What is today's prosperity gospel? Many think it is all about money and how Christians should become wealthy and rich. But that is a slight of hand of deception. The prosperity gospel in its core is a gospel that puts the person on a pedestal. It is a gospel to elevate the "YOU and ME."
The prosperity gospel which is very prevalent in the western church is spewing this poison onto the second and third world nations. And as newly converts appear in other nations, they look at the western church of its riches thinking they have spiritually succeeded. Too many measure spiritual success based on number of attendees, wealth, and money.
Matthew 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes one [a proselyte], you make him doubly as much a child of hell (Gehenna) as you are.
Revelation 3:16-17 (AMP) So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!17 For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
In the prosperity gospel, the bait is "YOU." They come to proclaim "YOU." You should be this. You should be that. You should be living high. Your dream. Your goal. Your vision. Your desires. Your wants. You should be...YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU!
You see, in my bible, YOU SHOULD BE DEAD TO YOURSELF! You should be NOTHING! You should be decreasing and HE should be INCREASING! Eventually you should NO LONGER EXIST! The old "YOU" should no longer exist and Christ should be manifesting from you. YOU should ONLY be Glorying in the CROSS of our LORD!!
John 3:30 (AMP) He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]
Galatians 6:14 (AMP) But far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!
But the prosperity gospel comes to strengthen their low self esteem and low confidence without obedience to Christ and His Cross. And this is why many of them who continue to shout His Name in vain eventually fizzle away in defeat. They are attempting to bring themselves up rather than decreasing to let Jesus reign in their lives. But it feeds the blind by the thousands and if not millions as their churches become bloated in number. However, the power of God is no where evident because if His presence was there, they would be feeding off HIM rather than their self esteem to feel good.
Please do not misunderstand me. I understand we are to say positive words of life but obedience to Jesus must be the first order otherwise one will only be looking to feel good for themselves rather than loving God by walking and keeping His commandments. It will end up as self idolizing.
If you are looking for happiness and peace, well, happiness is a Person. Peace is a Person. Joy is a Person. Life is a Person. For HE is the "I AM!" I AM PEACE! I AM HAPPINESS! I AM JOY! I AM JUSTICE! I AM LOVE! I AM GOD!
Repent and keep His commandments. The more you have of HIM, the more you will have the above in peace, joy, love, etc. for HE comes to give abundant life. You do not need a 7 step program. You do not need a 12 step program. What we need to know is that we MUST FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS WHICH IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF EVERY MAN. IT IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL HAPPINESS!
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (AMP) All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God’s providence, the root of character, THE FOUNDATION OF ALL HAPPINESS, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man.
Fire of God Ministries
Steve Yong Kim
August 24, 2012
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