Category: prosperity theology

Redeem the Year!

Monday, January 1, 2024

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17 KJV).

What great advice for 2024!

Despite 2,000 years of Bible schools and seminaries, 2,000 years of a completed Bible canon, 2,000 years of Bible reading in churches, several decades of “Christian” television and radio, and a decade-plus of widespread use of “Christian” websites, how sad that Bible ignorance is still quite extensive (it is as if God never gave His Word to start with!).

Frankly, the Church the Body of Christ needs to wake up! The verse previous to today’s Scripture says, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (verse 14). Paul, loosely quoting Isaiah 60:1, reminded us that the spiritual ignorance that gripped Israel in Isaiah’s day seized Christians in his day—and it still grips Christians 20 centuries later. Feel-good sermons, enjoyable “worship” services, and rites, rituals, and ceremonies will NOT solve this problem—they exacerbate it!

“[God] will have all men to be saved…” (1 Timothy 2:4a). Do you want this New Year to count for God’s glory? First, you need to get saved from sins and hell! You need to become a Christian by trusting in and relying on Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for your sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). That is only part of God’s will for you, for 1 Timothy 2:4b continues, “[God] will have all men… to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Now, God’s will for your Christian life is daily, personal Bible study to renew your mind, so your faith in those verses can cause God to work in your life—it will be His life, thus making you “perfect [spiritually mature], throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

Today’s Scripture urges us to buy back the time Satan has robbed from God (time created for God’s glory). By faith, we need to make that time glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by applying His Word, particularly Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon, to our lives. Have a good year in Christ! 🙂

You can download our free “One-Year Bible Reading Schedule.”

See our archived Bible Q&A: “What Scriptural advice can you give me for the New Year?”

He Was One of The World’s Richest! #12

Sunday, September 17, 2023

“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20 KJV).

He was “one of the world’s richest,” but now he is among its poorest!

Let us keep examining Paul’s words to Timothy: “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7). Could this be any plainer? We exited our mother’s womb owning nothing, and we will enter our tomb owning nothing! “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (verse 8). Owning basic material goods—something to eat, something to wear, shelter in which to live—is not a sin. These are needs that must be met.

However, human nature is sinful and becomes greedy (see Ephesians 4:19). It is not wrong to enjoy life and material blessings, but there is a substantial difference between this and attempting to fill God’s place with more and more worldly possessions. Remember, “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Our spiritual blessings in Christ are ours forever—eternal life, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption, forgiveness, acceptance, and so on (see Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:6,7; Colossians 1:14; et al.). Unlike physical possessions, these are true, permanent assets.

Once we are content with Father God and what He has done for us in Christ, we realize He is God and any material goods we have are not (recall Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). With these priorities in order, we can proceed to using our financial resources wisely for His glory….

He Was One of The World’s Richest! #11

Saturday, September 16, 2023

“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20 KJV).

He was “one of the world’s richest,” but now he is among its poorest!

Carefully read 1 Timothy chapter 6: “[3] If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; [4] He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, [5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. [6] But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. [8] And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

The Holy Spirit through Paul counsels Timothy (and all Christians, but especially church leaders) to be on guard for false teachers and “from such withdraw thyself [get away from them!]” (verse 5). These charlatans in religion—these so-called “spiritual guides”—are described most vividly. One error motivating them is they are “supposing that gain is godliness” (verse 5). They promote the erroneous concept that any material prosperity, physical increase, or worldly profit is automatic worship of God (that it glorifies Him when someone prospers or increases or profits in the physical realm). Do not forget: these false teachers can “praise the Lord” (HA!) when they swindle their devotees to gain their fortunes!

On the contrary, “the doctrine which is according to godliness” (verse 3) is that which glorifies God and allows us to worship Him. That sound Bible teaching worthy of our trust is provided in Paul’s words to Timothy, including, “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (verse 6). To worship the Lord in keeping with Pauline revelation, and to be thankful to our Heavenly Father in all situations and circumstances for what we do have (regardless of amount, little or much), that combination (worship of God and contentment) is true gain, real increase, eternal advantage….

He Was One of The World’s Richest! #10

Friday, September 15, 2023

“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20 KJV).

He was “one of the world’s richest,” but now he is among its poorest!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1,2). It is ever (!) so (!) critical (!) that we Christians think about prosperity and success as the Lord does, and not as lost people do. Again, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind….”

For example, in the eyes of the world (“this present evil world” [Galatians 1:4] and all its supporters—following Satan [2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2]!), we are “successful” if we have acquired much knowledge (advanced degrees, long-time professional jobs, and so on), if we have many physical possessions (lands, houses, vehicles, gadgets, and so on), if we have an active social life (many children and grandchildren, friends, and so on), and the like. But, what saith the LORD?

The Church the Body of Christ has a tendency to adopt these secular standards and bring them into the local assembly. Allegedly, a church or ministry is “successful” if it has a “seminary-trained” (“scholarly!”) minister leading thousands or tens of thousands of people who meet to “worship” (?!) in a lavish, state-of-the-art auditorium. But, what saith the LORD? The Church the Body of Christ is also prone to taking these standards and evaluating an individual’s conduct. Supposedly, someone is a “successful” Christian if he or she attends church, earns a steady income, owns a nice home, has many social connections, and so on. But, what saith the LORD?

Dear friends, we should examine 1 Timothy to realize the Holy Spirit’s warnings through our Apostle Paul. Such dangerous thinking threatened Timothy’s own Christian life and ministry. Let us avoid this precarious situation before we find ourselves in it….

Spellbound! #16

Sunday, September 3, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3,4). Having “itching ears”—an uneasy or restless desire or longing to hear something that pleases the ear—the professing church rejects rightly divided Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15) so as to believe, teach, and do what they want!

When advising the elders (church leaders) of Ephesus, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declared: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:28-32).

After “marking,” or fixing our eyes upon, false teachers for the purpose of identifying and avoiding them—even if their message sounds good! (cf. today’s Scripture)—we are to then “mark” sound teachers so as to follow them. “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Philippians 3:17). We protect ourselves from the “spells” of today’s false teachers (cf. Ephesians 4:14-16) by having a firm understanding of and faith in “the word of [God’s] grace” (Acts 20:32), the Pauline epistles of Romans through Philemon.

-FINIS!-

Spellbound! #15

Saturday, September 2, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

After giving us 16 chapters of fundamental grace doctrine—the entire Book of Romans—God the Holy Spirit wrote today’s Scripture to call to our attention the fact we should guard that information delivered us. If we truly (!) were thankful to Him for what He had taught us through our Apostle Paul, we would make every effort to maintain or uphold it, protect it from loss or alteration, and to never drift from it. Moreover, we would be vigilant regarding those who sought to pervert it.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Paul asked us to “mark” (Greek, “skopeo,” as in “scope”) them. That is, “take notice of them, fix your eyes on them.” This is in contrast to, “Overlook them, pretend like nothing is wrong, excuse them.” We are to “avoid” those kinds of people, these who refuse to unite around grace teaching and who discourage others from gathering around it. Not only do they cause “divisions” (disunity, rifts, denominations), they create “offences” (Greek, “skandala,” as in “scandals,” or “causes of stumbling/fall/sin”) contrary to the sound doctrine we have learned from Paul (especially in Romans).

“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Provided here is the reason why we distance ourselves from false teachers. It has to do with the fact they are self-serving instead of Lord-serving. If we have chosen to do the Lord’s will, then it is ridiculous for us to sit under the “ministries” of those who have not. However, unless we have mastered sound Bible doctrine, we will be easy targets and fall into the error ourselves. Their elegant or fine words, and their praise-filled sermons, will seduce us.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Spellbound! #14

Friday, September 1, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

Study the following “ministry” conducted in Samaria (central Israel, north of Jerusalem): “But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries” (Acts 8:9-11). Empowered by Satan, Simon worked miracles! He was “giving out” (saying, bragging) that he was “some great one.” The Samaritans were spellbound, considering him “Messiah” (thereby foreshadowing the Antichrist!). Simon used witchcraft to fool them, and they exclaimed, “This man is the great power of God!”

Re-read today’s Scripture: “…they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly.” The “belly” symbolizes the heart or soul: a false teacher’s motivation is a self-serving “appetite” that must be satisfied. As a glutton in the physical realm obsesses over food, so a false teacher’s goal is to gain devotees. The person most vulnerable to such a “ministry” is someone who is “simple.” In Greek, it is “akakos,” literally “without evil.” The victim is unsuspecting, fearing no evil from others, and distrusting no one. That false sense of security is summed up as, “No one will harm me because everyone means well. All preachers and teachers serve God. It does not matter where I attend church or which denomination I join.” While it sounds harsh, this is a foolish, ignorant, or gullible person—and, when multiplied by two billion, Christendom’s tens of thousands of denominations form!

If we understand how today’s Scripture is taken from Romans, the most basic Pauline epistle, then a sure way to avoid falling prey to false teachers is to have a good foundation in grace teaching as furnished in Romans….

Spellbound! #13

Thursday, August 31, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

It is pleasant, lovely, or wonderful to the ear, but is it truly wholesome and beneficial to us? After listening to the Devil’s “motivational” speech, Adam and Eve literally learned the hard way: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Genesis 3:5-7).

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening [hungry, greedy] wolves” (Matthew 7:15). This was Satan in the Garden of Eden—the façade of a friend, but the character of a snake. Pledging peace and prosperity, he delivered only strife and poverty; as opposed to knowledge, there was ignorance; instead of life, there came death. If you doubt it, just look around at society. Like the false teachers since him, he was a “well without water” (2 Peter 2:17), a “cloud… without water” (Jude 12). Rather than a source of life, he and his promises were utter disappointments. “Having a form [semblance, likeness] of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5).

Re-read 2 Corinthians 11:3,4. Now, verses 13-15: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” For far too long, church members have been negligent in realizing just how serious such spiritual dangers really are. Let us therefore be on guard….

Spellbound! #12

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

Read Matthew 15:1-9 and Mark 7:1-13. The scribes (Hebrew Bible copyists and teachers) and Pharisees (strict works-religionists) were influential leaders in Judaism. They were greatly agitated when they saw the Lord Jesus’ disciples ignoring the rabbis’ religious tradition of washing hands with a trickle of cool water. Christ countered by asking why they—the scribes and Pharisees—had ignored Father God’s commandments!

The “Corban [Gift] tradition” was a clever manmade invention to bypass the LORD’S orders. As opposed to honoring father and mother (see Exodus 20:12), including financially supporting them in old age, the rabbis granted a man permission to declare his wealth as a “gift” to God and the Jerusalem Temple, thereby freeing the man from the economic obligation to his parents. Of course, “God” was given all the credit—and these religious leaders embezzled “God’s” gift! Such kind of false teaching polluted Judaism and warranted Christ’s repeated condemnations (see Matthew 15:6-9,12-14; Mark 7:6-9,13). Judaism’s religious tradition continuously took precedence over the words of Almighty God—and the same applies to Christendom 2,000 years later!

Upon the rabbis’ urging (false teaching), the “Corban [Gift] tradition” seemed pious and noble from the son’s point-of-view. After all, he was reserving money for “God’s work” (ha!). In reality, he was violating the Fifth Commandment by dishonoring father and mother, and doing nothing more than funding the Devil’s ministers! “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye” (Mark 7:13). The “Corban [Gift] tradition” was just one of countless examples of putting manmade ideas ahead of Divine revelation, transferring authority from God to men. Again, this practice plagues the professing church even now.

As pertaining to the Church the Body of Christ and this the Dispensation of the Grace of God, the Lord through our Apostle Paul alerts us to be on guard, watching out for self-serving religious leaders….

Spellbound! #11

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

“And he [the serpent] said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die” (Genesis 3:1-3). Eve did not quote God verbatim (cf. Genesis 2:16,17). Actually, Satan did a better job repeating what God said!

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4,5). Only now—later in the conversation—did Satan contradict God. Furthermore, he suggested he cared more for Adam and Eve than God did! In effect, he proposed, “Eve, I want you and Adam to enjoy something God has willingly withheld from you! You can possess some ‘hidden’ knowledge and become your own authority!” Of course, Eve believed the lie and Adam followed her lead (verses 6,7; 1 Timothy 2:11-15). Creation has suffered ever since!

Read Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13. Satan never said, “Thou art not the Son of God,” for his lie would have been obvious. Instead, it was, “If thou be the Son of God…” (Matthew 4:3,6; Luke 4:3,9). Those hints of doubt were meant to cause Jesus to question His identity, and, to make Him prove Himself (which was unnecessary). Furthermore, the Devil even quoted some Scripture (Matthew 4:6; Luke 4:10,11)—again appearing legitimate, benevolent, godly. The Lord Jesus was not tricked. Though biblical (Psalm 91:11,12), Satan was not dispensational.

Unless we are grounded in sound Bible doctrine, we will be overcome like Eve instead of overcoming like Christ. We must (!) remember today’s Scripture….