Making Merchandise of Christians – Prosperity Gospel BlightWritten by Rev. Michael Bresciani
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: 2 Peter 2:3a. The Apostle Peter makes this statement in his second epistle concerning those who will come to rake and deceive believers into giving up their wealth, their goods and anything else they may possess. This warning is available to Christians world over in their own Bibles, so why are so many of them still falling prey to ravishes of every charlatan and modern prosperity gospel preacher that pops up on circuit?Anyone who has read their Bible would have to concede in principle at least that it does say that God loves to bless his children. It also does promise that if we are giving individuals we should expect to have many wonderful blessings returned to us as a result. These promises are unquestionable. Christ said that if we gave that men would give to us good measure pressed down and running over, Luke 6:38. The principle here is not in question; it is use, and or rather misuse of this principle that causes all trouble. Anyone trying to prove that Bible does not promise God’s blessings to generous giver would come up woefully short. So how does this doctrinal new kid on block, abundant life gospel, succeed in wake of its highly suspect proponents and their methods? The first thing today’s prosperity gospel lacks is universality. Can this gospel be preached to everyone in any place throughout world? The answer to this question is a simple, no. Other than in United States and Western Europe this gospel is impossible to preach and in large part it is mocked. Americans make up about one sixth of entire worlds population yet they consume almost fifty percent of world’s food. Even in burgeoning economies of Europe, China, Japan and South Korea it is common knowledge that America is still number one in wealth and waste. Why has country that already has most, become birth place of a gospel that says we should be getting even more? As two thirds of world sends its children to bed each night with hunger pains, we are asking God to give us money to go to an expensive spa to lose weight. One prosperity gospel preacher was recently called out on carpet for spending ten thousand dollars a night for a lavish hotel suite in Indonesia. By contrast a missionary magazine tells of humble pastor in some third world country who is rejoicing over a new bicycle he has been given. Now he can pedal around to make his visitations that cover an area of about twenty five square miles. Prosperity then, is figuratively in eye of beholder. That prosperity gospel cannot be preached in every place is proof that it is not real gospel. The real gospel is that Jesus Christ came into world, spoke words that give life, died for sins of world, rose from dead and promised to return to earth and judge living and dead. This can be preached everywhere, at anytime throughout world and it will produce same effect that it has now for twenty centuries.
| | The Fatum BankWritten by Adeolu Oluade
FIRST LOVE RECOVERY MINISTRIESHOME PAGE QUOTES ARTICLES DESTINY GUIDE CONTACT US THE FATUM BANK 2 Peter 1:3-4(KJV) "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of divine nature, having escaped corruption that is in world through lust." There is only one bank that outclasses all others, because it contains all kinds of precious, priceless, and unlimited resources needed for fulfillment of destiny throughout all generations of humanity. It is called 'the Fatum Bank'. It is not affected by world leading stock markets or price of oil! It is impenetrable to dark world of crime. It is free from all kinds of bankruptcy or fraud. It cannot be manipulated by any human person or organisation. It cannot be accessed by human wisdom, might, or riches (Jer.9:23). It never has staff shortages or labour strikes! Its offices are open anywhere in world 24/7. It shows no discrimination against any age, sex, nation, race, or ethnic group (James 1:17). Its credentials are certainly awesome! Who owns this incredible bank? 'The Fatum Bank' is by God, in God, and for God (Col.1:16-18). It not only has current accounts from which resources can be drawn,but it also has deposit accounts into which treasures can be laid up(Matt.6:20). It has more than enough room available for every person born under sun to have all types of accounts. It even offers outstanding properties to all account holders (John 14:1-3)! 'Fatum' is one of Latin words for English word 'Destiny'. The treasures in any current account of 'the Fatum Bank' are 'the riches of God's grace': Eph.1:7(KJV) "In whom we have redemption through his blood, forgiveness of sins, according to riches of his grace;" It is only by God's grace that anyone can become a customer of 'the Fatum Bank': Eph.2:8(KJV) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is gift of God:" It takes God's grace to be what God has destined one to be: 1 Cor.15:10(KJV) "But by grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but grace of God which was with me."
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