."

o "I didn't come here to get anything from you, I'm already LOADED!"

o "God didn't create you to be average or poor."

· I might be wrong, but I believe Jesus would be flipping some tables over in these churches. if they would even let Him in.

· “If Jesus were here today, he wouldn't be riding around on a donkey. He'd be taking a plane, he'd be using the media”. Joel Osteen

· So why is the prosperity gospel so dangerous…..

· Reason #1

o It promotes self….

o It uses God as a means to an end.

o If I believe in Jesus, he will take care of me financially and take all my worries away. (stress, cancer, sickness, financial problems,)

o This make it conditional.. God I will trust you if

o i get that promotion.

o You take this cancer away

o I can pay that debt off.

o This message is dangereous. So this gospel puts us in charge…We are God and He just works for us.

o Is life really all about us??? This is what I call idolatry…

o We are placing ourselves/betterment over God and His glory.

o Yes God blesses and gives us things

o He wants you to be happy.

o But he wants to be the center of that happiness.

o He wants to satisfy you with Him not stuff.

· Natalie grant song….

o Help me want the healer more than the healing Help me want the savior more than the saving Help me want the giver more than the giving Oh help me want you Jesus more than anything

· "When we believe that we should be satisfied rather than God glorified in our worship, then we put God below ourselves as though He had been made for us rather than that we had been made for Him." -Stephen Charnock

· Reason #2. It’s not biblical.

o Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. 3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. 5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

o (these preachers cause division in the church.

o Anyone who teaches a different gospel is arrogant and lacks understanding (knowledge).

o They have turned their backs on the truth.

o They show godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

o A false gospel…Its crazy to think that this would have happened so soon in the church… Just imagine how rampant it is today 2000 years later.

· We see all through out scripture that God blesses his people financially. We see King David, Solomon, Abraham, Job.

o We see people today who are rich financially. If we’re honest we are all very rich compared to the world. Nearly ½ the world lives under $2.50 a day….

o If you make $25,000 a year you are in the top 10% wealthiest people in the world.

o In America, annually we spend $50Billion dollars tithing. (10 million people).

o In America, annually we spend $70Billion on pet food.

o I’d say we are rich people….

o But being rich is not a sin….God uses rich people…God Blesses people.

· 6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

o Are you content with what you have? All we need is food/clothing.

o Because people who want just a little bit more….

Will sometimes do anything to achieve.

o When we want a little bit more we can fall into the temptation of getting that money and Paul says it becomes a trap that we cant get out of.

o It is so deceptive.

o Material gain is like drinking sea water. We’re thirsty and drink it. But we don’t realize that sea water has a high concentration of salt. So the more you drink, the thirstier you get. In fact, drinking sea water will actually cause you to become dehydrated more quickly. Eventually you will go unconscience and die.

o Remember its not money that’s the root of all evil… It’s the love of money….

o The love of money can bring out all kinds of sins.

§ Selfishness, cheating, fraud, perjury, robbery, envy, quarreling, hatred, violence, and murder.

§ Other effects could include: Pornography, blackmail, exploting the weak, oppress the poor, immorality and injustice.

· This prosperity gospel can promote all of this… it’s dangerous stay away.

o Money can’t satisfy us…only Jesus can.

o Look at all the millionares that commit suicide.

· Reason #3 Suffering for Jesus is in vain.

o The Apostle Paul said

· 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I take pleasure in my suffering, not financial gain or fame.

o If God’s love for his children is to be measured by our health, wealth, and comfort in this life. Then God hated the apostle Paul. -John Piper

o The apostle Paul suffered immensely for the sake of the gospel.

o He wasn’t traveling in million dollar jets.

o He was facing death from every direction.

· Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.c 27I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

· Do you realize who he was comparing himself to?

· False teachers… those who were good speakers. Who were arragont and wanting to brag on themselves.

· I see in the book Foxes Book of Martyrs. People dying for their faith allthroughout history.

o From the early church persecution from the Jews

o To the coliseum tortures of Rome

o Men/Women during the reformation.

o 300 men during “Bloody” Marys Reign

o Men like Thomas Cranmer (burned to death)

o William Tyndale (translated New Testament) Burned to death.

o Modern day missionaries

o Jim Elliot and 4 other who was killed Auca (Acka) Indians. In Ecuador

o Countless Christians killed by ISIS/Muslims

o Or what about John Chau 26-year-old missionary to sentinel (east of India) SENT A NULL

§ “you guys might think im crazy, but I believe it worthwhile to declare Jesus to these people”

§ He wrote in his diary. “I hope this isn’t one of my last notes but if it is to God be the glory.

§ “My name is John, and I love you, and Jesus loves you”. He was then struck by an arrow. And killed

· So, you tell me that all these men that died for the gospel… they could have just named it and they would have been healed/prospered?

· I think not.

· Guys the Prosperity gospel is dangerous.

o Yes it can draw crowds but so can hell.

o It promotes self. It puts us in charge.

o The bible clearly warns against it.

o What about suffering? Did they not have enough faith?

· Play video

· Close in prayer.

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