The Church and Prosperity

Prosperity

In Psalm 118:25 David prays to God for prosperity. Those who have taught an erroneous “wealth and health” gospel have caused some to believe that it is wrong to ask God for such a blessing. It is not wrong to ask God to help us to prosper but it becomes wrong when the requests are both selfish and not in accordance with the Father’s will. God will bless us as he did David. In Psalm 23:5 David says, “Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In fact God challenges His people to test Him in this arena. Through the prophet God told His people, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

When it comes to the bride of Christ, the church, God wants us to prosper. But in order for us to be blessed by God there are some things we need to remember in order to make this a reality. We Must Be Spiritual. Paul was concerned that he could not speak to the church at Corinth as spiritual, but as worldly (1 Corinthians 3:1). It takes the spiritual to reach the sinner (Galatians 6:1). Peter said we are “living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

We Must Be Zealous. A working, soul-winning, mission-minded membership will be a prosperous membership. Paul said that Jesus “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). A prosperous church will have the same mind that Christ had: “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4).

We Must Be Encouraging. God demands this of each other. “Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).

We Must Be Humble. We all know that “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). The problem is we seldom see pride in ourselves. The fact that we think we are the humble one may be a clear indication that we are not. In fact, pride plagues our society and the church. The “what’s in it for me” mentality of our culture has infected the church. God will not prosper a church whose members are more concerned with self than with others.

We Must Be Pure. James says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8). In order for God to prosper us, here and in eternity, it is essential that we purify ourselves. John writes, “everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). Peter said this is accomplished through our obedience to the truth (1 Peter 1:22).

God wants us to live a happy, abundant, and prosperous life. This is why Jesus came to earth, to save us and give us a life that is greater than any other life one could choose to live (John 10:10). Are you blessed? Are you prosperous? Is God holding back his bounty because of you and I? Let each of us repent, obey Him, and live prosperous lives.

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Are You Godly?

How Godly Do You Look?

A Christian is defined as a person who has, by faith, received and fully trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Savior (Jn. 3:16). This means, they have heard and believed in Him (Rom. 10) and they have not only believed in His holy word, but that they have repented of their sins (Lk. 13:3), they have confessed Jesus as their Messiah (Matt. 10:32-33) and they have been buried with Him in baptism (Rom. 6:3-4). That being said, there are so many Christians who on the outside may look Godly, but on the inside, they never grow.

Godly or Not

Godly or Not?

Like for example, church hopping. Oh, one may go to worship God, but they are not there long enough before they leave and go to another congregation. This makes it very difficult for anyone to get to know you. You do not have the time to be part of the family nor do you get the privilege to allow anyone to get to know you enough to challenge you when you need challenged and help you when help is needed.

Another way to look Godly is to be too busy reading your Bible that you forget to do the work of the Lord. Who is guilty of this? Or, vice versa? You see, you may seem busy and godly to everyone around you, but still insufficient in either your relationship with the Lord or insufficient in following His will for your life.

You may look Godly as you sit and worship God, listening to the message that God is giving you only for you to think hard about how that sermon does not apply to you, but to others. You know, it’s just so much easier (and more pleasant) to work out how other people should change than it is to unsettle our own hearts and lives. So, if you really want to listen to sermons in an apparently godly but non-growing way, pick one encouragement from the sermon, which will make no difference to your life, and share it with the preacher or another member on the way out.

Another Godly look is to talk to colleagues and/or friends about church, but never share with them, the Christ. Of course, no one is going to get offended by church, as long as it sounds like a social club and they are once in a while invited. But, to tell your friends about the claim of Jesus…that will take more than Godly appearance.

One can also look Godly by using family as an excuse as to why you do very little for the Lord. But, I’ll tell you this: You cannot escape the ministry of the Lord. You may tip toe and tap dance around not showing up for church events or preparing a Bible study, and so on, but all you are doing is hurting your very own soul.

Other ways to look Godly is to study your Bible as brief as possible and then tell others you studied your Bible today. Or, to ask for prayers on your behalf when you yourself do not pray hardly at all. It is sad that your humbly dependent on God for all things and yet, you will delegate your humble dependence to others while you go on with your life. Or, talk about how you will take the message from the sermon and apply it to your life and to the lives of others, but then, leave and not tell anybody anything, including yourself as you forget about the sermon. Or, only do ministries that are noticeable and enjoyable. Many Christians do not want to sacrifice at all and serving others by just what we find enjoyable to do is not bearing any burden of the cross. Or, refusing to encourage others and/or receiving encouragement as threats, and etc…

Overall, Matthew 7:21-23 states, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” In Revelation 3:15-16 it states, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” In Revelation 21:8 it states, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

What I get from these verses and many others is that being a Christian is not how Godly you look. Being a Christian is about you being holy under the wonderful grace of God. It is humbling ourselves before God and whatever he has asked us to do, that is what we do and we do so happily. We count it all joy instead of having the Lord say to us, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you?” (Lk. 6:46). We are to let our Christian lights shine so that people of the world may see our good “works” (works of righteousness, not just any work) and glorify our Father in Heaven (Matt. 5:16). Or, do you not know that faith without works is a dead faith (Jam 2)?

So, let’s get busy for the Lord!!! Allow the word of God to burn inside your hearts! Renew your minds away from the world and renew your love for Christ and your neighbor! Obey God’s commands without quibbles! Allow the fruit of the Spirit to dwell in you! Become more like Jesus and seek and save those who are lost! And, put your trust in Jesus that He will give you eternal life because you have been found faithful to Him!

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Truth and Hidden Truth

A study of John chapter seven gives an amazing insight into how people of the first century saw truth, yet at the same time that truth was hidden from them. It helps us understand how people of the twenty-first century have not found the truth. The nature of mankind truly has not changed.

Truth

Some times truth is not obvious.

The teachings of Jesus were so plain that everyone could understand them. He was truly the Christ. He not only openly claimed to be the Son of God, but He also proved this by His miracles. This proof was so obvious that many said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?” (John 7:31). How could anyone not see this truth? Why was this obvious truth not seen by everyone in the first century?

Truth was hidden because the people had been taught false doctrine. It was commonly believed that a prophet could not come from Galilee. When Philip told his brother that He had found the Messiah, Nathanael almost did not find Him because he had decided that nothing good could come out of Nazareth, a city in Galilee. The message on Pentecost was magnified when it was seen that every apostle came from Galilee. They struggled to believe that Galileans could be speaking in tongues (Acts 2:7).  Those in John seven who asked if the Christ could do more signs than Jesus had done, struggled to deal with the false idea they had been taught that no prophet, especially the Prophet, could be from Galilee (John 7:41-42). Truth can be hidden by believing false teaching.

Truth was hidden because men had been taught to put their trust in religious leaders and follow them. The Pharisees asked the people, “Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him?”  They wanted the people to ignore obvious truth by showing them that the religious leaders’ actions should be followed. Truth can be hidden by the elevation of religious leaders.

Truth was hidden because those in power used legal means to silence the messenger. As Jesus spoke in the temple, soldiers were sent to arrest Him. The leaders’ desire to hide truth was so great that they sought to arrest Jesus (7:30, 32). Yet, even the soldiers were captivated by what He was saying (7:46).

Truth is often hidden today for the same reasons it was hidden then. The prejudice created by false teaching in our day keeps people from seeing obvious truth. The concept of following religious leaders keeps people from seeing the truth. Efforts abound to hide the truth using legal means to redefine sins and make them morally acceptable.

Study John chapter seven and see that what happened in the first century is happening in our day!

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That’s Your Interpretation

“But that’s just your interpretation; yours and the rest of those folks up at the church of Christ where you go,” Joe said as he and his co-worker Chuck discussed the bible during their lunch break. “Baptism actually has nothing to do with getting saved – everybody knows that!”

Chuck slowly looked around at their co-workers at the other picnic tables enjoying the noon hour sunshine. As his eyes settled on Simon who sat engrossed in the local paper, he thoughtfully turned back to Joe and said, “Let me ask you a question Joe. Suppose in today’s paper, there was a Hopeland Store ad that said, ‘Free fifty-dollar Hopeland gift cards given out to the first fifty families to come through the door this coming Friday. Gift cards valid at local location only, and expire Friday night at midnight. One card per family; must be eighteen or over to obtain card.’”

“Now, what if someone showed up Thursday evening, was sixteen, and wanted a card? Would they get one?” Chuck said. Joe shook his head no. “Well, what about if a person showed up Friday morning, stood in line, and was a member of the fifty-third family to enter the store? Should they expect one?” Again, Joe shook his head no.

“Or try this,” Chuck continued. “What if someone showed up, was over eighteen, was part of the sixth family to enter the store on Friday morning, received their card, and then either tried to cash it in on Saturday, or over at Wal-Mart, or at the Sand Springs Hopeland – even if a friend or family member that they totally trusted had told them that that’s what the rules actually meant, despite what they literally said in big, bold, black and white print?”

Joe, beginning to get just a little bit frustrated at Chuck’s seemingly endless and somewhat elementary inquiries, responded rather impatiently, “Well then, no, of course they wouldn’t get to spend the card. Look Chuck, I can read. What’s your point?”

“The point is simply this Joe,” Chuck answered patiently. “And it’s an extremely important one. How is it that the whole town can – and is completely expected to without a single second thought – read and understand an ad like I’ve described, exactly alike? One reading, and they completely understand and accept the implications of every aspect of the ad, and then plan and act accordingly? They understand the “ground rules” of receiving this free gift card, without exception, exemption, or interpretation. They read and immediately accept that the rules mean exactly what they say, as written in straightforward black and white, and prepare to meet the requirements if they want to receive the free gift.  …And yet, when it comes to some of the bible’s plainest, simplest, most straightforward and easiest to understand of instructions, some of those very same folks seem to always want to insist that those are somehow a ‘matter of interpretation’ and that it’s therefore okay if we all understand them completely differently?”

Chuck leaned in seriously and looked Joe straight in the eye. “Joe, you don’t believe that man is smarter than God, do you? I know you don’t. And yet, if anyone believes that a salesman-authored ad and its written requirements to receive a free gift can be easily understood alike by all who read it, but that somehow God’s straightforward black and white written requirements in order to receive His free gift cannot be, then what they are actually saying is that a mere human being is smart enough to know how to communicate clearly with men, while their almighty God and all-knowing Creator is somehow not. Think about that for a minute Joe…” 

“And, let me give you an example,” Chuck continued as he thumbed through the well-worn pages of the small bible he always had handy at work. “Please read this passage,” he said as he handed Joe his bible, pointing to Mark 16:15-16. “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned,’” Joe read slowly aloud.

“Now,” Chuck continued, “a simple question; honestly, how do you ‘interpret’ that verse Joe? Does it mean that he who believes is saved at that point and should soon thereafter be baptized, as so many teach today? Or does it mean exactly what it says – that belief and baptism must both precede salvation?”

Joe’s mind raced to find a reasonable response. He could read and he knew he was caught. His indefensible and flimsy fog of man-made excuses and explanations were being blown away before his very eyes. It was also at that moment that something else occurred to him for the very first time as well. The way that verse read, if he said that baptism wasn’t essential to and must precede being saved, then the same could be said for the other element that verse contained – that belief wasn’t essential to and must precede being saved either – and he knew better than to say that… so he said nothing instead.

Sitting there in the suddenly stifling silence and sensing his friend’s indecision, Chuck softly tried again. “When we read in Acts 2:38, that Peter answered those seeking God’s forgiveness by saying that they should ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of them in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins,’ what did he literally mean? Really, how would you ‘interpret’ that Joe? That they should say a prayer inviting Jesus into their hearts to be forgiven and then should be baptized? That baptism was nothing more than an outward sign of an inward grace, and as an indication that salvation had already occurred sometime previously? Or… that they needed to be baptized specifically FOR the forgiveness of their sins, just as it very simply and plainly says in straightforward black and white?”

“But… we’re saved by faith and faith alone!” Joe stammered… “Baptism doesn’t save anyone!” Joe continued without much conviction, resorting only to quoting what he’d heard so many denominational preachers so proudly spout so many times before…

interpretation

Interpretation

“Then what do you make of this?” Chuck asked as he pointed Joe to James 2:19-24 and asked him to read it. Phrases like ‘even the demons believe – and shudder,’ and, ‘You see then that a man is justified by works, and NOT by faith only’ struck and stuck in Joe’s mind as if delivered by a divine sledgehammer.

“You see,” Chuck continued, “baptism for the forgiveness or washing away of our sins is how and when we call on the name of the Lord to be saved, according to Acts 22:16. It is the also the act of faith by which we become God’s children, according to Galatians 3:26-27. Let’s take a look at those two texts and see if your ‘interpretation’ isn’t exactly the same as-”

Just then the whistle signaling the end of their lunch hour suddenly sounded. Hastily gathering up their lunch containers and disposing of their garbage, Chuck, quite concerned for his friend’s soul, chimed in one more time, “Listen Joe, if anyone truly believes that baptism doesn’t have anything to do with saving us – especially when 1st Peter 3:21 expressly states that ‘baptism DOES now save us’ – well, that’s not a matter of interpretation, but a matter of interpolation. If you truly believe the bible is God’s word, then let’s get together and take a closer look at some of those texts tonight, shall we? What do you say Joe?

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Biblical Predestination

Predestination

“…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,…..having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself…” (Eph. 1:4-5)

Predestination

Predestination has only one Destination.

Some do not understand the concept of Biblical predestination.  They think that God chooses a person to be saved in heaven or lost in hell before they are born, and there is nothing that they can do about it.  However, it is not individuals, but a particular group or class of people that God chose before the foundation of the world.

A school teacher told his students that some would pass their course and some would fail.  He then described what they would need to do to pass.  Sure enough, at the end of the school year some passed and some failed.  He predestinated the outcome but he did not predestine the students.  It was up to them whether they passed or failed.  Likewise, God predetermined before the creation that He would choose those “in Christ.”   Friends, the CHOICE is yours!

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