Sermon Tone Analysis

· In America, the gospel reaches millions ($ and people)

· But it’s the wrong gospel….

· This morning we discussed the gospel of easy believism.

· And today…..

· Our country has been plagued with the 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

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.