The Message of Prosperity

PROSPERITY!

What is it? Do Christians need to be prosperous?

What does prosperity mean?

Prosperity: the condition of being successful or thriving; especially : economic well-being

What is wrong with this?

Why should Chrisitans not be able to succeed and thrive?

How on earth would we be able to give to the needs around us?!

You need money to do many things.

Just the other day I was thinking of a family in my church who were sitting with a cold sort of look. I came up to them and introduced myself with a big smile (no not cheesy) and genuinely wanted to get to know them. They were very distant. I understand sometimes you never know who is faking their hellos in Church. SAD BUT TRUE! Maybe they were thinking--(does this person really want to say hi to us?) Anway, they were cold. I tried to start conversation but they were cold. They just talked amongst themselves.

I am going to make a point to love on them every Sunday, whether they like it or not! Then the thought came to mind

I thought--If I handed them $50 and told them to go out to lunch and have a great time. Would they still be cold towards me? Yeah, they would be taken aback, but I know they would take the money. I would tell them the Lord wanted them to have it.....I would tell them this.

This sort of behavior doesn't happen in most churches.

Why?

Most Christians haven't been taught to give abundantly! We are always looking out for our needs first, not the needs of others.

YES

GOD

DOES

WANT

US

2

PROSPER

FOR THE

SAKE

OF

OTHERS

NOT TO

FILL

OUR

SELFISH

BELLYS

Ephesians 4:28

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Why do we work? For what purpose....?

God's heart is that we would be givers.....Read the above scripture again.

2 Corinthians 9-12

(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

He wants us to be givers where ever we go! Money can move many mountains when used right. It can open up doors that have never been opened before. Queen of Sheba was able to dine with King Solomon because of her gifts she brought. He then gave her triple the amount of blessing back.

Yes, the prosperity message needs to be taught in a way that is not seen as covetousness. It isn't about the nice things we can get. Even though it isn't a SIN to live in a nice home for entertaining and making it a refuge for families to retreat.

I'm not against ministers that have airplanes. They are spreading the Gospel all over the world.

Why is it OK for Oprah to have it?

Donald Trump?

Many celebrities?

But not the man or woman of God?

Why do preachers have to walk in poverty and preach in creaky run down churches?

Many ministers have built churches, homes, orphages, hospitals, etc.... all over the world.

We can use money to touch many, many lives.

I pray that every Christian, Young and Old alike will come into prosperity for the sake of the Cross!

ALWAYS BE READY TO:

give someone a $100, for Jesus

Fill someones gas tank, for Jesus

Pay someone's car payment or mortagage, for Jesus

Buy someone groceries, for Jesus

Be a GIVER! A Cheerful GIVER!

2 Corinthians 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Why is it good to be abundantly blessed?

Because it opens doors to peoples hearts!

And let me leave you with this one to ponder on.

Who is the one in the Bible who said

"Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?"

Was it Jesus?

Of course not!

It was the traitor Judas Iscariot

John 12:4-6

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

To those who want to criticize, judge, and condemn those who have used money to bless many people around the world, or maybe have a nicer home than you...

Are you jealous? What makes you despise and be angered?

Mostly those who want to bite are usually the MOST COVETOUS people on the planet. Beware your spirit isn't like Judas! Check your hearts because the bitterness and lack of love that dwells in there is from Satan Himself (the ruler of the world who would love the gospel to crumble and never be spread)

The prosperity message, when preached right is A HUGE BLESSING in the KINGDOM OF GOD!

FREE IN CHRIST

HATED by the World and the Religious!

What will bring people to Christ?

What will bring people to know HIM?

Do we battle and fight?

What will it take?

What is God calling you to do for His Kingdom?

There are so many doctrines of Christianity. Yes, we are to be careful of false teachings and prophets. But why are some so quick to hate and despise the signs and wonders? They despise with utter anger the moves of God. They call it witchcraft and say it isn't of God. But think about it, you who are quick to judge and jump on those who want to lay hands on the sick and see them healed or pray in tounges or be knocked out in the Spirit?

Jesus came casting out demons, healing the sick, eating with sinners, touching the lepers, loving on the unlovable.....

The religious thought he was casting out demons by Beelzebub.

Matthew 10:25-26

It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

WHY

DO

SOME

THINK,

THOSE

WHO

ARE

EXPERIENCING

THE

MOVE

AND

POWER

OF

GOD

ARE

DOING

SUCH

WORKS

BY

SATAN?

Or why do we call those who are raising the dead, healing the sick, casting out demons.......

WACKOS!

CRAZIES!

FALSE TEACHERS!

FALSE PROPHETS!

WHAT are WE fearing! And WHY are SOME not DOING these THINGS?

ponder on this!

be radicals

be like John the baptist

Jeremiah the Prophet

be hated by the world and the religious.

JESUS WAS!!!!

FREE IN CHRIST

part 2: Lost and Lonely People: Discipling the Babies

Discipling the Babies in Christ

Before receiving Christ we were lost and going to hell. We didn't know what the right thing was. We didn't know truth. We didn't know love. Throughout our lives we had people plant seeds of the Good News in our hearts. We thought some were absolutely crazy, but deep down there was something they had that we wanted. There was something to this Gospel of Jesus. Something was pulling us to want more.

What was this drawing?

What was this calling? IT was so strong it consumed the very core of our hearts. Crying at night not knowing that God Almighty was speaking to us in our sin. He was speaking to us saying what we had was nothing!!!

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!

We can drive in our fancy cars. Work our nice jobs. Live in a nice home. Go out with our friends. Drink all hours of the night? Sleep around with whoever we want, but the emptiness of our soul was deep and wide. Nothing seemed to satisfy the thirst. This thirst that was gripping our bones. The innermost parts of our hearts.

WHAT IS IT??!!

What is this I long for!!!???

Alone in the quiet of our house, we realize we are dying. We are alone. Where can I go to find the love I need.....WHERE???

Someone who knows Jesus crosses our path yet again....this time we listen.

YEAH---- WE LISTEN!!

Ok, uh huh, I know what you are saying.....we hear, we receive, WE ARE SAVED!!

Now what?

What happens now?

We don't know what we are reading?

I guess we need to go to church?

We come to church?

Who is a friend in this church?

These people are suppose to know God?

But why isn't anyone coming up to talk to me?

Don't they see me?

It must be the way I am dressed?

It must be the look of sin I am carrying?

Help? Lord are these your people?

Some are nice, but then most seem.........well

busy

talking

chatting

AM I IN HIGH SCHOOL AGAIN?

Is there anyone who loves and cares? Who is going to show me who this Jesus really is? Where is He?

I was expecting love and embrace!

I DIDN'T COME TO FEEL REJECTED!

I AM OUT OF HERE!!

These are feelings of people who are searching for an example and a true disciple of Jesus Christ. The church can be so quick to embrace the lost and see them saved but who is discipling these babies. Who is feeding them the Word of God? Who is showing them who Jesus is?

No, I am not talking about shoving religion down their throats and trying to cast the demons of alcohol, tabacco, fornication, homosexuality, the old man... . NO!! This will come off in time. We need to teach them the unconditional love of God. Encourage them to seek the Lord for who He is. Truly disciple someone till they can hear God on their own, when they can stand on their own. Yes, babies can sit on a pew at church and receive, but then turn around and continue to live in their soiled diapers and their dirty clothes. We need to be there as true disciples of Jesus and carry them around, feed them, show them, train them......

This is how you would with any small baby or child....you feed them, clothe them, instruct them.

I encourage you to reach out to someone this week. Look around your church and see if they need a friend and to study the word of God. Look for them....Some are waiting for someone to take their hand.

And then I saw them....they spotted me from the front of the church. They came and said HELLO.... and ask...........

Tell me more about WHO you are?

I want to get to know YOU.

What is the body of christ for?

We are here to hold you up, embrace you, PRAY for you, and teach you who Jesus is.

Are you ready to get to know Him more?

Come on.....let's go out to lunch!

FREE IN CHRIST

Lost and Lonely People

Do you ever stop what you are doing and just look around at the people who cross your path?

Those in the grocery stores or driving in their cars; where are they going? Who are they going to see or maybe they are going to empty houses and fill their night with the glaring blue box? Are they dying inside by the loneliness that pierces their hearts? They never open up because they don't know who is "REAL" out there in this lonely world. They think there isn't anyone who would even care if they shared their problems.

They are hurting...They are void....of a True Friend in Jesus Christ!

They are broken....they are lost....they need Jesus Christ, a true friend!

But how can they know this is what they need? How will they realize that Jesus is their answer?

YOU ARE THE ANSWER!

No, not that you become their savior, but you will show them God's kind of Love! You can take a lonely person in your workplace, neighborhood, school, and even church reveal God's love to them.

HOW?

By being there to pray for them. Being there to listen to their problems without judging. Being there if they are sick? Letting them know that you are a true friend. They will know that you are a person of God because of this Love that you are showing. You won't even need to preach them the gospel. GOD'S LOVE will show them the gospel. They will then want to know about the Gospel and it will be door wide open to teach them the word of God. The love that you showed them disciples their heart in ways you wouldn't even have thought. Only the Love of God tears down walls of division and speaks to the person in his/her inner most part of their heart.

Love is a powerful weapon!

WHY? and HOW?

Because GOD IS LOVE!!

Free in Christ

The Three Little Pigs--Build your house on a Firm Foundation!

Matthew 7:24-25

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

When I was reading this scripture, the fairy tale "The Three Little Pigs" came to mind. 

The story goes as such:  

There were three pigs who were set into the world by their mother.  The little pigs went off into the world and contributed to society and built their home.  One little pig built a house of straw, the second built the house of sticks, and the third (the wiser one) built his house of bricks.  The enemy- THE BIG BAD WOLF, was prowling around looking to see which little pig he could devour.  He was watching and lurking behind trees and bushes.  

One random day the wolf decided to attack and try to devour the pigs.  He came to each of the pig's home, with the weakest foundation being the first attacked--the house of straw.  The wolf and little pigs exchange some words 

 "Little pig, little pig let me in!" (wolf)

  "Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin!" (pig)

"Then I huff, and I'll puff, and blow your house down!" (wolf) 

When the wolf blows the house down the first pig runs to his brother's  house with the sticks.  The wolf does the same with the second pig's home, which makes the first and second pig run to their wiser brother's home, the one whose house turns out to be the only one which is adequate to withstand the wolf with the blustery breath. 

So how does this all tie in with Jesus and the firm foundation? 

Simple....if you build your house on the firm foundation of Christ's love, redemption, and His goodness....it will be hard for the "wolf" to come in and devour those who are grounded with the Word of God.  

When you grasp on to the clear revelation of who Jesus is and what He came to do, there is NOTHING that can overcome you.  Truly, NOTHING!  This is good news.  How can this be, it just seems to good to be true?  There are others who are christians that have been overcome in different ways?  Yes, and if you think back to the story, the other little pigs came from the same home and built their little houses but never were wise enough to build it with a strong foundation. Pigs one and two chose to spend less time "building" to make more time for pleasures of the world.  

Our walk with the Lord isn't a religion or something to take lightly.  No!  It needs to be more important than eating!  More important than watching the News or listening to talk radio!  More important than watching soap operas or your favorite evening TV show!  It is more important than spending hours reading "other" types of reading materials or going out to your clubs.

 IT IS VERY IMPORTANT!

If Jesus was constantly in the presence of the Father and doing His father's business?  Then how much more do we need to be in meditation or in the presence of the Lord?  No wonder Jesus did amazing miracles!!  Yes, I know He was God in the flesh, but Jesus came as a man (like you and me) and had carnal thoughts (like you and me).  Jesus was our example of what godly men or godly women should do in the Kingdom of God here on earth. He showed us by what He did, how He prayed, how He solved problems, and how He loved.  

Hebrews 2:17

Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Being in the word of God teaches us WHO we are as born again believers and to realize what we have and to draw this out by the Spirit of God.  It isn't something we have to ask the Lord to fill us with or gain if we do more good works...NO, WE ALREADY HAVE IT INSIDE OF US!  Our born again spirits have all things pertaining to life and godliness.  

2 Peter 1:3

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Jesus in His love for us warned of the "Big bad wolf".  Told us tribulations and storms would come, and clearly taught for us to build our lives on a firm foundation.  

He says "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world"

John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

1 John 2:14

I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

1 John 5:4

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

FREE IN CHRIST

Being Passionate for the Cross

I know some might be turned off by the post I recently wrote.

Yes, some might be OFFENDED or APPALLED with things I might share.  You might not like how the message is brought forth.  You might share your thoughts in a different way.  You might judge me and maybe you are a judgmental person in general.  You might be a hypocrite.
or

You might be like me

Passionate for the Church of today!

But you know what!!??  These are my thoughts!  My expressions!

These are:

My expressions of how His love has touched my life.

My expressions of how God has shown love to the most unloved people you can imagine.

My expressions of how Christians today may or may not be hypocrites.

My expressions of sins I might be dealing with in a general sense.

My expressions of how rough life can treat Christians.

My expressions on how I hate the Enemy of our souls.

My expressions of persecutions.

My expressions of stupid doctrines of demons.

My EXPRESSIONS, simply that!

I am FREE IN CHRIST!  

Do I normally walk around with frustrations and in your face preaching as such?  Not usually!  :)

I normally walk in love and never, ever in an offended way.  I am careful how I express myself in "real life.  But these are my deep thoughts!!  My hearts cry!!  Thoughts I would share with close friends.  To my friends I am somewhat controversial....they have told me this.

One of the many reason I don't like to make my person known on this blog is to be able to express everything on here whether be the good, bad, or ugly!  These are my thoughts on my walk with God.

SO.......

Some might love me and think I have written SOME good stuff.  But who cares!  I am not looking for a pat on the back or people to agree or disagree with me.  I really don't care what people think of me other than I know at the end of the day I was led by the Spirit of the Lord.   God knows my true heart, my true intentions, my love and passion to see the Church walking in the TRUTH of the Gospel.  He loves my genuine heart.  He loves me because I am His child and if I might say things to offend....HE KNOWS ME!

He loved John the Baptist who called people BROOD OF VIPERS.  Luke 3:7

 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Jesus Himself also called the so called "righteous" brood of vipers!   Matthew 12:34

 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

  Not that I am calling anyone a brood of vipers.....Please hear me out!  I'm just saying sometimes the passion that is burning inside comes out in brash ways.

So, if I offended you in anyway...understand my heart.....THIS is my PASSION!  No, NOT to offend.  I am not looking to offend.  But sometimes, the TRUTH and its delivery can hurt .... I know...... I've been hurt, but it made me want more of God.  And a desire to know more of the TRUTH!

 My passion is the WORD OF GOD.

 My passion is JESUS CHRIST!

My passion is the CROSS!

 My passion is the GOSPEL!

I love all people.  I even love those who want to despise me!  I thank you all for your comments and encouraging words.

I say all this in LOVE!!

FREE IN CHRIST